You are a special person who has an unflinching manner and no wobbly doubt.
The very opposite of a person who is bitten multiple times in the same scenario (in the bed) yet continues the same behavior expecting the dog to come to it’s senses and act like a nice person.
Rehabilitating a dangerous dog is not for the faint of heart or for the inexperienced.
I did suggest giving the dog to a ‘tough dog’ trainer (perhaps someone like you) who knows how to start and when not to quit.
Failing the transfer to someone who can deal with the dog sending it off to it’s next life is the kindest thing to do.
That is my opinion.
I got my first one when I was 13 and had no preconceptions or knowledge about the breed at all.
Simply didn’t know better and I suppose that sort of translated to “confidence” around them.
Far as I knew, a dog was a dog was a dog...LOL
The second Dobe, I went to the library, checked out a book and trained my first “man stopper”.
Didn’t know I “couldn’t do that myself” so I did, anyway.
Got into dog psychology in the 80’s during the Dobe rescue stint because some of their issues were mental trauma stuff and needed to go beyond the usual obedience training.
I have a real “way with animals” [thank God!] else I’d probably be dead ten times over already...:)
When Odin started his first thyro craziness, I know he was frustrated that I didn’t back down or react in fear like he thought I should.
I actually said to him “HA! I’ve trained man killers! I’ve kept multiple intact males together! You gonna have to do better than *that*!”
I know he didn’t understand the words but he understood the “ain’t impressed” attitude.
I don’t consider myself a “tough” trainer.
More like determined, immutable and I never back down.
When I want something from a dog, I *will* get it.
I know how to head fake them with my version of dog body language which is probably the best I can say for myself, really.
When two of them are bickering to the point where it starts to look scary, I just wade in and stand there between them.
It freaks them out and they cease and desist.
It’s how wild canids defuse pack altercations.
*Rarely* does one pack member bite or even touch another.
It’s all a very stylized, often noisy pas de guerre.
You just gotta know how and when to cut in on the dance.
;D