Anyone have experience with aggressive dogs?

[pipermark]

Watch the dog whisperer. It sounds to me like you will need to help your mom become "top dog" in the house with you. The "fear" you may be contending with is your mom's towards the dog.

Good Luck.

Sorry to hear about the break in, lucky they didn't hurt your dog.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

oh geez.. sorry xadika. i'm sure you did the right thing.

we know some folks who tried to rehab a half trained police dog who was completely out of its mind. they ended up having to put him down also. a sad but necessary situation.

i hope you can take comfort that you did the best for her. i'd like to thind she is in a place with no fear or pain.

hugs

 

[mountaintopchicken]

You had a very very serious breed of dog with very serious issues. You were already at the point where you were afraid that one slip-up in management would result in a serious accident. Human lives and the well-being of your family were at stake. And no one can keep up perfect management 100% of the time because humans aren't perfect.

It sounds like your mom is somewhat frail, and she was probably the most vulnerable to aggression from this dog. You did the hard thing, but the right thing.

The rescue lady told us that she is the sweetest dog in the world.

It sounds like the rescue involved here didn't temperament-test this dog very well. A really good, professional pre-adoption temperament test probably could have caught some of these issues before the dog was sent out into the world. When a rescue adopts out a very serious protection breed as 'the sweetest dog in the world", and it turns out to have aggression issues, it's the family that adopted it and welcomed it into their home that ends up broken-hearted and feeling guilty. But don't don't feel that way, you were extremely well-meaning, wanted the best for your dog, and ended up making a hard decision. The rescue that decided to place this dog in a home with inadequate temperament testing put the problem squarely in your lap, and you dealt with the consequences. Remember that you had to protect your family.​

 

[2468Chickensrgr8]

We have a snarly golden retriever purebred..two years old now....fantastic breeder...we bought him when he was a pup ....attended puppy class....and grade one and two....well trained....but boy is he aggressive....we have had him to two behavourists and finally after staying in contact with the breeder we brought him back to her pack of dogs .....and we came home with a dominant black lab...she takes no crap from him .but he loves other dogs...its just people......we tried Cesar Milan ....bought the books and videos and really worked with him......I still dont trust him.....but he's slowly getting better....he hasnt bitten...but has came close with an adult a child wouldnt have moved so fast....I dont have little kids at home... just teenagers....
My advice is find proffesional help and everyone has to work with the dog....good luck....

 

[xadika]

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[redhen]

Good luck!

 

[mekasmom]

Quote:
I just had our akbash put down this afternoon. I had taken him into the vet for routine shots and the typical growling/snappiness started. My husband and I had discussed his dominance and how dangerous he could be many times. But we kept him simply because we loved him, and he had such a sweet disposition toward us. But when the vet couldn't even approach him to give him his injection, that settled it for me. He was a wonderful, sweet dog to us. But at his size and weight he could kill someone. It just wasn't worth the risk. I feel so guilty, but it was the responsible, right decision. I wouldn't want to be responsible for a dog that could kill a child or stranger someday.

Dominant dogs are dominant dogs. Guard dogs just have that confidence and dominance bred into them. And they have size, muscle and teeth to match that dominance. It is just not worth the risk. If this dog is lunging at your mother, she should be destroyed. Corsos are huge, muscular dogs that have the ability to kill people. Don't let that happen in your family.

Today, after the escapade of simply trying to get vaccines updated, I spoke with my vet about it. He was very honest with me about his experiences with aggressive/dominant dogs. I had felt the dog should be euthanized for a few months. And our vet's understanding and support did help me with the decision. You can alter the dog, you can train the dog, you can love the dog. But if the propensity to bite is there, it will always be there. And with a 130lb dog, it is just not worth the risk. I feel guilty about having the animal euthanized, but how guilty would I feel if he had killed some little kid that rode by on a bike?

 

[Calebs Acre]

I have looked at this thread several times and even wrote a lengthy post and decided not to post it, but.......here goes.

When I become the Adoption Manager of the Brooklyn NY Animal Care and Control Shelter, I was given a great deal of training in evaluating dogs for adoption. I was trained by Sue Sternberg and went to courses held by the ASPCA. I've talked with Dr. Peter Borchelt, a noted behaviorist and lots of others.

It is my personal opinion that Cesar Milan has given the false impression that everyone can save every dog and the most respected animal organizations in the world just do NOT agree with that premise. As Amusunknown said, if YOU are not one of those people, be very judicious in which dogs you can help and handle and which you cannot.

Aggression and dominance are often bred into a dog and they are NOT a result of environment. These are dangerous dogs that should be put down. Some dogs like this have "a screw loose". The Cane Corso and Preso Canario are bred to be aloof and not "companion" dogs. While I have not evaluated the dog, my gut reaction is that the dog is showing you so many red flags that I would be very, very afraid and I think you need to be very careful if you choose to continue with the dog. Also, beware of behaviorists who feel they can fix anything or need the money, etc. You have to make sure you share the same philosophy as the behaviorist on when to euthanize a dog.

Remember, there are millions and millions of wonderful dogs being put to sleep every single year because there are not enough homes for them. The shelter system teaches us that it is only realistic to make sure the best dogs, behaviorally, are left in the community.

This is merely an opinion, because there are so many points of view on this. We have a shelter on Long Island called North Shore Animal League. They claim to be "no kill". They do not euthanize BUT, when someone calls to return an aggresive animal, they say they don't have space, to just take the dog to their local shelter and they will pick it up. What they do is refuse to pick up the dog and then let the shelter euthanize the dog. THEN they go to the shelter's adoption ward and clean out all of the puppies and highly adoptable dogs for their adoption wards. It's just not what it seems on the outside. So, even "no kill" shelters do NOT want aggressive dogs.

I could go on for hours......I'm sorry if I am rambling. Good luck with your decision. I worry that this one you cannot save and be safe. PLEASE be careful!!!

 

[mountaintopchicken]

Ditto what cownancy said. You sound like such a dedicated dog owner, and I wish the very best for any dog, but I am also very worried about your safety.

Remember what this dog was bred for - it was not bred to be a family pet, but a working dog. Because it was used on large wild game way back in its history, the ability to bite and hold its bite without releasing it was prized.

Also, since you have other dogs in the house, it might be wise to keep in mind that, in the breed description it says :

A Cane Corso that shows belligerence towards other dog’s should not be considered a fault (as long as he poses no threat to others) This breeds history as a combat dog predicates a somewhat belligerent attitude towards other dogs, particularly dogs of the same sex.

(from the Cane Corso Association of America )

The website also stresses the importance of socializing this breed at a young age. You are beginning with one of an unknown background that has already shown agression within your family. It is a very difficult situation. I wish you the very best, and please be very careful!​

 

[Livinzoo]

My boyfriend and I just made the decision to euthanize our aggressive dog tonight. She is a 4 year old anatolian and she is just not wired right. She is as sweet as pie one minute and snarling at you the next. I got her for free on craigslist. Keep her in a pen in my goat/pig pasture in hopes that she would take to them. The guy I got her from said she had been around goats. I now believe he had got her to guard his goats and it didn't work out so he pawned her off.

Well she killed a few roosters that free-ranged. I wrote that off to just playing as all she did was pluck them. She then started snarling a the goats or pigs if they got to close to her pen after she got fed. I figured she might be ok if she if she is fed separate. Then she attacked one of the pigs over their food. So I thought well maybe she just can't be around food with them. A few days later she dug out of her pen and got in with the goats and pigs. She was carrying a rooster around plucking him every so often. I put her back up. Several hours later she got out again and actually attacked 2 of my pigs. That was the last straw. She was not going to make a good LGD.

So I decided I wanted to euthanize here. But my boyfriend said no. He wanted to rehome her. I said we need to make sure she is ok to be rehomed, cause I am not pawning off a dangerous dog to someone else. Got a heavy duty basket muzzle before she was brought into the home. I have 3 rotts (1 pure and the others are crosses) plus 4 cats and other animals. Well the first day was tough. Lots of snarling. Finally I thought we had got through to her. My friend and I who are very much dog people were working with her. She had been great all week. I was actually letting her go unmuzzled for a bit. Well she attacked my alpha dog. Broke that up put her in the crate. About 30 minutes later I went in the room and one of the other dogs followed. And the snarling started again. She even looked me square in the eyes and snarled.

My boyfriend saw it and he said thats it. She needs to leave the house. So in the morning I will be finding a vet to save her from herself. She is too much of a liability. With as many sweet loving dogs that are euthanized because they have no home it just isn't right to keep her. We are sad. We love her. But we need to do what is right. Right now she is in the crate looking at me wagging her tail.

It is a hard thing to do, but I know in her case it is the right thing.

I wish you well in your decision. I know it is hard. We are right here with you. If you do give you dog another chance, I think you need to rethink your dog having access to the backyard. I just always worry that someone is going to get injured with a dangerous dog that has unsupervised access to outside.

Good luck