Help!....My son wants a dog!

[Kansas Prairie]

I believe dogs are great for kids, when kids have a tuff day, they have a dog always happy to see them and spend time with them. When deciding what breed of dog would fit our family and climates we looked up information about breeds with the kids. I believe it was the American Kennel Club wedsite that had interesting information on each breed. My children have feeding chores and the animals eat and have fresh water before the kids get to eat. They also share in giving baths and scooping poop when/if needed. We always start out with "crate training" method until they are house broke.

We've had several GSP over the years. By nature they are loyal, energetic and want to please their master. They do need room to run daily or they will get bored and chew on things like their own legs if they are kept in a small dog run and not let out to run daily. If there is no fence they will follow a scent of something interesting and keep going and going. They are bird dogs and trying to train them to ignore chickens is like trying to train men not to enjoy looking at beautiful women. Since you already have a hunting dog, I'm telling you things you probably already know. They "pick" the person who "coaches" and feeds them, they love everyone in the family and love attention. The short hair is nice, in our part of the world sand burrs are everywhere, long haired dogs and sand burrs equal trouble. We also have two other dogs and one family cat, everyone gets along. We have several barn cats that all of the dogs chase, and the poultry have strong pens.

 

[FlaRocky]

Hello,

I would narrow the search to just a few breeds then contact the breed rescue group for each. Most of them do a fantastic job of matching the dog to the person. You will get a dog that has been temperment tested, spayed or nutered, utd on shots and heartworm tested and on preventive. Most of the way crate trained and house broke. And a lot of them will have a little of obedience on them. ( All the ones that I fostered had basic obedience or CD level on them when ready to place.)

Maye

Ride The Glide......Got Gait.....I Do.....

 

[gg706]

We got a dog today!

I will post pics as soon as possible. Might be tomorrow before I get it done.....I am VERY busy training my son who is training the dog. She is about 10 weeks old by a guess. No one knows for sure. She is one of 3 pups that were found in box dumped by the side of the road

People are SO horrible! She looks to be a beagle mix of some sort. Guessing she will get about 35 lbs when full grown. So far everything is going well. My son LOVES her already!

I am really enjoying watching him care for her and him walking around the property with the pup close behind following his feet. Hopefully it is a good match. I decided to pass on the GSP simply because they are such powerful dogs. I really appreciate everyone's advice, it really was very helpful. It was helpful to narrow the search down, I had kind of decided on a beagle mix and the next day she came up at our local shelter....I called the shelter last night to inquire about the pup and see if she was still available. She had been at an event yesterday, the shelter director said she was VERY suprised no one adopted her and that she would be out again today at PetSmart. God works in mysterious ways!

 

[leadwolf1]

Congratulations I can't wait to see pictures, she sounds absolutely perfect for a little boy!!

 

[gg706]

Yesterday after we had the puppy home for a few hours. I told my son to take her to use the potty. She did not want to come out of the kennel so he got down and picked her up and was getting her out and she snapped. She didn't actually bite him but she did the "snapping bark" I ran over there because I thought she had in fact bitten him. He was really lucky. So I removed her from the kennel and we took ker up to go potty. My son took her to his room and she was sitting beside him....Myself and our other dog walked into the room and the pup came after our weim barking NOT a playful bark a snapping "get away" claiming type bark then she went back to my son. I took her out to potty before we went to bed and she would go after our other dog anytime MY weim would come near to me. This is not a protective bark it is a snapping claiming bark. I am not sure what to think of this. IF the dog was mine and I were her leader I believe her behavior would be different. My son is not going to put this dog in her place he just wants to love her. I am VERY concerned this dog will bite him someday. Please keep in mind this dog is approx. 10 weeks old and started this behavior a few hours after she got here. We did not see this behavior at the shelter. There is a 2 week trial period to return the dog for another dog OR get your money back if it doesn't work out. I don't like the idea of returning a dog...however I have only seen this kind of behavior in dog's who eventually bit or would bite someone. Anyone have any advice to offer. I don't know what to do...this was supposed to be such a happy time and it is turning into a nightmare!

 

[gg706]

To add to my post I guess I specifically want to know from dog people out there if my thought is correct that the dog has more dominating traits than my son can probably handle and if this behavior can be changed with training and confidence building for my son and the dog. I DON"T want to expose my son to being bitten to keep a dog. I don't want to walk on eggshells or go out of our way to make sure not to "upset" the dog to keep it from wanting to snap. I want a dog I can trust with my son. He is in a learning process and I need a dog that can handle that...I am afraid I made a bad choice. I also did some research and the dog actually looks more Jack Russel than Beagle.

 

[leadwolf1]

That's why, I don't do shelter dogs. I know, I know..it is the right thing to do but, I have found that people dump problem animals without full disclosure. The dogs behave differently in a shelter environment and when you get them home, they totally change. I know that there are many wonderful dogs out there but, I have heard enough horror stories that I prefer a different approach...now, to come down offa my soap box...

I would get your son and his puppy into a kindergarten puppy class ASAP. That is not a quality that you want to allow to continue. Even if you have to take the reins and only allow your son to do the loving part. Puppies have little teeth but, they can do some serious damage if sunk into soft tissue. I taught obedience classes for years and I have countless scars to prove what happens when people decide to 'baby' their puppies.

Good luck with the little girl...I think with work she will come around but, you will need to get her out and socialize her every chance that you get. She sounds like she has a tendency to be dog and people aggressive and has been allowed to get away with it.

 

[gg706]

Thank You lead wolf for the advice. So it can be changed? Or will we be stuck with always having to be on our guard because this is her personality?

 

[leadwolf1]

I can not guarantee that it can be changed. I can tell you what you can do to hopefully change the behavior. If it is a jack russell, it is an altogether different animal, as terriers are quite a different story than sporting dogs.

I am not a terrier lover. I don't like their need to hunt and kill every little animal that they meet. That being said, I will put my bias aside and stand by what I said in the earlier post and add to it.

I would never allow the puppy to get the upper hand. So, I wouldn't allow my son to get her out of the crate or, in any situation that he can't handle. I would take them to puppy kindergarten but, I would be there as backup. Stopping a behavior from starting is much easier than stopping it once it starts. Please, don't put your son in any situation that he might be bitten. I'm taking back my previous thought. You take the puppy to puppy kindergarten. That way, your son won't be any danger if his puppy would attack another dog. You could then come home and teach him what he needs to do. He can then, under your supervision do all the exercises from class. That way, they can have the bonding time but, none of the stress from class. I would start taking her out to as many places and meeting as many people as you can. Making her sit and accepting petting calmly...do not let her get into the puppy/terrier hyper mode. I would also work with her with the obedience part so that she knows that she must obey...your son will probably not be assertive enough. I am not a great lover of clicker training...some breeds are great with it..others, it makes monsters out of. I raise and train akitas, I tried just clicker training two of my males. It was the worst mistake that I could have made. They think that they are boss since I never asserted myself as such...always allowing them to 'get' through the clicker what was expected. Now, if I try and force an issue, they will growl and I am certain should I push, they would bite. I've never made that mistake again. I am letting you know this upfront so that if you would prefer a gentler approach, I probably am not the best person to work with. My belief is that I will do whatever it takes to make a good dog and keep one from being sent to a shelter or euthanized for bad behavior. I don't especially care for the dogs' feelings..just ending up with a happy, well adjusted member of the family that can be trusted.

I'm really hoping this works out and that your son gets his puppy but, I do not want him hurt! As, I am sure you don't either. Let's try and work with her for awhile and see what we can do...I'm just afraid that he will get attached and be heartbroken if she doesn't work out.

Let me know through PM if you would like any more suggestions. I don't care to be judged by others on my techniques.

 

[TXchickmum]

There is no telling what type of abuse or neglect that the dog may have been subjected to previously (prior to being adopted into your loving home environment). That alone may have some bearing upon the behavior. You are wise to be very cautious. Purchasing from a shelter or rescue is wonderful, but does potentially present a host of issues. Also, I would agree that the dog can be worked with through classes. -doesn't have to maintain the behavior that it is now exhibiting. We rescued a young dalmatian from a rescue organization when my son was three. He desperately wanted a puppy! The dog had previously been in two different homes and had been harmed in some form or fashion by someone. He was very friendly towards my son and me, but was quite stand-offish and barked aggressively at my husband and any other adult male that came too close. We were very vigilant in working with him, and he turned out to be the most wonderful dog. (dificult to walk on a leash, as he would drag us - but then again, it was part of the nature of his breed to want to run out in front) We never had any issues with aggressive, biting behavior; however, he was very protective of my son, and then later my daughter (when she came along). He eventually died of old age and has been missed so much.
Our second pooch was a yorkie purchased from a breeder. -fabulous, fabulous family pet!! He has been a real joy - super temperament, energy, and personality. Being a terrier, he is a bit high strung and feisty (even in a 5-6 lb. package.) If you in fact do have a pup that is part Jack Russell, he will likely have a dominant nature (that can be somewhat aggressive), as they are little hunters by breed. (was never so shocked in all my life than the day my prissy bow-in-the-hair pup darted after a mouse, snagged it, and shook the fire out of the poor thing before trotting it right up to my feet......but alas, he was doing what the breed was bred to do.)
-best of luck with your decision, and I hope that you and your son find the perfect dog for him! -sounds like you all are very conscientious and will give much love and care to a lucky dog.