my dog bit my friend---should I put him down?

[RiverOtter]

Just put him down

It's not fair to him and anyone else to make him someone else's problem. Yes, there are rescues who might take him but honestly you don't want a whackjob like that to have him. He will end up spending his life locked in a crate while some do-gooder cootchy coos "But he's just misunderstood"
I'm sorry to sound so harsh, but I've worked rescue and any GOOD rescue knows you don't throw funding at a problem animal when there are perfectly healthy, non-mental ones being put to sleep. So what he'll get is someone who is a little off and wants to save the world, can't handle everything, and ends up with way too many animals stuck in crates and cages.

That's no kind of life for him.

And honestly, like several people have mentioned. I know dogs, I love dogs, I train dogs, I've both worked and volunteered at shelters. Really love dogs, but if your dog bit MY kid, I would beat it's head in with a baseball bat and then own your house. This animal has been snapping at people since it was a puppy. In 2 years, the behaivior has only escalated, that tells me that it will only get worse.

So, my advice to you is to go to your local animal shelter. Volunteer to walk dogs for an hour. Meet all these sweet lovey dogs who would never even dream of laying teeth on someone. All those wonderful dogs who would love someone to play fetch with. All those dogs who only want a belly rub and a kind word. All those dogs who will get a lethal injection after x number of days.
Then go home and look at your dog who has already bitten someone. Who lives in a defensive state of fear. Who you have to arrange your life around. And then tell me what you think the right decision is.

If you want to save a dog then PLEASE, save a dog. But save a dog who can one day be a loving companion to you. This one won't.

And please, no one give me that but maybe he'll be a good guard dog nonsense. My old fella was an awesome guard dog. Made it into the newspaper. But any child could literally sit on him and yank on his ears until I got there to rescue him and he would only thump his tail.
I got him from Animal Control.

 

[StormyMoon]

I crate my dogs when people come over who do not know my dogs. They sleep in their crates and they have been in a crate from the day we got them.

The longest time they have been in their crate through the night......i dont suggest leaving them in a cage all the time.
I think it would be maddening to be locked up 24/7.

 

[IcarusSomnio]

Quote:
Kudos to that. My mom had a GS at one point, completely and utterly untrained since it was a pup (she pretty much just neglected it) but thankfully not aggressive. She went to a good country home who turned her around and made her into a wonderful family pet.

Fine examples of untrained dogs:
Lani - German Shepherd I mentioned above. Jumped on people, pottied in the house, pulled on the leash, chewed, dug, jumped fences.
-Trainable, yes. Went to a fine home who did work with her.

Lani - Great Dane (moms second dog). Ran away when off leash. Randomly nipped at strangers petting her. Highly aggressive to other dogs and animals. Mauled my kitten. PULLED on the leash. Barked like mad. Pottied in the house forever and then some.
-Trainable, no. Found an experienced, single dog (her) home. Unsure what happened to her after that. I would have put her down, but it wasn't something for me to decide.

Chihuahua - Highly insecure. Nipped at ankles on occasion. Barked constantly.
-Trainable, yes. With careful and consistent socialization and some training. Wasn't an aggressive, or mean dog, just one that was insecure and unsure of himself.

Irish Wolfhound x - Barks, digs, chews on everything. Mounts other dogs. Bites people at random.
-Trainable, no. This dog is best put down, or muzzled and worked with carefully. Too aggressive and dominate, biting unacceptable and dangerous.

Jason, terrier mix - Barks, digs, chews, hyperactive, potties in the house, doesn't obey commands.
-Trainable, definitely YES. All he needed was a firm, dominate owner to put him in his place and work with him on a consistent basis. Needed a job to keep him busy. Young owner was told that he 'ran away' after a while. I was pretty ticked when I heard.

Hazel, Great Dane x Boxer - Doesn't obey commands, jumps on people, climbs into laps, pulls on leash, easily distracted and doesn't listen to commands when distracted.
-Trainable, high yes. A consistent training schedule and a firm, dominate owner was all she required. Still working with her with excellent results. Loves to play training games. Working on taking treats gently, after a year of snagging food from toddlers and off tables, it's a bit hard to break but she is showing progress.

 

[Dar]

I agree put him down BUT.... after a few things have been done!!!

1) take the dog to the vet and have the dogs hearing checked!... my parents chow bit my daughter.... I was livid I was ready to do it myself..... BUT once I calmed down and thought about things...They took the dog to the vet and had a bunch of tests done... he was losing his hearing and my DD scared him.... they put a light at the front door hooked up to the door bell and when the bell rings the light will flash

solved that problem of us walking in and scaring him because he knows there is someone at the door

2) if the dog is not neutered DO SO!!!

3) consult a trainer/behaviorist.. see if there are training methods that can help with this aggression

If all of the above prove futile then ok send him over the rainbow bridge.... and do so with a clean conscious knowing that you have done everything you can as a responsible pet owner to elevate this problem ... I would not be to quick to do it right off the cuff

 

[Catstar68]

After many, many years in the veterinary profession, I am very leery of chow chows or anything that looks part chow. Anyone in the profession will tell you their own version of chow horror stories. We muzzled nearly every chow that came in the door if we had to do anything remotely distressing like clip nails or draw blood, some owners even brought their own muzzle for their chows. They are just an example of a breed that has a genetic defect called 'idiopathic aggression'. Although not all aggression is 'idiopathic' and any breed can get it, breeds that have the predisposition towards it also have the tendency to be unstable and environmental factors can exacerbate this.
I know this is unfair and you shouldn't paint a breed with so wide a brush but they have earned their reputation, IMHO. On the flipside, my sister's MIL had a lovely, well-bred and socialized chow that was a joy.

Those are very few and far between.
To euthanize or not? If there is no medical reason for the dog's aggression, it is neutered and the aggression is increasing despite working with him (professionally) then I see no reason to give him away and make him someone else's problem. Put him down humanely.
my 2 pennies.

 

[patandchickens]

It seems to me that the if the o.p.'s parents were interested in trying to contain and train this dog, never expose the dog to situations where bad outcomes are likely, and put a lot of work into changing not just the dogs behavior but their OWN behavior, we would not even be HAVING this discussion.

Thus I would betcha anything that the above is not really an option. (It won't work if only one person in the household -- the o.p. -- is invested in it).

If the dog can't be limited in its activities until-and-unless it reaches a point of training where it can be prevented from doing what its nature clearly impels it to do, then for the sake of everyone else around I think it is probably (sadly) best to euthanize.

I know that in a perfect world, the o.p.'s parents would move heaven and earth to make things right for this dog, or some angel dog trainer would come along and adopt him, but realistically...

Best of luck,

Pat

 

[StormyMoon]

Quote:
Kudos to that. My mom had a GS at one point, completely and utterly untrained since it was a pup (she pretty much just neglected it) but thankfully not aggressive. She went to a good country home who turned her around and made her into a wonderful family pet.

When you have a dog that will lock eyes with you, its hackles raise up, and it gets a wild look in its eye........something isn't right.

A dog who is mentally stable don't just go crazy for no reason. Something happens while it is growing up, in its genes or in the way it was treated.
I don't care what the excuse is.....when any animal lunges at a human unless it is specifically being trained for guard duty I would put that dog down.

In my house there is a huge rule no dog bites the hand that feeds it. This includes my husband, and my children.

We keep the alpha role in its proper place.

We are above the dog, the dog is below us.

If we put our dogs in the living room and want to go to the kitchen to eat, my dogs are to lay down and stay put until I come back no if ands or buts.

If people want to own a dog, they should know and accept full responsibility for them and take that time to go to a trainer if they do not know how and get the dog as many lessons until the dog gets it.

 

[Ema]

I have 5 dogs all large breed and have had many dogs over the years. I have a bird dog a scent dog both trained at home and great animals but 2 yellow labs are fantastic girls and lastly my german sheppard/st. bernard dog is huge, definitely underweight because he refuses to eat at times. But still to anyone looking at him face to face he is utterly a giant. At home he is an amazing dog, sweet disposition and loves to be hugged and talked to and play ball or frisbee. However as soon as other people come around his misdemeanor changes and becomes aggressive. we have people over often and the ones he knows well he simply barks but no growling. He shows no aggression towards any child of any sort. but just adults and he seriously gets unmanageable if a stranger comes near my children. this meaning he will literally scale the 8 foot fence we build in his pen to keep him in and get out one way or another. The rest of our dogs are super trained. one word and they do exactly as we say no matter what the situation. Him however only listens in the house and when its just us. I live in the middle of nowhere on a large farm and neighbours are far enough away. we have plenty of predators which I have seen a reduction since getting him. My issue is when people visit us and the aggression he shows. Because we live so far away from everything my husband thinks all will be fine but truth be told I am afraid to take him out or to see the vet and what he will do if one day I don't catch him fast enough. I mentioned to my husband about putting him down if I can't get anywhere with him and my husband got super angry with me for even thinking about it. but he is 1.5 years old and still not fully trained like he should be, and that is not for lack of trying. He apparantly thinks he is the boss of everything when Outside.

I am a huge animal lover and my advise to you is to put him down. I hate to say it but no rescue place will help him at all, and one day he could really injure someone and you will be held liable. Sadly some people think that turning a dog over to a rescue centre will help the dog. but honestly the dog can then go from home to home and it will only make them more agressive in the end. I have actually seen this happen. Its a sad reality :-( Good luck with your dog and I hope in the end you find a solution!!

 

[Damummis]

I am not going to tell you what to do, BUT You have to realize that your parents can loose their house for this. Not only will you just loose your pet you could very well loose the place you live. I know in my state you have to notify your insurance company if you get a dog. If the dog bites anyone it has to be put down or your insurance will be dropped. If the house insurance gets dropped and the person who was bit decides to sue it wouldn't turn out good.

You have to make a decision based of what is good for the many, not the few. What is more important? A dog that has shown aggression and could hurt someone else, or the safety and home of you and your family.

Good luck.

 

[MagsC]

I love chows because of how they are usually a one family dog. In the same breath that takes a lot of responsiblity.

We currently have a three year old chow cross that we got when he was 10 months old and un-neutered. Neutering DID help.
I wouldnt say put him down just yet but work with him and absolutely dont let him be in situations where he can bite a stranger.
Like a previous posters, our dog is great with us and children, he doesnt like strange adults.
Ultimately though you have to take much into consideration. The insurance thing would concern me.