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

[SilverPhoenix]

I would consult a behaviorist and some animal sanctuaries like Best Friends before you make any harsh decisions. It could be that someone out there will be willing to take on this difficult case. I would use putting him down as a last resort. The way I see it, you might as well make an effort contacting people and trying to save him before putting him down. It could be that some trainer wants a dog to rehabilitate, or something similar, you never know. Chances aren't great, but it's worth a shot. I'm sorry you're in this situation, it's very upsetting and sad.

 

[brownlikewoah]

personally, if he were my dog, I wouldn't put him down just yet. Chows have a mind of their own and require a lot of training and socialization to be friendly with strangers. If you really want to keep your dog, I would start training the NILIF (google it) program immediately. No more running loose outside with the ability to chase people down, keep him in a fence, or on a leash. Take LONG walks with him, with him at your side, ready to WORK. Do not allow him to be near your guests, for their safety, keep him in a different room. Unless you are willing to invest a lot of time, effort, money towards a trainer, I would seriously consider putting him down. If you aren't able to rehab him it is unsafe to have a biter running around, but at the same time I feel that once you comit yourself to owning a pet, you are responsible for raising them for life amd I don't like to give up easily.

 

[babyblue]

unless you can be 100% sure that you can keep this dog contained and away from all strangers at all times, as well as undergoing an extenseive training program the best thing to do, for the safety of all others around your dog, is to have it put down. right now this dog is a mangled biten child waiting to happen.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Quote:
Hi there. I feel for you in this situation and I actually deal with this quite often. You have had a fearful and aggressive dog for almost three years, things are escalating and its only going to get worse. Your dog is not being "protective" of you or your house. He is being defensive of himself because he has, most likely, a genetically unstable temperament.

He has had a long time to practice his aggression. And since it is working for him it won't stop at this time without a LOT of intervention, if at all. I will echo what others have said in that Chow Chow's have more tendency than a lot of other breeds to be unstable. I don't know really what it is but the chow mixes also tend to inherit this temperament trait. I have seen several down right dangerous chow mixes and pure bred Chow Chows.

Please don't give your dog away and make your parents mistake into someone else's responsibility. Its not fair to your dog or the potential new owners. The most humane and responsible thing would be to euthanize your dog before things get much, much worse.

I am really sorry and I know how hard of a situation this is.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
Hi there. I feel for you in this situation and I actually deal with this quite often. You have had a fearful and aggressive dog for almost three years, things are escalating and its only going to get worse. Your dog is not being "protective" of you or your house. He is being defensive of himself because he has, most likely, a genetically unstable temperament.

He has had a long time to practice his aggression. And since it is working for him it won't stop at this time without a LOT of intervention, if at all. I will echo what others have said in that Chow Chow's have more tendency than a lot of other breeds to be unstable. I don't know really what it is but the chow mixes also tend to inherit this temperament trait. I have seen several down right dangerous chow mixes and pure bred Chow Chows.

Please don't give your dog away and make your parents mistake into someone else's responsibility. Its not fair to your dog or the potential new owners. The most humane and responsible thing would be to euthanize your dog before things get much, much worse.

I am really sorry and I know how hard of a situation this is.

And that's really saying something, coming from a dog trainer....well said Jamie.

 

[Akane]

I would definitely not put the dog down. If you walk in my house unannounced you will not get a warm welcome. You may leave with a bruise. I consider that to be a good dog. That's the minimal amount of force needed to stop someone. One of the reasons I got the breed I did was because I knew she would not let anyone anywhere that I did not specifically say they could go. Now if gashes and puncture wounds are being left you have a problem but nips and bruises are only warnings and can be stopped with a little effort. We also had an aussie shep growing up that was extremely protective of us. One person walked in the door without knocking and he nipped her hand in warning. Another time we were putting up christmas ornaments and my friend who was sitting on the couch stood up quickly to hand a hook to me and he flattened her back down and bit through her lip. He's actually the most obedient and friendly dog I've ever been around. I'd give about anything to have another just like him. However I've been taught the hard way that dogs of such temperament need good training and socialization. I think this dog simply lacks one or both.

I would immediately start taking it to dog classes and discuss with the trainer the issues you are having. I would make sure everyone knew not to come in the house announced and/or train the dog to go to a certain spot every time the door is opened. I know someone with shibas who are horrible door bolters that taught them to go to their kennels every time someone knocked on the door. They had someone repeatedly come knock on the door and the instant they did the owner would throw dog treats in to the crates and tell the dogs to go in. Eventually they worked up to the door opening without the dogs moving. Such training could prevent this issue as well. If you don't want or need your dog to alert you to someone at the door and protect your house then teach them an alternative behavior.

If you can't put in the time or lack the skills then I would rehome the dog. There are plenty of people who would be glad to take on what I see as pretty minor issues considering the breed and amount of force used so far. I would simply disclose all dangerous or bad behavior and then ask the person what they would do about it to be sure they had a plan to prevent any future problems. Personally I could keep a dog with those issues just fine in this house. I live in the middle of nowhere. We rarely have visitors and when we do I expect the dogs to hold them at the door until I let the person in. I also do not have or ever plan on having kids. The odds of a defensive nippy personality being a problem here are quite low. Most likely the odds could be made as close to nonexistent as possible with some obedience classes and socialization. My akita spent the first year of her life only being away from me for a couple hours a week. She went absolutely everywhere I did so she learned what was an appropriate response to a variety of situations and what wasn't. Being left in a house and small yard all day with no training is what makes good guarding breeds in to something that is difficult to handle or even dangerous.

 

[PineappleMama]

Only problem with that ^ is that bruising might have been all the dog was able to do because the victim was hauling tail... if this was a child, who couldn't outrun the dog or was too terrified to try... the damage could be a lot worse... OR if the person doesn't run (and isn't on their property) then maybe nothing happens.

Long and short, you know your dog. If it's gotten to the point where YOU believe he's capable of really hurting someone then you know what you have to do... might make you feel a little better to have others justify your decision for you, but in the end it's your responsibility to take care your your animal.

 

[Show Me Chick]

Another time we were putting up christmas ornaments and my friend who was sitting on the couch stood up quickly to hand a hook to me and he flattened her back down and bit through her lip.

That's awful, I hope you paid for their medical bills. I would have shot my dog right then and there for that.​

 

[Wifezilla]

Having known 3 wonderful dogs that suddenly decided to start biting people, I would put the dog down. And those dogs were chows.

 

[Oven Ready]

might make you feel a little better to have others justify your decision for you, but in the end it's your responsibility to take care your your animal.

Wise words from PineappleMama. It is your (or your parents) responsibility to take care of the animal it is also your responsibility to ensure your animal is not a danger to your friends, family and the public at large.

Yes, some people have dogs that will bite on command or if you enter their house uninvited, that's what dogs are good at. They are excellent at biting things, people, chickens, shoes, toys. Every dog has the capability to really hurt not just a child, but a full grown adult and I think a lot of dog owners forget that fact.

We all have 'bad days' but most of us get on with it without wounding anyone, when a dog is having a bad day, it can easily turn into a bad day for someone else and one they'll remember for the rest of their lives.​