Need help fast - Aggressive Dog

[NMbirds]

Lots of good responses and different solutions and while there are similarities, each case (dog) is really different, just like human beings.
But dogs are not people as much as they are given those attributes, including "man's best friend."
We had a similar situation and had young children at the time and could not endure the risk but it was, in fact, a neighbor who felt threatened that was the turning point and we could not bring ourselves to do the dirty deed so took the dog back to the pound with the bad news.
We have since euthanized several dogs, a very humane way to leave this world and sometimes I wish we could find a way to make that a possible choice for us when the time comes but that's another story for another time.
Just know that you have a lot of support here although I believe it's hard to really rewire a dogs brain and conditioning. Cesar Milan has had a few failures and indeed many successes as the dog whisperer and his whole premise is showing the dog who is in charge = the alpha leader of the pack and the dog submits.
Whatever you decide, do it knowing that you are acting in the best interests of you, your familly, your neighborhood AND the dog. And be sure that's your motivation and bottom line and god bless, good luck.

 

[SussexInSeattle]

The most unfortunate thing is that you have created this biter by excusing her aggressions as circumstantial. In the future, should you ever "Rescue" another abused dog NEVER EVER treat the dog with kindness and excuses for crazy behavior.

This dog has likely heard a thousand "IT's OK Hunny"s whenever she has acted like a mad maniac at the door and all those words are to a dog's ear, praises, telling her she is right on the money for acting like a real jerk!

This dog should have been discouraged from this psycho behavior right in the beginning when she first came to the house and traded in her fear for aggression but she was let go and go and go and it NEVER gets better, it only gets worse if it is ignored and swept under the rug.

I would hate to be the person having to come to your door when your brute dog would take a bite out of ME and draw blood out of MY elbow and have you say 'but it wasn't THAT bad' (!!!) THAT IS BAD! BLOOD DRAWING IS BAD!!! No MATTER the amount. But you are in a pattern of making excuses and so this dog has taken it upon herself to be the pack leader because no one in your house wanted the job so now here is this poor dog, her life is at stake and she didn't even do the wrong thing initially.

If you do not have the money to invest in a trainer to come to your home and train you on how to handle a dog who is totally warped in her thought process of who is leader and who is dog, then the only answer is to have her put down. The next time she may jump up and grab someones face and disfigure them for life. If you have your own home, you could be dropped from your homeowners insurance when the next victim decides to sue because you knowingly kept a dangerous dog on your property.

I do not recommend any more rescue dogs in your future. Find a nice free puppy for your other dog's companion and your child's pet. Watching her parents get sued is no great lesson for any kid to have to see.

I'm sorry if this seems harsh but the entire situation is harsh and out of hand now and you need to come to grips with the reality of what is going on here. I have worked with dogs for 26 years and I am just telling you straight up, just like a dog would tell you if he could.

 

[SussexInSeattle]

I'm now replying to your post number 7 and the pattern is all there, excuse piled on top of excuse of why this dog should have bitten this bad lady for having the nerve to come to your property wearing a hat and gloves in of all places, ALASKA! What was she thinking? Just asking to be bitten to the bone! Come on now! This is SERIOUS! This is NOT childs play! This dog eventually WILL hurt someone to disfigurment and don't think itisn't possible, my 29 year old son carries a scar on his face to this day from a toy poodle who was also all calm and submissive around kids but one day snapped and grabbed his face like a pit bull!

I would NEVER allow ANYTHING to 'crawl all over this dog' as you say all the kids do! This is just inviting tragedy. Please think about the welfare of the children. Many dogs are put down every day just for the lack of having a loving home that never bit anyone for any reason. Keeping this dog this way is not fair to anyone who has any business near or on your property.

 

[SussexInSeattle]

This is in reply to your post #17. When you write that you hope your dog doesn't "Seriously Injure" someone, are you referring to her removing some one's nose, eye, or lip perhaps? Because in my book, STITCHES ARE AS SERIOUS AS YOU CAN GET! Much more so, stitches on the sly given so the dog doesn't get a strike on it's record. Is this a town of enablers? Are animals held in higher regard than human beings are? What happens if this woman's minuscule injuries go staf? Then what? The doctor gets in trouble and your dog gets a naughty mark and the poor neighbor who we poo-poo on for not mattering at all goes through more pain and suffering.

Yes, putting all those signs up will do something. It will inform everyone around taht you are KNOWINGLY harboring a dangerous dog and when she gets her next victim, you will be that much closer to having a lawsuit stand up well in court.

You write that you don't think dominance is an issue. Do you think submissiveness bit your neighbor? You also wrote that if it weren't for those Boston Terriers........ Personally, I used to raise Boston Terriers. Not Cool. You could not compare two more polar opposite personalties than a bite crazy dog and a Lovable Boston Terrier!

Finally, the excuse that keeps coming up over and over about protecting the family; from what? A coat, a hat and gloves?

 

[SussexInSeattle]

In response to your post #27, with all of the most excellent advice that I have been reading that was given to you, I can see that having gotten away with maiming 2 people has you on a roll and that you will not do the right thing until the 3rd and most vicious bite happens. That is really sad because it will likely be one of those kids as people have been mentioning to you and it will likely be just that ONE time when someone left that darn door unlocked for just a second and out raced Hunny and ripped that kids lower lip off his face and now he is having plastic surgeries until he is 30 years old.

You just do not want to see the picture or stop grasping at scapegoats for this dog's terrible behaviour. It's those darn Bostons. Is it really that you simply don't want to fail at this project and THAT is why you are putting everyone around you at risk? Because that is what it is sounding like.

None of the rest of us could ever afford to live at the whim of an 8 year old child who refuses to ever speak again for the rest of their given life, when we know the situation is the old "If your friend jumped off the Empire State Building would you have to do it too?" scenario. Most of the rest of us have to live in the adult world where there are adult consequences and we have to protect children, family and friends to the best of our ability from known harm that may fall on them and that INCLUDES a very unstable and TRULY vicious dog! As many have already said, any dog that takes it upon themself to bite with no known provocation is wired wrong and keeping that time bomb ticking around other human beings is saying something about some other wiring as well.

 

[leslie]

If this was your son instead of your dog.. the law would have him in a cage. Or at the best a very strong drug for serious mental disorder. consider how you would feel if this dog destroyed a childs face or worse.
is the love of this dog worth the risk you are taking?
If this dog hurt my child and I knew you were aware of that risk i would be very very adamant in my endeavor to increase your level of awareness. Hope your home owners insurance is paid up and you are prepared for what comes with that.. get a cage. with a stong lock and make sure he cant dig out and throw away the key. and even then, these aggressive dogs find a way out.
Is he really worth that risk? No dog is worth the life of a human being who is not aggressive or mistreating the dog.
Your family is crying tonight how badly would you be crying if that dogs pic was on the front page of a newspaper showing the do that killed a child.???
your tender feelings and misdirected loyalty is an example of the serious problems we humans have to overcome.

 

[leslie]

Quote:
Its my opinion and as we know everyone has one and I probably should not write the following words... but you did put yorself out here and you did ask for IT..
It seems to me that you have confessed that you have very littl control over any thing in your life.. Your child threatnes you and you bow down.. your other dogs are not in your control they bark and make a total mess when the door bell rings.
and you think that you have the strength to train a dog out of its most basic behavior? He thinks hes protecting himself and you.
Get rid of the dog gently and effectively and then get a book or a trainer and start working on that child. If at 8 she is controlling your world.. i dont want to even think of what you have to go with in another 8 years.. Im mother to 3 of my own and 3 doners. without an edge at age 8...you are in trouble.. wow! eat your cheerios you have a race to run..start training now.

ups just called they are delivering your refill on DENIAL.

 

[Cetawin]

First of all, I applaud you for getting Hunny from the pound because too many innocent animals are put to death each year because of irresponsible breeding and owners.

Secondly, I have read every reply posted prior to my own and let me say that I am appalled at some of the heartless and totally absurd replies. Because a dog bites a stranger does not by any means indicate that the dog would bite a family member or a child.

BOTH cases of this dog biting involved someone approaching the door i.e. the dog's space...one a child opened the door before the dog could be restrained and the other an inconsiderate neighbor opened the door to someone's home and walked in UNINVITED.

I would look for a behaviorlist also. You cannot blame Hunny for biting someone who "came into her home". someone opening a door and coming in that does not live there is provocation to a dog to defend. In dog bite cases, that simple fact has won lawsuits. There is strict liability in most dog bite cases (depending on your state) but most of those exclude matters of provocation and apportion damages for medical and so forth but not for the stupidity of the individual walking in uninvited.

Most females are territorial whereas males are person attached. So coming to the door is a direct assault on her perimeter. The behavior can be corrected with time, patience and proper guidance. Goldens are hyper and active and downright goofy at some points but that does mean they are psycho or untrustworthy. The shepard in her is a natural guard dog personality and being female property defensive as well.

She sounds like a wonderful family pet that has an underlying protectiveness issue. She was abused before you got her and has known only love since...she is defensive of that. try to look at it from her point and get her the help she needs which is not a shot.

 

[jjthink]

Erin,
If you can talk to Cesar Milan or someone like him for their very experienced advice, this may help you know the best course of action to take. There is also an animal behaviorist by the name of Warren Eckstein (www.thepetshow.com). He also has a free call in radio show on Saturdays from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. EST on 710WOR Radio (www.wor710.com). It will be difficult for Warren to address a complex situation in radio time, but he may be able to direct you to a great source for guidance on this, or perhaps you can contact him through his website. He's a very caring person (towards both humans and 4 legged souls), and understands these difficulties.

In the meantime, also employ calming homeopathics like Rescue Remedy that can be placed in all the dog's water bowls - it will not harm any of them and may dial things down a notch or two while you are working on this. This is not suggested as a solution by any stretch, but rather as a supplemental aid. I don't think anybody here needs to tell you to block Hunny's access to visitors - I'm sure you're already doing that!

Whatever happens, you adopted a dog out of a shelter to save it from death and you should be commended for that - too many folks are just letting their dogs and cats breed with abandon (with every excuse in the book) when millions upon millions die every year in shelters because there are not enough homes.
All the best.
JJ

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
Quote:
:|