Need to re-home a biting GSD - Page 1

Hello We are seeking an alternative to euthanizing our 6 1/2 yr-old German Shepherd--he has been a wonderful pet, but he has an extensive history of nipping and biting. We have done a great deal of training with him since we got him at 5 months. He loves riding in any boat, in any car, long walks, is happy to be in the crate when we are at work or when there are too many people in the house. He is terrific on the leash and off. He can go 8-10 hours alone while we are at work. He is very well-mannered and obedient 99.9% of the time. However, Arlo bit one of our neighbors last week--a serious bite, damaged her arm, she was known to him, gave no discernible warning, did not show shame after correction. The last serious bite was in 2017, but he has nipped several people since then. This recent bite was a clear escalation. We do not feel we can safely keep him. We have sent him for training 2-3 times, for 2 weeks at a time, with an experienced GSD trainer and have also participated in training for scores of hours. We love this dog and feel it is kinder to euthanize him than to surrender him to a bad situation. We have many visitors in our home (including our 4 adult children) and live in a neighborhood where he encounters many people on a daily basis--we just cannot continue to have him in our home. He would make a wonderful pet for someone with GSD experience who lives in a more isolated setting where the dog can be kept away from people besides his owner. We have clearly not been successful in managing his behavior in the context in which we live. We are reaching out to shelters, rescues, and trainers who might know of someone who would take him. He is an all-black coated shepherd--AKC registered with Czech and German bloodlines.  Bred by Nancy Rhynard at Westwood Kennels in Hilliard, Ohio.  We are currently located in Sullivan County, NY. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

Have you spoken to your attorney about trying to pass off a known biter? I would....I understand that you are trying to do well by this dog, but, passing off a dog that has issues with causing damage might not be the smartest thing, financially speaking or ethically. Speak to your attorney before you do this, they may counsel you against it.

Agreed. I would not try to place a biter in another home. People can claim to be able to handle him, however, should he kill a child or disfigure someone, how would you feel? If all of that training didn't deter him, I doubt another environment would. Once you hand him off to another person, he is traumatized [ to some degree] and very unsure of what will happen next. Not a good recipe for a biter.

Just my $.02

I had a SAR dog that was fine with people. But at 10 yrs he became aggressive. He was raised by us from an eight week pup but we had no option but to put him put him down. It was hard to do but the liability of a bite was too great. Being a responsible dog owner comes with making tough decisions.

I have seen advertisements from private security companies seeking such dogs for retraining and contracting out as guard/sentry/junkyard dogs etc..

If the security firms GK1 refers to are willing to take the risk because they can use him commercially, yes that is worth a try, first; but you MUST be honest with them that this is what they are buying / rehoming. And you also have to be very clear that you are then committing your previously family dog to a different existence, and judge whether that's actually better than getting him euthanised. If it was me I would want to check out any such firm very carefully.

I would not give my dog to a guard dog company to live the rest of its life behind a fence at some junkyard, eating old roy, never go to a vet. I would put that dog down before that happened.

…along with about 50 million human beings living under similar (or worse) conditions, all better off dead right??

No GK1, I am speaking of my dog and what I would do in this situation.

ADD: Since this was brought up. It is my dog and my responsibility, yes? Therefore I would choose what is best for the situation, and what is best, for this particular situation, for me and my dog, is to have it put down. I would not allow it to change hands knowing that it has problems and I do not want it to live as some guard dog. Have you ever seen those dogs, have you ever seen their living conditions? Spending all day in a 5 foot cage, surrounded by a 6 foot high wooden fence so that it does not look like shit for clients, but, also not allow any cross ventilation so the dogs suffer in the 100 plus degree heat or the freezing cold. Screw that, its my dog and my decision, end of story.

I agree with HD. If it were MY dog I would put him down and not take the chance of someone getting hurt and yes it would fall on me even though I placed-the dog and no longer in my care. The life of a guard dog is horrible not one for any dog. Putting him a place like that is darn right cruel. Too many owners think with their own needs and not what’s best for the best no matter how hard of decision it is