Aye! Rolo be on trial today - Page 2

Wanderer,

I too had a similar problem with a dog.  I dont think the dog was born that way, at least mine wasnt.   But you were right about the time bomb thing and you did what had to be done..  its hard I know all to well.   Temperment matters yes, but what matters more is that you were responcible and used good judgement.

I didnt raise this dog, she was a trade.  I knew one day she would bite someone. 

Some dogs are just born fearful, others have had something or someone make them that way.  I knew this one had been abused.   I did what I had to do and the dog did not suffer.  She was a nice dog other than her fears.  it wasnt her fault.

It was good to read your story.   

 Wanderer,

I am so sorry you had that experience with your dog, but I honor you for doing the right thing. The bottom line is that if someone has a dog who is a danger, and if they are not able to keep society safe and therefore the dog safe too, then there are few real choices.  You made a terribly painful decision, but based on what you say, probably the right one. I am sure your heart will be pained all your life when you think of this, but you see now by the dogs you have that in some situations one must make the difficult decision.

I recently had a client who contacted me for some help with an extremely aggressive dog. The dog had actually bitten several people but it was only after the dog almost killed a small dog in the neighborhood that the dog came to the attention of the authorities. The owner loved the dog, of that I am sure. And in her own way, I think she had tried to get help and had tried to use common sense to deal with the socialization, but the dog was a fear biter in the worst sense of the word. She had two young children and they had friends over and the dog bit one of the children. She started to work with me and every single week I started with her by telling her she could NEVER trust the dog and that the dog MUST be secured when ANYONE was at the house. I worked for weeks with the dog muzzled as there was no doubt the dog would bite me. I made some progress with the dog, but I am an adult with a lot of experience, and believe me, I was very, very careful with the dog. 

To make a long story short, Christmas came and went and I did not hear from this client. I emailed her to set up a lesson and she wrote back that her sons had playmates over during Christmas and she put the dog in a bedroom and one of the boys opened the door and the dog came out and chased the kids and bit the neighbors' child in the face leaving a large gash. She put the dog down and told me how heartbroken she was. 

I felt very sorry for her, but frankly, I felt even sorrier for the child. Even though I thought she heard what I told her every week, it is clear that it did not sink in. I am rethinking whether I should just simply tell people who have dogs like this to put the dog down. I have in the past when the situation warranted or when I thought the owner did not get it. But she did get it and it still happened because she did not secure the dog in a locked kennel. The bottom line is that society has a right to not have dogs scaring the crap out of people, chasing them around their neighborhoods or biting people. Most of the time it is the owner who has failed to set limits. But in some instances, there are dogs who just are genetically not capable of dealing with situations differing from their normal routine. No amount of work will fix that.

You did the right thing, painful as it is.

Thank you.

Aye, Rolo won't be sleeping with t' fishes just yet.

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_8380635

 From the news article: The defense put dog trainer Ted Terroux on stand this afternoon. He runs Canine College in Lakewood and has been


Rolo the dog. (rolodog.com)

working with Rolo. Terroux testified that if Hagan follows his instructions, he can guarantee that Rolo will never bite anyone again.

Boy, that is about as foolish a testimony I have ever heard. Any one want to bet?

Aye! me not be wanting to book t' bet on t' next time Rolo decides to take a chunk out o' someone's Booty aye!  What me has to say is, how bad can anyone be, when they do all their upholstery work with Duct Tape, like t' Captain aye!

Speaknow,

People I know with dangerous animals keep them safely confined yet there are no guarantee's.  I'm not just speaking of dogs.   Everyones situation is different.   I have a friend who keeps wolves and hybrids, he has double fences, kennels with a boundary fence.  Signs and warnings, every attempt was made, even a fence around the entire property (fence #3). 

  Yet some nosey woman and her kid entered the outer enclosure and tried to pat a wolf thru a chainlink panel and got bit.  Then came the lawyers, animal control, polititions and the press.  The guy wasnt even home and the woman was clearly tresspassing.   I believe he settled out of court and was forced to move to another county after laws changed.

It is up to you to decide what must be done.   You know your animal and your showing concern so at least you know what is possible.   Putting an animal down is not the only answer, yet an animal is not worth your life savings or a childs well being.

I think you are responcible and will come up with a solution.

Good luck.

I agree hodie that retraining is no guarantee, maybe this trainer would put his money were his mouth is and take this dog himself.     I have no problem with retraining.   I wonder what the last victim thinks of the statement.   I also have no problem with putting an animal down.   Only those involved first hand really know whats what.  Its up to them. 

Aye, aye, CaptMike----About "ROLO"........For no other reason than I want to clearly understand the thinking of the screen names, (could care less who you really are), I have to ask a simple question and would prefer a simple answer...with no need to explain or elaborate on reasons.  Do you think the dog should be sleeping with t'fishes or not?  Just, yes or no? I read the articles and trial transcripts, and would prefer that...if little 'Nemo'  has an untimely demise, he RsIP with ONLY the other dead fishys (sp?).
 

Speak---If I may....I, also, have a question for you.  Are you seriously contemplating putting your dog down having been influenced by what the above posters wrote?

LMH,

You sound like you have some advice to offer speaknow, dont keep it to yourself.    I would like to hear if you have anything new to offer.  I dont mean that in a bad way, new idea's are always good.