Major issues with rescue dog advice needed - Page 2

Why do some people have so much trouble putting animals down?

Not this case in particular but in general.

And at the same time turn away from human suffering, children die from starvation and disease, abuse and out right murder, genocide.

This has always amazed me.

Sorry Amy but I wouldn't waste my time.   There have to be others with less baggage you could find homes for without issues.

Maybe the dog just isn't happy where its at and acting out, there are too many dogs in shelters who would be better off taking the trip to the other side.

Bad Santa.

I agree on some level w/you two moons, in some cases it is best for the dog. Some dogs have been so damaged that that this would be the kindest outcome for the dog. Having said that, I feel that each case and each dog has to be evaluated. We have become such a throw away and in some instances abusive society. Then their are those that take on some tough cases that perhaps they should not. I got sucked into one of those cases, I adopted a 6 month old gsd with much more baggage then any of us realized, she is now a yr old, my husband is so in love w/her, she has become the perfect pet for him with one itty bitty problem! She is VERY aggressive to strangers, but I am stuck and I deal w/it. In this economy many pets are overwhelming an already stressed system, I am sure that they are being forced to re-evaluate their protocol as it is.

Moons I've got no problem putting a bullet in a dog if it's needed. I hardly think some dog aggression warrants that however. If you can't keep your dogs seperate, find the dog a single dog home, it's not as if she is people aggressive. If she behaved like this around kids or something, then yea, fire away. She just sounds like an Alpha bitch with a low threshold. I hardly think the dog should be killed because the owners don't/can't handle it or didn't research the dog before they took it on.

As Zukeeper said, we have a throw away society, I think in this case, the dog should be recycled, not thrown away. There are much worse character flaws than an occasional dog fight.

Sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery for a dog to become a whole new animal.   A new owner, a new home.

But also remember that once a dog has learned a habit they never forget it.   You may break them of using what they learned but its always there in the background of his mind.  

I don't know this particular dog a could not really advise anyone on whats best.   I was more just pointing out how some people have to save them all good and bad, yet show so little concern for human suffering.

I guess it depends on what world your living in.

I have a dog that I saved from a bad situation, and she can be aggressive with strangers, even children at times.   I have to use common sense and control the situation.  Take responciblity seriously.   She has a few issues that will never be resolved and I just have to keep that in mind at all times.   In this case she was not so damaged that I would have put her down, but I have seen those who would have been better off and not worth the risk.

Its just me, I don't feel the need to save them all.   And we do forget or just don't see the human suffering going on in our world.   I get more upset about the children than the dogs.

I'm just in a mood.................

 

I agree 4pack,

Dog to dog aggression is almost expected behavior and a natural responce in a lot of cases.  Not a reason to put one down.

And I hate to pass judgement on an animal I've never seen.

Its a people problem in my opinion.

Moons.

Thanks for some of your input just to clarify some things: She did not bite me twice only the first time during the fight and as I stated definately NOT her fault.  I personally would have no trouble putting down a dog that I truely felt was aggressive especially towards people we have had to make that decision in the past with Rescue and I'm sure it will happen again.  I feel its my responsibility to keep the potential new owners and the dog safe.  She absolutely does show signs of obsessive compulsive behavior we have been able to get her onto a ball and use that for training and to help work out some of those issues.  She is doing great that way now.  I have always and will always continue to feed our dogs together! I realize that everyone has their own opinions on this the way we do it is pack leaders first and right down the line everyone is on a sit/down stay and waits until we tell them to eat.  We do not just throw food on the ground and have a free for all! It is very controlled and we have never had a fight over feeding or treat time.  The main issue with this girl is that she attacks when I am disciplining another dog and not at any other time, I have never said that she is dog aggressive the shelter I pulled her from stated that to me and when tested with another dog she did fine.  I think what we'll be doing is going back to a pinch and leash in the house when she's out with other dogs. 

Amy

I think this dog has nothing wrong in the way of temperament.  It is a simple fact that bitches will fight and a bitch fight is FAR worse than a dog fight (2 males)!!!!  If your thought is to euth this dog then you have ultimately done her an injustice! 

All she needs is to be in a ONLY dog home with a responsible owner, not a bullet to the head!  You need to crate her when the other dogs are out!

MY .02

Vickie

www.PowerHausKennels.com

 

4pack, zahnburg and ziegenfarms, I agree completely!  

Keep her seperated from other dogs unless on leash in a controlled situation, especially when eating.

Just to clarify, I never assumed people aggression, and no offense but that one time she bit you was not her fault. Two females fighting will sometimes get into the red zone. I have two alpha females in this house and they are never together.. I do feel that your rescue wanted to re-enforce your correction to the other dog. Even though you may be alpha in your house this dog still feels that she is above this other dog. No amount of leadership or doggy bootcamp will re-wire this dog. She or any other dog in this situation will at some time when you least expect it, over something that you do not expect will get into it again with another dog. That does not mean you have to put this dog down, you or any adoptive home must realize what you have to work with and deal with it appropriately. I have a very confident alpha 12yo and a wannabe alpha in the same household. It is just a matter of time that the younger dog would challenge her status, its nature. It is what it is. People I think assume because you are the alpha in the household/pack that the pack will always listen to the leader, yes you may be the leader but there always in the packs mind a second in command and this is where people get into trouble. I use to take care of three packs at my kennel and I have seen this behavior before. One pack had 7 females, always together 24/7.

This was not a case of two females fighting. This was a case of a rescue GSD who is a dominant perhaps OCD dog attacking an older female at meal time. From what I was told, the older female did nothing to the rescue and did not fight but only tried to get away. The rescue dog went for the kill. The OP and I have PM'd each other and I think she is going to at least try keeping the rescue dog on a strict regimen with no off leash contact with her other dogs. She has options and euthanasia is one of them but I don't think it will be her first or second choice. Another choice would be a working kennel type environment, if the dog is able to work. We don't know that. A bad choice would be an only dog home where the owner does not understand how to handle a very dominant dog. I wish mutllover and the dog the best and I hope it works out.

Another thing for the OP to consider is the health of the rescue dog. Does she have any health problems that could be contributing to her behavior? OCD is one of the possibilities. Meds can sometimes fix this or at least calm these dogs down. That's another option.