Major issues with rescue dog advice needed - Page 1

We run a small GSD rescue and took in a beautiful black/red long-coat female about 2 years ago.  At the time we pulled her she was around 10 months of age at the most.  The shelter called me saying they were going to euthanise her due to aggression with people and other dogs, when we went to look at her she still had the leash they used to get her into a kennel around her neck [three weeks!] they were afraid of her and refused to take her out of her kennel or handle her in anyway.  I went up to her kennel and she was barking like a nut but not looking at me at all just running all around barking at the dogs on the sides of her kennel. I put a slip lead on her while she was in the kennel and brought her out, she was not aggressive towards any people whatsoever, we did a temp test and pulled her immediately.  She is a HIGH drive dog could go all day long but is pushy and dominate with other dogs.  We had originally hoped to adopt her out as a working dog either competitive obedience or something similiar we had her for a year looking for the right home no one matched her energy level and so we decided to keep her and work her ourselves.  It took awhile to teach her cats were not to be eaten even now though she herds them around the house but will stop when told to.  We have started obedience with her and had hoped to show/compete in AKC obedience/rally/agility.  Basically what has happened thus far with this girl is 11 months ago she got into a massive fight with one of our other dogs, in the process of breaking it up she gave me a very nasty bite. If I felt for a second she had bitten me either for correcting her or in an aggressive manor she would have been euthanised immediately. The bite occurred when seperating them I had my hand in the wrong spot at the wrong time.  Anyway after the incident we went into major obedience in the house, not allowed on furniture and waiting to eat last, last one out of the door etc.  She had been doing great until tonight, one of our older dogs tried to steal food from our male Shepherd, I went over to correct her and she jumped on the older one we had another major fight with the older dog just trying to get away.  She opened the old girl up around the neck area, not bad enough for stitches but pretty darn close.  What I would like opinions on is this: Do I try again to find a working type home for this girl BUT knowing her history with attacking other dogs [most working homes have other dogs] do I euthanise the dog or attempt to work more closely with her with training etc. I really don't feel this is a training issue, she seems to go into that Red Zone and not even hear us plus when she does attack its to the death she doesn't let go and shakes the hell out of the other dog.  She is not an easy dog to get off another dog.  We are not novices with breaking up fights or with dealing with aggression its just happens so quickly and is so severe when she does attack.  Again we haven't had any issues with her for almost a year this just happened tonight so I will not be making any hasty decisions I would just like some other opinions on her.  Sorry for the length of this but thought the more info the better. 

Any input greatly appreciated,

Amy 

If this were my rescue dog that attacked one of my dogs, and this happened not once but twice, I would decide it is a genetic temperament problem and have the dog euthanized. Your other dogs deserve a safe home and they are not safe with this dog. IF you could find a home where this dog is kenneled separately and worked separately and is NEVER around other dogs (or children or cats or smaller animals), then it might be safe. But this dog as described is a time bomb. JMO. 

There is nothing wrong with this dog! 

First you can NEVER blame a dog for biting you in the middle of a dog-fight.  That means YOU messed up twice.  One by allowing the circumstances for the fight to happen and two for getting in the way.   

Secondly, you can not just have dogs running together and not expect this.  

  This dog does not sound like a "timebomb" to me.  I do not think that this is even a "dog-aggressive" dog under normal situations.  The rediculous situations that you put this dog in are the source of the problems.  The fact that she has been in two fights in two years in this kind of situation is proof the dog is not dog-aggressive.  If the dog was truly dog-aggressive you would have fights every second of every day if you allowed, which you do.      

In other words the biggest problem is with YOU and Not the dog.       

Muttlover25, I sent you a PM.

Why are you feeding multiple dogs together? It's your error not the dogs. If this is the dogs only issue, you have no business even thinking of putting her down.

I would use a muzzle, get her her own sport time one on one........have her watch you work the other dogs from crateside.  

I had that happen also with a rescue after about a year I guess.   It was provoked by a toy.   I had my senior gal coming in after playing and the young rescue going out to play.   We always did fine door exchanges before............however THIS time,  the young one decided she would take the "prize" out of the seniors mouth, since it was "her turn".  

  Wow,  that was some intense fight.   Junior threw the first bite, but  Senior dropped the ball, then proceeds to  lock onto Junior Bitches soft flank tissues and just held on.   Bite and HOLD  described.    

  Junior got confidence in the past year, yes...........but this changed my whole AM/PM play time plan.  

   Now all are crated until it is their turn.  EZ in, EZ out...........The only ones that pack up and run together are my stud male, and any 1 of 3 females.    If I want to run in a full court press pack,  it's muzzles for 2 and the puppy runs free.  No toys, balls or anything in the yards as we "go see" what's going on, and do our outdoor stuff. 

Good luck........If re-homing is an option, tell all her stories to her forever family so she doesn't become pound bound again. 

Trish and pack  :)

www.hasshaus.com

thank you zahnburg, for pointing ouit the obvious.  i have a couple of girls that would fight to the death if given the chance.  they are never given the opportunity; never.......no contact whatsoever........zilch.  as many times as this topic has been discussed, if amazes me that people still don't "get it."

pjp

The play time with toys and food with two dogs that are already at odds against each other have to be kept apart. Your whole dynamics of you house has been disrupted with the new girl.  Is the rescue more of a obsessive compulsion acting at times?

The play time with toys and food with two dogs that are already at odds against each other have to be kept apart. Your whole dynamics of you house has been disrupted with the new girl.  Is the rescue more of a obsessive compulsion acting at times?