What to do with this dog?

[tonkota]

See the happy dog in my avatar? We adopted him this spring. Most of the time, about 80%, he is a good dog. But there is this random 20% when he hates my kids and he hates Barney (the larger, stronger, faster non-alpha dog). He fights dirty and when we yell to stop fighting, Barney stops and Bo (the dog in the avatar) keeps on.

I'm a little worried that he may attack the kids when they try to pet him. He sees them as lower than him. We've tried everything, but it's like he doesn't remember what he was taught the next day. His first owner broke his skull, we wonder if he has brain damage.

If we take him back to the humane society, they will most likely put him down. I don't want that, but I also don't want my kids to be afraid of this dog or to get hurt by this dog.

What should I do?

 

[wob]

go with your gut

 

[macneill]

Tough predicament. Your kids come first and should never be in a situation where the dog may harm them.

We have an aggressive dog too, but not to humans, but other dogs. He's bitten a Burmese Mountain dog on the nose and tore a beagle's ear off.

We've got him in training now and he's gotten much better, but ultimately we're to blame.

Do you have any resources for training?

 

[tcb]

put him up for adoption on your local freecycle.

 

[cruiser100]

Have you tried shock "therapy"?

 

[Hank]

I'm in a similar pickle with my Newf who was a rescue at 1.5 years old. He dorks out every now and again and jumps on me or my wife. I swear each time that the next will be his last. I'm concerned about our 7 month old but he is quite obviously reserved around the kids. They can lay on him all day, poke him, pull his ears and tail and he will just lay there and take it until they are done. It's adults that make him act out. If he ever hurt any person not able to correct his behaviour (i.e. kids) he would be dispatched momentarily but he has no malice, just initates aggressive play.

I agree with wob. If you are concerned with the well being of a human, the K9 must go. When the Newf hurts something, he will go.

 

[crushers]

have you discioplined him when he is in the fight.

i love my dogs but when they get out of line the hammer comes down...contrary to what my dogs think... i am still the alpha mutt here.

i am not saying to beat the dog senseless, but if it comes between a kid and the dog... the dog either learns real fast or it is bye bye.

my old boy, every once in a while, likes to nip a kid so he is locked away when kids come around...

i NEVER get a dog from the pound since he is usually there for a reason...

sounds like you need to return him to whence he came...

 

[splitshot]

One of the sad realities of dealing with a PO who shouldn't have the privilege of owning a pet. I'm with wob and mcneill on this one, kids come first, and trust your instincts.

Good luck with this..

 

[UltraFJ40]

Get a hold of Decavo for a recipe and eat him or PM Lunyou for advice. .






Should be a no brainer.

 

[burlew]

I would try talking to a dog trainer first..if that doesn't work...its time to find him a new home.

 

[calico kid]

maybe a trainer can help

 

[tonkota]

have you discioplined him when he is in the fight.

The last time he was getting into Barney, I grabbed him and tossed him on his back and held him firmly by the neck and told him no!

When he barked at my 9 year old for coming over while he was getting attention I did the same thing. Mason was just showing me a Lego car he made!

He just doesn't learn. If it is just me, or just my wife he's fine. But if I give my wife a long hug and he is there, he gets damn jealous and angry.

I may take him back. He'd be ok as a lone dog with a lone adult.

 

[wob]

Aw hell, just take him for a walk. That always fixes the problems for Caesar Milan.

 

[concretejungle]

train him. Take some pointers from the dog whisperer and make sure he knows he is not dominate. Get him plenty of exercise.

Not knowing you and not trying to talk down, most of the times it's the owner and not the dog.

 

[D'Animal]

Sounds like he has issues with you.

I read that anytime someone is need you or touching you for too long, he gets aggressive.

He could be

#1 thinking he is protecting you.

#2 He is showing everybody else that he is #2 in the packing order.


Do you do all of his maintenance? Feeding walking, grooming, etc? If so, let the wife and kids take some of the chores and he will get to know them.

If that doesn't work, I agree with the Shock collar treatment.

 

[ravewoofer]

Take him back! I had a Llewellin Setter that I bought as a "started" dog from a breeder. Even though we picked him out as a puppy, he was left at the kennel until about 7 months old so as to prep him for upland hunting.

Upon bringing him home, he immediately tried to become the "alpha" over both my kids (ages 6 and 9 at the time). My 6 yo had no problem with the pup, but my 9 yo was cautious around the dog, and the dog knew it. It was only a matter of time, before the dog began to growl and bare teeth at him. The final straw was when myself and my son were petting the dog. The dog leaped in mid air for his throat! If I wasn't there to catch him by the collar, who knows what could have happenend.

I crated the dog and drove him back to the breeder the next day and warned the breeder not to sell the dog to anyone with children. He took the dog back and repaid me 50%. He later sold the dog to a single male hunter who then began to live with a woman and her daughter. Guess what? He bit the girl and had to be put down.

My .02, but I didn't regret returning the dog. Family first.

 

[EricG]

The last time he was getting into Barney, I grabbed him and tossed him on his back and held him firmly by the neck and told him no!

When he barked at my 9 year old for coming over while he was getting attention I did the same thing. Mason was just showing me a Lego car he made!

That tells him you're the boss - but not that he doesn't rank over your kids. Had a problem like that with my lab/dobie mix. When he got to be about 18 months old or so he thought his place in the pecking order was somewhere between me and my wife. He probably had a few pounds on the wife at that time. I had a friend that suggested something similar to what you did - but have the wife or kids come over and kneel over him/sit on his chest. Puts it into their head where they are in the scheme of things.

It worked for me after about 2 or 3 tries. YMMV

But I wouldn't give him alot of slack, or somebody will get hurt.
people >> dogs, I'd never keep a dog around that I couldn't trust with somebody.

 

[D'Animal]

Beagles Rule!

I'd never keep a dog around that I couldn't trust with somebody.

Sorry, I couldn't help it.

 

[tonkota]

Sounds like he has issues with you.
I read that anytime someone is need you or touching you for too long, he gets aggressive.
He could be
#1 thinking he is protecting you.
#2 He is showing everybody else that he is #2 in the packing order.
Do you do all of his maintenance? Feeding walking, grooming, etc? If so, let the wife and kids take some of the chores and he will get to know them.
If that doesn't work, I agree with the Shock collar treatment.

Shawna feeds him most days. I play with him and Mason has walked him and brushed him. I really don't think he can remember his training or who is boss.

I suppose I should go with my gut. We haven't had him long and the kids aren't attached. I'm not the one who broke his skull.

 

[amos715]

pound dogs are awesome

we had a dumped dog for awhile, pit/american bulldog. super protective of the kids very obedient.

but it beat up the wifey's boxer, and the wifey wasn't comfortable around the dumped dog.

i loved the dog, but kids and ifey being comfortable around the dog trumped everyhting else.