Help! Aggressive dog and newborn

jennaworksout

And everyone notice? It wasn't the German Shepherd or the Pittie.

Very true.

exactly, there are aggressive dogs of every breed

Mikkimeow

I would love to rehome him. Is any one looking for a 1 year old basset hound that needs strong discipline? :flowerforyou:

Mikkimeow

And everyone notice? It wasn't the German Shepherd or the Pittie.

Very true.

exactly, there are aggressive dogs of every breed

Agreed. My pitbull is the most amazing dog in the world. My Shepard is a close second. No dog should ever be automatically stereotyped by breed.

TeachTheGirl

I don't own a dog, never have, but I know the love and commitment to a pet. My cats are really gentle with my infant daughter, even the male who will generally hiss and find himself another perch until my daughter forgets about him!

I did however have a scary experience with the neighbors dog a few weeks ago; he's a black lab and is usually really sweet, jumps up at you and licks and everything. But that was without my daughter in my arms. While I was walking up the street to get my son from his bus, the dog ran from its yard and followed me, growling and lunging...at my daughter, who I was carrying. It was really surprising to me to see that this usually pretty damn cool dog was suddenly looking aggressive. Thankfully, the neighbor called him off before he could pounce, but all the dog did was run further up the road and into someone elses yard. He didn't listen AT ALL.

You know your dog better than anyone. You know what it is capable of doing. If you're concerned already for the safety of your child and you haven't yet seen the interaction between the two, you know that something is going to have to give. I don't think people WANT you to put your dog to sleep, but as most shelters won't take in aggressive dogs and most people don't have the time/energy/patience to retrain a dog, I think you'll find your options are limited. :<

ironanimal

Sorry to state the obvious but if the dog cannot be trained it needs to be put down or go to someone who is willing to deal with it. Don't find yourself in a situation where you are dealing with the loss of a child. It happens far too often.

No dog is untrainable. Sure, I've had to wrestle an angry Rotty to the floor and hold it there until the *kitten* gave up, but it sure as hell doesn't misbehave any more.

Read the work of Caesar Millan. Sure you can watch him on Youtube as well. A basset is a small dog, so it would be relatively easy to get it on to it's back and pin it there until it submitted. A lot of people disapprove of this treatment, but with an aggressive dog that doesn't respond to 'human' correction, a more wolf-like handling is necessary. My dog is a Sibe cross and would have been aggressive; was a nipper and out of control, until I bit her back. You need to assert authority over the dog. As it stands now, he sees his position as above yours.

Faye_Anderson

If someone was posting saying their child had an attention disorder or any problem and they were struggling to handle it no-one would suggest euthanasia so why suggest that for a pet?

Iron_warrior33

AS an owner, of "agressive" stereotyped dogs, a rottweiler and a pittbull, I have to say, this should have never gone this far to begin with. When the dog started nipping at you, it should have been stopped. he was nipping you to show dominance, in every pack, there is a dominate male, and female. Obviously your bf was the dominant male, and the basset felt like he was second in charge. Once he started nipping you, he should have been broke of the habit immediately.

MyOwnSunshine

As everyone here is entitled to their opinion, I find it disheartening that euthanasia is the go to option for some of you. I guess I will state openly, I will not have this dog put down knowing that there is something I can do to help him.

I think that euthanasia is an absolute last resort for aggressive animals, and that aggressive animals are generally created by over indulgent, ignorant owners who refuse to treat their dogs like dogs. Aggression towards humans should never, ever be tolerated and all hell should rain down on any animal who shows aggression to a a human the first time they do it.

Unfortunately for domestic animals, there are very few options for them once they are allowed to develop and benefit from aggression towards humans. Although many people, including yourself, fancy themselves as "dog trainers," there are very few people who can safely rehabilitate an animal who has been repeatedly rewarded and placated for being aggressive towards humans. I seriously doubt that you will be able to fix this problem by leaving him in your home. I feel that your only option is to find someone who is truly an expert in dog training who is willing to take this dog with full disclosure of his bad habits. I don't know how you would go about finding that person, though.

I wish you the best of luck, and implore you to do what you have to do to keep your child safe. I know that many people who don't have children think of their pets as their "babies," but there is a very big difference, and you will understand that when you actually have a child of your own.

I do wish you well and am sorry that you are in this situation.

cmriverside

I agree, I've worked with dogs all my life, and this one has been allowed to go way too far.

He needs to be rehomed, or you need to spend a lot of money and time to have him re-trained. At this point, you will not be able to do it yourself.

Please don't ever allow this dog to be anywhere near children ever again. He is dangerous.

And everyone notice? It wasn't the German Shepherd or the Pittie.

It hasn't been a matter of him being "allowed" to go too far. He has been to three different trainers (Not including myself, who is a certified trainer). He is kennel trained and does not go near guests. I do not feel comfortable rehoming him with his aggression issue unresolved. He is not the worst case I have worked with, simply the most time consuming and longest to cure. He would in no way be allowed near my child, and every precaution to keeping him from others has been made.

I am going to disagree here. Somewhere along the line (maybe before you got him) someone allowed this behavior to escalate to this point without knowing how to change it. A 40 pound dog is manageable if the trainers are knowledgeable and have the time. Since you haven't been able to change this behavior, you are looking for answers. The answers are time, knowledge, and if you aren't able, money. Of course he can be made whole again. Maybe not with you, or maybe not in the environment you have him in.

If you've had two trainers, and you are a certified trainer, then you know the options. No one here will be able to give you the easy answers. Time and training, with safe separation, rehoming (with disclosure), or euthanasia. Those are your choices.

MB_Positif

I think someone can fix this dog, it's just not you. Even if you make some headway before the baby is born, the dog might regress as soon as things change again. Definitely try and find someone to take the dog, but be sure to tell them about the aggression!

Bobby__Clerici

Sorry to state the obvious but if the dog cannot be trained it needs to be put down or go to someone who is willing to deal with it. Don't find yourself in a situation where you are dealing with the loss of a child. It happens far too often.

^^^^^^^^
THIS
:brokenheart:
Seriously, I have a rule with dogs.
No biting.
My bite trumps your bite. And with a baby....play this tape forward...

Mikkimeow

Shoot the dog.

Yes, because that is the reasonable, knowledgeable, and mature response to asking someone for help. Illegally killing an animal. What a man.

Samerah12

I had a dog that was aggressive in certain situations (at the vet and if you tried to cut his toenails) and it escalated to the point where he sent a vet tech to the hospital before I finally bit the bullet and put him down. He had other issues as well but my point is if he's escalating you need to get him gone before he gets to a point where you're FORCED to do something about it. If you think he can be rehabbed then try to find him someone who will work with him.

It sounds like you already know what you need to do and just need to hear it confirmed. If that's the case, consider it confirmed. I'm on your side as are most if not all of the people who have posted.

Also, hilarious that of a rhodie mix a pit and a basset it's the BASSET who has aggression issues! Just goes to show those across the board breed bans in some cities are painting with a pretty broad brush.

AnahitaCanDoIt

Wait? You said it's bitten you multiple times, tried to attack a neighbour child (these people may not be pet lovers and deserve to have a safe place for their children..what if your dog found a hole to crawl through to the neighbours and attacked this child)...

If this is your first, you don't know this...you will not find it easy to make sure your dog is never alone with your baby. Quick as a flash, you'll run in to get a nappy or answer the phone and you'll forget about the dog. You'll be sleep deprived, weary and exhausted...you may forget to shut the gate/door, whatever...I personally find it amazing you're even considering keeping this dog (you've said no dog is untrainable)...???

I'm not a pet owner and frankly, don't like pets myself, but I'm a mom and I can't imagine taking any kind of risk with my child.

LorinaLynn

As everyone here is entitled to their opinion, I find it disheartening that euthanasia is the go to option for some of you. I guess I will state openly, I will not have this dog put down knowing that there is something I can do to help him.

From my perspective, I find it a lot more disheartening that when gentle dogs are put to sleep every day, a violently aggressive dog's life is considered more valuable.

I worked at a shelter, and live just down the street from it still. I see the smoke curling out of their chimney from their crematorium every day. I can't justify taking a potential home from a shelter dog for a dangerous dog. If trainers and the shelter hadn't already suggested euthanasia and said he wasn't adoptable, I might have a different opinion.

Mikkimeow

I believe he can be trained, no I do not think I am fully capable of training him myself. I am eight months pregnant and do no have the energy to handle him right now. I am fine with finding a home for him, but I dont want to give him to someone else that can be put in danger. I am not naive. He is dangerous. Yet, he is not a killer, does not have a focused prey drive. He is a dominant dog and he needs strong discipline in a household that can fill his needs. I am looking for something of that nature. I don't think adopting him out to someone just to get rid of him is the answer. I am having difficulty finding a home for him that understands his needs completely.

robin52077

Edit because I don't want a strike.... but shame on everyone who would rather see this dog dead than with another family or trained.

It should be a FINAL LAST RESORT only.

Topher1978

.22 to the dome if you live in the country, put down at the vet if in the city.

ironanimal

I believe he can be trained, no I do not think I am fully capable of training him myself. I am eight months pregnant and do no have the energy to handle him right now. I am fine with finding a home for him, but I dont want to give him to someone else that can be put in danger. I am not naive. He is dangerous. Yet, he is not a killer, does not have a focused prey drive. He is a dominant dog and he needs strong discipline in a household that can fill his needs. I am looking for something of that nature. I don't think adopting him out to someone just to get rid of him is the answer. I am having difficulty finding a home for him that understands his needs completely.

Find someone with an established pack of dogs.

And I'm with robin here - killing it is a pathetic get out.

AnahitaCanDoIt

I want to clarify, I'm not in the shoot the dog category. Personally, I don't feel comfortable with pets getting better medical treatment than people (in countries with no socialised medicine especially)..i.e. depression, but that's just my opinion...

If I were you, I'd give it to a shelter. February is around the corner and you need to be rested and relaxed before having a baby.