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  #1  
Old August 27th, 2003, 09:40 AM
Vmar Vmar is offline
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I'm getting rid of this dog.

I posted for help and got watered down advice from other pet owners. I needed real help and thought this would be the place...boy was I wrong. My terripooh (we have had him 31/2 weeks) has gotten worse. last night he bit me and attacked my husband.We agreed that he didn't have to go in his crate but he decided he would go up to our sons room and growled and snapped if we tried to move him. with two small kids I will not have this!!
If this is a training forum you should only respond to a problem if you know what you are talking about. If you do not you are being irresponsable.
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  #2  
Old August 27th, 2003, 10:08 AM
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homer homer is offline
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Shame on you Vmar! Many of us have given you GREAT advice in this and in your other threads.

You are blaming this board because you don’t understand your dog’s behavior. In all likelihood you are applying your training in a fashion that the dog doesn’t understand and you are misreading your dog’s body language in many ways. You need someone to come into your home and give you personal instruction. And an obedience course seems like a must for this dog .

If I were in your shoes I would have a dog behavior specialist (you can get a referral from the vet, friend, dog school etc.) come into my home, assess and remedy the situation.

For goodness sake you’ve only had the dog for what a month, less? Give him a chance.

Homer
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  #3  
Old August 27th, 2003, 10:31 AM
Lucky Rescue Lucky Rescue is offline
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I thought you got great and very knowledgeable advice, but what I'd like to know is - where did you get this dog? You say he was rescued, but did he come from a rescue?

If so, what did they tell you about him? I strongly suggest you call them and tell them what is going on. If they are reputable, they will want to know.

You are obviously afraid of this dog, and he knows it and consequently is taking over the house.
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Old August 27th, 2003, 10:57 AM
Vmar Vmar is offline
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Shame on you homer. If you think it is ok to keep a vicious dog around young children just to give him a chance you are putting an animal above a human. get real !!
This dog was from Animal aid. They found him as a stray, they then adopted him out and he was returned onre month later because he couldn't get along with their other dog. We have no other dog an I have owned many dogs in my youth. I have nere seen one attack like this. He is so cute and lovable when he is not in his demonic phase. My heart is broken and I'm angry. We never hit him or even and he seemed to be adjusting well except fro minor behavioral problems I wrote about but this agression cannot be tolerated. A trainer will not fix his problem in one day and I can't wait until he bites my children.
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Old August 27th, 2003, 03:17 PM
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Carina Carina is offline
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Well...I agree it's not good to keep a biter around small children - but honestly I think you received some great advice in answer to your questions about him, and I think it's a bit rude to say it was watered down advice from other pet owners. I gave you *excellent* advice, hardly watered down. I might be "just a pet owner" but I've turned around several very dominant and challenging dogs (ones that weigh over 100lbs, to boot) and I DO know what I am talking about! I've also titled dogs, done rescue/foster, and assisted with puppy training classes. Having said that, I wouldn't have taken these dogs in had I had children in the home, so I understand that part.

A trainer can't "fix" this - you must establish ground rules with a dog. If you want an easier dog, don't get a terrier mix next time! They can be real challenging. (A terripoo is not a breed, it's a mutt.)

Anyhow, hopefully the rescue will take him back - and you'll be able to get another dog with a proven treack record of being mellow and playing well with others. If you get another dog, DO lay down ground rules and be fair and consistent. Dogs really need that.

Good luck, hope the little terror finds a suitable home.
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  #6  
Old August 28th, 2003, 01:07 PM
Vmar Vmar is offline
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Please accept my sencierest appologies for turning my anger to you all. You were indeed acting out of compassion and it was unforgivable the way I responded. We have since found an in home trainer. that will help us, they believe he was beaten in the past. He spent last night in a kennel because we were afraid of him. We are comitted to him but not at the expence of our kids and the neighbour kids. Again I am truly sorry for my emotional outburst, I was so upset I couldn't see straight and lashed out on my keyboard. If you would prefer I won't ever use this forum again.
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  #7  
Old August 28th, 2003, 01:45 PM
clarence clarence is offline
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Don't worry about the attitude

So glad you are giving the dog a chance with a trainer.

Don't worry about the harsh words, and PLEASE let us know how this turns out.

I suspect you will learn a ton, and it does sound like the dog may have been abused. Good for you for trying to help.

Clarence
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Old August 28th, 2003, 05:35 PM
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Carina Carina is offline
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Don't worry about it! It's a frustrating situation, to be sure - and like I said the dogs I've taken in that were potentially dangerous weren't ever around children - I never would have taken them if I'd had kids.

The trainer is probably correct - most aggression is from fear (either fear of being harmed, or fear that the dog's status in the household is threatened.)

Best of luck. And FWIW, I had a foster Chow mix who was fine (I thought, my bad) for two weeks, then viciously attacked two of my other dogs causing a great deal of damage. I hated to do it, but she was out of the house the very next morning back to rescue, who probably had her put to sleep because they would have been liable for any future attacks if they'd placed her again. Some dogs are just unstable, either because of upbringing or faulty "wiring."

Best of luck with this guy, he's a challenge for sure. One learns more from challenging situations though. Do post how it goes.
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Old September 20th, 2003, 05:52 PM
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QuinnsMom QuinnsMom is offline
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Hope that I am not stepping on toes here.....

Have you tried the web site www.greatpets.com ?

They have a forum that is just as good as this one - plus the mederator there are trainers, breeders, and fantastic pet owner and if the situation (make the discription semi-long) is serious enought - and with an aggressive dog it will be. Then Sarah Wilson (one of the BEST trainers in North America) will personally answer your questions.

Other then that - in my expereince.... Beaten dogs (and I have adopted quite a few), have submission / aggression problems that ALWAYS stem from somewhere.

With kids - either muzzle him or keep the kids away until you can work these thing out.

hope that helps - and check out some aggessive dog training books at the library. That's what I did.
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  #10  
Old October 31st, 2003, 03:39 PM
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Luba Luba is offline
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The snarler huh

Frustration brings out the 'growl' in us!! WINK

Maybe the dog is frustrated as well. If you don't know the dogs history, that may play a huge roll.

If you wanna work at it I suggest a cloth muzzle goes on when the snapping starts and into the crate for a few mins.

Wish you much luck. Whatever you do, don't let the dog think it won. What its trying to do is intimidate you and become 'leader of the pack' varoooom!
Anyone remember that song lol

Luba

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  #11  
Old November 22nd, 2003, 07:57 PM
Vmar Vmar is offline
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Just to follow up on our progress.
My dog hasn't bitten anyones since thank God! We have had private training and classes for the past 8 weeks.
We began by taking all privilages away and reducing his food slightly to make him respond to food rewrds. He no longer gets a raw hide bone which he was protective of. He wears a 10 ft house lead at all times. He is never alone with the kids and is in the laundry room when other children are around. He is never allowed on the furniture.
He has become a wonderful pet.
He will go into his new crate ( we started with just the bottom and loads of rewards then added the top, then the door and finally can close it) However he does growl and bare his teeth if we go to close his crate door at night only?? He sleeps in his crate every night in the Laundry room with the door closed. he also eats his meals in his crate. We are hoping to eventually close the crate at night so I can move it to another room and have my mud room back again.
Thank you to all who gave advice in the past. We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel but we can't let our guard down for a second since our kids are in the house.
Vmar
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Old November 22nd, 2003, 08:03 PM
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Luba Luba is offline
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" However he does growl and bare his teeth if we go to close his crate door at night only?? He sleeps in his crate every night in the Laundry room with the door closed. he also eats his meals in his crate. We are hoping to eventually close the crate at night so I can move it to another room and have my mud room back again."


Hi there, nice to hear some positive things are happening.

Myself I am no expert but if you want the dog to begin to socialize properly with people, I think segregating him in the basement alone at night shows him he's NOT part of the family. It doesn't sound like a good idea to me. What is wrong with him sleeping in the crate upstairs close to where you are?

There are also dangers of leaving the dog in the laundry room
should there be a leak from the furnace or a fire. Don't trap your dog away from the rest of the family, you need to make him feel part of the family, yet still be in control.

Have you considered that this dog may not be a good match for your family, especially when you have small children around. You may consider finding a home that suits the dog better, someone with training to deal with this type of behaviour and no small kids.
Just a thought!
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Old November 23rd, 2003, 06:17 PM
Vmar Vmar is offline
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Hi Luba,
Our laundry is on the main floor off the family room and Kitchen, all chemicals are in a cupboard. (no furnace either its in the basement) It is a nice bright room that he loves to go into and is very safe for him. Since he doesn't like the crate door closed at night we have been unable to move his crate even upstairs. As soon as this is resolved he can sleep in our upstairs guest room (used as my office) As I am a custom drapery designer I have many sample books that he can't have access to during the night.
We are willing to do what it takes to keep our kids abd our dog safe. Should we have further agression issues we may rethink our position but for the past 9 weeks it has been going very well.
Dou you have any sugesstions on the night crate issue??
thanks
Vmar
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  #14  
Old November 23rd, 2003, 08:38 PM
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Luba Luba is offline
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Hello

Oh thanks for the clarification, to me laundry rooms are usually in the basements lol


Make the crate a safe and happy place, with toys and perhaps some treats as well as water. Spend time sitting at the gate with poochie inside, pat and talk happy talk saying 'good puppy' things like that!

If the environment is made to be happy and safe then pup may just relax into the setting and not make it so territorial.

I hope it works, also you may want to try leaving a radio on LOW volume in the laundry room (may help as well)

I wish you luck and keep us all posted

Luba
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