Need Advice!!

[daisy18216]

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 00:02:34 EST
Subject: [EBBRR] [atlanticrescue] Need ideas and help




Subj: [atlanticrescue] Need ideas and help
Date: 3/15/04 7:48:25 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: dscalf@eastky.net
Reply-to: atlanticrescue@yahoogroups.com
To: atlanticrescue@yahoogroups.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)






I got a Rottweiler pup from a shelter last year, she was about 9 weeks old.
She's now over 1 year old and is extremely Child aggressive ! I have no
idea why, but she's hated kids and puppies from the time she was about 5
months old. She's getting worse and worse, and my husband is demanding
that I find her a home. We have 12 kids in our neighbor hood all under 10
years old.

What are my options now ?? Do I have our familly dog euth. ???? the
thought makes me sick !!!!!!! I rescue dogs not put them to sleep. She
stays in my back yard with a 6 ft. fence and in and out of the house....I
fear the one time that one of my own kids, or their friends let her out
while I'm gone, or if she gets out of the back yard... I won't say it can't
happen, it shouldn't but what if it does. Do I risk the life of one of
these kids and everything we have by thinking she could never get out ??

She's perfect with kids taller than 5 ft. and with everybody else she meets
Her big thing is giving people a hug when they come in the house,she's so
sweet it's not funny. My tears are flowing as I type this, I don't know
what to do.

If you have any ideas or know of a family WITHOUT kids please let me know.
Hamy is a gorgeous Rott mix that looks 100 % Rott. I have no less than 500
pictures of our girl. I'm desperate for advice, please e-mail me " Off list
"

Thank you in advance,
Lisa

[Lucky Rescue]

I'm sorry, but the only option is euthanization for this dog, before tragedy strikes and a child is either killed or maimed for life.

There is something wrong with this dog, and sad to say, we cannot save them all.

[Dee_petlover]

Sadly, I think LR is probably right

If you give this dog away and it attacks a child you still might be held responsible.

[Karin]

Long shot ...if she is around 18 months of age, this is the "social maturity" age for a dog of this breeding. Females can be very dominate, most always alpa dogs. Contact a trainer or find a trainer who would be willing to foster her during training.

The real world...like others have said, not all can be saved. In no way did you fail. This could be in the dogs personna..ingrained for reasons unknown. HS's do have to euthanize aggressive/dangerous dogs. They can and will be a libility.
I had to do the same when I worked at a shelter, a litter of 6 Chow puppies from a pet store. The store paid top dollar for them and tried to work it out but the pups were growing up behind the scenes, they were so vicious Chow rescue did not want them and recommended euthanasia.
Sometimes one never knows what is in a dog or any other mammals make up to make them snap.
Good luck, and remember you did not fail in anyway.

[chico2]

Daisy,I sooo sympathize,it will probably be the hardest thing you'll ever have to do
One good thing,the animal does not know,she just goes to sleep(as I am sure you know)but you'll be left behind with the tears..
I just wondered,there are a lot of dogs out there who do not tolerate small children,even my cats don't...
Why euth..this one? Because she's a Rottie???
Could this behavior not be changed???

[daisy18216]

chico, I was asking for advice for another board member of a differnet board that I belong to.

I never had to put a dog to sleep, and I'm sure it's very painful.

but I do have to agree w/LR. She knows alot about dogs, and she would NEVER recommend that a dog be pts unless absoulutely necessary.

No, I"m not saying to euth her b/c she is a rottie. I love rotties. But I asked for advice and help for a fellow member and that's what I got.

I'm sorry if you disagree, but I need to go w/LR's opinion.

That's what I told this woman.

[Lucky Rescue]

Anita, the fact that she's a Rottie means nothing to me! Of course, the sheer size of the dog makes her behavior more dangerous than it would it she were a toy poodle, for example.

What concerns me is this:

I have no
idea why, but she's hated kids and puppies from the time she was about 5
months old. She's getting worse and worse,

This makes me think she is not just a little intolerant of kids, but is trying to attack them. Since it's getting "worse and worse" I don't know what, if anything, the owner has done to try and fix this problem, or if it IS fixable. It's possible that this aggression is genetic and not fixable.

She is not talking about a dog who doesn't care for kids, she is saying that if the dog gets out of the yard -

Do I risk the life of one of
these kids and everything we have by thinking she could never get out ??

If the dog getting loose means kids' lives are at stake, I'd say this a very very dangerous situation.

What I find most alarming of all is this:

and my husband is demanding
that I find her a home

Does this person think someone else wants a dog who is potentially lethal to kids??? If they give this dog to someone else, and a tragedy happens, they will be liable too!

There are enough sweet, deserving, child-loving Rotties dying every day to keep one who is human aggressive around. Rotties get enough bad press as it is. We don't need this dog making headlines, which it WILL.

I am NOT one to lightly suggest euthanization, believe me, and I know how heartbroken this woman is, but if MY pit bull were to behave this way, I would have no option but to put her down.

[Luba]

Looking for Carina's instinct on this one?

Have you spoke to a Rotti rescue and some breeders about this?

[Karin]

From your first post I read Hamy is a Rotti mix. This means nothing to me as does a full blooded Rotti, or Chow. Yes some breeds are labled as dangerous, * This makes me furious*
Insurance companies have stipulations in their contracts for home owners against certain breeds.
I can only say I would like you to seek help..and pronto..to a trainer or as stated before a Rotti rescue professional. They will not steer you wrong.

The age thing has me halting on euthanasia for the moment..even a spayed female will go through social maturity and try to stress her "rights".

On the other hand....if her genetic makeup is such that she is a libility then even you and your family are not safe. She will only grow and get bigger. Find out now from a professional.

Do the right thing for her. If she can be rehabilated..great!
If not, her life will not be pleasant anyway.

[Chany]

So sorry about your situation If you have no choice to put your dog down then please stay with her while they do it. Nothing bothers me more when people take their "beloved" pet to the vet to put to sleep and drop them off. If you truly care then stay until the end so she knows someone she loves is with her. It's very hard to do but believe me you'll be glad later, because most of us wouldn't leave a family member alone while they were dying.