Should a dog that bites be put down?

[bh446066]

OK, here's my situation, and I'm soliciting advice:

-I currently am fostering my parents' 2-yr old male boxer who has bitten 2 joggers.
-I successfully re-homed the dog under full disclosure at to why....to help my parents out.
-I offered to take the dog back from these kind folks after 2 months b/c he bit more people, seemingly unprovoked....all strangers. He sandbags you, acts nice and submissive, then springs for a hand snap.
-So, now I have the dog, and with 2 brand new puppies and a 3-yr old girl, I'm admittedly a bit concerned he'll either do something crazy, or bite someone else and get me in legal trouble.


What would YOU do here? No rescue groups will accept him, and I'm not comfortable passing him onto anyone else. FYI...his first foster family sent him to a 4-wk training school to try to tame his wild side.

-BH

[Skyboxer]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

personally I wouldn't have it no where near my kids. So I'd either find a new owner or take to animal control and have them deal with it.

More than likely with the history they'd put it down.

[fishepa]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

I'd have it put down. That's dangerous especially with a 3 year old girl.

[ryan36]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

I'd have it put down. That's dangerous especially with a 3 year old girl.

This. There's no telling what a dog will do.

[snepp]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

This kind of situation sucks, but it's a risk that you just cannot take.

[Knight165]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

How much time and effort have you put into training this dog?
Have you asked a professional what they think of the situation?


M.K.
Knight165

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

Unfortunately he will have to be put down. If he bit 2 people already at the age of 2, then yeah. Especially if you have little kids arounds. Boxers have a powerful grip and can jump pretty damn high.

[SidVish]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

There's no way this dog should be around kids.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

I'd have it put down. I thought this was going to be a thread in which it was a one time thing where the dog was provoked, in that case I would say hell no.

How did he manage to bite two joggers? Did you parents just not care and let him roam free?

[bh446066]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

I'd have it put down. I thought this was going to be a thread in which it was a one time thing where the dog was provoked, in that case I would say hell no.

How did he manage to bite two joggers? Did you parents just not care and let him roam free?

Yep. They live out in the country (well, it used to be, moreso than now). He ran free along with their other 3 dogs who never chased anyone.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

They could have had too short of a fence around their house. I have a 2 year old boxer that weighs 70 pounds. He can jump 6ft in the air from a standing position. And when he runs he has no problem clearing 7ft.

[bh446066]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

How much time and effort have you put into training this dog?
Have you asked a professional what they think of the situation?


M.K.
Knight165

I've done no training with this dog b/c he's not mine, and have only had him about a week. He went to a couple of obedience classes with my mom, then his first foster family sent him away for a month at some hardcore military/police dog training facility. Seems to have calmed him, but didn't fix the biting issue.

[Knight165]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

I've done no training with this dog b/c he's not mine, and have only had him about a week. He went to a couple of obedience classes with my mom, then his first foster family sent him away for a month at some hardcore military/police dog training facility. Seems to have calmed him, but didn't fix the biting issue.

I don't think you should put a dog down that you didn't try and rehabilitate yourself.
Military style training schools don't sound like the proper place for a dog that has a fear/aggression issue.
I'll be honest.....from what you just said...if you do put that dog down, you should also give away your pups and don't take on the responsibility of owning and caring for a dog. That goes double for your parents.
Sorry....I'm not trying to be harsh, but taking on that responsibility should mean more than a half hearted effort and then destroying the pet because you failed at training him/her.

M.K.
Knight165

[bh446066]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

I don't think you should put a dog down that you didn't try and rehabilitate yourself.
Military style training schools don't sound like the proper place for a dog that has a fear/aggression issue.
I'll be honest.....from what you just said...if you do put that dog down, you should also give away your pups and don't take on the responsibility of owning and caring for a dog. That goes double for your parents.
Sorry....I'm not trying to be harsh, but taking on that responsibility should mean more than a half hearted effort and then destroying the pet because you failed at training him/her.

M.K.
Knight165

I started this thread to ask for advice, not have a judgemental finger pointed at me, considering I've done nothing yet. This is not a favor my parents have asked of me, it's an imposition. I'm not going to have my hand forced into keeping a dog that won't work in my scenario. My offer was to help re-home the dog. I did, and it didn't work. I'm trying to train 2 puppies already, and don't have the time, the funds, the energy, or the desire to fork over my money into training programs that may or may not work. What I'm probably going to do is take the dog back to them and say "He's your problem."

[Knight165]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

I started this thread to ask for advice, not have a judgemental finger pointed at me, considering I've done nothing yet. This is not a favor my parents have asked of me, it's an imposition. I'm not going to have my hand forced into keeping a dog that won't work in my scenario. My offer was to help re-home the dog. I did, and it didn't work. I'm trying to train 2 puppies already, and don't have the time, the funds, the energy, or the desire to fork over my money into training programs that may or may not work. What I'm probably going to do is take the dog back to them and say "He's your problem."

I'm not being judgmental towards you .....but trying to point out...what you've already just stated yourself. You are not willing or capable to put forth the proper effort to rehabilitate this dog.
There is nothing wrong with that, but if your first answer to the problem after a week is to destroy the dog....then I stand by what I said.
You asked for advice...I gave it.
Maybe not what you wanted to hear....I'm sorry about that.
Like I said...I'm not trying to be harsh, I just have a habit...and I think a good one...of calling it as I see it. I think most people appreciate that I'm brutally honest with them. Some don't.
I'll bow out. Again...sorry.

M.K.
Knight165