Should a dog that bites be put down?

[mjb2124]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

I wouldn't put the dog down, but I also wouldn't allow it near my child or the puppies (the puppies don't need to learn from this dog's bad habits).

I still think any dog can be trained properly and I'd have this dog trained. I realize the dog already went through a military style training, but maybe that isn't the right type of training for this dog? Like Knight stated, an aggressive dog probably needs a lot more TLC. I'd hate to see any dog put down that has the potential to be rehabbed.

[PVarck31]

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."

Putting a dog down should be the very last option. Try to find a shelter that will take him. My wife used to work the the Humane Society and they saw this a lot. There are tons of rescue organizations and shelters. I think one of them will take the dog.

Please give that option a chance.

[bh446066]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

Putting a dog down should be the very last option. Try to find a shelter that will take him. My wife used to work the the Humane Society and they saw this a lot. There are tons of rescue organizations and shelters. I think one of them will take the dog.

Please give that option a chance.

Because of his bite history, I've been declined by the following:

-Austin Humane Society
-Austin SPCA
-Williamson County Humane Society
-Austin Boxer Rescue
-Dallas Boxer Rescue

Again, I never agreed to keep this dog, I only offered to help re-home it, and foster it in the meantime. His options are severely limited, obviously. My problem is that I really like this dog, but there's no way I can keep him. My parents are trying to wash their hands of the situation and are refusing to deal with the reality of what this dog needs, which is a LOT of attention and strong alpha leadership. I gotta behonest, this dog is sitting 6th string right now behind my kid, wife, career, and 2 puppies. He's just simply not going to get what he needs with me, and will eventually find more trouble given the amount of people traffic at my house...and my daughter's propensity for leaving doors open. Biting dogs are a legal minefield, and that's something I cannot risk.

[bh446066]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

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.
M.K.
Knight165

I've exhausted every possible avenue and beat every single bush I know in an effort to help them and find a home for this dog (work, classifieds, email contacts, facebook, rescue groups, humane society and SPCA), not to mention this dog is already on his 3rd/4th chance and every single vet I've spoken to has said he's probably best off being put down. So don't tell me I've given up after a week. I guess your "good" habit is popping off at the mouth and being dead wrong.

[DickDalewood]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

I've exhausted every possible avenue and beat every single bush I know in an effort to help them and find a home for this dog (work, classifieds, email contacts, facebook, rescue groups, humane society and SPCA), not to mention this dog is already on his 3rd/4th chance and every single vet I've spoken to has said he's probably best off being put down. So don't tell me I've given up after a week. I guess your "good" habit is popping off at the mouth and being dead wrong.

I think Knight's point is... one week isn't enough time to decide you want to put a dog down. Yes, you've tried classifieds, facebook, humane society, etc... but at least two of the options need to be allowed a little time to come through for you. Honestly, it sounds like you've already made up your mind and are just looking for confirmation, because so far, the few people that have said you should wait, you've gotten awfully defensive with.

No one's calling you a bad person dude, you asked for advice, and we're trying to give it.

[AUChase]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

I'd follow the advice some have given.

I won't own a dog that bites.

[DickDalewood]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

I'd follow the advice some have given.

I won't own a dog that bites.

Yah, regardless of the whole week thing, I certainly wouldn't have it around my kids.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

I'd give him back. No way I'd put a human life in jeopardy for a pet. No chance.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

If I've been declined by those shelters, then I'd just let the dog go free. No chance in hell I'll have it put down. Would suck to let it go free though, with no food or anything. Tough situation.

[Cusefan]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

Since I am a dog lover, I would feel obligated to put in the time and train the dog. any dog can be trained, its just a matter of putting the time in and being consistent.

If you did put the dog down, I would understand though.

[Chrisksaint]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

Well I personally wouldn't have this dog anywhere near my kids or other puppies. I recommend you try to retrain him if possible or find someone else willing to take, i'd rather put him down tho then just let him roam free it'll be an endangerment to himself and to others.

My Aunt had this same problem kinda, she had 4 Siberian huskys and all of a sudden 3 little kids. She eventually found homes for 3 of them and keeps one of them mainly outside until her kids get older.

[mburke2]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

If I've been declined by those shelters, then I'd just let the dog go free. No chance in hell I'll have it put down. Would suck to let it go free though, with no food or anything. Tough situation.

If by this you mean just release the dog into the wild, that's probably the last thing I would do. The dog is technically a pet that I'm assuming is registered under his parents' names. If he were to let the dog go and it were to attack/bite another person while loose, it could easily be tracked back to his parents and they would be in some serious legal trouble. If I were in your position, BH, I'd do one of the following:

- Give the dog back to your parents and say "Your dog, your problem" and let them decide what to do with him
- Or bring him to a vet to be put down since it's obvious that no animal shelters or protection agencies in your area want any part of him

It's a tough situation but I would not be willing to jeopardize my 2 year old child (or, to a lesser extent, the 2 puppies) to try to rehabilitate an obviously dangerous dog. Hope everything ends up working out well for you man.

[NDAlum]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

I'm a dog lover

I would not have the dog around kids

Honestly I would lean towards putting it down. You can only do so much. The dog probably has some sort of predetermined genetic code to be aggressive.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

There's a similar situation with one of the dogs here at my aunt's house. With us, she's a GREAT dog. Very friendly, no problems at all. But even when someone just walks by, she freaks...barks for minutes on end. When we put her outside to go to the bathroom, barks the whole time. When someone's here that she's not familiar with it's also really bad. My one great aunt was here for a family party, and even after giving her a treat and petting her, the dog bit her. She also bit one of my little cousin's friends and bit a random lady when she got free from her chain one night when we let her out and actually got put on quarantine by the animal control people. Now they keep her in their bedroom when people are over, but you can hear her going crazy, and sometimes you can even hear her ramming into the door. It's crazy because she's such a great dog with us, but it's like a switch flips when other people are here. They're pretty much in the same predicament.

[Dog]

Re: Should a dog that bites be put down?

Before you even THINK about putting it down, look at all your options. I'm sure you can find a trainer that can train the dog, no dog is un-trainable.