Good Dog Gone Bad: Biting other dogs and now us.

[911SauCy]

PPOTBT.

There are many dog lovers here. I am one, but have a potentially serious issue developing...

Beast in question: Nova, female, 4.5 y/o, black lab/pit mix "rescue pup"


History: Perfectly good dog, complete love machine, very obedient, no aggression shown toward people or other dogs for first 3.5 years of life, does like to chew stuff. Strange crap starts a year ago, we come back from a Mediterranean cruise to pick her up at Dog Daycare and are presented with a $1100 vet hospital bill and video of her attacking another dog. Completely unprovoked attack of a Beagle. No other obvious aggression toward other dogs following on walks etc.

12/13: Wife has kid, dog is great around kid, but basically dismissive of his existence.

Over the last month: The dog had literally demolished a crate. She was crated while we weren't home and she broke the crate bars, got out and trashed basement room she was in. bad dog!

Last 3 times she's was reprimanded, NOTE I will not hit the dog, I grab her by her snout and bring her to what she's done to scold. She had strongly pulled her mouth out of my hands.

Yesterday/Today: Got scolded for digging in the yard, she added a snap at me after she pulled away. This afternoon, wife calls me at work after pulling her out of the pool and getting bit on the hand. No blood.

Mrs Saucy is freaked about dog and small child, shares story with Vet while other dog is getting stitches removed from a life-saving surgery 2 weeks ago.

Vet says...call a trainer. I hate dog trainers but have not experienced a dog personality shift like this before either.

What to do...

[motion]

I'm not a dog person, but here goes.... I would NEVER allow an aggressive dog around my infant. To go even further, I would not allow ANY dog around my infant. They are animals and are unpredictable. I already feel the flames getting fanned....

Best of luck to you and your situation.

[vash]

youve ruled out any medical issues?

maybe she is in pain somewhere.. my first step would be to rule out any medical problems..

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

Yesterday/Today: Got scolded for digging in the yard, she added a snap at me after she pulled away. This afternoon, wife calls me at work after pulling her out of the pool and getting bit on the hand. No blood.

Mrs Saucy is freaked about dog and small child, shares story with Vet while other dog is getting stitches removed from a life-saving surgery 2 weeks ago.

Vet says...call a trainer. I hate dog trainers but have not experienced a dog personality shift like this before either.

What to do...

Were it my household, the dog would be gone. Ymmv.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

....What to do...

I'm gonna cut right to the chase: You NEED to get rid of this dog asap.

I've been a dog lover all my life, and have "a way with them"....but, I've also had quite a bit of experience over the past 4-5 years with a friend's PB that will also exhibit similar behavior towards "other dogs" (including her own mixed breed pups) that I can't even begin to describe. You'd have to see it to believe it. She'll go from "loving" to flat out "red zone" in the blink of an eye, and I've got scars on my arms from breaking up dog fights. Your small child is simply another dog to her imo.

Don't want to hear about how it's not the breed, it's the owners....not MY friends. They've had her (and I've been around her too) since she was 7-8 weeks old. If "I" had total control, I don't believe she'd have developed that way, but "it is what it is" at this point with them, and I fear, it's the same in your case.

Go seek a professional's advice....don't take my word for it....but PLEASE don't expose your child EVER, EVER, EVER, and it can happen when you're standing right beside them.

ps: I'm not a PB hater (I love that dog)....just relaying my OWN personal experiences....Good luck!

[imcarthur]

There is NO choice here. The dog has to go.

Ian

[rusnak]

Yeah I have to agree that the dog has to go.

[quicksix]

Get the dog to a vet asap, run some tests to rule out medical isssues,in the meantime keep the animal away from everyone.
If the dog has to be "out", consider a muzzle.
Good luck

[atcjorg]

you can't even take the chance with an aggressive dog...gotta go

[gacook]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Were it my household, the dog would be gone. Ymmv.

I'm with Todd, especially with a young child present. This thread would be about me unfortunately having to give away my dog.

[2porscheguy]

Baz?......help needed here!

[varmint]

You can change behavior but you can't change personality.


My second heeler, TRex, was given to me by a family who'd just had a baby. She was snarling at the kid and had to go.
It's been two years and she knows that crap won't fly here. Took a lot of time. And a lot of consistency. Feel totally comfortable leaving her with the girlfriend's daughter. But even today she tries to boss me around sometimes. There will always be how she knows she's supposed to behave and how she really wants to be.

I'm a strong believer in positive training methods. It's been 99% positive reinforcement and treats. But a couple times she's snapped at me and gotten smacked upside The head in return. felt horrible doing it. but sometimes it's the only way to get the point across.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by 2porscheguy

Baz?......help needed here!

Why? ....to restate the obvious

I typed my initial post while a few jumped in (as I was doing so)....there is NO help here other than what has already been suggested.

I've been around many "so called" aggressive breeds all my life too (though I'm a lab lover at heart). GSDs, Dobermans, Chows, Pits....and I judge ALL dogs individually. At this point "why" the OP's dog "turned" (while he went away) is anyone's guess, but now "it is" and he's gotta deal with it....I can't imagine a dog that "I'm" alpha over (and that's ALL of them btw) EVER snapping at ME. If there was not a small child around....my advice "might" be a bit different....but there is, and that's why the OP unfortunately has no other choice imo. Best of luck with your decision....it isn't easy.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Hate to agree with the crowd, but the dog has to go. You are risking serious injury or death to that child.

[speeder]

Pit Bull mix, showing aggression including biting its owner and attacking other dogs. And you have an infant in the house.

Are you seriously asking??

[motion]

Jesus, I didn't even see the pit mix in OP's post. Good God man, what are you waiting for?

[tedg04]

My first thought was to suggest it has to go - down or otherwise. However, putting it in perspective of if my dog started acting like this, things got a bit blurry. Before I put him down I would at the very least have him checked over at the vet thoroughly for any sort of medical problem.
Sorry you have to face the decision, but if choosing between your child's safety and the dog - it's pretty cut and dry.

[varmint]

How long was the dog in this day care place? Sudden changes in personality have been associated with concussions.

[Moses]

Want me to tell you the story about my patients "sweet" dog that killed her infant?

WTF are you waiting for? I know I'm being harsh, but you do not understand dogs. You are like a gun owner who assumes his guns are unloaded until someone gets killed.

Dogs are pack animals with a rigid social order. If you were the alpha in your pack, the dog wouldn't consider aggression toward you. Guess what? You are not the alpha any more. This dog is broken. Put it down.

[aschen]

I wouldent let a pitbull mix or pure anywhere near my son. One that shows agression, capital nope. Maybe the breed gets a bad rep from the press, or maybe im an uninformed judgmental ignoramus, I dont care.


I am dog lover and can hardly talk about the death of my childhood dog even though it was nearly 10 years ago.

The only dog variety I have met that I might consider leaving unattended with a child is a great pyr:

Lily & Baby - YouTube