Jadotha
Well-Known Member
I'm joining the conversation a bit late, but here are my thoughts.
First, I agree that this sounds like severe fear aggression. Additionally, we can't know what the pup's life was like with her former owner, but she may very well have been traumatised by the owner's illness and death, as well. A close friend of mine died painfully of cancer over the period of 18 months. Her dog spent every waking moment at her side until he had to be locked in a room whenever doctors and medical staff administered treatment, as he got to the point that he tried to tear them limb from limb -- no doubt because in his mind they were hurting his mistress.
Our last dog, a Great Dane, developed fear aggression at the age of two, precipitated by a couple of unfortunate interactions in a row -- a construction worker suddenly popping out of an excavation in the road as we walked past -- throwing a shovel full of gravel on us; a bunch of teenagers on bicycles dive bombing us, screaming and yelling, up onto a stranger's lawn until we sought refuge on a porch. My dog became extremely aggressive toward all strangers and bit one visitor. After that, we put safe-guards into place, much like Jim has, and we were able to manage him quite well, with no further incidents. Hence, I think it is beyond extreme to recommend euthanasia. As my dog was food motivated, (taking advice from a behaviourist) we were able to reduce his aggression to the point that we could walk him without a muzzle and he would tolerate the proximity of other people as long as they didn't try to pet him. He even got to like a couple of our neighbors. This was good enough for me. I DO hope the OP does get expert advice from an appropriate resource to improve his situation, but these dogs CAN be managed so they do not pose a danger to society.
Re: diverdan's remarks about dog attacks, I would add that the average number of people killed by dog attacks averages 35 in the US (in 2012 it was 38). Far more people, according to the CDC, die by falling out of bed. Studies have shown that shelter, dog control and police personnel are notoriously unreliable at correctly identifying dog breeds. In terms[FONT=&] of lurid media coverage, the 'pit bull' or 'pit bull type' labeling seems to include anything that is not blatantly and immediately obviously another breed [/FONT]. Another media related issue is that initial headlines will proclaim " Pit Bulls maul X". Later on, we will discover, buried in the depths of the newspaper a brief correction that the dogs involved were something other than pit bulls.
[FONT=&]In 2012, several US states and countries that have had BSL in place for some period of time have become convinced of its ineffectiveness and have repealed, or are considering/debating the repeal of such legislation[/FONT].
First, I agree that this sounds like severe fear aggression. Additionally, we can't know what the pup's life was like with her former owner, but she may very well have been traumatised by the owner's illness and death, as well. A close friend of mine died painfully of cancer over the period of 18 months. Her dog spent every waking moment at her side until he had to be locked in a room whenever doctors and medical staff administered treatment, as he got to the point that he tried to tear them limb from limb -- no doubt because in his mind they were hurting his mistress.
Our last dog, a Great Dane, developed fear aggression at the age of two, precipitated by a couple of unfortunate interactions in a row -- a construction worker suddenly popping out of an excavation in the road as we walked past -- throwing a shovel full of gravel on us; a bunch of teenagers on bicycles dive bombing us, screaming and yelling, up onto a stranger's lawn until we sought refuge on a porch. My dog became extremely aggressive toward all strangers and bit one visitor. After that, we put safe-guards into place, much like Jim has, and we were able to manage him quite well, with no further incidents. Hence, I think it is beyond extreme to recommend euthanasia. As my dog was food motivated, (taking advice from a behaviourist) we were able to reduce his aggression to the point that we could walk him without a muzzle and he would tolerate the proximity of other people as long as they didn't try to pet him. He even got to like a couple of our neighbors. This was good enough for me. I DO hope the OP does get expert advice from an appropriate resource to improve his situation, but these dogs CAN be managed so they do not pose a danger to society.
Re: diverdan's remarks about dog attacks, I would add that the average number of people killed by dog attacks averages 35 in the US (in 2012 it was 38). Far more people, according to the CDC, die by falling out of bed. Studies have shown that shelter, dog control and police personnel are notoriously unreliable at correctly identifying dog breeds. In terms[FONT=&] of lurid media coverage, the 'pit bull' or 'pit bull type' labeling seems to include anything that is not blatantly and immediately obviously another breed [/FONT]. Another media related issue is that initial headlines will proclaim " Pit Bulls maul X". Later on, we will discover, buried in the depths of the newspaper a brief correction that the dogs involved were something other than pit bulls.
[FONT=&]In 2012, several US states and countries that have had BSL in place for some period of time have become convinced of its ineffectiveness and have repealed, or are considering/debating the repeal of such legislation[/FONT].
