Re: What would you do? Dog snapped/bit son.

Posted by Goobster

Posted by mishy626

I feel our other dog would never snap at my kids, but everyone says you never know. My gut feeling is I need to give the dog back (the woman said if we ever needed to give him up, she would take him back).

Is there ever a time to give a dog a second chance? What would you do. Sorry so long. Thanks for your advice.... we are all upset today.

I wanted to address this comment specifically.

My 2 dogs, whom I have had since they were 10 weeks old and are now 7 and 8, never had food possession issues. The very first time my female (at around 3 years old) showed signs was when I got home from having my DD and being in the hospital for 5 days, and I made my dogs scrambled eggs. My female attacked my male when he even went near her food. Shewas very stressed with me being gone so long and clearly responded.

Now since that day, she has done the same a few times to my male, when he came close to something extra special she was eating. She does not do this with dog food, my dogs hate their dog food. But give them a bone, scrambled eggs, ham, or some kind of meat and she will let him know to stay the heck away when she is eating. She just attacked my male the other day when he merely glanced at her eggs (he had finished his own, on his own plate).

So for me, IMO, food possession is very common, especially when it comes to a very special and tasty food they love and don't want to part with. I always laways tell my 4 year old to stay away when they are eating (and she does, as she has seen my female go at my male for coming too close to her eggs or bone or ham, etc).

But only you can decide.

Re: What would you do? Dog snapped/bit son.

I have two dogs, both rescues. A lab/great dane mix and a boxer/pit mix. My pit mix does resemble your white dog. Either way, having a pit doesn't mean anything horrible. My pit is actually a much better dog than my lab mix.

Anyway, about 2 years ago my lab snapped at my husband when he went to take his bone away...similar to your story, no skin broken or bleeding but was obviously very protective. We immediately punished him by following our trainers instructions and we never had an issue since then.

One piece of advice I was always given with both dogs while training them is when it's feeding time, stand there with them, take their food away before they are finished then wait a few minutes and give it back, you can pet them while they eat (after a while of this type of training of course). Anyway supposedly all these things will help a dog understand not to be protective over food type items. I have followed this and never had a problem.

HTH!

Re: What would you do? Dog snapped/bit son.

Re: Updated in first post. What would you do? Dog snapped/bit son.

Updated.

Re: Updated in first post. What would you do? Dog snapped/bit son.

I am so sorry

Updated in first post. What would you do? Dog snapped/bit son.

I'm sorry :o( At least you gave him the benefit of the doubt and brought someone in to evaluate him.

Was that Jason at Best Paw Forward? We have done two lessons with him with our foster dog Leia, well technically one lesson with him and one with one of his staff, because he had an emergency evaluation for a dog who bit a child in the face. I am wondering if that was you. Small world.

There are other rescue groups that might be able to help if the original person can't help. Also, if it was Jason... I know he did/does problem dog rescue and I wonder if he would be willing to let you release the dog to him for rehabilitating?

Message edited 3/3/2013 5:16:44 PM.

Re: Updated in first post. What would you do? Dog snapped/bit son.

I am very sorry. I am glad you tried. I hope that woman holds true to her word. If not, as Traysee said above, hopefully a rescue can take him.

Message edited 3/3/2013 5:49:09 PM.

Re: Updated in first post. What would you do? Dog snapped/bit son.

Traysee, yes, it's the same Jason, small world! He did offer to rehabilitate Ryder, but it's way more than we can afford unfortunately.

Re: Updated in first post. What would you do? Dog snapped/bit son.

i agree w/ the above posters about trying a rescue----i would even do this before i'd give the dog back to that lady-a rescue will ensure proper placement, they have networks, & they will do the right thing by the dog-

so sad you have to go through this-glad you tried an evaluation before just giving up.

there are numerous rescues-ive posted a list of them-i actually just bumped a post i wrote on the FHF board-there is a list of rescues there.

let us know if we can help

try k-9 counsel located in medford-they may be able to help w rehab

Message edited 3/3/2013 6:16:14 PM.

Updated in first post. What would you do? Dog snapped/bit son.

No, he's not cheap and he's not for the faint of heart either. But I am in agreement with you. You have only had him 8 weeks and it would be a lifetime of management and years of juggling him and the kids.

Re: Updated in first post. What would you do? Dog snapped/bit son.

Traysee, you have fm

Updated in first post. What would you do? Dog snapped/bit son.

You have to do what is best for your family. If the trainer does not feel it is safe for the dog to be around children there is not much you can do. I have heard wonderful things about this rescue: http://animalfarmfoundation.org/ they often take dogs that have issue like you are describing and work with them to re-train them and make them adoptable.