What to do with GSD?

arybvtcw0eolkf

peasant wrote:

emmm ...

Weren't you the one looking for a dog (Staffie)?

Might I recommend a goldfish instead?


as for the OP ...

.

Yea, I'm getting a Staffie, and putting considerable thought into it too.

So what are you getting at?.

What I'm saying is very simple, I wouldn't let man or beast threaten the safety of my family. You can't knock me for that.

I simply wouldn't give a dog with that aggressive streak a chance with my family, I'd get rid of it.

What if this dog turn's on its owner, or a member of the family?. Wouldn't the dangerous dogs lobby have a field day with that one?.

Btw, are you agreeing with the dangerous dogs lobby now and saying a Staffie isn't a suitable pet to be housed in the family home?.

You seemed to have formed the opinion that I'd have the OP's dog killed, nothing could be further from the truth. But I would get rid of it.

Finally, since you brought up my staffie thread. You might remember I mentioned some PM's I'd got.

One was from a member here whose friend need's to get rid of her Staffie. Unfortunetly it doesn't suit my needs, however I'm in the process of having it re-homed in Sweden rather than go to the pound, if the owner can't find an alternative Irish owner. It needs to be vacinated etc, this will all be done at no cost to the owner.

peasant

Mairt

The reason I brought up the goldfish is not that you want a Staffie or any other particular breed but that you mention the safety of your family and the word "dog" in the same breath.

A dog is a predator, a carnivor with strong instincts, pointy teeth, a strong jaw and claws. It is inherently dangerous.

We have domesticated it and called it a pet, but it's still a dog underneath. When you take in a dog, you take on the resposibility to take care of it and to train and watch it so it doesn't pose a danger to its environement ..be that other animals or people.

You don't just hope for the best and then get rid of it (one way or another) if it doesn't work out to be the cuddly teddybear you wanted it to be.

As I've said above ...dogs don't just "turn" (on their owner or other animals) there are reasons for agression and warnings beforehand. A good owner can see the warnings and will look for the reasons and change things.
A bad one will claim the dog has "turned" and get it shot and claim to have done the "responsible thing".

Lots of people fail to realise what a dog actually is (a domesticated predator) and assume they are sharing their lives with a living, breathing cuddly toy, only to be all surprised when things go wrong (ususally due to their neglicence and not the dog itself) ...what really get's me going then is when more of the same people start spouting "well meaning" advice to get rid of the dog.

The solution to this issue is not to get rid of the dog once it is too late, but not let circumstances happen or develop where the dog can become dangerous to its environement. But that takes responsiblity, hard work and some adjustments to daily routines, etc ...something that a lot of people aren't prepared to do.
Those people would be better off with a goldfish.

I realise that I'm probably barking up the wrong tree in addressing this post to you. You seem to be quite willing to take on that responsibility, even with dogs that you have no connection to, but I just couldn't let that whole issue of safety and inherent danger go uncommented.

~Thalia~

travis wrote:

She will be 6 in october.Wouldnt give her as a guard dog,anyway,when shes not ripping the other dogs to pieces shes very friendly.I talked to the trainer about spaying but he said it wouldnt help.
This wasnt a decission i made lightly but the warning signs are there like Mairts dogs.Shes a big powerful dog & could do a lot of damage to a person. Im not looking forward to friday.

Peasant,what would you recommend doing with a dog that savagly attacks other animals every now & again? I did go to the trainer about it & he gave me the options,isolated in a pen or put her down.Killing is a harsh word it dont you think.

She is six years old. This "what if" she turns on my family idea has not yet happened at six years old it is unlikely that she will.
She has issues with dominance and needs to be in a family where she is the only dog, I can't believe that your "dog trainer" didn't even suggest this? Simply reading the post here tells me that.

PLEASE contact your local animal shelter and hand her in where she will be cared for and homed to a more appropriate home where she can be what she is - a dog. As I already said, I work a little with fostering animals for Limerick Animal Welfare and I am very experienced with GSDs. Please contact me if you need help re-homing her.

Mairt - I understand your concerns and of course putting your family 1st is only natural but the point that is being missed is that for many people their pets ARE their family and are treated accordingly. This dog hasn't shown agression towards humans with the exception of mid scrap with another dog which being a GSD owner I can understand. Well done on homing the Staffie. Have you checked out www.irishanimals.com? There are always staffies on there looking for their forever home? Good luck with your search

I think there is an underlying misunderstanding here and I don't think it's fair that this dog should suffer for it.

OP - You don't seem to be interested in listening to the well thought out responses you are being offered here and seem intent on having her pts (which is killing her incidentally, you can sugar coat it but that is essentially what it means) PLEASE reconsider. You don't seem to be interested in pursuing an investigation into WHY she does this so please allow someone else to do it.

Thanks for reading.

Gillie

Just trying to relate this to me. I have a 5 yr old GSD and he's never acted agressively towards ppl.
Now he has growled at some dogs (not all) but that was always triggered by something. Difference is that I could correct him/quiet him if he did.

I would dread to be in your situation.
Bottom line do you trust your dog around ppl?
If not either:
1. Get her rehomed. I don't see why you would not consider her as a security dog? You could research the potential new home carefully?
2. Get her put down. Really would only do this if my fella bit a human!

By the way. Have you spoken to your vet about this?
(Stay away from the Dog trainer. He/She can't help you any more)

Good luck

alexdenby6

dont get her put down, she might just not get on with other dogs. put a muzzle on her and take her to a dog show like the one in the rds recently so she can meet and socialise with other dogs. putting down is not an option in my book.

shelley1

There are worse things for a dog than being 'killed' aka pts. Whoever thought that a family pet would be better off being a 'guard dog' needs a serious rethink.... are you for REAL????

At 6 yrs of age...this dog had a good and happy faimily life up till now and with other dogs on board - the option for this particular dog sounds ****E!!!

Look- it happens with animals - sometimes there is a 'mental' issue - it happens with humans ( hello- do NOT go there!!) whether we like it or not -dogs (yep - we made 'em) they have to obide by our rules....this may not be fair - but that is the way it is...

Best of luck Travis - in whatever you decide

andrawolf

Dr evil. it is no consern to you what age I am. but I have worked with dogs small and large for 25 years. No person should take on an animal into there family and not expect there to be work. If it was a cat and it scrached should it be put to sleep? I believe not because it is in its nature. My jack russell knocked over my bird cage and ate my canary should it be put tp sleep? No it is in its nature.
This dog is getting put to sleep because her owner is not willing to except it is in her nature. She did not see how the fight started and can not say it was her fault. So I think she should not kill her but if she can not trust her get her rehomed.

peasant

shelley1 wrote:

dogs (yep - we made 'em) they have to obide by our rules....

Bit of a human superiority issue there, have we?

Crown of creation, top of the foodchain, me Tarzan you dog ?

Ever heard of the term "taking responsibility"?

shelley1

We did create our dogs Peasant, whether we like it or not.....

We bred them, over the years for specific traits, and I am not going to insult your intelligence by going into this particular topic -

Responsibility is EXACTLY what I am talking about...we must take responsibility for our dogs - I actually think that at times this is making the ultimate decision...as I said before - there are far worse thing than killing(PTS) our pets...condemning a 'family pet', because it has 'aggression issues', (and as it happens is a GSD- would this have been even mentioned if it were for eg a westie??) to a life as a 'guard dog', to me, is just being niave, unkind and trying to foist the problem on someone else...

Take responsibility for your own dog - whatever its problem - take ownership of that problem - research it, research it, and resolve it...to the best of your ability... you can do no more than that...

peasant

shelley1 wrote:

Take responsibility for your own dog - whatever its problem - take ownership of that problem - research it, research it, and resolve it...to the best of your ability... you can do no more than that...

But that doesn't mean "kill it", does it?

If the problem exceeds your own (limited) ability, then find someone more able to help you. Don't just dispose of the problem and mask you inability as "having done the responsible thing".

Since when does fighting between dogs carry a death sentence?
It's natural bahviour and can be controlled, if needs be (as a last resort) by removal of one of the dogs to a different environement.

...because it has 'aggression issues', (and as it happens is a GSD- would this have been even mentioned if it were for eg a westie??)

Of course it should also have been mentioned if it was a Westie (but never would have).
Ask any dog ...being bitten by a Westie is no laughing matter either ...and they DO bite.

But seenashow its a GSD somebody can shout from the crowd "won't somebody pleeease think of the children?" ...and all of a sudden it's ok to just kill that dog.

And we can all pat ourselves on the shoulder for having done "the responsible thing"

Where's the pukey smiley?

andrawolf

I agree with peasant. It does matter what type of dog A terrier could do as much damage as a gsd. This was a fight that no one had seen start and it could have been the terrier that started it and I don't here anyone comment on it being pts. No dog should be pts when no human knows what has happened.

comongethappy

Before putting your GSD down, perhaps try to arrange a home visit with a dog behaviour expert, not just a dog trainer. What it seems to be is a pack leadership issue, and dog trainers tend to just focus on one dog's behaviour, where as if you having a trainer / behaviour expert, they can look at the role of all your dogs and your leadership and try to work on a solution from there.

If you don't want to go that route, please try to rehome or give her to a shelter. It's not fair on the dog to put her down without knowing a reason behind her agressive behaviour. However, if the dog attempts human agression before you can arrange help, you may have no other choice

shelley1

Andrawolf - A terrier will NOT do as much damage as a GSD....it will cause damage - but not as much...

peasant

shelley1 wrote:

Andrawolf - A terrier will NOT do as much damage as a GSD....it will cause damage - but not as much...

Common misconception ...and also the reason why a lot of people think it's unneccesary to train or discipline small dogs.

~Thalia~

peasant wrote:

Common misconception ...and also the reason why a lot of people think it's unneccesary to train or discipline small dogs.

You see this is so true and exactly what gets to me. I take my GSD out walking to close by forestry popular with people for walkign and exercising their dogs. Magic is ALWAYS on a lead and more often than not has a harness on so I can control her and when I get there I lose count of the number of people with small yappy little things off their leads. They then proceed to dive bomb my dog and she barks at them in defence and then owners get the 'who does she think she is walking a big Alsation in a public place' face on them when it's their dogs running riot with no recall training that instigate the fracas in the first place.

It's important for ALL dogs to be well behaved not just the big ones.

Anyway update on the OP: they have decided not to have the GSD put to sleep but to try the spaying and other routes first so that's some good news!

fits

~Thalia~ wrote:

Anyway update on the OP: they have decided not to have the GSD put to sleep but to try the spaying and other routes first so that's some good news!

Great news, I hope they find the cause...
It certainly doesnt sound normal, I wouldnt be surprised if there were pain issues...

arybvtcw0eolkf

~Thalia~ wrote:

Anyway update on the OP: they have decided not to have the GSD put to sleep but to try the spaying and other routes first so that's some good news!

Excellent, taking the proper steps before its too late.

bilbo79

At least they are trying to be responsible pet owners now-pity they did not do this from day 1 though.

andrawolf

shelley1 wrote:

Andrawolf - A terrier will NOT do as much damage as a GSD....it will cause damage - but not as much...

I have worked in a vets and I have seen first hand the damage that terriers can do. We had a dog that had to be stitched up and brought back from close death where its throat had been near ripped out by two jack russells. I am not just putting up comments because I don't know what I am talking about. I have had terriers and my own where great but my dog attack a gsd as it had came at me and yes he did get hurt but so did the gsd.

SpicyNoodle

I have only seen this post for the first time today, I was finding it very hard to read as I thought it was the end for that poor misunderstood GS. I am glad you are going to try the other options first, maybe this is the proper second chance!
I too am going to get my golden spayed but for different reasons, she is a bit hyper and it my quite her down a little.

If you are ever worried about your dog attacking someone, why not muzzle her? It's harsh but better than killing your dog. I am glad you love her enough to not have her put to sleep.

I wish her and you the best, take care!

SpicyNoodle

shelley1

andrawolf wrote:

I have worked in a vets and I have seen first hand the damage that terriers can do. We had a dog that had to be stitched up and brought back from close death where its throat had been near ripped out by two jack russells. I am not just putting up comments because I don't know what I am talking about. I have had terriers and my own where great but my dog attack a gsd as it had came at me and yes he did get hurt but so did the gsd.

All dogs teeth are designed to the same template ...however do NOT tell me that a westie (and I am using that example - as that was what was first posted) can do the same damage - Hello ?? A GSD, Rottie, etc etc, has the sheer physical strength ...

BTW, I am an owner of a GSD/Rottie X - I also have a 5mth old CKCS - go figure..:)

deaddonkey

the OP needs to read The Dog Listener - Jan Fennell
it's a life changing book and will help you a lot - it teaches you to look at things from your dog's point of view and how to teach your dog to behave as a dog that knows its place in a natural pack
if i didn't have a dog and a half on my hands now i'd take her

your dog has attacked another dog for doggy reasons you nor i understand - that doesn't justify the death penalty

http://www.janfennellthedoglistener.com/

with training and patience your dog can be helped, i'm glad she won't be killed.

peasant

shelley1 wrote:

All dogs teeth are designed to the same template ...however do NOT tell me that a westie (and I am using that example - as that was what was first posted) can do the same damage - Hello ?? A GSD, Rottie, etc etc, has the sheer physical strength ...

BTW, I am an owner of a GSD/Rottie X - I also have a 5mth old CKCS - go figure..:)

This is going off topic now, but what the heck ...

Have you ever seen a Terrier type and a large dog have a serious altercation?

The little weasels stay behind and go for the sinews in the big dog's hind legs first, crippling it and bringing it down ...then the odds are in their favour.


But more importantly, a large dog (of any breed) will have been bred and trained to stay cool and distant for much longer (otherwise they'd be unmanageable), whereas a lot of Terrier types have a hairpin trigger (otherwise they'd have been useless for their traditional jobs as ratters and vermin killers)

Yes, given the choice, I'd rather be bitten by a Westie than a large dog ...but in the real world the Westie is FAR MORE likely to bite anyway.