buckarcher,

I know you are a veteranarian and I really need your advice.

We have an 18 month old boxer mix pup. He is a wonderful family dog, but is very frightened and aggressive towards people he doesn't know well. It seems so especially towards girls. BTW, he has been neutered.


So far he has lunged at an 8 year old girl and scratched her right above her eye. Scared the poor child to death!

Yesterday he bit a 12 year old boy that he knows and loves because the kid picked him up and the dog got scared. He bit him below his eye.

Today... an 11 year old girl came over to play and the dog put his hackles up (one of kids accidentally let the dog get out of the house), ran at her and tried to pull off her shoe, then he jumped up and bit her under her shoulder blade. He tore a hole in her shirt and punctured her skin with both his upper and lower front teeth.

I don't think we can keep this pup any longer. The situation is that he is wonderful with our kids, but VERY protective of all of us.

From your professional opinion can you give me some options? Since our 2 boys are preteens they tend to rough house with the pup all of the time. I know that only encourages aggression, but I don't know how to "train" my boys not to do that.

Also in the past several years we have had to put 2 old dogs down and my kids are devastated at this point.

Do we put him down, take him to the pound, invest in behavioral training for aggression (if so does it work and how long does it take?) or give him to someone that can handle aggressive dogs?

We really would like to keep this dog, but 3 strikes and you are out! We can't afford to lose everything due to an aggressive dog. We are responsible pet owners and want to do what is best and right.

Please give any advice you have. It will be greatly appreciated.

TIA

aerostargal

 

I know your looking for someone, But If you love the dog and he is trainable what I mean is did he take to learning commands pretty easy?(sit, stay, heel, potty training)
If so it would be worth taking him to behaviour modification classes, There is no reason to kill a dog, somebody out there can use a dog just because you can't, Just be honest about his behaviour and the right person will take the dog.

 

Thanks for your reply Blue Beast.

This pup is VERY smart. He rings a bell when he wants to go out. He does Sit, Down, but Stay...not so well. He is crate trained and house trained.

This pup has a HUGE chase instinct! Anything that moves quickly is game!

We really don't want to put him down because he really is a great family dog. He LOVES our kids (his pups) and sleeps with them at night. He is so forlorn when they are at school and waits patiently at the front window until each of them comes home.

We just can't take the risk of a lawsuit.

The girl he bit today...her father just called and he had taken her to the E.R. for evaluation. Of course we will be getting a call from the hospital or police regarding the incident. I am sure we will also be paying for the medical bill.

Our finances are so stretched right now and we are responsible for our dog biting someone.

My husband and I are beside ourselves right now for many reasons. I was so upset that this little girl was bitten by our pup that I couldn't control the flow of tears. I am a girl and probably cry more easily than you guys, but I know no other way to release my feelings of stress.

aerostargal

 

PM sent. I was kind of straight, but it wasn't meant to be ornery, just wanted to emphasize the importance of doing it right, or letting someone else.
It will be a learning experience for the kids, no matter what you decide. You just need to decide what you want them to learn.