OT: Dealing With A Difficult Dog - WWYD?

~*Bethy*~ · #1 July 22nd, 2009, 09:26 AM

Most of you know about my 2yr old Chihuahua, Oscar. When he was a pup he was used as bait in a pitbull ring, giving him MAJOR issues with strangers (oddly enough hes nice to other dogs and babies, he HATES adults and older children over 8) I have him trained to the point to where now whenever someone comes over, I have to grab him and hold him the entire time, if I set him down he looses his bowls and barks NON STOP till they leave. After they leave he is paranoid for the rest of the day. Out of the house, he is quiet, sits on my toes and wont let anyone touch him. He has bitten strangers who have tried to touch him before.

Ok, fare enough.

Now here is my problem, I am the type of person that if the animal doesnt fit in my family, I find it a new home. I can only have 1 dog where I live, and do not have a fenced in yard. Would you call me a bytch if I wanted to find him a new home? Someone who KNOWS how to deal with his problems? I have upset a very good friend of mine (whom her dogs are her LIFE!!) and she has said that Im disposing of my animal because it doesnt suit me. Am I that bad of a person to want to give him a chance with someone else who can retrain him? Or do I just live with the stress and drama of a dog who hates everyone?

I love this dog to death, do not get me wrong!!

WWYD?

HopeWishWait · #2 July 22nd, 2009, 10:29 AM

Ok keep in mind this is ME personally, not that you should do what I would do or feel the same way I do. I couldn't give a dog up, I just couldn't do it. The guilt would eat at me. I worked in a shelter for 2 years and that kind of affected my opinion about dogs and people who own dogs and just....pet ownership in general. And after that I don't know that I could bring myself to do it. Maybe if all other options were completely exhausted and I knew there was absolutely NOTHING left to try, MAYBE then I could begin to think about it.

Have you tried crate training? Giving him somewhere to go that he feels safe when visitors come over?

~*Bethy*~ · #3 July 22nd, 2009, 11:17 AM

Ive tried - he gets stressed out when hes in the crate, he thinks Im abandoning him. Maybe Im going about crate training wrong?? Can I sucsessfuly crate him even with his mental issues??

~Beth

*kyle* · #4 July 22nd, 2009, 11:19 AM

I am a dog lover. But you can't have a dog who bites people. Even a bite from a small chihuahua could puncture skin in just the right place, get infected, etc. And you could come across someone who just doesn't like or understand dogs, who gets bit, or their kid age 9 or up gets bit, then they go on a mission to get the dog put down. Either the dog has to be carefully managed to keep him out of any and all situations where he could bite (like crating him, or keeping him in a special area where others don't go), or you risk the liability. Plus, it seems sad that the poor dog gets so upset by every visitor and every trip outside the house. He is obviously a very damaged little dog and has special needs, but having sympathy for an animal can only go so far before you just have to plan the entire environment around the dog's needs. If you can do that, great. If not, there should be a chihuahua rescue or another home with more space/quiet/patience where the dog himself would be more comfortable.

JediRach · #5 July 22nd, 2009, 11:20 AM

I would not personally do it but I specifically adopt dogs with problems. If you feel that you can't or won't try and help him get over his fear based agression then I would find him a new home. He doesn't feel safe and would probably do better with someone who has the time and resources to help him over come it.

HopeWishWait · #6 July 22nd, 2009, 11:21 AM

All my dogs have been crate trained and all the dogs I worked with at the shelter did crate training as well. We had A LOT of dogs that came from puppy mills and abusive situations like that....and the majority of them, once they got used to it, really liked their crate. They learned that "ok this is the place where I get fed, where I get treats, where I can run if I'm scared" and so it became a GOOD thing. The only reason I'd say NOT to put him in a crate is if he becomes SO upset that he tries to hurt himself. But I think committing to really trying it, maybe working on it with him every day for a little while, leaving him in there for a little long and a little longer, rewarding him for going in it, staying in it, being quiet while in it etc etc...is definitely worth a shot. But in the long run it comes down to what you are comfortable doing and what you feel he can do, obviously I don't know him personally and it doesn't work for every situation so...you should absolutely do what you feel is best for him

CandaceDianne · #7 July 22nd, 2009, 12:02 PM

DH and I had to find a new home for a pure bred German Sherphard who was traumatized after her owner committed suicide and was separated from her 'brother' (another dog). She got over her panice attacks from sirens, but if you would leave the house, she would urinate or poo in the house. We put up with it for 6-8 months because she was a good dog, until you left her. She wasn't mean to our other dog and was never aggresive with ANYONE.
I'll be honest, I felt extremely guilty, but you have to do what is best for your family. I did cry for days, but I finally moved on. It would be a different story if you just let them go or dropped them off in the middle of nowhere. You are just trying to find a new home and there is nothign wrong with that IMHO. Don't ever feel guilty for putting your family first. I know animals become family, but obviously, this poor traumatized puppy is too much. He would be too much for me. You have done a wonderful thing by taking him in, but now its time to pass him on to another family or person who can take care of him and maybe even break his fears. GL in whatever you decide to do.

CandaceDianne · #8 July 22nd, 2009, 12:02 PM

Oh, she was supposedly crate trained, so we put her in one one day. That would be the one and only time. She had somehow moved the crate across the kitchen, around a table. Pulled off part of the sofa, bent the crate wires, and chipped her teeth doing so. She, fortunately, was not hurt, but she very well could have. If you are going to crate, I agree with slowing working into. We left the german shephard in there all work day and never worked her up to it ot make sure she was OK to stay in there. A HUGE mistake on our part. I felt terrible.

~*Bethy*~ · #9 July 22nd, 2009, 12:22 PM

omg candace - Id go insane trying to care for that dog!!

I loooooove cheech to death, he is part of the family, I would love to work with him and get him past this fear but I feel Im not qualified. He is a good blanket warmer though...and loves the kids sooooo much!! which is a big factor in why we have kept him for so long (got him at 6 months old, so Ive pretty much been the one to train him...) Thank you all for your support!!!

~Beth

CandaceDianne · #10 July 22nd, 2009, 12:28 PM

Is there a facility you could take him to and have THEM train him or break his fear?
Where is Caesar when you need him!?

~*Bethy*~ · #11 July 22nd, 2009, 12:34 PM

lmao wouldnt that be called doggy class? I need someone to come inside the house, and then see how he acts. He bit my friend this weekend who was dog sitting him and he ran away (he came back obviously) but I need help

CandaceDianne · #12 July 22nd, 2009, 12:40 PM

haha, yea a dog class; but, I guess I meant more of a special facility that will take them in a help. Its hard to type what I am trying to explain lol. Or I guess a place that will come in and help you with the dog until he feels more comfortable (Like you said). Have you asked your vet or A vet about his situation and problem? They may know some places that can help.

~*Bethy*~ · #13 July 22nd, 2009, 12:45 PM

they said just basic training and stuff, he hasent been to the vet in about 6 months, and its crazy, well call me crazy, hes gotten better but like worse at the same time...does that make sense? like hes getting better but his episodes are getting worse

CandaceDianne · #14 July 22nd, 2009, 12:58 PM

Gotcha...sorry girl, I dont know what else to suggest.

~*Bethy*~ · #15 July 22nd, 2009, 02:46 PM

I guess live with him is the only option because I feel like a bad owner by "getting rid of him" at his worst....maybe there is some training courses online?

~*sierra*~ · #16 July 22nd, 2009, 03:41 PM

didnt have time read the pp but here's my two cents.

i think that finding your chihuahua a home that will make it happier is a very responsibile thing to do. if you dont have the time, or even the patience, to retrain the dog (because honestly its a huge undertaking) then i think its very kind of you to find someone who does for the little pooch. if the dog is a bad fit, its probably just as bad for the dog as it is for you. i have a 4 yr old chihuahua that is not sociable either. if you ever need to chat feel free to PM me. my dog is fear agressive and i've cried my way home from the park on numerous occasions so i can relate.

~*Bethy*~ · #17 July 22nd, 2009, 03:46 PM

Thanks!!!! Ill pm you either tonight or tomorrow!

**jessie** · #18 July 22nd, 2009, 08:20 PM

Here's my opinion, Beth. I don't want to make you feel bad but I want to be honest, as well. You need to do what is best for you.

The first thing is, is that if he is aggressive (esp to adults) then he will not be considered a re-homing prospect at a shelter or rescue. It's too much of a liability. Some places, such as rescues, sometimes will attempt training but if the dog still shows aggression it will be euthanized. My advice to you would be to do whatever is possible to retrain him yourself. Rehoming an adult dog is notoriously difficult and stressful on the dog and many do not adjust well. My last week of clinical rotations I worked at a vet clinic for low income owners, and just in that one week we had to euthanize several healthy animals because they had been rehomed and just couldn't adjust.

Regarding crate training, it just takes time. First, try to never force him in or put him in there as any sort of punishment. Make that where he sleeps everynight... perhaps you can put the crate in your room at night if that makes him feel more comfortable? Just be sure to be consistent so he knows that is his bed that he must go into everynight. Then maybe put him in for short periods (10 minutes long) during the day when you are home- eg. when you are doing housecleaning. Then let him out and praise him. If he whines and cries, just ignore him.

I hope you can work something out. Maybe longer daily walks would help? I wish I could do or say more to help.

~*Bethy*~ · #19 July 23rd, 2009, 02:27 PM

Thank you Jessie - everything you said, I was afraid of - which is another huge reason we havent "given him away" yet. I dont want to see him put down the day after I find him a new home. Hes a good doggie, I just need to know what to do. We will be getting a crate this weekend and starting him on it. He was in a crate at my friends house, no problem, he just barks non stop.

Thanks again everyone, its a hard choice, but we have desided to keep him, its not fair to him with the possible death factor. I know with me, he will be safe and healthy.

~Beth

Alison81 · #20 July 23rd, 2009, 05:29 PM

I was also going to suggest a crate. My mini dachshund is absolutely THE sweetest dog to people she knows, but strangers and other dogs she doesn't know, she is like a wild animal when they come near her. She barks, tries to snap, you name it. It literally takes weeks for her to adust to someone new. Meanwhile, Elsa can pick her up, clean her eyes, dress her up, and she sits like she is the best dog in the world.

I use a crate for her. When I have company over I will crate her. She feels safe in there, and will not bark at all. It has really helped. And with getting to know people, it helps if I take her outside, hand someone her leash, and have them walk her. For some reason, she warms up to people that way.

I gave my weimaraner pup to a new family because I didn't plan on having her AND a newborn. I loved her to death, but it wasn't working, and she had scratched Elsa pretty bad, not even on purpose. I did find her a nice home though, and they always have the option to give her back to me if something happens and they can't keep her. I have to say, I felt more relief than regret when I got the call from the new owner saying she was playing with their lab, and enjoying her new home.