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Feasty |
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Feasty World Chat Champion
Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Karma :
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Posted: 09:53 - 03 Mar 2017 Post subject: Dog snapped at us for the first time |
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Just looking for opinions and advice really.
We have a 4 year old Springer Spaniel that we've had since a puppy, he's a great dog, been very loyal, loving and fun. A year or 2 ago he started becoming slightly aggressive towards other dogs - but only when they approached and bothered him, sniffing him etc. He then had a snap at a stranger who bent down to say hello to him one time, which he'd never done before.
This behaviour has gradually been getting worse, we've spent the last year or so visiting the vets, paying a fortune seeing university behavoural specialists and generally getting the best advice and care we can for him.
Nothing has massively improved other than we've got a lot better at finding isolated places to walk him where other dogs won't bother him. And his recall and interest in us and playing with his ball has really improved. Unfortunately you can never be completely secure and have eyes in the back of your head, there have been times when other dogs have run up without us noticing and again he has snapped and growled, a couple of times this has turned into a bit of a fight but without any actual contact - and this is whilst he is on the lead. This isn't a good experience for us, or other dog owners.
we also have another dog and the 2 of them get on great with no issues, plus a cat. He's always been very good with the cat having known him from a puppy, except more recently he's taken to growling at him and lunging if the cat has a higher place, like on the sofa.
The other night he had a go at the cat again, who is very old (16-17 yrs) and experiencing problems getting about in his old age. My wife told the dog off, sent him to his bed and was giving him a telling off when he did a growl and snap at her, he's never done this at us before. It's really shook her up and made us very concerned as we also have a 9 yr old daughter.
Whilst he is lovely and friendly again after that, we're really worried about trusting him and if he is truly safe with her anymore. She adores him and they've always played well together, but his history tells us this behaviour won't go away and is very likely to get worse.
As per advice, we've also been training him to wear a muzzle for when we are on walks, but we're not quite at the stage of him wearing it outside yet. Do this too soon and he'll be against that too. But he can hardly be expected to wear it inside, or all the time.
We've spoken to the vets and it's looking like he may have to be put down, both for our families safety in the long run and for his sake if he carries on getting worse. It's heartbreaking and I can't believe we're having to consider this, but if not now then how long do we wait...
Where's the line he has to cross, the first snap at owners? The first snap at our daughter? How do we know he's not just going to go in for a bite next time he doesn't like something someone is doing?
It's a horrible situation... ____________________ Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed). |
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Pjay |
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Pjay World Chat Champion
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J4mes |
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J4mes World Chat Champion
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Rogerborg |
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Rogerborg nimbA
Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 10:29 - 03 Mar 2017 Post subject: Re: Dog snapped at us for the first time |
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Feasty wrote: | Whilst he is lovely and friendly again after that |
Why wouldn't he be happy, having successfully asserted his dominance?
To an outside observer, doggist doublethink can be bizarre. Dogs are intelligent and full of character, while at the same time being purely dumb functions of their environment. There's no such thing as a bad dog, just bad owners.
Can't have it both ways. If dogs have personalities, then somewhere on the spectrum is Poochy Hitler.
Live in reality as it is: either rehome the hound to someone prepared to take it on, or take a brick to it before it goes Full Cujo and some other animal or person suffers due to your dithering. ____________________ Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike |
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Pjay |
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Pjay World Chat Champion
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Simple |
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Simple World Chat Champion
Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Karma :
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Posted: 10:38 - 03 Mar 2017 Post subject: |
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Can you message me via my facebook page and I will help you Www.facebook.com/wigglydog
Pjay. You talk shit
Thanks for the heads up on this thread, you know who you are. ____________________ Insta - FemFeral |
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Simple World Chat Champion
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Feasty |
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Feasty World Chat Champion
Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Karma :
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Posted: 10:46 - 03 Mar 2017 Post subject: |
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Believe me, we did a LOT of considering and research before choosing a Springer. They have a good reputation as a house dog, loads of people have them and they are generally a very soft and friendly breed.
He's never shown signs of being bored at home, he gets 2 walks a day plus longer walks at the weekend. He's got toys in the house and regularly has access to an enclosed back garden. We also got a second dog, a Sprocker, for companionship and they get on great. They've never fought and share the same bed, even when there's another bed available!
Even the specialists couldn't work out why he's got like he has got, only that they think it's learnt behaviour and over time he's obviously found that behaving like he has gets him the result he wants.
We have been and are working on changing this behaviour and making sure he's safe. It's just the goalposts have suddenly moved when it goes from dogs and strangers, to acting like that to his owners in his own home and there is a child around. ____________________ Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed). |
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Pjay World Chat Champion
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J4mes |
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J4mes World Chat Champion
Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Karma :
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Posted: 10:55 - 03 Mar 2017 Post subject: |
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Thats funny because my working gun dog is Snoring her head off beside me.
Her mother went beating and retrieving every weekend of the season, her father was from Sandringham estate. My family own the mother, siblings, cousins. About 15 dogs from the same family.
Take her to a lake full of ducks answer she'll go belting after them. If commanded to do so. Or she'll stay by my side in any circumstances if commanded to do so.
Amazing with other dogs, cats, strangers, my 3year old daughter.
Never ever shown aggression to anything or anyone. Had her since she was 7 weeks old, she's 8 in may.
On another note, I was out in Germany last year when two dudes walked in to our hotel with knives, guns and a sausage dog. As soon as it saw my lab it went apeshit and they could barely restrain it. What was it? The local fucking badger hunter.
But it's OK, sausage dogs are tame because pjay says so. [/code] |
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Pjay World Chat Champion
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J4mes World Chat Champion
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Pjay World Chat Champion
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Polarbear Super Spammer
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Pjay World Chat Champion
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Ste |
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Ste Not Work Safe
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Poundshop Dave |
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Poundshop Dave Crazy Courier
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Loui5D Brolly Dolly
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grr666 Super Spammer
Joined: 16 Jun 2014 Karma :
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Posted: 14:18 - 03 Mar 2017 Post subject: |
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My doberman/weimeraner cross is sound asleep on my sofa, she's a big girls blouse round other dogs. I've seen
a puppy a 1/4 of her size chase her away yelping. My mum has 3 rottweilers that haven't hurt a hair on
anyones head their whole lives. I'd rather have working dogs, they are usually smarter, easier to train and more
rewarding to own. My only gripe with my Gracie is she's very front paw tactile, she's more likely to clump you one
with her big fat feet than bite you. She can let herself in from the back garden using the door handle. ____________________ Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off. |
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Feasty |
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Feasty World Chat Champion
Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Karma :
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Posted: 14:20 - 03 Mar 2017 Post subject: |
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He's not had any big trauma happen - that we know of anyway, and we've had him from a pup.
Jack Russell's are well known for being nippy and feisty, which is why we didn't get one.
The difference here being our Springer is BIG for his breed, he's approaching 30kg and that's not in roundness either. He's a lean, fast thing and when he sits on your knee for a hug - you know about it!
I'm not saying he's going to be put down and that's that, it's just an option that's been put out there. It's an extremely difficult thing to work through though when there is a risk to your child. ____________________ Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed). |
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Ste Not Work Safe
Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 14:30 - 03 Mar 2017 Post subject: |
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Message wigglydogs, working through the problems with your dog rather than putting it down is a much better result for all concerned.
There's no need to even be thinking about considering that putting it down might be an option. If for whatever reason you're not able to work through all the problems then rehoming is preferable to putting it down.
Message wigglydogs and see what she's got to say about it all. |
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Nexus Icon World Chat Champion
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weasley |
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weasley World Chat Champion
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 7 years, 55 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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