11 Month Old Lurcher

[dogsbloggs]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

Hi

Just wondered if anyone out there could give me a few tips. I have a beautiful rescued lurcher bitch who has been with us for about 6 weeks now.

I am having a few teething troubles- have phoned a dog behavouralist but can't see her for a week or so. I would like to start working on problems myself.

She is proving to be quite a dominant dog-my other 11 year old lets her take food etc off her. They fight alot and although Daisy (original dog) will stick up for herself I worry that she is too old for all that shenanigans! I have been putting Betty (new lurcher) outside when she starts. Is this the right thing to do?

Also, Betty has bitten my daughter twice- once on the face. My daughter is well used to dogs and all she did was sit on the sofa next to Betty, who growled and then bit her face(didn't draw blood). I believe this is called rescourse guarding so have stopped her going on the furniture now. This also happened on my daughters bed and I was there at the time. Obviously this is a bit of a worry, any advice greatly appreciated! Incidently, she also nips your bum or hands if you run past her too quickly.

Betty is also proving a bit of a handful on the lead when around other dogs, not much social etticate. I dont know if she was ever socialised early on. She barks and spins and this can be quite traumatising for the other dog! She is generally OK off lead but can still be a bit 'in your face' to them. I feel i am not the most popular dog owner in the park at the mo! Again any tips V. much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Whispersmum]

Sorry to hear your having problems, it sounds as though she is

getting too big for her boots. I would keep her off furniture and beds

and ignore the bad behaviour and reward the good. I'm sure the

behaviourist will be able to sort you out. The biting is very serious,

has she done it to anyone else?

 

[dessie]

I hope you have been watching Victoria Stillwell's dog training programmes each week. I think she is very good and has dealt with such problems as you lurcher is showing.

 

[suzeanna]

I think you would be wise to keep a muzzle on her, both in the house when your daughter and the other dog are around, and when you are walking her. My rescue lurcher is lead aggressive, he's like a whirling dervish when he sees another dog! but he's fine with them when he's off lead. She is possibly just pushing her luck to see what she can get away with in a new home...but the muzzle will stop any damage being done. If she keeps this behaviour up and the behaviourist cant help you, to be honest for the sake of your original dog and your daughter, I would think very seriously about whether she is the right dog for you, she might do better as the only one in a child free home. Hope you get her sorted out!

 

[Seraphina]

How old is your daughter? I would never keep a dog that bit my child on her face, that Betty did not draw blood is irrelevant. The idea that the child may end up scarred for life is just too horrific. You can work on the problem, try to teach the dog you are the boss, but will you ever be able to teach her dominating children is not on? You may be able to teach your daughter how to behave around Betty, but what about your daughter's friends who come to play? And kids in the park? We have been in this situation twice when my daughter (now30+) was young, and again only couple of years ago when my daughter's Borzoi started snapping at people who bent down to pet him. We kept on excusing him; after all he "only" snapped and did not draw blood. My daughter was telling visitors not to put their faces near him, they mostly ignored it. Until the last time, he nearly took the young woman's eye out, and left huge black bruise from the hairline to below her eye. When my daughter called me to tell me what happened, I jumped into my car and took him straight to my vet to be PTS. Sorry, but there are plenty of lovely gentle and totally safe dogs being PTS every day.

You can spend fortune on behaviorists and what ever, but will you ever be able to trust this dog totally?

 

[~whitecross whippets~]

How old is your daughter?  I would never keep a dog that bit my child on her face, that Betty did not draw blood is irrelevant. The idea that the child may end up scarred for life is just too horrific.    You can work on the problem, try to teach the dog you are the boss, but will you ever be able to teach her dominating children is not on?  You may be able to teach your daughter how to behave around Betty, but what about your daughter's friends who come to play?  And kids in the park?  We have been in this situation twice when my daughter (now30+) was young, and again only couple of years ago when my daughter's Borzoi started snapping at people who bent down to pet him.  We kept on excusing him; after all he "only" snapped and did not draw blood.  My daughter was telling visitors not to put their faces near him, they mostly ignored it.  Until the last time, he nearly took the young woman's eye out, and left huge black bruise from the hairline to below her eye.  When my daughter called me to tell me what happened, I jumped into my car and took him straight to my vet to be PTS.  Sorry, but there are plenty of lovely gentle and totally safe dogs being PTS every day.  You can spend fortune on behaviorists and what ever, but will you ever be able to trust this dog totally?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

i am sorry to say that i agree.......i would never keep a dog that had bitten my child

i would work very hard with any dog with any behavioural problem but if i thought my child was in danger i would find it a more suitable home or pts if really bad...sometimes passing the dog on and on knowing it could really hurt someone or really screw up its mind is sometimes more cruel...i hope you can work something out however and wish you the best of luck :luck:

 

[Lakey]

How old is your daughter?  I would never keep a dog that bit my child on her face, that Betty did not draw blood is irrelevant. The idea that the child may end up scarred for life is just too horrific.    You can work on the problem, try to teach the dog you are the boss, but will you ever be able to teach her dominating children is not on?  You may be able to teach your daughter how to behave around Betty, but what about your daughter's friends who come to play?  And kids in the park?  We have been in this situation twice when my daughter (now30+) was young, and again only couple of years ago when my daughter's Borzoi started snapping at people who bent down to pet him.  We kept on excusing him; after all he "only" snapped and did not draw blood.  My daughter was telling visitors not to put their faces near him, they mostly ignored it.  Until the last time, he nearly took the young woman's eye out, and left huge black bruise from the hairline to below her eye.  When my daughter called me to tell me what happened, I jumped into my car and took him straight to my vet to be PTS.  Sorry, but there are plenty of lovely gentle and totally safe dogs being PTS every day.  You can spend fortune on behaviorists and what ever, but will you ever be able to trust this dog totally?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

Very sad but very true

If you cant trust the dog let it go to someone else making sure that they know all of its faults.

If its aggresive towards children and I DO NOT mean to upset anyone, put the dog to sleep

Its the safe thing to do

Sorry

 

[Lynn-Alexandria]

Im possibly running the risk of being jumped on here. I dont think that the answer to this problem is getting rid of the dog. Granted it has bitten a child however we dont know the background of the dog, for all we know this dog could have been mistreated by previous owners and it is very possible that the previous owners had children who pulled and hauled at the dog. I am not saying that it is ok for a dog to go around biting children...far from it in fact a dog should not bite a person period. However I think that work can be done with this dog in order to solve its problems. When it comes to taking on a rescue dog of any shape...I would make sure that the dog is safe with children. I just wanted to add this. Sorry if I have offended anyone.

 

[Seraphina]

I am just being pragmatic; if the dog would seriously injury somebody, the owner is the one who is ultimately held responsible. WHY is the dog the way she is, is irrelevant.

 

[ILoveKettleChips]

However I think that work can be done with this dog in order to solve its problems. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

I don't think anyone should really make a comment like that without having spent time with the dog themselves, because it's not fair on poor doggsbloggs who is probably already in a bit of turmoil having read this thread. We don't know Betty and we don't know the full circumstances - only a behaviourist or behaviour counsellor who has been able to spend time with the dog should be making the call. Likewise I can understand that most people draw a line when a dog bites a child, but again, as you mention, we don't know the circumstances.

For what it's worth, dogsbloggs, I think you should hold on and take the advice of the behaviourist. Until then I agree that a muzzle should be used for safety. All the best with her. :luck:

 

[Hilary & Hounds]

I've been in this situation although I didn't have a child in the house, thankfully. In the end I had to have the dog (Arthur) PTS as I couldn't see a way out for him. Most people were really supportive but there are still a few who condemn me for not passing him on to a no-kill rescue.

..sometimes passing the dog on and on knowing it could really hurt someone or really screw up its mind is sometimes more cruel...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

That is exactly why I had Arthur PTS and not pass the buck. I later found out that if I had not taken him on when I did he would have been PTS anyway. Although I loved him dearly, part of me wishes I had never brought him into the house as it really affected the other 4.

Nobody can judge or tell you what to do unless they have walked a mile in your shoes. Unfortunately, that doesn't stop them! :- " If the dog came from a rescue, talk to them but consider taking it back. If you don't have that kind of support, you may have to consider PTS.

PM me if you want to talk further. :thumbsup:

 

[maggymills]

oh its a horrible situation- weve been there with a rescue greyhound we took on about 10years ago- she was the most lovable dog with me (11 at that time) and my parents, but couldnt stand my baby sister who was 2, we were so relaxed with Lady that one day we let my baby sis lie on couch near the dog- who was on the floor, Lady in a second saw my sister and grabbed her by the leg- snapped at her and tried to drag her off! luckily we were there to stop this- and we were so upset,

because i was young i said- "why cant we just get rid of Vicky(sister) instead of lady"!

Because she would have been a lovely dog if we didnt have young children- she had to go back to greyhound rescue- we got an update that she went to retired couple that knew of Ladys problems.

Do what you feel is right for everyone- dont trust the dog with your daughter again though.

Take care and goodluck xxxx

 

[bappit]

I have been in a similar situation myself with a rescue dog with unknown history, a beautiful dog I called Bracken, I seriously considered having him PTS and would have, (I did'nt as it happened but only through chance - as I knew the chap I gave him to and that he would never again be in contact with children), had John not been in the market for a dog at that time I could not have taken the chance of Bracken biting another child. I dont think i made any 'classic' mistakes with him (ie, sometimes rescue dogs are allowed a little more spoiling as we tend to feel sorry for them...leading to them taking advantage, which is natural). However, the scar by my daughters eye some 6 years later though faded a little now, is a constant reminder that things could have been much worse for both her and Bracken.

I wish you all the best whatever you decide, and hope you keep us updated.

Sheena

 

[Seraphina]

For what it's worth, dogsbloggs, I think you should hold on and take the advice of the behaviourist.  Until then I agree that a muzzle should be used for safety.  All the best with her.  :luck:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

​

I really doubt that anybody, does not matter how qualified, can say with any certainty if this dog will bite a child again or not.

All the 3 biters i had were excused for the first few "incidents" and given more time. Our behavior was modified and we were so careful, but they all did bite again.

 

[doris]

what a tough situation!

I think you have all made relevant points, but what I would add is that I think that you need to be really careful and truthful if you move this dog on, as I believe it is an offence to release a dog without declaring it to the new owners when you know has been aggressive :unsure: something to do with dangerous dogs act I think :wacko:

anyway good luck, and remember that if the worst happens and you do have to have her pts sleep then try to remember that you gave her a chance and that she must be really unhappy if she is biting anyone who runs past her or does anything she is uncomfortable with, and potentially you are saving her and prospective new owners (and kids) from a lot of heartache and distress

:luck: hope the behavourist helps :luck: :luck: :luck:

 

[ponygirl]

Not much else to add doggsbloggs, except good luck in sorting out a difficult problem, and please do keep us posted on how things work out won't you? :luck: