Hi all,
We are desperately seeking a solution for what to do about our Rhodesian Ridgeback/cross bitch.
We got her from a cat/dog home who said the following about her which turned out to be untrue:
- that she was good with people
- that she was good with other dogs
- that she was good with cats
- that she was a Lab/Staffie cross (she was such a mixture it was hard to tell what she was, but then we could see a faint ridge developing as she got older)
But it turned out soon after we got her that she is a nervous-aggressive dog who is bad with meeting nearly all new people (especially men), and bad with meeting other dogs. Once she knows you, she is very affectionate.
We have a 19-month old toddler who came along after the dog, and the dog so far doesn't have a problem with her, apart from knocking her over nearly every time they pass in the house and clawing her when she (the dog) is lying on her back (she doesn't mean it, she just still gets extremely excited if anyone pats her). We can live with this and prevent it, but I am very worried that there might be that one time that something happens and dd or one of her friends is injured. Or that they will get in the middle of some aggressive behaviour - eg if the dog sees a stranger and lunges. I do try to keep them apart but don't like to leave my dog outside for too long, and we don't have stairs so it's very easy for them to be together. When visitors with kids come, she has to be shut in a room and barks the whole time.
I fell two weeks ago while walking her as she was barking so aggressively at a dog across the park that she pulled me over, and I had to go to A&E to get my hand looked at. I still have whiplash pains in my arm and am too nervous to walk her now as she's big and strong. My husband works away during the week (it's a fairly recent thing and unavoidable) and so he can't walk her, and that would mean paying £50-plus a week for a dog walker. We've already paid upwards of £3000 for dog-walking services while I was on maternity leave as I didn't want to be pulled over while pregnant or caught in a dog fight.
She was meant to go and be dog-sat with my mum while I was working but got into a fight with my mum's lab and both dogs drew blood.
We have seen 2 behaviourists, one of whom came to see us on 3 consecutive weekends, and got some good advice, but it didn't seem to work after they had left.
Our instinct tells us that the dog would be happier with a non-toddler family, or child-free family, one who can spend hours a day training and walking, but I feel wretched at the thought of having to take her to a rescue centre after her coming from a rescue centre. I also don't want to take her back to the same rescue centre as they don't seem to assess their dogs well, and they don't do follow-up calls or visits of any sort. I'd love it if I knew of someone who could take her but how likely is that?
If there's anyone out there with some good advice, we really need it. I am aware that many of you will feel angry on reading this, but please, we need constructive advice - we are already beating ourselves up more than you could imagine.
Thanks in advance.
(PS. We are in East Scotland)