I’m starting to regret getting my dog

[Blanketss]

And it’s killing me because I waited for her for so long. It’s the breed I always wanted but never had the space, time of money for and finally, after years of research and waiting I was able to get her.

We went to what was considered a good breeder, KC assured, champions in the line, pups and dogs seemed healthy and well cared for, supposedly lifetime support ... well we were lied to basically. At the time we were told the “dad” couldn’t come into the house as was too protective of the puppies. We have since learnt that he was aggressive and untrustworthy.

My little dog has been a nightmare since day one. I have a photo of her from the day I brought her home and she’s snarling and growling on that. We thought it was cute and funny at the time as she was only 8 weeks old but Christ that picture really was an insight we overlooked.

She’s been dog aggressive from the beginning. Constantly wanting to fight. I took her to socialisation groups but she was too aggressive with the other pups and we were asked to stay away in the end. We persevered on the advice of our trainer and took her to dog play sessions with older dogs, smaller groups etc and in the space of a few weeks attacked and injured two other dogs.

Now she’s unbearable on the lead, lunges, barks, growls ... she pulled me over yesterday trying to get to another dog. I do daily training with her, we’ve had three 1-1 trainers ... only one of them could control her but once he leaves, she reverts back to being Cujo.

She has chased and cornered the postman, growled random people when they’ve tried to stroke her (one was a drug user who was under the influence of something at the time), another was a random man picking his dog up from dayschool ... he tried to offer her a treat and she continued growling and just did not like him at all. Yet with other people she’s a big daft softie who wants to cuddle and lick and play ... but I can’t trust her and it depends on who she likes and who she doesn’t.

I could never trust her with kids.

On the other hand she’s the only dog I’ve ever had that I feel 100% confident taking a bone from her mouth. She has potential, I know she does.

She’s highly intelligent, I can teach her anything within minutes. Obedience work, tricks ... anything but she’s very much a working dog and I feel so sorry for her. She’d be a perfect police/military dog and I’m sure she’d be happier.

I will not give up on her. I love her but I’m feeling so beaten by it now. I had dreams of sitting outside coffee shops/beer gardens with her in summer etc but it seems unlikely to happen. Just lonely walks trying to avoid anything that moves instead.

Fed up. Love her but god I’m fed up.

How old is she? Which breed is she?

I don't have any advice but just wanted to offer some solidarity, I have been there! It's such, such hard work having a reactive dog, and you never really understand it until you've had one.

We had to have our girl PTS in the end because of other issues, but we miss her every day, even though she was incredibly hard work.

Also, a FB group was recommended to me on here years ago, Reactive Dogs UK, it really helped my partner and I when we needed it. Check it out if you can.

I know you said you used a trainer but have you tried a behaviourist?

What does the 1 trainer who can control ddog doing that you and other trainers aren't?

I'm a dog owner and not judging I know that it can be difficult I've had many pre-loved dogs who all came with "issues "

They are a pain when they won't calm.down. Mine is a heavy mouther and hasn't yet lost his puppy anxiety, so gets over excited and nippy very quickly.

I know have a new trainer who explains his behaviour and how to work round it. He is changing, becoming less unpredictable. It is expensive, but so worth it. I have my snuggly puppy back, he has been too hyped up for relaxation for a few weeks.

Also how old is yours? Mine.is 16 months, apparently they do regress a bit... can hit a fearful phase. Mine hadn't had one, so I didn't recognize it. Maybe yours is the same, not aggressive but fearful of the environment and so more reactive. It is easy, but time consuming to sort much of that out.

Could you hit your local Facebook and find a positive reinforcement trainer on your area? It takes a bag load of patience but is worth it when they learn self control in previously scary situations.

I’ve been following CARE for reactive dogs but we’re getting nowhere. I’m also doing BAT training which is how I got pulled over yesterday.

She has her first agility class in a few weeks. 1-1 of course so I am trying to keep her busy and active. She’s even had bloody swimming lessons and sniffer trials. I will NOT give up on her. I’m just so tired of everything being hard work with her. Just a walk to the shop is a military operation.

She’s a one year old Doberman.

I’m in the local Doberman club and everyone else’s dogs are an absolute delight. I feel like I got one that was broken. I can’t even take her there anymore. I have to meet up dogless which defeats the purpose of the meets.

It sounds like she may not be the right dog for you, and in that case, if you can re-home her to a more suitable home, that would probably be best. I have friends in a similar situation with a large breed of dog they got from a breeder and from day 1 he's displayed anxiety issues and some aggression, and despite a lot of training the issues persist years later. There are some things you cannot train out of a dog, and in those cases the only thing you can really do is try and give her a life without those triggers as much as possible, whether it's with you or someone else.

See if you can talk to any trainers or kennels and get advice on rehoming her and what the best route to go down would be.

Also, please report the breeders to the KC, they will do a home check and make sure if they're breeding from a dog with known aggression issues that they are no longer assured: www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breeding/assured-breeder-scheme/policing-the-scheme/

How old is she? Could she be rehomed as a working dog..to a farm or police type set up?
I can only imagine how difficult it must be..I have my first dog (from puppy) and I find it difficult that she is nervous of strangers and isn't friendly to everyone (just avoids them) but what you are describing is heartbreaking..she sounds unbelievably anxious and it sounds like she has inherited fear aggressive traits.

It sounds like you are doing are the recommended things with her..assume you have joined the FB Dog Training Advice and SUpport group.?.they have some great files on fear aggression.

I wish there were answers but I think if it were my dog and I couldn't face 10+ years of such stress I would be looking at rehoming to someone in the countryside or even PTS if she is genuinely dangerous :(

How old is your pup? My GSD was a very challenging adolescent, but now nearing her 3rd birthday she is really calming down and settling nicely. All those hours of training are starting to pay off! The ’maturing’ started slowly at the age of around 18mths, and now (a year later), she is like a different dog :-)

God that’s tough, they are such a big breed! We had Dobermans when I was a kid and they were lovely, soft, happy dogs but if you have a difficult one they can be so big and frightening.

Not sure what to advise because it sounds like you have done all the right things so far. She might settle with age, but it’s no guarantee.

Just seen your pup is only 1 year old. Hang on in there, you are right in the midst of the ’teenager’ period. Keep up with training and hopefully you can see it all coming together in 6-12months whilst your pup matures. You have my symphaties, sounds like you are doing everything right.

I’d rehome the dog to a working home like someone stated above, or euthanise it. This is not learned behaviour. This is an extremely aggressive dog that’s come from an apparently extremely aggressive parent. You’ve put numerous people in danger with this dog and you clearly can’t control it, neither can the trainers. And no amount of training is going to remove bad genes

I have had exactly the the same with my BC bitch showing signs at 8 weeks, I am a shepherd so used to collies but she has been hard work, hates dogs and people she doesn't know.
She is now 5 and i can walk her past other dogs now with no noise or lunging, i have got her to switch her focus to me, this takes a lot of training, I used a head collar figure of eight type as she would jump and scream like she was being killed!
I used a one to one trainer with their own dogs and then went to classes and the difference is huge. I think one thing I have had to accept is she is never going to love other dogs, people etc but she can control herself now also she had lots of different medication from a behaviourist vet but she was better without. It's taken a long time but I love her dearly!

Maybe have this moved over to the Dog house Section. Can you see if you can find a decent and recommended behaviouralist. You sound like you’re doing everything you can and you’re right in the middle of the teen years. Has your dog also seen a vet and had a good check over?

Sorry if this is stuff you've already done, but have you tried walking her with a harness instead of a lead attached to her collar? Our dog is a puller and it's so much easier with a harness, you just have better control and they can't pull as much.

I've also used a halti head collar at times. Again, it gives you so much more control.

I would also consider a cage muzzle when out walking, just for your own stress reduction and peace of mind. Our dog is a sight hound with a strong pray drive so we always make her wear a muzzle when out and about. The cage ones allow them to open their mouths so they can pant and vocalise. A plus point of them is that other dog owners tend to be a bit more cautious when they see a muzzled dog and you are more likely to be given a wide birth.

She has never bitten a person.

I am working on “look at me” etc in the street and some days she’ll do brilliantly. I can have her in the perfect heel like a border collie at Crufts ... but other dogs she just switches off to me. I’m working on thresholds etc too.

The one trainer who could control her was a balanced trainer who took no shit. A great lover of the prong collar. Sounds stupid but she bloody loved that bloke. We had her off lead in a secure field once and she chose him over me everytime. She’d look at him like she truly adored him.

The other two trainers were positive only trainers and she just took the piss with them.

I would rehome her. I don't say that lightly.

BUT I had a highlt stressed Springer. From day 1 she just seemed to pick up my anxiety. She was untrainable. From toileting to lead work. I was miserable with her.

It came to a head on a walk when another dog came over and she bolted, lead came right out of my hand and she ran. Wouldn't stop for anything. Until a car hit her :(

I couldn't take her out after that. I was terrified the same would happen again.

Through springer rescue I found her a home in the countryside with someone who had a spaniel already.

Within 3 days of her being rehome she was a different dog. Confident. Playing with her brother. Listening.

Sometimes people and dogs just DON'T click.

2 years later I have another dog who is my soul mate. We do everything together and he responds to me perfectly.

Me and the first dog just clashed. I loved her but it just wasn't me at to be.

I cried for a month solid when she left but it was the right thing. For us all.

The dog sounds like an accident waiting to happen, I would absolutely rehome.

For contrast we got a puppy last summer, a small cross breed, came from a family home. He was the quiet, friendly one in the litter and has continued to be quiet and friendly. He is fantastic with people and absolutely adores kids, can take him anywhere.

He is the right dog and has bought us so much joy. It does not sound like you have the right dog for you at all.

My Patterdale is an evil minded son of a bitch. The only reason I can deal with her is because she's a small dog and so I can pull her away from the fights she tries to start. I've had dogs all my life, and trained a fair few to quite a high standard but this one defeats me.

So sometimes it's just the dog.

I also adore mine, kiss her little furry whiskers every day and she's a dream in the house with just me. Dogs are hearbreaking buggers sometimes.

This is the 3rd time in around a year that I've heard of someone having massive problems with a young dobe.

I wonder if some breeders are continuing to breed from dogs and bitches of unsound temperament.

I'm afraid I think I'd ask the breeder to take the dog back. I couldn't cope with a dog that's got an uncertain temperament.

I was thinking about this today, how some dogs just don't fit with some families. I wish that the shame, and attitude that dogs are a lifetime commitment no matter what, would stop.
Rehoming a dog is a choice to offer it a better home.

Have a look into ideopathic aggression also known as rage syndrome.

Tends to be genetic.

Personally I would euthanise before rehoming. If the dog goes on to cause serious injury to someone else after rehoming it would be incredibly unfair on the new owner and dog.

A humane death is not the worst that can happen.

However if you wish to persevere with her then please muzzle her at all times. She's shown she can be unpredictable. Also take out third party insurance as a minimum- dogs trust do a great policy for £25 a year. Peace of mind 🙂

I feel for you. My 12 year old terrier hates all other dogs and will attempt to kill them on sight. Walks are a nightmare and we've tried so many different techniques and nothing has worked. Honestly if he wasn't such a delight in the house I don't think I would have kept him, but he is lovely with people and kids and I love him... Walking him though makes me tense and stressed and unhappy

I had a springer that because of one awful things after another led to him being released homed. I trained and worked with behaviourist. I read and watched everything.

In the end he went for my sons neck. Even the vet said how she was amazed at what I had done for the dog to try and keep him.

He was rehomed and after some more work was fine. He just wasn’t the right dog with the right person. Not my fault according to the behaviourist and the vet. They wanted to put him down but I said no and wanted to give him a chance else where.

If this is making ur life miserable the dog will feel that as well. There is no shame in rehoming. You havw a very powerful dog and he needs to be in the hands of someone who they will listen to. I would do it now before It is too late. Xxx hugs as I know first hand how hard this is.

Wanted to say I rehomed him with a springer rescue who knew what he was like. They kept him at a foster place for four months before they did anything. I didn’t just re home him to someone else and pass on the problem.