Need to rehome my dog - don't know how

[neuroticmumof3]

I've got a 15 mth old staffie/sharpay cross bitch. I've had her for about 6 months now, she was an abandoned dog found by DS and taken in by us. Unfortunately things really aren't working out. Although she's mostly sweet natured she has snapped at DD (4) several times and last weekend snapped at her face twice, not breaking the skin, but leaving marks. DD was not doing anything inappropriate or aggressive towards the dog at the time. As a result of this I really don't think I can keep her anymore, I'm scared she'll hurt DD. I don't know what to do.

[Tillyboo]

Thank you BigusBumus ....
I have friends who are senior vet nurses & they actually agree with me in this instance. The dog has sadly shown aggression already. What do you want this lady to do ? Wait until it does a proper job ? How can you sit there & give the dog another opportunity ?

Look at the pictures on the link ... yes, statistically there have been probably more cases of Labs showing aggression BUT it's the damage these Staffies & x Staffies do that is my point !

I have scars on my face from being bitten as a young child by a terrier x, it never put me off dogs BUT I have a bigger respect for dogs than maybe some people.
I DO NOT support putting healthy dogs to sleep, I would do my utmost to rehome wherever possible, of which I have done. In fact my own dog is an RSPCA rescue but you absolutely CANNOT take any chances with a dog who has shown aggression to a child.

So, please do not insult me by saying you are glad I am no longer a vet nurse. You cannot tell me a professional would actually support this dog being in a home with young children. Oh, & get your facts right, I am not a breed hater either.

[wordfactory]

My view has always been that if you get a staffie from birth and treat it well, it will be no more dangerous than any other dog.

Unfotuntaley, far too many owners don't treat their staffies well. Not the dogs' fault of course. So there are too many out there with issues.

[BigusBumus]

All dogs have a potential to bite, regardless of breed. You may be statisically more likely to be bitten by a Chihuahua that a Staffie, but HELLO, being bitten by a Staffie is far more likely to have serious consequences!!!

I know there are lovely soft natured Staffs, Labs, Boxers, GSDs and other big dogs out there, as well as some seriously nasty ones of all breeds.

But the OP has said that this Staff / Sharpei cross is showing aggressive tendancies. Its not a Chihuahua having a bit of a snap, but a huge great dog!

Bugger the statistics, I would absolutely not be taking the risk with any sort of large dog showing agression. I would get rid.

And it is always bull terriors that cause horrific injuries to children. I have a scar across my nose from a Jack Russell and thank god it wasn't a Staff that decided to launch itself at me as a child.

And Tilly i happen to agree with all you wrote. We must never forget a pet is still an ANIMAL.

[daisydotandgertie]

I hate, hate, hate this dog hating hysteria.

Staffies are lovely dogs. They are not child savaging monsters by definition.

To decide that a dog is dangerous purely on the basis of its breed is as insane as saying that all Africans are likely to eat you alive. It is hysterical, scare mongering nonsense fueled by the ignorant and bigoted.

And I too am very glad that Tilly is no longer a vet nurse.

[tabulahrasa]

Baiting and fighting are not the same thing, if dogs used for fighting were as naturally aggressive as some people think they are - there'd be no need to use bait dogs. Kittens and rabbits are commonly used as bait as well...

There was a study a few years ago that showed that the top 3 most likely to bite dogs are daschunds, chihuahuas and jack russels - it was something ridiculous like 20% of all daschunds had bitten someone.

Yes the potential damage from a staffy attacking is greater, but you're much more likely to be attacked by a daschund.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

All I have to say to that, Tilly, is thank goodness you were a vet nurse.

And yes isn't it funny that experienced staffy owners understand their temprements? To think they could have saved themselves the bother of owning, experiencing, knowing and loving a SBT just picking up the Daily Fail to learn all about them instead

OP I am sorry your thread has been hi jacked with the usual anti Staffy hysterical bull shit.

There are posters on here who can and will advise on what to do next, even if you decide you cannot keep the dog. Myself and Scuttle being but a couple. Please PM either of us for further advise or rescue sugestions if you can't face coming back to the thread.

[Tillyboo]

Oh & funny how those who protest that staffies have a bad press, aren't dangerous, blah, blah ... have them or are fans of them.

I am a Springer Spaniel devotee BUT if my dogs ever bit or made to attack a child, that would be it, no matter how my heart would break. My uncle had a SS who attacked his niece out of the blue. He didn't like being asked to get off the sofa so he savaged the hand that fed him.

[Tillyboo]

Nanny breed my arse !! How many children have been attacked by Bull Terriers. Have a look at this website if you need further proof that they CAN BE one of the most dangerous of breeds //www.ukandspain.com/dangerous-dogs/

And take a look at the poor lad who took in the Shar Pei !!!!! Totally unprovoked attack, he's lucky to be alive.

This dog has snapped several times at the OP's dd, what utter tosh to suggest behavioural work. It's a ticking time bomb ... and for all you 'do-gooders' who say 'Ah, the poor doggy didn't mean it' ... What will you say when it rips a ruddy great hole in the little girls face OR worse !!
I was a Vet nurse & have had dogs all my life so don't tell me I'm jumping the gun in urging this lady to remove the dog from her house !!!!!

Irresponsible breeding has a lot to answer for and I am glad that someone has agreed with me that this poor bitch is typically what these evil people are looking for in terms of baiting & dog fighting. I would rather have her pts than face a life of pain, agony & fear. What say you now ????

[butterflybuns]

How's it going neuroticmum?

[higgle]

Sadly more prejudice, people spreadingthis sort of rubbish about Staffies make it harder for the poor homeless gentle ones.

[MiseryBusiness]

I also know children that have been very badly hurt by both a Lab and a Golden Retriever but as Catsmamma says - it's not what anyone wants to hear.

[Catsmamma]

Bigus....my mother was walking her doberman and the pair of them were savaged by a labrador

doesn't make the news though cos it's not what Middle England wants to hear.

[BigusBumus]

I know there is the whole Nanny Dog thing. Bit why is it that every single time you hear off a dog biting a toddlers face off on the news it's 9 times out of 10 a Staffie. Nanny Dog my arse. My kids aren't allowed near them.

[higgle]

I'm not sure what i would do in the op's situation, just wanted to add that it is nothing to do with the dog's breeding. Our sadly departed Staffie found children a bit much, when he had had enough he would go and lie down behind the sofa or go upstairs.

[Snusmumriken]

sorry, wrong thread!

[Snusmumriken]

I am sorry neuroticmumof3 my last post was unhelpful and insensitive. I should have taken the time to answer your query in a sympathetic way, like the other respondents.

I hope you find a solution soon. Best of luck!

[Flatbread]

Daisy, I agree with you that a dog in great pain could be aggressive to its owners. Not necessarily the case, but it could be.

But except for extreme circumstances, a dog snapping at a child is a huge no-no, with major red flags. I don't care if the child went close to the dog or walked on the dog's bed or petted it when it was grumpy. The dog needs to know that it should walk away or yelp for help, it cannot be aggressive towards a child.

The child shouldn't need to tippytoe around a dog, in normal day-to-day life. If the animal is so temperamental, it is not suited for a household with young children.

[daisydotandgertie]

Dogs DO show agression when in pain.

The greater the pain, the more likely it is to progress from yelping to agression.

It is important, for the welfare of the dog to establish whether illness or injury is present.

[Flatbread]

XPosted with butterfly. I am so sorry about your dd

[Flatbread]

I would agree that you should rehome your dog asap or pts, if no other option.

It is not ok for the dog to growl and snap at your dd, no matter what the reason. Contrary to what people are saying here, if a dog is uncomfortable, that does not translate into aggressive behaviour. The dog has the option of walking away or yelping to show discomfort

Our pup just had a ear infection after a day out swimming. I realised it because when I held him, he went yoooowwww. I felt around his ear and he went eew, eew and then looked at me with sad eyes. Note, no grrrr or snap or bite.

This might be his nature or might be training or a combination. But I do know that if a dog growled and snapped at a child they would be rehomed. It is not worth the risk of dd or one of her friends or a young cousin getting bitten.

[butterflybuns]

Our daughter was bitten on the face, the dog took a large chunk out of her eyebrow. We did the vet and behaviourist thing too before it got to that stage. The dog was a rescue too and my dd was stroking the dog under full supervision of 3 adults. Every time I look at my beautiful dd I can see our mistake and our foolishness forever on her face
I would keep your child and the dog totally seperate, never let them be together and rehome asap.

[tabulahrasa]

Please be really really careful if you do decide to rehome her, only use a reputable rescue - Shar pei's are a common breed for using as bait dogs and crossed with a staffy she'd be really desirable in certain circles, you really don't want to risk her getting in the wrong hands.

[Scuttlebutter]

X posted with Dooin.

[Scuttlebutter]

OP, your vet should be your first port of call. Even the sweetest tempered dog can be a bit snappy if they have something wrong with them, which may not be apparent - I'm thinking particularly of toothache/dental problems or an ear infection. These can be excruciating and not easily visible to you.

In the mean time, please reinforce with your children good "dog manners", so no hassling, poking, prodding and ensuring your dog has a safe place to go where she can rest undisturbed.

Your vet can probably recommend a behaviourist and it's worth doing some work with them if this is indicated.

Having her PTS isn't necessary - even if she does need to be rehomed at a later date there are many adult only homes who adopt (we are a good example ) as one of ours is nervous and timid around children he doesn't know.

If you do decide to rehome her, please, please work with a reputable rescue - they can ensure the dog is given every possible chance at being carefully rehomed in the right environment, with the support and backup needed. One of the benefits of rehoming via a rescue is that usually a careful assessment is made of the dog's character, and good rescues will provide lifelong support and behavioural advice every step of the way.

The fact that she is a Staffie X doesn't mean she is any more dangerous than any other dog - quite the reverse. Staffies are known as the "nanny dog", and I've met some absolutely lovely ones.

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Daisy and Redwing have it spot on.

Vet and behaviourist before you jump straight into rehoming her.

The fact she didn't break the skin means that this is a warning snap. This is good. Now it's time to listen to her warnings and change what is making her uncomfortable. Had she wanted to hurt the child it would have happened by now.

Keep them separted using stairgates etc. until you get to the bottom of things. There will be a reason for her behaviour and it will be fixable.

I had a reactive dog. Also with no history. He's now the better behaved of the two dogs I have. I'm not saying it's easy OP, or it will fix over night, it won't, but believe me it is well worth the effort. Things can be made safer until then with stairgates and vigilant supervision.

And tillyboo what breeding exactly? The Nanny Dog breeding? No, you shouldn't have one of those breeds around your kids. That would be silly

Sadly a staffy x, even a young one, stands little to no chance of being rehomed in the current climate, especially not one who has been given up for those reasons