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German shepherd has to go!

155 replies

Charliesmum09 · 07/08/2012 09:02

My 8year old German shepherd did the thing I always feared yesterday and bit my toddler, he opened the baby gate and I think he stepped on her and she has turned, I have searched most of the night for a rescue centre to take her but they are all advising that they are full, if I can't find a new home for her in the next 24hrs I may have to have her pts!
Either rehoming her or having her pts are equally heartbreaking decisions but I have to put my little ones safety first, I know a lot of people will say keep them apart we have tried that but Charlie thinks the dog is his best friend and for the most part they are really but a bad judgement yesterday has changed all that, does anyone know of a home for her or a rehoming centre I need to do this quickly and I will travel with her, I'm in Manchester currently.

OP posts:
thestringcheesemassacre · 08/08/2012 16:19

I think the OP is unclear. I had a GSD and he yelped and ran a couple of times when trodden or fallen on by my children. It's down to the owner to manage both. Putting him to sleep in under 24 hours sounds rash though.

And agree with Seeker, rewarding a dog for biting. Dear me.

Toughasoldboots · 08/08/2012 16:20

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

seeker · 08/08/2012 16:24

MrsZoidberg- yes I do think your friend's dog should be pts. And I don't think he bites because he was discipline for growling either.

No, I don't think your nervous rescue GSD should be.

TantrumsAndOlympicGoldBalloons · 08/08/2012 16:34

Dogs who have been disciplined for growling do not give any warning when they are hurt, scared etc. they bite. If they had not been stopped from growling they would be able to give a warning that something was wrong.

So yes, dogs who are stopped from growling bite.

MrsZoidberg · 08/08/2012 16:34

Sorry Seeker, I wasn't too clear - I don't think he bites due to the discipline, but he doesn't growl to warn of an issue due to the discipline, and hence has no means of telling us he is unhappy so his only recourse is to bite first.

If one of mine isn't happy, they growl and I deal with the issue.

Toughasoldboots · 08/08/2012 16:36

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LookBehindYou · 08/08/2012 16:39

And if they are at a point when they bite without warning because of idiot owners serious decisions need to be made. It really pisses me off. Dogs should not have an agressive reaction but this should be taught when they're young. I see so many people just yank and yell at their dog erratically. One old girl on my street kept on yelling and smacking her dachsund when it barked. She said that her last dog had to be pts for being super agressive so she wasn't going to take the risk with this puppy....

LookBehindYou · 08/08/2012 16:43

MrsZ, a dogs recourse is to distance themselves from whatever is bothering them, not to bite. A growl is neither here nor there.

Toughasoldboots · 08/08/2012 16:44

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TantrumsAndOlympicGoldBalloons · 08/08/2012 16:49

A growl lets you know something is wrong. It's the same as people saying how they feel. If someone was upset or hurt or scared but was not allowed to speak, they might run away or they might hit someone.

Fight or flight.

Same with dogs. If you discipline your dog to the point it cannot give you a warning there's a chance it will bite.

Ephiny · 08/08/2012 16:52

There are different kinds of growl, but often it's just a dog's way of saying 'stop that' or 'leave me alone'. They do it to communicate with each other too, e.g. if they've had enough of being sniffed or bothered by another dog.

:( at the poor little dog being hit for barking. What does that have to do with aggression anyway? Sad that such ignorant people are allowed to have dogs at all.

seeker · 08/08/2012 17:05

I do prefer cats. And this means I know nothing about dogs exactly why?

TantrumsAndOlympicGoldBalloons · 08/08/2012 17:08

Well, because presumably if you don't like dogs, you haven't had much experience in owning or training dogs?

seeker · 08/08/2012 17:11

I didn't say I don't like dogs. I said I prefer cats. And I prefer humans to cats or dogs. Your point?

Toughasoldboots · 08/08/2012 17:21

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Toughasoldboots · 08/08/2012 17:22

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cazboldy · 08/08/2012 18:14

why are so many of you so vehement on dog threads? Why do you insist that only you are right?

Everyone is entitled to an opinion.

I love my dogs, BUT I love my dc more! If I ever found myself in a situation where I was out of my depth (which I think the op is,) the dc would have to come first. Hats off to her for recognising that something needs to change before something more serious happens!

I would never rehome a dog. I believe that only a very small minority are suitable to be re homed sucessfully and happily, and some of these re homing centres are vile places, that care nothing for the dogs and are happy to farm them out to family after faminly, accepting "donations" knowing full well that the dog will be back in a few weeks.

seeker · 08/08/2012 18:15

Just because dogs are not my favourite animals does not mean that I don't know anything about them. I do, actually. But i treat them like dogs. With a dog's proper place in the the pecking order. With humans at the top. And anyone who even begins to ciriticise a person is put in the position of having to choose between a child and a dog and chooses the child is, in my opinion, a stupid person.

TantrumsAndOlympicGoldBalloons · 08/08/2012 18:29

caz so what would you do if you wouldn't rehome??

PTS I imagine?

All my dogs were rescues, ive had foster dogs as well, waiting for their permanent homes, how can you say only a small minority of dogs are suitable for rehoming.

LookBehindYou · 08/08/2012 18:50

Is anyone else imagining the murderous cat as the Shrek cat leaping out of the trees brandishing a sword?

Toughasoldboots · 08/08/2012 18:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cazboldy · 08/08/2012 19:00

I would rehome this dog, given the info provided, as long as it would have no contact with children..... as it obviously cannot be trusted ( not that I think ANY dog should be, for their own sake.

But I stand by my opinion, there are many dogs waiting to be re homed which should not be given another chance..... and are probably unhappy to boot!

TantrumsAndOlympicGoldBalloons · 08/08/2012 19:00

And I agree, so I will also continue to post, and continue to ignore people who have never had dogs, never trained dogs, never rescued a dog and thinks dogs cannot be rehomed ever and must be PTS.

TantrumsAndOlympicGoldBalloons · 08/08/2012 19:01

Just to clarify I agree with tough

I typed too slowly Grin

Scuttlebutter · 08/08/2012 19:01

Caz, I am sorry if I sound rude but you are talking complete bollocks about rehoming centres. "Bounce" rates (dogs coming back repeatedly) are much higher at pounds but these organisations don't usually provide the careful behavioural assessment, homechecking, behavioural backup etc that reputable and careful rescue charities provide. There are a wide spectrum of rescue organisations and I am sorry if you have had unpleasant experiences with one.

A great deal of independent academic research has been done on the amount of dog adoptions that break down, and the reasons for this, along with the protective factors that help adoption to "stick". The Dogs Trust, a reputable rescue with widely regarded policies was found in the research to have a rate of adoption breakdown of 14%. Of course, there are many reasons for this, many not associated with the dog e.g. marriage breakdown. A similar study into greyhound adoption found a breakdown rate of only 8% - that means that 92% of these adoptions went well and were supported. This is one of the reasons why I, and others, advise care when picking a rescue and suggest looking for one that provides ongoing behavioural support, and backup. One very high profile national rescue that is based in Wales charges for its behavioural support (£20 per consultation) - something no other reputable charity does.

It's also worth remembering that rescues are always on hand to support adopters. Recently I've been dealing with a lovely lady who adopted two greyhounds from a charity I volunteer for. She has been in hospital recently, and we have been supporting her by providing emergency care for the dogs, visiting her in hospital and it's likely that when she comes out, she will not be well enough to care for the dogs for a while, so they will be fostered by the charity, and possibly permanently rehomed depending on her prognosis and recovery. This lady adopted over five years ago yet the charity is there to support her every step of the way. Eventually, this may be classified as a relinquishment but we will make sure that the two dogs are kept together and find a loving home for the rest of their lives. It's hardly the sort of behavioural meltdown you seem to want to picture.

Many rescue charities do not use kennels at all, and instead use a network of foster carers. Dogs in foster care can be thoroughly assessed, often for a minimum period, and their behaviour with cats, other dogs, children, adults etc can be assessed in great detail. Many insist on a minimum period in foster care to ensure this level of detailed reporting. Many also have quite strict policies on not rehoming with children under 5 - again, to minimise the sorts of situation described in the OP. These blanket policies are controversial, and not all rescues have them, but they do ensure that dogs and toddlers are kept well apart.

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