Where to put aggressive dog while we are on holiday?

[hockeysticks89]

We have a Romanian rescue dog who we love dearly however since adolescence she has become more and more nervous and has nipped strangers twice (long story but she felt threatened by them), a level two bite which didn't break the skin and led to a graze.

We're working with a behaviourist to manage or desensitise her triggers, we muzzle her if we go outside and having people in the house has to be planned and involve the use of several gates and barriers. It's a nightmare but I'm hoping she'll get better.

The problem is we go away in august and don't know where to put her. Last year she went into a dog boarder's house with other dogs however this is no longer suitable for her- frankly, I feel she'd bite again whilst we are away. Has anyone ever dealt with this or have any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

@Hellocatshome

Plenty of imported 'fear biters' it seems. Great news!

So 2 on one thread about a fear bitter makes plenty in your book does it? My Rommie Rescue is the softest dog you could hope to meet if you treat him like a dog. I think people have started to treat their animals as part of the family and a play thing for children so have started to forget that a dog is a dog an animal which is probably stronger than you and has a sharp bitey end.

I think it is cropping up more and more, yes.

I would have suggested kennel, but I do think it's unsustainable for your dog due to its history of being an rescue from abroad.
Putting the dog in kennels can heve an adverse effect for your dog in terms of behaviour and training. Not good all round.

I think Dobbysgotthesocks advice is probably the best suited option for your dog. Other than not going on holiday without the dog - something you should consider for the future. Welcome to dog ownership ❤ !

I appreciate every single message, thank you.

My dog was born in kennels and hasn't been a street dog.

The holiday is a family wedding.

It may be I am over worrying as I'm scared stiff of it happening again or escalating. The behaviourist commented that when he first came round, within ten minutes she was licking and playing with a 'strange bearded man' (his words) as he'd been introduced to her properly. I just can't take the risk though.

I'll reflect on everything which has been said and wouldn't dream about not being 100% up front about her problems with a potential dog sitter. I do take the points about her anxiety being even worse if we leave her.

My concern is that even if you do find a kennels that will take the dog it’s going to be left alone in a run because the owners won’t want to get bitten. I think you would come home to a dog that had even more issues than when you left

metro.co.uk/2022/03/17/student-22-reveals-facial-injuries-after-bitten-by-dog-800-times-16290930/

This is what happened to this girl who dog sat, you need to incorporate holidays around your dog not the other way round.

Why isn’t a boarder suitable for her? If it’s someone she already knows and likes?

It's absurd to say you can't go away. It will probably cost you more but you need a dog sitter to stay in your house who meets her well in advance and takes her for trial walks with you. Once you've built some trust it will all be fine.

Is she on any medication ? My vet prescribed propanalol for mine

@tabulahrasa

Why isn’t a boarder suitable for her? If it’s someone she already knows and likes?

Because very few boarders only board solo dogs as it's not worth it financially to only take one dog.

Most boarders also do daycare which means lots of unknown clients coming and going, and potentially multiple unknown dogs too.

I think you have to stay at home and look after her. If you get a dog you have to consider such scenarios.

If you join the Reactive dogs (UK) Facebook group they're quite good at recommending kennels and boarders which have been good with their own reactive dogs

It may be I am over worrying as I'm scared stiff of it happening again or escalating. The behaviourist commented that when he first came round, within ten minutes she was licking and playing with a 'strange bearded man' (his words) as he'd been introduced to her properly. I just can't take the risk though.

The BIG difference here is that you were in the house as well. It's very different when a relative stranger goes into your dogs' home and territory alone, with no back-up or reassurances from you.

I am a vet. I recently got a call from a terrified dog sitter who was hiding in the bathroom from the dog she'd been hired to look after. She was a week into her stay so not entirely unused to the animal.
Those people knowingly placed her in a very dangerous situation.
Just don't do that to someone.

@villainousbroodmare

I am a vet. I recently got a call from a terrified dog sitter who was hiding in the bathroom from the dog she'd been hired to look after. She was a week into her stay so not entirely unused to the animal. Those people knowingly placed her in a very dangerous situation. Just don't do that to someone.

God, that is horrific :(

What was the outcome if you don't mind me asking? I'm a dog walker who sits in people's homes, but only for dogs I walk regularly and know well.

“Because very few boarders only board solo dogs as it's not worth it financially to only take one dog.”

There’s no mention of issues with dogs, it’s pretty common for foreign rescues who’ve been raised in shelters to be iffy with strangers and fine with dogs - because they’ve spent most of their time with dogs.

@villainousbroodmare

I am a vet. I recently got a call from a terrified dog sitter who was hiding in the bathroom from the dog she'd been hired to look after. She was a week into her stay so not entirely unused to the animal. Those people knowingly placed her in a very dangerous situation. Just don't do that to someone.

I actually disagree with posters who said you need someone to stay at your house. You would be placing that person in danger even if they are fully briefed about your dog. There was a recent case where a dog sitter was bitten hundreds of times by aggressive dogs at the house she was visiting. In a house, if things go wrong there is no one around to help and depending on layout limited options for separation for those giving direct care.

I think if you have to go you need to find a kennel with the infrastructure and experience to manage a dangerous dog. It might be worse for your dog but it’ll be safer all round, including safer for your dog if you take the risk of being destroyed after a bad bite into account.

No judgement for rescuing your dog, you are clearly committed owners and I hope you are successful in your training.

I dont know a lot about dogs. I am not keen on most dogs. But I know enough to know that leaving an agressive dog with a stranger is a bonkers idea. Please don't.

The only safe solution I can see is that you or your DP stay at home with the dog and the other attends the wedding.

Is there a kennels locally where your dog could meet the owner and staff and get used to the whole idea well before a stay there? I know the kennels we take our dogs to will take dogs with issues, and the owner is a genuine dog lover.

If you dog was born and reared in kennels, she might not find it frightening at all.

@Viviennemary

I dont know a lot about dogs. I am not keen on most dogs. But I know enough to know that leaving an agressive dog with a stranger is a bonkers idea. Please don't.

It's not like OP is going to hand over her dog to a random person from Gumtree.

Professional dog sitters do this for a living. They're trained in canine behaviour and body language and would spend months building up a relationship with an aggressive dog before agreeing to stay overnight in their home (assuming the owners were honest, unlike the recent case in America).

Most dogs feel safer in their home environments, with their beds, blankets, smells, garden etc. Yes, a small number will aggress towards strangers but again, a good dog sitter should know the signs of fear and aggression and will have arranged an emergency contact to collect the dog should they feel unable to continue the sit for whatever reason.

I also have a reactive Romanian rescue and an American Bulldog who has sadly/annoyingly picked up her cues and become slightly reactive. We have a pet sitter stay in our home with the girls. They are far more comfortable in their own environment and we did meet and greets with the sitter before we actually went away to make sure both she and we felt comfortable with her taking care of them. They've both learnt to trust her and get excited when she comes over. We were fully upfront and honest with her to make sure she felt she could manage them beforehand.

I would 100% not feel comfortable with them either in kennels or in someone else's house - I wouldn't be able to relax for the whole holiday. If you can find a sitter to stay in your own home who you trust and you've seen handling and interacting with your dog before you actually go away, that would be the ideal scenario IMO. Good luck!

To add - not sure where you are, but if you're anywhere in the Midlands I have a behaviourist who has changed our lives and I would recommend 100% - let me know if you want his details

Does your behaviourist an option to dog sit? Or do they have any experience someone local with experience of fear aggressive dog?

I use kennels for this reason - nervous young rescue dog who once in a while would react to something. He's also a barker.
I needed to be certain he was safe, fed and watered when it would have been impossible for us to quickly collect him.
Totally open with kennel owners who also worked in rescue.
They were happy and thought he was fab.

You absolutely can have holidays without your dog. We do. We also take them sometimes but book kennel daycare so we can go to a theme park, explore a city or climb a mountain too big for little dog.

The number of reactive imported dogs on this thread is notable.