What do we do?

[jodesxx]

Our nearly 4 year old GSD dog is aggressive with people he doesn't know. We have been sending him to training for 2 years every week but in terms of the aggression towards others, no further forward.

We have a 12 day old baby at home - Dog is fine with baby and never left on his own but hasn't been fully himself since he arrived.

Just had Amazon driver deliver and he managed to slip through door and went for the driver. He broke skin. The Amazon driver was OK. We helped clean wound etc but he didn't say anything.

He also went for dog trainer when she collected him last week - same situation.

Be cute now, the only other instance has been with my mums gardener about 6/7 months ago.

Especially with a newborn we don't think we can keep him now. Could anyone advise the following:-

1. Where do we stand liability wise? Can the Amazon driver do anything?

1. Should we be contacting anyone this evening I.e. vets?

1. Is the best option going to be to put him down or do we have any hope rehoming him?

1. If we decide to put him down how do we do this and how quickly do we act?

I think this is a tough but necessary decision.
Ask a GS specialist rescue group if they can have him, some dogs can go for training as working dogs.
Ring the vet ask if they have suitable contacts.
Unfortunately I'd say it's a pretty quick need to have him PTS. You have tried, but he is a dangerous dog.

Can I just query your terminology that you’ve been ‘sending’ him to training - do you actually mean that, or have you attended training with him? Actually, have just re-read and you do mean sending, as he bit the dog trainer collecting him.

The vast majority of dog training is training the handler, and never more so than with a sensitive family -oriented breed like the GSD - add to that him biting the person who is meant to have been training him, and I would knock that on the head immediately, something is very wrong there.

I am not a one for advocating trying to rehabilitate/keep problem dogs, but actually I’m not sure this is that if the damage has been minimal?

I hope you have third party insurance!

Your going to get a lot of mixed replies on this.
Your dogs issue is with strangers. Not every dog is friendly towards strangers that's why GSD are used by police etc as they are wary of strangers. If you have done 2 years of training I doubt he will change. However in my opinion I could not sleep if he was around a baby. I definitely would not get him PTS. There are breed specific rescues and I would consider this option. Have all these instances happened around your home or outside as well.

To answer point 1, my dog bit someone (a pain response rather than aggression) . Police made me sign a behavioural agreement that my dog would be on lead/‘unmuzzled in public, and then closed the case.

4 months later I got a solicitors letter and the guy is suing me for compensation as he’s now scared of dogs. God knows how much he wants but luckily my pet insurance are fighting it and will pay out if necessary.

It is terrifying being sued, so I really hope you have insurance, check your home insurance as surprisingly mine also covered it even though the incident happened outside the house.

I am sorry you are facing this, OP but you need proper advice from a qualified and experienced behaviourist who handles aggression cases (not a trainer) - your insurance may pay. You need to be open and frank with them and have them view the dog to assess it.

You also need to be realistic about how much you can practically do to keep everyone safe, especially with a newborn on your hands too. If you cannot do everything it takes, it is ok to take another option.

In answer to your questions:

1. Yes, you may be liable for the attack. Your insurance will likely include legal and public liaibility cover.


2. Call your insurer to let them know. Other focus tonight should be on immediate ways to keep the dog and everyone safe. Whatever you were doing failed you, so this needs rethinking immediately.


3. A breed specific rescue may be a possibility: be totally frank and honest about his behaviour with them. Do not minimise it - they need to know.


4. You contact your vet, explain what has happened and that you wish to pts.

GSD can be aloof with strangers but should never be aggressive. The police don’t use them for that reason, they use them because they are intelligent, loyal and confident. An aggressive dog most of the time is a nervous or fearful dog, not one that any police service would touch.

So in a year you’ve had 3 incidences despite training? Thats a lot OP. When we had an aggressive dog we treated the house like Fort Knox, you can’t afford not too. After the first incident steps should have really been put in place.

Personally I don’t think dogs with biting issues should be passed on but I would recommend a proper assessment. You need to know why it’s happening and address the root cause. I would contact German shepherd rescue and also have an independent behavioural assessment with a behaviourist registered with the ABTC. If they aren’t registered I wouldn’t touch them. Residential training is never really recommended unless you mean you go with the dog for training?
Most of training is about building the relationship between the dog and its owner, how can you do that if your not there?

I am amazed actually that you have not done anything about this situation (because the training hasn't achieved anything) before bringing a new born baby into the mix. I wouldn't be able to sleep.

1 - you are 100% liable for your dogs behaviour and he can report you to the police for having a dangerous/out of control dog.

2 - personally I'm surprised you haven't spoken to the vets already, especially as he's already bitten his trainer. He needs a full physical examination to check for pain and health issues that could potentially cause aggression (eg thyroid problems).

3 - putting him down vs rehoming is a difficult one as many rescues won't take dogs with a bite history. If you want to have him PTS then you'll need to speak to your vet and come to a decision with them. If you want to re-home, the first step should be to contact your breeder or to go to a breed specific rescue.

I don’t understand what the training is about if he’s being picked up by the trainer, training without you there is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

If it was me, I’d be at the vets looking for a referral to a behaviourist and I’d change what I’m doing so that he has no access to doors he can slip through.

Aggression towards strangers is actually one of the easier issues to manage - not because it’s not a big deal before anyone thinks I’m suggesting that, but because it’s the easiest to control. Ultimately if your dog isn’t ok to meet people, you just prevent it from meeting people. I’m on my second dog in a row that is reactive to strangers, neither has ever managed to bite anyone.

I will would be removing him from the house today. Too many babies killed by owners not taking action.

I have worked at a Dog Rescue and unfortunately any dog with this sort of history will never be rehomed so even if you can find a rescue to take him, it is possible that he will spend the rest of his life in a kennel. Unfortunately I think the only responsible thing to do is to PTS rather than pass the problem on to somebody else.

You need to look at breed
specific rescues and let them know everything.
Realistically he will never be rehomed and likely live in Kennels for the rest of his life as if he was to escape on a walk anything could happen.

Can I ask why you sent him to training I am assuming without you?
Training Is a great way to build trust between you and the dog, by sending him away without you he will likely feel nervous shepherds are very family oriented.

Think about your future with the dog
When your baby is a little older and you meet other parents at groups you will not be safe to have them around to visit,
Since the dog managed to slip by you to bite the delivery man he could do the same if they knocked for you and if they had a child with thembthe dog could easily bite them

When baby starts school/nursery you will not be able to risk playdates

If you walk the dog down the street and a child runs up to say hi to the doggy

I think that unfortunately you have to make the hard decision to have the dog pts

Thank you all for your advice.

We made the decision to have him put to sleep last night. We thought we could try rehome him but he can't be a family pet and that's the life he is used to, he also was really attached to us and would have just felt abandoned by us so it would have been cruel. He's had a good four years with us and that's better than some dogs have.

That's a really brave sensible decision OP. As a dog owner myself my heart goes out to you for having to make that decision. There was never going to be an easy solution but you've thought it through not letting your heart over rule your head. I think you've made the right choice under the circumstances when he's bitten more than once.

I'm really sorry to read this but when I came to post I was about to say the same thing and you have already made that awful decision.
I really feel for you. I am a dog owner and love my girls so much but at the end of the day life is important and living with an animal that could harm a child is not a cross I would want to bear.

For what it's worth, i think you've made the right decision. He's a persistent biter and isn't getting any better. Some dogs just aren't suited to being pets.

A fair decision, made with love and with the intent on serving the best interests of all involved, is never the wrong decision.

Well done for being brave enough to make it.

Well Done OP

Such a tough decision op. I am so sorry that you have had to go through this.

You made the best decision.

A brave decision OP, one I have previously made myself. I hope your feeling okay.

I felt guilty for a long time, but not as guilty as if my dog had bitten or injured another person or child 🙁

I think that's the best decision for everyone concerned, even if it's painfully difficult for you.

I also think it shows that you're an incredibly responsible owner.

I think you have definitely made the right decision. Well done. It isn't easy.

I'm not sure what rescue you work in or what context of animal training you have. However some dogs like this do get rehomed and end up as working dogs and live out a happy life. PTS is a very last resort.

Have gsd hates strangers and other dogs but adores children can't get enough of them.

Gsd are natural protectors and that's what he/she is doing protecting their environment.

I think its more how YOU deal with their behaviour putting a dog down for protecting you is ridiculous if you feel that then I would suggest to rehome him/her to a more suitable owner