I always wonder where dogs are keeping it , it always seems that first morning peepee is at least 5 gallons.

My dog has had his free bite sometime ago, and has bit the vet, but she didn't report it. Those two incidents are enough to seal his fate but there are more. He really is a wonderful little boy except for the biting issue.

Sorry took so long to reply, email usage is crappy at my dogsit. It's hard to answer without knowing some of the details when the biting incidents occured.

Does the biting occur under the same set of circumstances or is it random? And has he bitten you?

There might be some underlying health issues - the vet could help with that. Or maybe the vet could recommend a behaviourist or trainer.

I watched a documentary on Thursday night about giving drugs to animals. That might be a short term solution until the behaviourist can offer some training solutions.

Would you consider muzzling him whenever he's outside your home? That might also be a solution.

That's about it from me.

Dagmar :shrug:

I had a dog that bit. She was an American Eskimo and for some reason she was super protective. We had to make sure she was in a closed room if anyone new came over. As soon as they were in she'd be fine, but if she met them at the door, she'd bite, or attempt to bite their feet or ankles. If she took exception to something you were doing, she'd turn and bite you. I know she bit me at least 5 times as well as my MIL once. I'm not sure how many others suffered the same fate. It was really hard having a dog like that. My sister had the same breed of dog and he was never like that, and her mother was very even tempered, so I don't know where it came from.

Michele~that's so good that Dewey was so good on the trip!

I'm super stressed right now. We're going to go see The Help in a few minutes and that should allow me to calm down, but I always get this way when faced with a long trip. I have lists of "don't forget" items all over and I keep thinking of new things....After the movie I'll be busy getting dinner ready and then after that we'll start loading up the motorhome. I cleaned it really well this morning so that much is done. We'll be leaving mid morning tomorrow so I'll have time to load the items I'm sure I'll remember during the night (thinking this will be a rather sleepless night tonight).

I have some downtime before driving off to my epic dinner tonight.

I kept moving and moving today from 7 AM onward. I went to two grocery stores, then to the gym, home to shower, out for a pedicure, home for lunch, out to the hairdresser, to Trader Joe's, and now I am breathing a little before I head out to my car again.

I'm bringing sunflowers and fresh figs.

All I can think of is how I'd rather lounge around at home this evening.

[quote=Mudpie;3988661]Sorry took so long to reply, email usage is crappy at my dogsit. It's hard to answer without knowing some of the details when the biting incidents occured.

Does the biting occur under the same set of circumstances or is it random? And has he bitten you?

There might be some underlying health issues - the vet could help with that. Or maybe the vet could recommend a behaviourist or trainer.

I watched a documentary on Thursday night about giving drugs to animals. That might be a short term solution until the behaviourist can offer some training solutions.

He first bit the vet, that was understandable, he didn't like what she was doing. He bit my neighbor for no reason at all , at least in human terms. He has always snapped at people. He has started biting me and has several times, of course I didn't report it and I am not going to sue me either. The vet suggested a muzzle and I won't consider that. It would have to be left on all the time and he wouldn't let me put it on anyway. I wondered about meds but that didn't seem like sich a good idea. When he bit the neighbor he was quarantined and the Animal Control People warned me about what would happen if he bit again, And he has. They just don't know it. On one hand he is very loving, always beside me or in my lap, but lately if he doesn't get his way, he bites. This is a dilemma. He put on a great performance today. I was at my computer and he was near me when I heard him barking in a different tone than usual. I looked out the window and there was a tiny dog on my porch, no leash . The owner was nearby and I told her to take her dog away, I also reminded her about the leash law. She meandered away a few feet with the dog who came right back. Again I told her to pick up her dog. She didn't, she seemed pretty dense. About that time my dog shifted into high gear. I was standing in front of my sliding glass door with the screen closed. I just saw a black streak whiz by me and he burst right through the screen. Again I had to tell her to pick up her 4 pound dog. I was trying to get my dog off hers, he didn't actually touch her little dog, I don't think. He did go back int my house without too much urging. She is a strange person, maybe 19 or so, she picked her dog up by the back of it's neck and held it out at arms length as she finally left. I haven't had any visit from Animal Control so guess he didn't hurt her dog.

Forgive me, but it sounds so very much like the dilemma of loving someone who's got anger management issues or is abusive.

I know very little about your options, but I do know exactly what you already know yourself, and what has left you conflicted: You need to keep yourself safe, and you need to keep other people and animals safe. That is the most important thing.

I know you are right.

bargoo :hug: I think I have to agree with saef on this one. It sounds like your dog has taken over control. You say he won't let you muzzle him. It shouldn't be his decision - it should be yours. All the decisions should be yours, not his.

It IS possible to train him out of this but it will take a lot of work and a trainer who deals with aggression issues. I have had 4 dogs with aggression issues on the doggie bus in my career and have had to give all of them up because the owners refused to deal with this.

I did muzzle the most aggressive dog of the lot and am fortunate to still have my right eye as a result. If she had been unmuzzled when she went for me I probably would have lost the eye.

Your and other people and animals' safety have to come first. I'm sorry, this is such a hard situation. I wish there were a simple answer.

Dagmar

DH and I went to Cirque du Soleil last night and it was AMAZING! Such a celebration of the human body and all that can be done with it. And the bodies on some of those performers - yowza! I was :drool:.

Even DH was impressed and said so. He started to complain a bit about the guy sitting to his right but I managed to head him off by changing the subject.
We had a lovely evening. :yay:

I am now off to DH's band show. I'm tired and was dreading the drive and finding parking. Then I realized that Toronto still has a functioning transit system. And the show is in an area that I really like but don't get to often. I will take a long walk down to the show from the subway and take the streetcar back through "little Vietnam", thus revisiting 2 neighbourhoods that I really like.

And DH will be pleasantly surprised to see me (I told him I would probably sleep instead of attending the show, having been so wound up from the circus that I didn't get to bed 'til after 1 a.m.). No need to tell him there's a yummy sounding ice cream/gelato place on the way there and I plan to sample their chocolate/chili flavour. :p

I do tend to run around in the same little loops all the time. Change is good!

Dagmar :cheer2:

I actually haven't tried to muzzle him. I just don't want to that.That doesn't sound like a good option for either of us. I think I have made the decision to do the unthinkable. It is just so hard to do.Those of you who do not have pets might wonder why it is so hard. It is a lot like women who are physically abused by spouses or SO. They will stay with the person who abuses them. Or children who are abused, they still love the parent who mistreats them.
Thanks for all your thoughts.I guess I am just looking for someone to hold my hand, electronically speaking.

Bargoo, I am so sorry. :hug:

The little emoticon is inadequate. It's those smiley faces. This is not a smiley thing. At all.

Bargoo, I think you have no choice. Animal bites are very dangerous, and that's aside from the whole liability issue and the suffering involved. It's too bad, but at this point I can't see that the dog can be trained out of this behavior.

Jay

Thank you all for your kind words. I have decided what I have to do. Doing what is right doesn't make it any easier.My son has offered to make all the arrangements I wll stay with Sparky, though until it is over. He is still here laying at my feet right now, but this will have to be done soon as I can't stand much more of this. I know I am not going to feel great after it is over but at least I will be relieved of the anxiety .
I am going to try not to talk about this again or at least not as much. I know some of you have gone through this experience and my going on and on must bring back sad memories. Thanks again for all the advice and kind thoughts.

Hugs to you Bargoo.
I am so sorry for you having to make such a hard decision, but it is the right one unfortunately.
As much as I love dogs, you cannot put yourself and others at risk.

Bargoo, I'm so sorry you had to make this tough decision. I'm thinking of you and Sparky. Saef is right, emoticons are inadequate, but we're here with you nonetheless. :grouphug: