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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
wwyd - pet related
We have two dogs a black lab that is 6 and a chocolate lab that is 3. The black lab Zoe is really stressing me out. She is not liking Mason at all. She makes me really nervous around him. She just looks at him like she could bite him at any minute. The other day we had our friends over and their little boy was on the deck and our screen door was closed, she charged the screen at him.
She's a great dog other than this. I'm just heartbroke and don't know what to do. 
Re: wwyd - pet related
This is nothing to wait around on; I'd get in contact with a trainer/behaviorist TODAY. I love the trainers at Good Karma Dog Center http://www.goodkarmadogcenter.com/
or call the humane society's behavior helpline... 444-7800. Good luck!!
It would be a terrible thing to rehome a dog with potential aggression issues, unless that home was 100% prepared to take this on. Also, dumping it at the H.S., with its history of potential aggression, and the fact that it's an older big black dog (google big black dog syndrome), will most certainly mean it'll be euthanized. If you're unwilling to attempt training, then the most responsible thing to do would be to have the dog euthanized yourself. Don't pass the problem on to someone else (unless of course this person knows exactly what they're getting into).
FWIW, my dog (the one who's in training to become a therapy dog) came from a rescue. He was given up because he was growling and snapping at the owner's 2 year old. Turns out this 2 year old was picking the dog up by its head, but the owner/parent had a "zero tolerance" policy with aggression. Too bad she didn't apply that policy to her own child! Luckily my dog was put in a foster home with a dog trainer and small children, and he's now rock-solid. Nothing, not even MY 2 year old, can ruffle him.
I understand protecting your child above all else, but you have to take responsibility for your pets, too. They require training and patience. If the dog were to attack your child then yeah, I'm on board with euthanasia. But if the dog gives warning growls, snaps at them but no skin contact, etc.? That's a sign that the dog (and the child) needs to be taught boundaries, when to walk away, and so forth. Not all dogs can live with small kids, but you can't throw them out at the first sign of trouble, either.
AMEN! If a child started acting out and heaven forbid hurt someone, the first instinct wouldn't be to give the child away. You'd teach them right and wrong, and display patience with them. Definitely talk to a behaviorist first.
With the economy the way it is, all shelters are jam packed and most don't have the resources for it. Dropping them off is practically signing their death certificate.
Really? You are comparing these two things? Obviously I knew my opinion would not be the popular one, but forgive me for thinking that a child's well being is WAAAAYYYY more important than an animals. And yes K, it is sad, I would be beyond upset if we ever had to find one of our dogs a new home for this reason.... Only you know how potentially bad it could be, and if you think that it's something that can be overcome then obviously do what it takes to make that happen....and hopefully it will work!
I am comparing these two things. You know why? I made a commitment to my cats when I adopted them. I didn't commit to keeping them until we moved or until our family changed, I committed to keeping them for their entire lives.
Animals need to be transitioned into a new family member just like an older sibling would be transitioned into having a new brother or sister. Very rarely can behaviors not be changed. Does it take time and effort? Yes. But if you adopted that animal, I think you owe that time and effort to them.
I would also try behavior training. If worse came to worse (and I'm sure it wouldn't happen), and you can't find a good home on your own, go to a no-kill shelter.
When he charged the screen - was it aggressive? Or more like he wanted to play and ran into the screen? (That's what my dumb dogs would do!) Also, make sure he has a way to get away from M when he needs to -- a place that he can get to but M can't (even when he starts crawling/walking). And start teaching M the way you want him to treat the dog. (I've already started with B - yes, it sounds stupid, but when one of the dog comes over and he's reaching for her, I take his hand and rub lightly and say "Nice touches")
Good luck!!!
Picture courtesy of Heidi Keene Photography
You dont have kids, do you.
I obviously don't have children, but I see both sides. Nobody wants their child in danger, but I agree that training is an option you should look into first.
If you feel M is in severe danger right now, which it doesn't sound like to me, then please look into other options. But DO NOT take him to the humane society (the dog, not M ha!). I have a good friend who started a wonderful dog rescue - Promise 4 Paws. I'm sure I could put you in touch with her first. I'm a huge dog lover and advocate. Evaluate the circumstances and make the decision you feel is best for you and your family.
GL!
Oh, I do too (not that I'm agreeing with you.. because, EW). BUT, I hate when hoity toity pet owners come in here acting like you're satan for ultimately choosing your children's safety over an animal.
Let's be honest here - she can get that dog into the best training available TODAY, but it doesnt mean it's going to be "fixed" tomorrow, next week, or even next month. Eff that - if its lunging and growling at BABIES, that's some serious shitt.
Listen bittttch...ha just kidding. No I agree...I just wondered what the full circumstances were. I've have a dog that went through an aggression problem, and I took him to a trainer and he has had no problems since. It wasn't aggression with people however, it was other dogs. More than anything I just would hope that wherever the dog ends up, it is in a good place and can get some training if need be. The thing that is tough for me is that it is an animal. Just because you think your dog is the nicest dog ever doesn't mean it can't snap at ANYONE anytime. So I think it's a fine line. We don't know what dogs are thinking/feeling unfortunately, so it's a tough thing to deal with.
I also got bit by a cocker spaniel when I was little, walking home from the park. I had to go to the ER etc. I even got some money for it, which was awesome when you're like 7. The owner said his dog had NEVER done that before, so you just never know when a dog will get pissed. I feel that most of the time if it's a dog and a baby issue, the kid is probably messing with it. Which is something you really can't keep a baby from doing. Maybe you put the baby and the dog in separate kennels to keep them both safe??!!
Cocker spaniels are nasty little effers, arent they?
Dont get me wrong, I'm an animal lover myself. It would KILL me to give up my cat, and I have given the side eye to many people for the reasons they do give up their pets. But, I dont know - to me, this situation seems pretty black and white. If Kylee, knowing her dog, feels as uncomfortable as she says she does.. something isnt right.
I'd be looking to re-home it, personally. Ask around and find someone I know who could take him. But, I'd lock him in the basement away from the kid until I could FIND a home for him, before I just dumped him at the humane society. I do agree that thats not right.
Hey we had a cocker spaniel growing up! It actually bit my toe once....but it was because I was kicking it so I guess I deserved it
(I was super young too so don't think I'm an animal abuser).
Where is Tera to save the day??
I think some people may have read into the post a little bit - the dog looks at Mason "like she could bite him" but nothing has happened. And yes, she charged at a little boy behind the screen - I'm sure that's very alarming, but the boy also may have been doing something that could have made the incident at least slightly provoked (not justified, just not unprovoked, maybe).
I think some training is a great idea. I wouldn't start looking to rehome the dog or give her up to a shelter until it's clear that training hasn't worked to improve her tendencies.
Agreed. Start working with a trainer ASAP.
This is like a bi-weekly debate on the pets board. LOL!
"Would you give up your KID?!"
"KIDS AREN'T ANIMALS"
"ANIMALS ARE BASICALLY KIDS!"
Blah blah blah.
Listen, everyone has their passion. You have a responsibility to protect your child, first and foremost. But, since you chose to be a pet owner....you should do so responsibly (rehoming with a childless family, taking to a no-kill shelter, something). Or, go the behavior training route.
But yes, you are responsible for protecting your child FIRST. Sorry, folks. That's just the way it is. All it takes is once for a dog to harm a child. I wouldn't wait around for that to happen, either.
I read this post this morning, and I immediately thought of you.
http://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/57780545.aspx
Our cat bit DS on the face yesterday, and he often shows aggressions towards the kids. We try and keep him in the basement, but I don't feel that is far to him either, so we are looking to rehome him with someone else. I think he would do well in a house without kids.
It makes me very sad, but I can't have him going around and biting people either.
Agree. Just because you take your dog to a trainer, they aren't going to change overnight. It only takes a moment for a dog to snap. I know this first hand, because a golden lab bit off the ring finger on my right hand when I was in kindergarten. I wasn't provoking or teasing the dog. I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. K -- if you feel like M is in danger, then don't let ANYONE on this board make you feel bad for looking for a new home for the dog.
Married the love of my life 6/3/06
Became a family of three 8/25/09
I had to put my dog to sleep because he bit H. It was a REALLY hard decision. I'd had Merlin since THE DAY he turned 8 weeks old and had the pleasure of living with him until he was 7.
After the bite, I called a trainer about what to do and she said that it's one thing to train a dog not to pee in the house or chew on furniture because what's the worst that can happen. So you have a little pee in the house or have to replace a coffee table, so what? BUT what if you train a dog not to bite and they do slip up and bite someone, then what? She pointed out that it was a gamble because no training is guaranteed.
I know it's a difficult decision, trust me. Obviously nobody has to even ask you who you would choose, your child or your dog. We all know what it would be.
I'm on team "F- that dog!"
Seriously, some dogs just have nasty attitudes I think. Not all dogs are lovers - they have personalities like people - some are nice, some are bittchy, ect.....if you go to the humane society, some dogs have adoption tags like "needs a home with no children"
I wouldnt risk it. Its my kid's face - and I dont want my dog to bite it off. You cant take that back.
Also, I come from the assshole frame of mind that - ITS AN ANIMAL - and I am higher up on the food chain. My kid is more important that the animal. End of story.