Which option is fair?

If a suitable and KNOWLEDGEABLE home can be found, that's one thing. If the current owner is willing to go the Click to Calm route, or other positive behavioral reshaping, and it works, great. (Though I don't know that I'd ever trust the dog around other animals.) If neither of these things is possible, what other recourse would there be but euthanasia? It's an awful dilemma.

Oh, and I don't consider going off-topic to be a Chaz FLAW at all! Flavor, maybe. Not a flaw.

I feel awful but voted pts. I would worry the dog would put people/dogs at risk before it was ever placed with the "perfect person" to ensure it had a quality of life and posed no risk.

I would say behaviorist first, then decide. It is concerning to me that so many incidents have been allowed to happen. I am not sure the current owners are capable of handling this dog's issues.

And yet, any owner that jogs a dog 3-5 miles a day is doing a good job on that. Even if the dog is muzzled most of the time, it sounds like he gets a good amount of attention. I think I would go with a behaviorist first, before giving up.

In my experience a dog that is properly trained to wear a muzzle does not seem to mind it. Usually not nearly as much as a gentle leader, for example.

This.

UNLESS he really is being muzzled all the time when there's any chance of human or strange dog contact.

I'd add an option of being in a covered run when unsupervised. Being on a tether may be making things worse.

-killing or harming other animals makes no difference to me. Many dogs have high prey drive. My husky has killed many animals but has never bit a person. Should not even be an issue.


-dog has bit more than one person without the owners able to stop it. This is the huge issue. Family had more than one chance to get this under control.

I would put the dog to sleep.

Problem with finding a knowledgeable home is there are a million dogs out there that need help. If this family that loves and cares for the dog can not handle it, if the dog is attached to them,let the poor thing go. It is sad and awful but don't put the dog through more. Let it go peacefully.

I voted opt. 2. Something sounds like it isn't right with the human beings there, as opposed to the dog.. sort of agreeing with Pops. Anybody remember Boris? Wasn't his situation similar to this.. ?

It sounds as though this situation is being handled poorly, and with someone who is dog savvy or possibly has experienced a past situation similarly, it could work.

ETA: +10 Corgipower and Laurelin.

Keeping in mind that obviously I haven't seen the dog - I don't like the idea of the muzzle most/all of the time. Making the assumption that the issues started with the original dog attack, dog's dog-to-dog issues are likely fear based, however bad they have gotten. The dog now is aware he is fully unable to defend himself if needed. While it may be "working" (doesn't react to other dogs when he is muzzled = shut down, would be my guess), I don't consider that fair to the dog at all. You've made his worst nightmare come true - he's scared of other dogs, on the offensive - and now you've removed his one means of protecting himself.

I absolutely think this particular family is unable to safely keep this dog. I'm inclined to say euthanasia is the right answer, as I am always hesitant to suggest trying to place a dog with a bite history. The few people who can probably safely manage such a dog are most likely not out there crossing their fingers that they will get the chance to pick up someone else's problems. Finding the right situation is incredibly difficult, and the risk that the dog could wind up worse off is always there.

I think breed could come into play in a small part, simply because with breeds who more commonly have human, dog, or prey aggression issues, you might be more likely to find someone who is able to manage the dog safely. Placing a dog with severe prey aggression into a home with sighthound or husky experience gives you a decent chance the new owners know what they are getting themselves into and know how to keep everyone safe. Same thing if it was a bully breed and dog aggressive. Where as if you have a lab or a golden having issues like that, even an experienced retriever home probably wouldn't have a ton of hands-on experience with the issues.

As for killing/wounding multiple animals...

It is not always prey drive, and without more info, I cannot say if it sounds like prey drive or not. It could be fear aggression. It could be bullying.

And even if it is prey drive, doing so multiple times indicates a lack of control by the owners, unless it was intended -- a hunting dog or predator control, for example.


I agree with this completely. I'm very much not in favor of trying to rehome a dog with a history of multiple bites.

They put in a lot of time exercising the dog, which indicates that they're still quite involved with him. I'd want a lot more info before considering whether the owners have a chance at working through the issues or if they'd be better off euthing.

None of the above are fair.

1. Dog lives a life of banishment... that's sad. Not only that, but it's unsafe to leave a dog like that completely unsupervised at all times outside.

2. Give the problem to some one else. Not fair to the dog or the new owners.

3. These issues do not sound like anything that good, consistent desensitizing and counter conditioning couldn't remedy.

What about hiring a behaviorist and setting the dog up for success? Is that an option?

You didn't say what kind of animal it is... to me it makes a difference between a squirrel and a dog being killed.
I also think it is completely unacceptable for a dog to bite a person unprovoked. It seems like you changed from agressive to nipping/play, so I am not sure which it is?
I would rehome dog to an EXPERIENCED owner, and have them see a behaivourist.
If that doesn't work I would have him PTS, it wouldn't be fair to have the dog muzzled 24/7.

ditto that

IMO, from reading the OP, I'd say that this is not the right home for the dog. I agree with a lot of what was said along those lines above. I mean, one bite to a human, fine; two bites, ok, it's a habit; but three bites? The dog is clearly not being managed well.

Incidently, the tie out thing is the very reason why there are more and more cities all the time writing legislation banning leaving dogs out on tie outs.

That said, my vote was for PTS, though an in-home trainer or behaviorist would also be a good option. The reason I didn't say rehome was that the right home for this dog would have to know a lot about dog behavior and really be able to handle a dog with issues like this. I can 90% guarantee you that you will not find a suitable owner who is willing to take on this dog. I know, because a rescue group I work with has a similar dog that they've been trying to rehome for 2 1/2 years, and they've pretty much given up and will keep him in the shelter permanently. (Luckily he seems happy in the shelter and does get along well with most of the staff.)

There are only a few types of homes that would be good for this dog:

A professional trainer. I am a professional trainer, and I can tell you that most of us get our share of "problem" dogs at work, and do not want to deal with another when we go home to relax. Plus, most trainers need demo dogs or performance dogs, and this dog would be neither.

Someone with a lot of dog experience though not a professional trainer (AKA a chazzer): 99% of these people already have a dog; the remaining 1% probably don't have a dog because they can't have a dog. Plus, these people are probably also going to want a performance dog.

Someone with no other pets and no kids. People with no other pets are usually also less experienced with dogs, and will be less equipped - and less willing - to deal with this particular dog.


So yeah, it sounds simple to say the dog just needs the right home. But the fact is it's going to be so extremely difficult and time-consuming to find the right home, IMO it would be a better idea to have it PTS.

I have to agree... I think if a behaviorist remedy the problem, the dog should be put down. Sad, and I feel terrible for the dog, but people's safety should come first.

I'd find a behaviorist or find a home that will find a behaviorist.

I have a dog that has killed several small fuzzy outdoor critters, so while I don't like it, it's not something that I would even consider in the equation. The dog aggression, while troublesome, is not NEARLY as concerning to me as the human aggression. I agree with others who have said that it does not sound like the dog has been managed correctly in it's current home. If I were in the "hypothetical" owner's shoes, I would likely PTS.........

My aunt called me so upset today because she is experiencing this situation first hand and it's not from a lack of trying with her dog. Only real difference is they run home for challenged adults and teens and a toddler lives in the house. She wanted to know my advice on what to do with him. I said if she's exhausted all her options with him it's time to get him put down because giving a dog like that away is not right. Its hard to find a home for a decent dog and if she can't have him in her home anymore in fear of everyone's safety its sadly time to put him down.

At least thats where I stand on the subject.

Also, if this said dog was given away, the owners now could still be held liable for any other humans/dogs it bites. It's very risky giving a known HA/DA dog away - even to a knowledgeable owner.

I also don't believe it has anything to do with being 'fair'. It's about what is the right thing for the dog and the people involved.

I agree with this, if they've exhausted other venues. It really doesn't look like the dog is being managed well at all.

And sometimes, being 'fair' means exactly putting a dog to sleep. It's not the dog's fault by any means, but look at it this way. If an animal is so terrified/stressed by human interactions that it feels the need to violently defend itself/its space, what kind of quality of life does that dog have? IMHO, some cases it is actually kinder to let them go in the peace and safety of their owner's arms and home. Rather than pawn them off on someone else who might just fail or give up, resulting in the dog dying lonely and frightened.