My Cocker Spaniel bit my sister in the face after she tried to push him off the couch. He is completely trained and is a pure breed. I feel that he may just need a more patient home. Please let know what are my options. I feel like putting a dog to sleep should be the last options if ever.
2006-12-16 14:23:37 · 17 answers · asked by kburris11 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
ok well its a known fact that Cockers are not good with kids..
anyhow if the dog is a PUREBRED the breeder will take it back - assuming it was from a reputable breeder NOT from a back yard breeder or just anyone...or a rescue will take it.. you MUST give them all the info on the dog so they can work with it to correct the problem
firstly call the breeder
2006-12-16 14:30:35 · answer #1 · answered by CF_ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, once a dog bites, chances are very, very high that he will bite again. This is a liability to your parents. Biting MAY indicate a dog that is either fearful and insecure or dominant and over-reactive. Either of which are not good. A dog that bites or threatens to bite is not a safe dog, plain and simple. Whether the dog "means to" or not isn't the issue.
You should take your dog to the vet and have a thorough exam done to be sure he is not in pain somewhere. This very well could have been his reaction to being hurt and taking care of the pain would mean he could be happy again and not bite. For the safety of the vet and tech, be sure to mention why you need him checked over, so they can muzzle him and protect themselves and even him from injury.
If the vet does not find a medical reason why the dog may have bitten, it is to be seriously considered to humanely euthanize. Cocker Spaniels can be nippy and have been known to be euthanized because of biting. Although euthanizing is not an easy decision for your parents, this may be the only option. The only reason not to - if the vet finds a medical reason and the dog reacted to pain by biting. Even then, it still may be a good decision.
Sorry to tell you this, but it's something you don't want to blame your sister or your parents for. It's just something that may have to be done - pure breed or not!!
2006-12-16 14:49:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cocker spaniels need firm handling or they have a tendency to decide they're in charge- hence the biting. He bit your sister because in his eyes, it was HIS right to be on the couch, and your sister was just a subordinate being harrassing him. In the wild, alpha dogs bite, growl, even attack subordinate dogs for displeasing them.
I honestly don't think you even need to put him in a new home, if you and your family are willing to rethink the way you treat your dog, you can easily teach him that you are in charge, and he is not, and the biting will stop. If you really must, put him in a home with someone who understands that he needs rules and discipline, not somebody who will spoil him and let him keep being aggressive. There is no reason at all that he should be put down.
Here's a link to some sites that will help you learn how to be the alpha dog. Most of it is very simple things- don't let him on the furniture (that makes him your equal), feed him AFTER you eat, and make him sit down and wait nicely for it, and don't ever do anything because he's barking or whining for it (with the exception of potty time, of course). Everything that happens during his day needs to be because YOU are allowing him to do it, not because he wants to.
http://www.forpaws.org/articles/alpha.htm
This has some great advice, also an insight from myself: during this 'retraining' phase, keep a leash on him during the day. That way, if you need to make him move and he won't, you can tug on the leash instead of reaching for him and risking a bite.
Good luck!
2006-12-16 14:35:34 · answer #3 · answered by Dreamer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These type of bites are common.
Your sister is a child and she pushed the dog off something.
In dog terms a lesser pack animal forceably moved him and he retaliated the only way he could.
First children should never be around dogs unsupervied ever.
Second your sister should not be forceably be trying to make hte dog do anything. Ask the dog to get down it is does not et help from a parent or someone who the dog sees as dominant.
This would be what I class as a operator error bite and not true aggression. If the dog had not been pushed it would not have happened. But I do think that maybe the dog needs to be placed where there are not children in the home.
Cockers are very common biters.
2006-12-16 14:30:20 · answer #4 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree - euthanizing a dog should be a last resort!!
First, have the dog checked by a vet to ensure that there are no medical conditions that may have contributed to the bite. Things like serious ear infections are very painful (and common in Cockers) and can result in bites if the ear is touched. I have known of many dogs that were euthanized and only later the owners realized that it was a very curable ear infection!!
If your dog is otherwise healthy - get a trainer! A good one. Many aggressive dogs can be successfully rehabilitated. In my mind, it is worth the effort.
Good luck.
2006-12-16 14:59:07 · answer #5 · answered by keesnbcs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your little sister invaded his space. Its your little sister's fault. My little sister picks up my dog funny and she growls and snaps at her. Tell your sister that you can't treat a dog like a doll. A dog isn't something you push of the couch if you want to sit there. Tell the dog to get of or have a family member call him from a different room. The dog just felt threatened so he defended himself. He was just protecting himself. There is no reason to put him to sleep.
2006-12-16 15:26:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
talk to the vet and see what they feel. If the dog is not normally an aggressive dog then just get the dog a home that you can keep in contact with. Maybe with an older couple who just want a dog who can sit on their couch.
2006-12-16 14:26:26 · answer #7 · answered by whit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your right Honey. Cocker Spaniels are not good with the young and could be placed in a home with just adults.
2006-12-16 14:29:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How old is your sister? I have 2 dogs and if they would ever hurt my 15 month old daughter, I think I would just get rid of them, not put them to sleep. I think kids can be rough with dogs and not even realize how rough they are being. Some dogs just dont want to be pushed around.... suggest to your family to give the dog away to a family that doesnt have kids....
2006-12-16 14:27:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i believe that it should not be put to sleep if the dog was sleeping at the time and your sister pushed him off he was using a defence mechanism because he may of been startled or felt threaten in some way. your parents should look at the situation more closely and find out what really happened instead of just blaming the dog
2006-12-16 14:27:03 · answer #10 · answered by Chantel K 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋