Our dog bit our son (an infant boy) twice, and had several other nips at other children - he is a border collie, not a typically agressive breed, but does have some fear agression and is not socialized with children. I took him to the best agressive dog trainer in town and he recommended to put him down. Adopting him out in our state would make us liable should he ever bite anyone, and being honest with people really makes them not want the dog anyway. This breaks our hearts. He's only 4 yrs. old. So....would you take him for euthanisia and kill him, or would you take him to some ranches/farm land, and set him free???? Neither sounds right, but the idea of killing him is just so hard to grasp.
2007-01-04 04:48:12 · 21 answers · asked by justintime 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Go to a legitimate animal behaviorist about getting the dog properly trained and socialized around children...the fact that he isn't trained around kids isn't his fault...that goes to the humans. don't have him put down for a nip, or just set him free...setting him free releases your guilt of not putting him down but you're just setting him up to die of exposure or starvation since he is a domesticated dog..he's not likely to make it on his own. If the animal behaviorist doesn't work..speak with a local rescue who can work on getting him better socialized and possibly get him into a child free home.
2007-01-04 05:02:04 · answer #1 · answered by smurf 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You really need to go to another dog behavioralist, because you have been lied to.
Texas law does NOT state that you will be held liable if you adopt the dog out and it bites someone. You will only be liable if you adopted the dog out, lied about how it never ever bites, and then it bites someone. So long as the new owners are told that the dog has bitten in the past, THEY will be liable if it does it again.
Either put an ad in the paper, on petfinder, or go to the humane society. So long as you say "This dog has bitten before and is not good with children," then you will no longer be liable. You might want to get it in writing that you told this to the humane society.
Is there another trainer that is willing to try to work with him? I've never heard of a trainer suggested that the dog be put down so lightly and quickly.
But if you have absolutely no other choice and have to either kill the dog or set it loose, then go with euthanasia. It is a much more humane way to go than what the dog will likely encounter on its own.
2007-01-04 07:28:22 · answer #2 · answered by Pink Denial 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a good dog trainer recommended that the dog be put down I'm sad to say that he/she is probably correct. Professional trainers do not make this recommendation lightly.
I would take the dog to a second trainer without sharing the first trainer's recommendation so as not to influence the second trainer's assessment, explain the aggressive behaviors and let that trainer work with the dog, and get a second opinion. If both trainers come to the same conclusion then if it were my dog I would get him humanely euthanized. It may be that the second trainer will recommend something different, like placing him in a home with no children.
Dumping him off at a ranch, if he's aggressive, will likely only get him shot. Very aggressive dogs will often harm stock by chasing it to exhaustion or even by killing chickens or lambs or by running livestock into fences or over banks. Farmers and ranchers cannot afford to let that happen. And that rancher might have kids that try to interact with the nice doggy and end up in the emergency room.
It's tough to put down a young healthy animal. Think how tough it would be to see that young healthy animal put down after he scarred a kid for life, or after he caused the death of someone's favorite horse or a kid's 4H project animal..
2007-01-04 05:43:03 · answer #3 · answered by Redneck Crow 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
See if you can find a border collie rescue in the area. Border collies are often "problem dogs" because people don't take into consideration all the is needed to own a HAPPY border collie. There should be a rescue in your area.
(I'm not trying to say that YOU don't have a happy BC but that's the problem some owners face. My mom has a border collie who is also fear aggressive and has also bit my toddler daughter and other children, as well as adults.)
2007-01-04 05:05:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Please don't kill him!! It's not his fault! Take him to a rescue group for border collies and they can adopt him to an adult home. Tell them that he has a fear of children and that's what they will do. He needs a chance to be trained before a decision to kill him should be made. I'm sorry to hear this is happening. I can only imagine how hard it is!
Good luck! Give the dog a second chance at life. Bring him to a rescue group!
2007-01-04 06:21:50 · answer #5 · answered by Positively Pink 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are sure in a tough situation! I dont feel that putting a dog down is ever the solution, setting him free is definately not the way to go either! but behaviour such as biting a child cannot be tolerated and it would probably not be wise or even fair on the dog to keep him, as if you did he would probably have to be confined. I would have thought that a trainer would perservere rather than suggest putting him down, I would suggest a dog behaviourist rather than a trainer. Good luck whatever decision you make, im sure it will be a difficult one.
2007-01-04 05:05:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please don't kill the dog.
I can't believe a trainer would tell you to destroy the dog. I wouldn't rely too much on his opinion.
If you don't think you can keep him. Find him a good home or find a no kill animal shelter that will take him.
It sounds as if he's just like that with kids. Sometimes, dog's nip just to get to know the person.
Our 4 month old puppy, nips at my niece because he's trying to get to know her. He's playing.
Don't abandon the dog. It's not his fault. Try and find him a good home.
2007-01-04 10:07:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put him to sleep. Letting him go will endanger other animals, and the public. He is not equipped to be a "wild" dog, and will attack/kill pets, livestock, children and even adults.
Do you want that on your conscious?
Not to mention, he may get shot, beat, poisoned, killed by another animal, hit by a car, all sorts of "nasty fates" await him as a "wild dog."
Do the responsible thing and have him humanely euthanized. You may want to try getting him neutered and then temperment tested by someone familiar with the breed, but that is only if you wish to keep him yourself.
This is very sad for the dog, and most likely could have been preventable had you known how to properly socialize him with children, other animals and people early on.
Not many, if any, people are going to be willing to take on the responsibility of this type of dog. Fear aggression can be the most dangerous form of aggression, as it is unpredictable.
It's a hard decision, but the right one. Letting him loose will not be fair to the dog, or to other animals and any people he may meet during his romp free.
http://www.libertydogtraining.com
2007-01-04 05:06:34 · answer #8 · answered by libertydogtraining 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Please don't just take your dog somewhere and set him free. This often leads to a cruel and painful death by various means such as starvation, dehydration, hit by car, etc. Look online for Border Collie Rescue. Just go to Google.com and enter that into the search engine. Then contact them and be completely honest. They'll take him in and find him a home WITHOUT children where it sounds like he'll do best. If you can't find one, email me and I'll try to help. Where are you located?
2007-01-04 05:04:21 · answer #9 · answered by lunarkry 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
border collies are "high maintenenance - special needs" dogs.
nipping, obsessive compulsive behaviour, fear agression, need for stimulation are part of their personality - that is way most responsible breeders caution people about the breed specifically before selling them
Please, do not kill him!
The good news is that there are many fanciers and many rescue associations in many states SPECIFICALLY for this breed..
you didn't say where you are - but here are a few links:
(good luck!)
2007-01-04 05:04:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋