My dog just killed another dog brutaly in our yard. I have a 1 year old. What do I do? She is usually sweet.?

Question

My dog is a very sweet dog. She never comes around much when we have company and she never bothers anyone. We had no idea that she was so brutal to other dogs. She attacked our neigbors dog, which happens to be our relatives and killed it in a very brutal way. She has never hurt any human, but now I am very worried about her being near my son who is 1. Should I just give her away?

Answer 1

No you shouldn't give her away. You took on the resposibilty of owning a dog. You can't just give up on her. And you can't give away a dog that has issues like that. Especially if you don't know the person you are giving her too. What if they use her for fighting? What if they find out she has a problem and they go and get her put down? What if someone says they will take her and they beat her or use her in a lab?
You need to have her trained properly and get socialized correctly.
I would start off with a trainer around no other dogs, and then that trainer will know when its time for her to be around other dogs.
I also suggest you watch the dog whisperer and pick up cesar millans book too.

Answer 2

Wow. I am really shocked - From your post, I didn't pick up on any remorse or saddness for the pet that your neighbor/relative just lost - in a very violent way. I wouldn't blame the dog for the attack - after all she is an animal. If she is very territorial about her yard, then that is most likely why she attacked and killed the other dog. I get the impression that your dog is an outdoor dog. - Do you ever spend any time with her? Is she alone most of the time? She is probablly so withdrawn that I wouldn't trust for a second this animal with my baby. I would say that if you are already asking if you should give her up, then you probablly have already made up your mind. If the authorities in your area found out about this attack - the dog would most likely be put down. It is considered dangerous. Do you want to run the risk of it doing this to another pet or person ? if you do decide to give her up - you must be honest with the reason why - perhaps an no-kill shelter can help you. If you do keep the dog, try a trainer specializing in aggression. good luck

Answer 3

Dog on dog aggression is much different than dog on human aggression. Because a dog shows aggression to another dog it in no way means it will be aggressive towards people.
I would suggest just following one very simple, important rule... Never leave any dog alone, unsupervised, with small children.
As far as what to do about her killing your neighbors dog, since it was on your property there should be no problems. Actually, your neighbor was the one breaking the law since his dog was not properly confined. An apology should suffice.
Good luck!

Okay, I had to edit this after going through and reading some of the completely IGNORANT answers.
I own full blooded American Pit Bull Terriers. Every single one of them, if given the opportunity, will kill another dog. However, not a single one would ever hurt a person. I have been around thousands of APBTs (mostly down from gamebred, or fighting bloodlines) and have never had a single one, on my yard or at another kennel, show any kind of aggression to myself or anyone else.
I have neices, 3 & 8, who visit often and love to play with the dogs, as well as my friends sending their children out to help clean kennels (for punishment but the kids love it) and again, have never had a single dog show aggression.
Also, the asker is in no way responsible for her dog killing the other dog. The other dog entered her property.
Anyone who says a dog that kills another dog is a danger to people is a complete moron.
Dont answer questions if you dont have a fricking clue about it. Someone not knowing any better could take your advice.

Answer 4

I think you should discuss this with a veterinarian or a dog behavior consultant right away. If your dog attacks another dog, you could be liable for some serious veterinary bills. In regards to your son, no dog should not be alone around a toddler, period. Toddlers can accidentally hurt animals and then accidentally get bitten/ mauled.

I've seen the results of dog attacks at a veterinary clinic, and they're not pretty. Both owners are very upset. You don't want this to happen again, so take the steps to make sure it doesn't. Get a consultation to find out what steps you need to take. You could be in for some big legal trouble if you don't (i.e, if you give the dog away and she kills another dog).

Best of luck.

Answer 5

Depending on the state you live in I am surprised that you were not required to have your dog euthanized. It is a sad day when your own dog kills another dog ( or any animal for that reason). Now that she has done this I would be a little worried about her future, too. I would definately be worried about your son, too. For those who talk about never hurting someone in the "pack"(as in your family, etc)...I don't fully agree with that. Now that she has shown that brutal side, means she has chosen to respond in a way of brutality. I am not saying she will go after you or your son...but I would definately be cautious. Is your sons life more important than your dogs? I know that is a harsh question, but my 4 year old daughter means more to me than life!!! And I know in my heart what I would do, and I surely wouldn't give my dog away to someone else. Good luck to you.

Answer 6

The puppy will have to have had a temperament experiment on the safe haven to ensure she wasn't competitive in anyway. So she definitely handed if she's being followed out. Doesn't topic the age, if u take well care of her and love her she'll go back that. In time she is going to bond with u and be very dependable. Adopting an grownup puppy is an strong factor to do. Most humans wish lovable little dogs leaving older puppies to be positioned to sleep due to the fact that they're much less fascinating. In fact they may be able to be strong puppies.

Answer 7

1. Apologize to the other dog's owners
2. Have your dog evaluated by a professional and follow all of their instructions
3. Comply with ALL requests made by any authorities that may get involved in this
4. Keep your dog leashed at all times while outdoors.
5. If you can't do this, find a rescue group to take the dog and BE 100% HONEST ABOUT THIS INCIDENT WITH THEM!

You should keep your dog if at all possible. The dog is your responsibility. You need to keep her under control at all times. You can be legally held liable for what your dog does.

Answer 8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_aggression

In short, dog aggression is NOT the same thing as animal aggression. However, you should ALWAYS watch ANY dog when it's around a kid. It doesn't matter if it's a lab, a pit bull, a cocker spaniel, you must supervise.

Has your dog ever been around other dogs? Try obedience training, socializing (taking proper steps), behaviorist.

DO NOT give her away. If you don't want her anymore, do the responsible thing and at least have the vet euthanize her while she's in your arms. It's better than her languishing in an animal shelter, and I doubt many ppl will want an animal-aggressive animal when there are already many fine canines that aren't, in shelters and other places.

Answer 9

This is uncanny as I was reading this. My very own dog killed our neighbors dog just a month ago. Same type of incident as well. She was reared with my girls, and she has never hurt another human nor even growls at anyone. The girls love her to death. ...and so do I. I had her spayed and she is here with me still. I can't imagine what life would be like without her. Sometimes animals get on the defense with other animals especially in their own domain. Other dogs especially smaller ones may like to try and give it the small dog syndrome and may have provoked yours. I hope you the best...It's hard with a pet...They are just like a part of the family. Imagine if your child had gotten into a fight with another....and you had to decide the same thing....Hard! Good luck....

Answer 10

You absolutely need to keep her away from your son. It would be bad enough if she merely bit the other dog, but the fact that she killed the dog is enough to take this very seriously. You need to start off by taking your dog to the vet to be sure she doesn't have rabies or a neurological problem which may have triggered this. But, also (and your vet may know this), be sure of the laws in your area about such an incident. Your vet can best advise you about whether to give your dog away, or if she needs to be put down. This is a sad situation for you, but it is not one that you should ignore--for your son's sake as well as your own.