We found a neutered 2 year old male at a rescue home, he's been returned twice because he bit members of the family for no apparent reason. We have no children or other pets and believe this is the dog for us but am I being naive thinking he won't bite again - do you think there is always a reason for biting?
2007-05-27 20:05:59 · 27 answers · asked by ilovemondays321 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
as long as you dont plan on having children there is no reason why you couldnt take this dog on....there are plenty of animal behaviour specialists out there that might be able to help you with the dog and possible prevent any more biting, just make sure when you take him home that he knows who is boss.....good luck
2007-05-27 20:10:31 · answer #1 · answered by deni 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Is there always a reason for biting? Unfortunately no. Some dogs do just turn suddenly, and for no apparent reason. Having said that though, there are some dogs that can be retrained, especially if there was a reason for the biting - abuse, neglect, dominance issues - but this does take a LOT of time and effort - training, socializing, and attention - and if you can't put it in, get an easier dog.
I would be wary of introducing the dog to any stressful situation until you were sure you had him under full control. While you don't have kids or pets, are there visitors with kids? Keep the dog and children separate, unless YOU are there to supervise.
And I would be very surprised if a rescue home would release a dog with a biting history. Too much a danger of "Well, you knew it could be a biter".
2007-05-27 20:17:17 · answer #2 · answered by Barb Outhere 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Has the dog been assessed by the rescue home? When you say the dog has bitten, do you mean a proper full on attack or do you mean its 'nipped' people? There is usually a reason a dog will bite, maybe its been badly treated. Another thought might be that it believes that it is the 'alpha' dog and the highest in the pack, leading to it bullying other family members, very often when people adopt a rescue, they tend to feel sorry for it and spoil it, the dog then thinks its the leader, this is something which is correctable. I adopted a german shepherd who was vocally aggressive and a real bully and had various other difficult problems, with training I sorted this out. If you can honestly say that you will have the patience and love for this dog to re-train it, then I would go for it, but if you are not sure, then dont adopt as the more homes this dog has, the more confused it will become and the less the chance of rehoming it. I'm very surprised the rescue centre havent discussed all this with you.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
2007-05-27 20:17:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 2⤋
Personally I wouldn't take the chance. Even though you don't have children personally, there are children in everyone's lives. Neighbors, etc.
As a rescue I have to pay huge liability insurance premiums. Reputable rescues can't afford to take on a dog with these issues. This dog should be pts and it is the rescue's duty to do it. No rescue wants the reputation of adopting out dogs that bite. Why this rescue does it is beyond me. If this dog does bite and he has known incidents, you can be sued and possibly lose your home. Meanwhile thousands of dogs are euthanized everyday who would never think of biting anyone. Unfortunately we can't save them all.
2007-05-31 08:57:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, absolutely there is a reason for biting. Shelter dogs seem to do more biting because of the environment. They may have been abused, stressed, not socialized, or they could be fear biting. These poor dogs usually need to be handled much differently because of the "baggage" they all come with, and most people don't realize that-they think they are just getting some nice happy dog. The biting could have been because of something as simple as a hand put above the head, or touching a spot that has been abused in the past. If you really want this dog and are willing to take it on, I would suggest a behavior evaluation from a professional. Some dogs never get over past abuse, but handled correctly can still become great pets and loyal companions for the right people. I am very impressed that you are considering taking this on; with so many of these poor animals being rejected and returned because of lack of patience or knowledge, it is refreshing. I thank you with all my heart.
2007-05-28 01:50:58 · answer #5 · answered by anne b 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
I don't see why not. Might be an idea to consult a vet to see if there is any physical reason for his biting,and if not the vet may be able reccomend a behaviourist. I would advise you to chat to a dog behaviourist before you take this dog home so you can know excactly how to begin with this dogs training before he even gets to your house. You're gonna need some patience. There is a syndrome called rage (idiopathic biting) This is when there is no reason for a dog to bite. They just sort of go into a trance and attack. After the attack they seem completely unaware of what they have done. Make a note of the times the bites took place (if possible), and see if there is any pattern to his biting. I think it is really kind of you to give this dog a chance and I really hope it works out for you both. Good Luck
2007-05-28 00:14:33 · answer #6 · answered by Charley 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
This is real difficult. In most probability the foster home he resides in has him under control.
You need to ask questions about the biting. Many rescuers are die hard to save everything. You want to know everything they don't bite for "no apparent reason" In most cases they bite out of fear. They get spooked and scared and that is their defense. You want to make sure if he does bite you can handle it. Are you dominant enough to put him on his A S S. In most all likelihood the foster family has more experience than the families that had previously adopted him and returned him. There are plenty of ways to deal with a biter are you willing to do so?
I would say they should be willing to let you guys try. I think you need to find out why he bites and what sets him to bite. What spooks him I am willing to go as far as telling you it is fear. Especially since the foster home has him under control. Fear is the #1 reason dogs bite. Unfortunately there are plenty of other dogs that you dont have to take the special precautions with that are dying everyday.
If you do get him we have had great results with agility training in groups with biters. Gets their confidence up and social skills going.
I hope it works out.
2007-05-31 07:37:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dogs don't bite for no reason. Something triggered him to bite. It could have been a slight body movement that he thought would lead to a challenge of some kind. I have found that dogs that bite have usually been teased at some time in their life. Dominant dogs use biting to get what they want. I think you should give this dog a chance but seek some advice from people who really know dogs. Look at Tellington touch & clicker training to help you win this dogs trust again. I took on a dog that bites. He is great with me & so loyal. I don't threaten him in anyway or tease him. I wouldn't trust him with strangers though. I don't put him in situations he can't cope with. He's a big baby really who just needed to feel loved & understood.
2007-05-28 05:48:43 · answer #8 · answered by Another Planet 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I feel sorry for the dog, but you are taking on a load of trouble with that dog. I would be very wary and if you really want to take this dog in be prepared for a lot of hard work. Try and find out the reasons behind his biting, sometimes these Rescue Centres don't know and will just keep re-homing a troublesome dog. I wish you all the best of luck and admire you immensely. I have been very lucky with my three rescue dogs, they haven't caused me any heartbreak. I want a dog I can trust and enjoy taking out for walks and I would always be very tense and on edge if I took on a dog like the one you're considering. Good luck with your decision, but think very carefully and weigh everything up.
2007-05-27 22:37:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
You need to ask the rescue centre for advice. Often animals have been mistreated and are given training when rescued. Some animals change and others can not be guaranteed to be safe in certain circumstances. For example a dog may be fine with adults but can not stand being pulled about by children and might snap. They could advise as to what the likelihood is and if there are special requirements like what it needs if being taken out in public in order to be safe. The rescue centre will know the dog individually and will know all the pros and cons.
2007-05-27 20:12:36 · answer #10 · answered by popartangel 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Can anyone put their hand on their heart and guarantee that this dog will never bite again? No dog can be 100% guaranteed not to bite but one who has shown aggression will always have the potential to show it again which could put people or other animals in danger. All the rehabilitation in the world will not fully prevent it happening again and could you imagine how you would feel if it did bite anyone,knowing full well that this dog has a history of aggression? I would look for a dog which has less problems and not a time-bomb waiting to go off.it's sad but you have to think of other humans too.
2007-05-28 02:23:49 · answer #11 · answered by rottielover 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋