My friend is taking care of a friend's dog. I know for a fact that this dog is part pit bull. Last night my friend's mother was talking to her friend. The dog was on a leash and the dog bit the friend. She broke the skin and drew blood. Today my friend was playing with her dog and the aggresive dog bit my friend's dog. My friend told me that her mother is going to tell the owners when they get back from vacation in 2 weeks that they should have the dog put down. Do you think this is the right thing to do? If not, what else can be done?
Thankyou
2007-07-23 12:56:05 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
The fact that this is a pit bull, or pit mix, has nothing whatsoever to do with aggression problems. Any dog can be aggressive. In fact, pit bulls are not very aggressive when it comes to people. They are a very misunderstood breed.
Back to your question...This is a very difficult decision for a pet owner to make. A biting dog is very serious. If they every seriously injure someone, then the owners would be held responsible. They are the ones who would be liable, so this is a decision they need to take seriously...hopefully before someone is severely injured.
Behavioral training is a good place to start before considering putting the dog to sleep. However, not all dogs respond well to training because of lack of compliance or education on the part of the owner. Also, some dogs are just aggressive, and that should never be tolerated towards humans. It is too risky.
The first thing the owners should do is discuss this with their family vet.
Just FYI...I have worked at an emergency vet for five years. I have NEVER seen a pit bull try to bite a staff member. NOT ONCE! And pits are one of the most commom breeds we see.
However, they can be quite aggressive towards small animals, especially in packs.
2007-07-23 13:04:27 · answer #1 · answered by tmrvt 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Firstly, it doesn't matter the breed or mix.
Your friend should call the owners of the dog immediately and tell them what has happened. Say she for obvious reasons can not take of the dog and must send to a boarding facility for the safety of her household.
The people bitten should report the dog bite.
These are the reasonable, and logical things to do immediately.
Tell the owners they have a serious problem with their dog and must take action now...and it is their choice to find a trainer or put the dog down.
It does not MATTER if it is the dog's or the owners fault that the dog is now a serious, dangerous problem. What matters, what the POINT is, is the prevention of more people getting bit by the dog.
like duh!
Some people can rehabiltate a dog, and most can't. Obviously. They couldn't even prevent the problem in the 1st place.
2007-07-23 22:20:51 · answer #2 · answered by Marna O 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The person who asked your friend to watch the dog may never have had this problem before, and the dog may be acting out because it misses it's owner.
It also may not have been properly "socialized" with other animals or people.
Definitely tell the owner when they return.
I suggest that you need only contact the police if you feel the dog is a danger to others, AND do not believe the owner will do anything to prevent it from harming others.
Being part Pit Bull actually has NO BEARING on the dogs actions.
Dogs actions are based (just like most living creatures) on past experiences and learnings from life. If it was never properly socialized, and has never been away from it's owner, this may not be that uncommon a reaction, although it is certainly not "normal" behavior.
Contact the local shelter and have them recommend an animal behaviorist (not a psychiatrist type) that can evaluate the dog to see if they are dangerous to others.
2007-07-23 20:07:14 · answer #3 · answered by EEJ 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This dog isn't safe around children, pets or babies. Local city ordinances usually give a dog one grace bite, but a second is an impound action--and a judge evaluates if the dog is a clear danger and should be destroyed.
The owner NEEDS to know that the dog has already bitten two people, drawing blood. This is NOT good. If he's not going to keep a muzzle on the dog when it's around people, then others are at risk and they can demand the dog be destroyed due to the bite record.
This is serious stuff, dogs should NOT be biting people or pets. The owner can be sued, and actually the owner is considered liable for his animal and has to pay for any hospital costs and damages.
2007-07-23 20:01:33 · answer #4 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It sounds to me like the dog was not trained properly or someone missed a signal. Either way the owners should be notified about what happened. Also I wouldn't watch the dog again. The person that was bit and that owns the dog that was bit need to send the bills to the owner of the dog. Please understand that its not the breed as a whole that acts like that and it very well could be lack of training or the dog is scared in unfamiliar territory
2007-07-27 16:11:09 · answer #5 · answered by Abigail's Mom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The dog shouldn't be put down! The owners need to work with this dog, obviously quite a bit. It appears the dog does not deal well with new situations/circumstances. For starters this "friend" watching this dog should not have been parading around with it so freely. By the way, any breed of dog can give a bite, and not be comfortable with new situations.
2007-07-23 20:39:12 · answer #6 · answered by what u talkin' bout? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your friend should call the owners of the dog right away and tell them what has happened. Your friend should be sure they keep the dog away from other people and dogs until the person who owns the dog comes to get it. Your friend isn't being a responsible pet sitter and shouldn't sit for that kind of dog ever again.
2007-07-23 20:09:11 · answer #7 · answered by Melius 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
first off all this is happening when the dog owners aren't even there. Tell your friend not to bring strange dogs to play with a dog she is watching. and second for your statement of a pit bull i used to rescue fighting dogs. they are not aggressive towards people only other dogs so the bite might have been to protect whoever was walking it and if the dog wanted to bite she would have had to gone to a hospital because he would have locked down and prolly took of a few fingers.
2007-07-23 20:08:59 · answer #8 · answered by joe p 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's never the dog's fault!!!! Yes pitbull's are aggressive dog's, but you also have to look at how it's raised. I have a pit that will let my 1yr old jump all over him and play how she wants with him and the dog never shows signs of aggressivness. This is also due to the fact that I took the dog to obedience classes at the local petsmart. Good structure at home and dominance is important when dealing with pits. I suggest an obedience class of some sort to see if that helps. If not then I suggest putting it down b/c they just get worse. They key is establishing dominance without abuse.
2007-07-23 20:08:37 · answer #9 · answered by Master Beta 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, but the owners probably won't do that anyway.
The dog is in an unfamiliar environment without his owners. Your friend needs to keep better control of the dog. Do not let him close to kids, strangers or other dogs. If this is a huge problem, she could board the dog and have the owners pick him up when they get home. The dog sounds a little unstable, but it could be because he is in a strange place and is unsure of how things are. He could be protecting your friend.
2007-07-23 20:06:12 · answer #10 · answered by maxmom 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋