What to do with this dog???

Question

Okay, so many of you know about 5 months or so ago, we adopted a rescue pit (yes, it is a pure pit...) anyway, he was 11 months when we got him. He isn't the smartest dog or obedient. He is strong willed, as pits sometimes are... here is the problem. He has shown aggression towards small children, witnessed by my ex who has him. I saw a bit of if when we got him, but it seemed like a little bit of "excitement", not loading, now he is loading and the question is, do we place him out? with a no children/cat home, or do we put him down? talking to his "old" owner, he had done this and nearly nipped a kid, gee, they tell me this NOW....uh, hemm...anyway that is why they "really" gave him up, they lied, we have the problem and are willing to visit different solutions....FYI, I have been around working breeds, and pits for over 25 years... we have always culled any human agressive pit bulls, especially those towards kids...BUT, my ex feels this is inhumane and is trying to find another way

Honestly, I vote to put him down, and not pass the problem onto another person, since that is what happened to us. He is a loving dog, but not reliable, but a huge liability and personally I cannot fathom a dog biting a kid, no excuses. I am asking for my ex husband who loves this dog and is having a hard time "making" the decision. I know you cannot train prey drive out of a dog, only curb it and I am not willing to chance it, because, any dog can "get loose" and things can happen...

Answer 1

The former owner lied about the dog, so you can't trust anything he has said now at all. Your have witnessed aggression towards small children. I don't know what you mean by ' loading ' but I think that the dog should be put down. Not only do you not want to be responsible for rehoming the dog and risking that the people aren't as cautious with the dog as they should be. But you do not want to find out that the dog you wondered what you should do with, has gotten lose and maimed or killed someone's child.

Answer 2

So sad!
Unfortunately, there are lines of Pitbulls that are so inbred, and bred for agression, that their "on/off switch" just doesn't work anymore. Children and potentially any seemingly submissive prey will be at perpetual jeopardy, and dedicately able, and diligent guardians are lacking.

If you can not totally dedicate the time, expense and effort to persue reconditioning and socialization (hey, working folks aren't all rich enough to persue their avocations at will)... then you should choose to be particularly selective in re homing him. The Breed Rescue organizations are the first place to start, with full disclosure.

I was in this position once. I specialize in Akita Inu, with "problematic behavior" and resocialization issues. I had all the time and money needed to dedicate, it was my vocation.

Only once did I have to cull, after almost 2 years of progress. No matter how much I loved that dog, it came down to her literally living in a cage or me (jail). She was not only so unreliable around other humans, but she also detested children in particular.(which is far from the nature of the breed). The day I saw her in a frenzy, chewing at her chain link pen until her mouth bled, trying to get at a small child across the way, I was horrified. I knew I had to accept the worst because I could not live with a mauling, particularly of a child. She could have survived in a veritable cage for the next 4 years, but life so encapsulated and insulated is worse that death. Particularly because that was how she was treated as a youngster.

Since he must already be neutered and calmed a bit, you may be seeing him at his best. Take heed.

Sadly it is not so much the breed, as the miscreants that are into dog fighting/bait supply or want a drug house guard dog... and then there are the macho wannabes that are just plain ignorant. I have known many Pits, that are total sweethearts and very reliable around other dogs and children. Lineage first, and then environmental factors are imperative to a pet Pit.

Culling serves its purpose. Though it is not a well understood practice in this country, it has its place. The focus of responsible breeding is to better the breed. One intent of breed rescue is to keep it from being polluted and defamed. I applaud you for sailing against the wind if need be.

Answer 3

11 mos. old? He could be sent to a home with no children/pets and people willing to take him to obedience school. Pits ( pure or mixed) if not ever been socialized properly could exhibit this behavioral b/c they have not been taught how to act. They are full of excitement anyway!
I would suggest finding a home with the stipulation they get him properly trained.
In my opinion he is to young to just throw away if never been taught. (given a chance in the proper manner) I say this mainly b/c of his age
If you have been working with working breeds such as Pits then you know what they need to help them be stable dogs. At least consider before putting him down! They are people pleasers not kid killers.
Maybe a rescue for this breed would be another way to go b/c of his age.
Now with this being said: If you have worked with dogs and truly believe he WOULD hurt someone then as LAST resort put him down.
We need dogs that will prove to everyone how loyal and lovable they really are!!!

Answer 4

Well,I would have him put down.He may never hurt anyone,but on the other hand,he could very well kill a child,and then you would have to live with the guilt and agony of being responsible for a child's death,as well as being faced with a huge liability suit.It will be very hard,but I think that it is a necessary evil with some dogs.Take him for a ride,get him something good to eat,and stay with him while he's put to sleep.The only other alternative I can think of would to have his canine teeth removed,wear a muzzle on him whenever he is outside and make sure he never gets loose. Also,put him in a crate in a locked room when there are children in your house.Certain drugs and a shock collar may help curtail his aggression as well. These are all drastic measures,though,and I don't envy you having to make such a hard decision.

Answer 5

Oh that's a hard situation to be in. One of our dogs growled at our daughter several times. A friend of ours who is a vet told us we had to get rid of him straight away. We did find a lovely home for him on a property with older children and he did great. But. I think with a big, powerful dog that has the capacity to hurt the child you really have to think it through. If word ever got back to you that a child was seriously hurt or killed by this dog it would be hard to live with - even though the dog wouldn't be your responsibility at the time. And with so many thousands of dogs looking for homes it is unlikely that someone would take him knowing he has aggression issues towards children. Even people without children don't want to take the risk. They couldn't have visitors with kids, or take him to an area with children. No matter what some people think, no dog's life is worth more than a person's. And even dogs without known aggression problems have attacked kids when provoked - I don't think your dog would need much if any provocation. Socialisation and training might help a little but you can't eliminate the risk.

It is wonderful you rescue dogs and I'm sure this dog has had a great home with you. But as this same vet friend said to me, do you want to be responsible for a loaded gun because that's how serious it is. It is very sad but I think it is the only thing to do and it is in no way your fault. You are being 100% responsible. Perhaps, in time, you can open your home up to another rescue dog who may have been put down otherwise.

Answer 6

first of alll you should wait before you did dedicate to adopted a pitbull dog or puppies because these days those dogs that getting very dangrouse. that they even turn them selve to become a evil pet and even sometimes owners out there couldnt able keep their dogs anymore. cause the breed of pit bulls arent good to have or raise, or even have little children around . i think you should had asked the before owner if the dog ever been attacked anybody else such as little children, older adult or even had harm other animals . if you hadnt know that then it better you return back to the old owner and get another friendly , trainned not to harm nobody else , other pets . maybe a small different breeds dogs . that you can get from the petstore or animal shelfter that you can ask alot of questions about other pets backgrounds were about first thing before you planning to adopt another dog .if the old owner cant be contact by then you can take the dog back to the pound .

Answer 7

your husband just needs to find the dog another home with somebody who doesnt have any kids or live around them. there is no need in punishing the dog for his old owners bad training. although pits are naturally aggressive he only shows it to certain things. i would most def. tell the next owner in advance before they think about getting the dog. just cause he has showed aggression doesnt mean he cant make another person happy. somebody out there will be more than willing to take this dog in as their pet mainly because he is a pure breed. good luck finding a good home.
ASPCA MEMBER

Answer 8

IMHO, your best bet would be to put him down. Yea, maybe alot of breeds of aggression towards kids and still get adopted, but how many are Pits? I love Pits to death, and it'd kill me to have them go to a home where, most likely, someone inexperienced takes him and the Pit ends up killing a kid, all because you didn't put him down. Now if that makes sense, good. But what I'm trying to say is; it'll be very very hard to place a Pit like that in a home, where the new owners are actually experienced. But I'd put him down just because that dog will be going through alot of stress later in life. I know someone will -try- to help him but only do more damage.. Having that dog alive, not only puts kids in danger but you as well, and it could hurt the breed where you live...

I hope this made a bit of sense.

Answer 9

If you can get him into a home that is kidless and catless and small dogless...sure. But there is really no garauntee he will never be exposed to those situations again and may get the chance to be aggressive. Personally, since it sounds like you have alot of knowledge I would just go with your gut instinct.

Answer 10

If your ex wants to try to find another way let him, but take the responsibility off of yourself. If this was my dog he would be put down immediately!
Edit: I'm with you. I think you are completely correct.