For those dealing with agression problems...

[winniecnm]

This is an old post from when I first started spending time here. I hope that people posting about agression problems here will take a moment to read this...

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8834

No one should live in fear of their dog. There are too many NICE dogs in need of a home to tolerate unwarranted biting, snarling and agression from their pets. If the problem cannot be fixed by training, or if the behavior has already gone too far to save the animal, IMO that animal should be put out of its misery. Why live life with an animal that is a ticking time bomb??? Why be afraid of walking your dog down the street or having guests over???

I think that many people recoil at the idea of having even an overly agressive animal PTS is that they would feel guilty for putting the animal down but they do not realize that it is far more cruel to have their animal meet this kind of an end described in the link above, or to have an animal that is constantly under "lock and key"... An animal that cannot function in its environment is NOT a happy animal. You are not doing it ANY FAVORS by sparing its life!

I always promised myself that the day my dog's teeth came at ME or a member of my family, or a guest in my home that that day would be the dog's last. I will not tolerate it - period.

The consequences of a rottweiler bite does not end in your household. It affects every dog in this country. We cannot afford any more bad press, BSL or worsening of this breed's reputation. I cannot afford to constantly hear "the only good rottweiler is a dead rottweiler" from idiots who have read about dogs bites and maulings..(it is bad for their health ... lol)

Thanks for listening to my .02

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by winniecnm

No one should live in fear of their dog.

This is THE most important thing that anyone can keep in mind. Think of why you have a pet - why you bring them into your home. No where in that list will you ever put "to be terrorized by my own pet in my own home". NO ONE deserves or should, ever, live in fear of their own dog. If you are, take it to training, rehome it - but don't live with it. Do something about it - even if the decision is a difficult one.

[Judi W]

Ah, Trish, but quite often it is others that are terrorized whilst the owner gets off scott free.

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by Judi W

Ah, Trish, but quite often it is others that are terrorized whilst the owner gets off scott free.

Ah yes - harrassment of the community.

No community deserves to be terrorized by your dog either. If your dog is aggressive, then it is up to you to make a fail safe system so that the dog will NEVER EVER get out or have a chance to harrass people. That means HIGH privacy fences and double gates (open gate, close gate, go to second gate, open gate, close gate). If this is too expensive / not possible - that dog too MUST be either trained, rehomed or other.

Either way - the point is that if you have an aggressive dog - either to you or to others, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Regardless of how uncomfortable, expensive or heartwrenching the decision is. Doing nothing is NOT an option.

[Judi W]

Well, most family members learn how to avoid being bitten (some must learn the hard way)....... it is the innocent poor schmucks that get nailed.

[MonteRiehl]

I've been chewing this one over on the weekend too. I really agree with Judi and Trish.

I think that people are often too willing to overlook the danger they are putting themselves, and their closest family/friends in. Keeping a dog who is aggressive, and bites is a danger. This danger is compounded if you do not have the skills necessary to deal with that dog. Even taking an aggressive dog to a professional behaviourist is of limited value, because the dog does not live with them.

When it comes to managing that dog, for what ever reasons, people fail to give the proper "weight" to their own quality of life.( as well as their family) What I mean is, when your dog has a problem, and you are now having to make major changes to the way you live,(your comfort) it's really time to re-evaluate having that dog. I'm not talking about the time to walk, feed excersise and train, that's the normal stuff.
I'm talking about the "out of balance" stuff. Things like getting up at 4 am to walk the dog because you won't run into any other animals/people at that time. Going through "exotic" lengths to have people warn you before they come to visit. Not being able to have visitors at your house because of your dog. etc.
These things are insideous because they creep into your life a little at a time. You don't realize you are so out of balance until something happens and the dog is no longer in control of your life.
Most people will easily sacrifice some "comfort" to put into their dogs. Most times, it's a good investment. However, there needs to be a line that is drawn, where the dog as committed a grevious error. Like an unprovoked bite, or killing of another dog.

What happens when that extra hour or two a day has other impacts. Say that time that is now the dogs would have been better spent helping your child with homework. The dog is managed, but your child is having less and less success with school. Now you have an old crotchety dog, and a kid who does not feel successful. This kid may never recover. This kid may never live up to the potential of a great career, and life because the time was misspent on a dog.(hypothetical)

For some reason, people also think it's really easy to have your dog PTS. Yes, it's physically easy, put the dog in the car, drive to vet, give vet $$, sign some papers. done. The emotional cost is very high. Most people in this community live and devote alot of time with their dogs. When things go to the point where PTS is the thing to do, then it's devastating. There is not magic pills that make it easy for people. Those decisions stick with you forever. The only salve is knowledge that you probally saved someone else the trauma of a serious bite.

I'm not sure how I can get these important issues in front of the people who need to discuss them. I think it's really important for people to be able to honestly self evaluate, and make the right decisions. Not a decision that is made lightly or friviously, but with compassion.