Dog Nearly Bites Friend - Urgent Advice Needed

[Shelby427]

Can I ask why you never did anything about this? Why did you continue to post questions but not take the advice and now you're here? Asking about re-homing? Did you not know the committment you made when you got the dog?

Please, don't take on any more pets until you have learned that it's YOUR job to make him a good family pet. Even if some behavioral problems were genetic, you still did NOTHING about it. So sad.

[Vista]

We are not in the business of rehoming dogs on these forums. We are in the business of education. If the OP would kindly pursue the training/behavior leads he's previously been given, perhaps this dog will find his way into the right hands.

[dipper]

WOW!!! I am ALMOST at a loss for words!

First the OP says something has got to be done and she is thinking about putting her dog down.
Then, she is offered great help and consideration from very well meaning board members and she says " it is something I am considering" and has the nerve to say PM HER if still interested.

The OP is playing a game and her next move will be to ask the wonderful people here that have offered very generous help "how much will you give me for my dog, I'll SELL him to you rather than put him down."
OR
" will you work with him for free?"
Hey, Ckimba, many of us have been around the block a few times!!
You never wanted to spend the money to get help for your dog and then when you are offered help, you want to discuss "details" in a PM.
You must be one of those people who has found that telling stories to people gets you something for nothing---No wha I sayin??
Rehome the dog and get him the help and training he needs.


Rich

[observer]

Rich,

You may have something there. And, since we no longer have PMs on this site, that part of the plan won't work.

Ckimba-
Yes, I know from your prior posts that you are a college student on a limited budget and very little knowledge of Rottweilers or dogs in general, but you have been having various aggression issues with this dog for a LONG time, and have done nothing, really, to get to the bottom of the problem and get Rosco the help he needs. He isn't even neutered, which isn't the whole answer, but having him intact is not helping, for sure. Taking on a Rottie pup at this stage of your life was probably a mistake, but it's done now.

Get Rosco assessed so that he can get what he needs. Get off the phone and into a car to take him to someone that can help you and him. It is your responsibility.
You were offered help from someone VERY knowledgeable (Amanda) months ago and didn't take it. The situation you find yourself in is entirely your fault. So, you need to try to do right by Rosco... call Amanda, again. Take him to SEE her.

[Zumie05]

I would suggest taking the dog to the vet and have some tests done. See if thyroids are normal. Sometimes with abnormal thyroids, medications can help ease anxiety and help ward off aggresssion. By no means would it cure aggression, but possibly make it easier for you to handle and work through.

You did everything correct, meeting on neutral grounds and handing out treats, going on a walk. It just sounds like your dog has had zero socialization

Even in a new area with a new puppy you could have taken him to pet stores at the very least. People at pet stores love dogs! I have had no problem taking my rottweiler to petsmart and petco and getting people to pet him. Out on the streets is a different story, but at pet stores you find dog lovers, which is exactly what this breed needs. They need to learn from a young age to accept friendly people.

Can anything be done now? Yes. Will it be easy? No, because his critical socialization period is over. That is why you need hands on professional help. If you want to help this dog, spend "an arm and a leg" and help him!

[Zumie05]

I had one more thing to add. If your dog is potentially lunging because of fear and anxiety, what helps out tremendously is to simply ignore the dog. When a dog is stressed, the last thing they want is to be acknowledged. Perhaps that is why the walk was okay, but not when your guest tried handing out a treat.

Try muzzling your dog and keeping him on a lead, and just simply have your guest ignore him. No looking, talking, or attempts to hand out treats or anything. This may help the dog feel at ease, as no one is trying to bother him. He may learn on his own time that your guest is nothing to be afraid of.

[alice's mommy]

OP: at this time, I would suggest you do not take this dog to a pet store until you get full control of the situation WITH the help of a professional trainer. What I believe Zumie05 was suggesting was what should have been done when you first got this dog. You are far past this point now in regards to initial socialization.

[Ckimba99]

Yes.

Well, I am awaiting a call back with an approval to come and take my dog to a facility for an assessment.

Deep down, I feel it's still a trainable situation. I'm honestly torn right now, emotionally, and really just don't know where to step first.

Of course it will be the assessment, but afterwards, depending on what he has to say... If he says he has a horrible temperment, and has been breaded wrong, genetically not stable... Then I don't know what other choices I have. The dog will be completely unpredictable, even with intense training and classes.

[alice's mommy]

Ckimba99: are you reading ANYTHING that we have been posting here?! All I keep reading is that you're "waiting on a call" and that you "don't know what to do" and that there's no hope "even with intense training and classes".
Man!!! Why don't you at least TRY some training and classes before you assume the dog is genetically unstable?! It's been said time and time again on this forum that these dogs NEED, as in MUST HAVE, training! Since you did not do this, why write the dog off as "unstable"...when the dog is actually UNTRAINED!

[Zumie05]

Originally Posted by Zumie05

Even in a new area with a new puppy you could have taken him to pet stores at the very least.

That is what I meant Alice's mommy that he COULD have done this.

[Shelby427]

Originally Posted by Ckimba99

Yes.

Well, I am awaiting a call back with an approval to come and take my dog to a facility for an assessment.

Deep down, I feel it's still a trainable situation. I'm honestly torn right now, emotionally, and really just don't know where to step first.

Of course it will be the assessment, but afterwards, depending on what he has to say... If he says he has a horrible temperment, and has been breaded wrong, genetically not stable... Then I don't know what other choices I have. The dog will be completely unpredictable, even with intense training and classes.

Well if you feel deep down that it's a trainable situation, WHY DIDN'T YOU HEED THE ADVICE THAT WAS GIVEN 6 MONTHS AGO!?

[alice's mommy]

Zumie05: I know ya did ;)...but since the OP isn't really listening to what we're saying here, I just wanted to reiterate that at this time it isn't smart to take that dog and that owner to a petstore. I feel we're being ignored.

[Ckimba99]

No, not at all. It's not that I am ignoring everyones advice, I am just absorbing it, and trying to think what I need to do in this present moment.

Right now, I have pretty much one option. I am NOT taking this dog to PetSmart, considering the trainers there are bafoons. So I am waiting to hear back from a local trainer here, with 50 years of experience.

Sure, you guys have told me my mistake, and how I should have acted on this months and months ago. I understand that. But that's the past, and I am dealing with the present. I understand all your frustrations, dissapointments, everything... But again, we can't change the past here.

My friend is staying here for 10 days, while he's here for those 10 days, Rosco will be crated. When I feed him, it's in his crate. When I take him for walks, my friend will be upstairs and away from him.

My ideal situation would be for someone to come in to my home and work with him one on one. Thing is, if only I could find a reputable trainer with experience, to do so. Because none will, at least that I have found, and have confidence in.

I am hoping when I meet with the trainer for the assessment, that he will perhaps set up meetings weekly, just to work with Rosco.

It's a matter of obedience training, and socialization at this point. The behavior has gotten far out of hand, and it has finally been addressed.

Again, I am just waiting for the phone call.

[Zumie05]

Originally Posted by Ckimba99

Right now, I have pretty much one option. I am NOT taking this dog to PetSmart, considering the trainers there are bafoons.

Guess that makes me a bafoon eh? Yeah I am a trainer at petsmart. No, petsmart is not the place to take a dog for the type of training your dog needs. It's a great place for people who just want to do some basic obedience and socialization with their dogs, by no means is it a strict academy or anything.

No one said to take your dog to petsmart for training. Are you sure that you're actually reading what people have wrote?

[alice's mommy]

Why does the trainer have to come to your home? Why can't you GO to a training facility with your dog?! Why does this all have to be worked around you? YOU are the one who created this escalation of problem within your dog, YOU should be the one who sacrifices to correct it! You live in Florida for goodness sakes....there MUST be tons of training facililities you can go to!