Dog Nearly Bites Friend - Urgent Advice Needed

[Obelix]

Seems this is an fine example of dominance which is not recognized and isn't worked on.
The ignorance and /or lazyness of the owner putted this dog in a severe ,dangerous sitution.Especially for the dog.The friend tried to command (is dominate )a dog he never has met before.Clear that the dog did not accept it.I believe this issue can be cured but not by the current owner(and by phone).Work with this boy with a good Rottweiler trainer and you will be amazed what you can achieve.If you continue to ignore good advice the only thing that will be achieved is a (severe bite-incident).In that case I hope the dog will chose the right person and not an innocent by-passer.Sounds blunt or hard,sorry ,that the way it is.Dura lex,sed lex.

[Ckimba99]

See the thing is, is that I need the training for where Rosco is in his own environment. That's where his behavior is the worst.

Not saying he will still show signs at the time of assessment. But, for someone to come here, would be 10x better.

[alice's mommy]

Where Rosco's environment is, is where YOU are. Take you AND the dog to see a trainer at a training facility, until such time as you are able to arrange someone to come to your home. This can not wait! Heck, have him in training somewhere PLUS have someone come to your home.

[jlaack]

You have posted here many times before I can tell that you again are frustrated by our lack of patience for your posts. I am looking forward to the day when I read a post from you that basically reads I have found a trainer, I have had my dog evaluated, the trainer and I have come up with a behavior modification plan that I will be using to deal with my untrained dog and this trainer will be connecting with me once per week at a minimum until he/she feels that my dog is no longer a threat to the public. Once you act on your commitment to your dog I will bet the responses and help will be much more positive than what you are getting now. Those of us who have read and replied to past posts saw the aggression brewing and left unchecked since your first posts about your dog. Your dogs aggression is like an untreated wound. If dealt with in the beginning or prevented through proper rearing to begin with, the fix would have been a bandage, maybe some antiobiotic. Now the problem has grown worse and it is going to take more time, more patience, more money and effort on your part than it would have before. I am sorry for the ridiculous metaphor but I am hoping it gets through to you. Altering your dogs behavior is not going to happen over one or two sessions with a trainer. It will likely take months of sessions if not more than a year. I hope you are realistically able to make this commitment without any excuses for distance, schedule, costs, etc. Please don't kid yourself about how committed you are or aren't to the process and to your dog. If you can forsee money being tight, time not available or other potential excuses that would cause you to not follow through with this process than please do right by your dog. The longer you wait to correct this behavior, to get him into the hands of someone capable of modifying his behavior, or put him down, the worse the behavior will get, the more risk you are taking at the public's safety and the further tarnished the breeds reputation will become.

[observer]

alice's mommy and jlaack are right. No more excuses -- no more waiting for one person to call you back. This is not a situation where you should wait on one trainer to call you back. Call Amanda again, check for other assessment resources... and get this dog seen, ANYWHERE the two of you can get to a competent trainer/behaviorist, as soon as possible -- and act immediately (and continuously, re: training) on their recommendations. This has to be a priority in your life. You owe Rosco that and more.

[Weily4Life]

I feel sad for our beloved breed after reading this post and the other threads by the OP. This dog reminds me of a Rottie my vet told me about awhile back. That Rottie had behavior and dominance issues and the vet would get backed into a corner by this Rottie in the words of the vet "...he wanted a piece of me, and I wouldn't hesitate to put this dog down if asked..." This dog and owner lack proper training and direction.

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by dipper

You failed him, just re-home him and go on.
Just make sure it is with someone that is experienced with Rotts and they are willing to give this boy the chance YOU should have.

Rich

dipper, this is NOT good advice. Better to PTS than to REHOME a dog who's issues should have been dealt with last summer! Passing on a problem dog who's aggressive behavior has been reinforced is a disaster waiting to happen.

This dog is a huge liability now. If you will research Ckimba's posts, you will find that good advice fell on deaf ears. Now the dog will pay, or the breed will pay. This behavior can be fixed, but not with this owner, and again, passing on one's problems is at least, if not more irresponsible than not actually driving to a trainer! Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

People who know how to deal with a dog like this will rarely take one on, as they generally have their hands full.

It's really a crying shame that Ckimba could not get off her butt and actually drive the 30-40 minutes to any one of the trainers she was referred to nearly a year ago!

This kind of nonsense is uncalled for, and now Ckimba is giving herself an "ultimatum". Good luck with that Ckimba.

[Ckimba99]

Yesterday was a very difficult day. I finally had the opportunity to really see my dogs true colors.

See, I guess you could almost say I was in denial. I wasn't willing to accept my dog was an aggressive dog, and that it was a situation that demanded such attention.

I took a lot in yesterday. Just by calling around to different trainers, and different Rottweiler organizations.

I've read all posts. I've accepted and taken in all advice, and all judgements. 90% of them I feel are righteous. But at the same time, there are people who seem to just be caught up in my previous mistakes and actions, rather then really trying to assist me and my pet.

That's ok. I can understand everyones frustration.

Just for an update. Last night, my friend was upstairs, and I had fed Rosco, and taken him out for a walk. When we came back in, I wanted to give Rosco some "free" time downstairs with his leash attatched.

I was very surprised, he wasn't as upset and didn't react as horrible as he did earlier. He made a huge improvement. Although my friend was upstairs, not in the vicinity of my dog, it still was huge that he was able to play with me downstairs, and not go wild. Sure, there was still some eye balling on my dogs part going on, and he was still not sure who my friend was, and what he was doing in my home, but he was more calm, and that gives me great hope.

But really, as well as that went. The big issue here, is just with all people in general, not with my friend.

I've set up an appointment with Bob Gailey on Thursday. I will be taking him out there for him to make the assessment, and meet Rosco. I look forward to it very much. I just hope he doesn't feel my dog is a lost cause at this point.

[Sheenagirl]

I feel so sorry for your dog. You are thinking about putting him to sleep even before you seek professional help.
I think you know "you" are the problem here and your dog is the one that ultimately will suffer for your lack of leadership.
What have you been doing all this time - letting your dog control you and every situation that comes up??
Unless "you" get professional training/help with your dog you have issued him a death sentence.
DO NOT let this happen!

[alice's mommy]

I'm afraid, Ckimba99 that the trainer might not think your DOG is a lost cause, but that you are. I read what you just wrote: "See, I guess you could almost say I was in denial. I wasn't willing to accept my dog was an aggressive dog".
You are in denial. It's YOU that is the problem, not the dog being a bad dog. He is an untrained dog.

Anyways, I'm afraid I'm done here. I feel you just aren't listening. I feel so bad for your dog. So darn bad.

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by Ckimba99

Yesterday was a very difficult day. I finally had the opportunity to really see my dogs true colors.

See, I guess you could almost say I was in denial. I wasn't willing to accept my dog was an aggressive dog, and that it was a situation that demanded such attention.

I took a lot in yesterday. Just by calling around to different trainers, and different Rottweiler organizations.

I've read all posts. I've accepted and taken in all advice, and all judgements. 90% of them I feel are righteous. But at the same time, there are people who seem to just be caught up in my previous mistakes and actions, rather then really trying to assist me and my pet.

That's ok. I can understand everyones frustration.

Just for an update. Last night, my friend was upstairs, and I had fed Rosco, and taken him out for a walk. When we came back in, I wanted to give Rosco some "free" time downstairs with his leash attatched.

I was very surprised, he wasn't as upset and didn't react as horrible as he did earlier. He made a huge improvement. Although my friend was upstairs, not in the vicinity of my dog, it still was huge that he was able to play with me downstairs, and not go wild. Sure, there was still some eye balling on my dogs part going on, and he was still not sure who my friend was, and what he was doing in my home, but he was more calm, and that gives me great hope.

But really, as well as that went. The big issue here, is just with all people in general, not with my friend.

I've set up an appointment with Bob Gailey on Thursday. I will be taking him out there for him to make the assessment, and meet Rosco. I look forward to it very much. I just hope he doesn't feel my dog is a lost cause at this point.

I'm not so sure you really do understand everyone's frustration here. No one is being self righteous. Unfortunately, many of us see this issue day in and day out, and it's not just with rottweilers. Pick a breed, any breed will do.

It's the lack of interest people possess in researching, educating oneself about canine behavior, and apathy towards building a balanced relationship with a dog that chaps my britches. This dog didn't stand a chance of being a well behaved, trustworthy dog in this human world he's in from the time he stepped across your threshold.

Meanwhile, it's the dog who ultimately pays the price. And if the dog doesn't, the rest of us who ARE responsible dog owners will pay the price with BSL, MSN, insurance discrimination, etc..!

You have been given well thought out, educated advice for nearly a YEAR! You made a few phone calls. How'd THAT turn out for you?

Please get real, and get real soon. Either put the time and effort into rehabilitating this animal in earnest, or take him on a one way trip to the vet. It's high time, Ckimba that you walk the walk.

[dipper]

POOHBEARSMOM,

Yes, I did give good advice.
I suggested that this dog be re-homed to an EXPERIENCED person that is familiar with the breed and that this dog be taken out of his current DO NOTHING home were he IS a liability and a danger to the public.
The dog was NOT trained and he did not receive what he needed and it really doesn't look like he will in his current home.
Why not give the dog a chance and see if he is trainable in the right hands??
Why do you want him put down so quickly and not removed from were he is a liability?
I have seen "problem" dogs do very well with the RIGHT person in their lives ---IN FACT, I know of such a dog that became national Rottweiler SchH champion for 3 years.
His owner couldn't handle him or train him either and the right person took him to the top!!!

I am tired of people failing these noble animals and then KILLING them.
It's the people not always the dog.

Just so you are CERTAIN of my thoughts, I WOULD NOT GIVE OR RE-HOME THIS DOG TO ANY ONE THAT WOULD TAKE HIM--ONLY TO THE RIGHT PERSON/PEOPLE.

In your experience with Rottweilers, I would like to know exactly why I gave bad advice---I have seen many dogs "brought back" and have helped a few in my time---what about YOU??

Rich

[moz205]

My first Rottie was aggressive. I couldn't let him around many people. I never trusted him and he would lunge. I had no idea how to properly train a Rottie when I got him. He had a history of biting. Thankfully, I have since learned so much and work my Buddy. That being said, I didn't give up my dog or pts until he was 13. Yes, he was a big liability and we were thrown out of kennels but I kept him and loved him all the same. My job was to protect him and anybody that came to my house or near us. Unfortunately, hubby didn't take the aggression seriously and Rommel bit him badly one day. (He probably had rage looking back on things). But he was my beloved companion. I kept him even after moving, a marriage and then having my son. Of course, if I had been given the great information that I've learned from here, maybe things would've been different for him. He did come to the beach house with us, rides in the car etc but he just wasn't allowed within biting range of anyone. It is a big responsibility having a dog that you cannot trust and a lot of work- training is a picnic compared to dealing with an aggressive dog but it can be done, probably not with present owner.

[Calin]

CKimba wants to pretend like this is 'genetics' and his dog is 'wired wrong' because he doesn't want to admit responsibility for COMPLETELY failing his dog.

Ckimba wants to say the reason he hasn't been to a trainer is because he's a poor college student strapped for cash, but if you take a look at some of his prior threads, he's also posted about how he was looking for a new LUXERY apartment and said 'price wasn't an issue.' The reality of the matter is a super nice apartment was worth the money, but obviously Ckimba didn't think the living creature he had brought into his home was work a couple of hundred bucks.

Ckimba doesn't want advice. Ckimba wants us to accept his excues and tell him that his dog is wired wrong and there is nothing he could have done.

Ckimba should put his dog to sleep and make a vow to NEVER, EVER, EVER attempt to own a dog ever again. Telling him to go to a trainer is a bad idea since it is highly doubtful he would follow through on the training advice even if he did. Telling him to rehome his dog is a bad idea since he obviously had poor judgement and I doubt that he would know an 'experienced owner' if the owner bite him on the butt. Keeping that dog alive is a bad idea since it is highly likely that dog will bite and hurt someone very badly someday. Possibly a child. Do you trust someone like Ckimba to keep that dog away from kids?

Heck, you can't even trust him to make a phone call.

People like this dude are why children get mauled.

Ckimba, as for you, I really hope what you've done to this dog comes back to HAUNT you someday.

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by dipper

I am tired of people failing these noble animals and then KILLING them.
It's the people not always the dog.

Just so you are CERTAIN of my thoughts, I WOULD NOT GIVE OR RE-HOME THIS DOG TO ANY ONE THAT WOULD TAKE HIM--ONLY TO THE RIGHT PERSON/PEOPLE.

In your experience with Rottweilers, I would like to know exactly why I gave bad advice---I have seen many dogs "brought back" and have helped a few in my time---what about YOU??

Rich

The issue of rehoming is that, especially where a behaviour issue has been compounded by the owner, the owner is probably the LAST person on earth who would be in a position to determine who does and who does not qualify as "experienced". An owner who fails to acknowledge the issue until it's a safety issue and only makes calls and has phone consultations does not recognise the seriousness of the behaviour and this is not someone I would want making a judgement call that might put a dog into the wrong hands and lead to another horrifying bite statistic.

The dogs that are "turned around", I would think, are few and far between and so are the people who can turn them around. We aren't talking about a dog who is ruining furniture here, we're talking about a dog who is LUNGING at people.

I couldn't agree more with Pooh...and I hope that the OP takes responsability here ans TAKES ACTION.