Correcting your dog?Do you use force??

[mccoy]

I have a 5 y/o rottie who by all
accounts should be in the prime
of his life..but thanks to a A$$
my dog is about to cross over to
the bridge...

You see his previous owner thought
it made him look like a BIG MAN..
Whipping the crap out of a big dog!
Well, thanks to him the dog now is
afraid of men and WILL NOT BACKDOWN
I have tried and done everything I
know to do...Doesn't matter the first
time my husband has to correct him
he's ready to FIGHT!

I would like to have my ex's cousin
come over now before he crosses over
and show me what a BIG MAN he is...
then I think I would feel better...
The life that dog had would somehow
seem justified. Cruel as it may sound
that is the way I feel. Right now and
for the rest of the night I am going
to have to lay here looking at this
poor dog wishing things were different
or having to explain to my kids were
their Ozzie's at..

You see for a month I have been
posting trying to find an answer to his
problems when I guess I just needed
to look a little deeper..I thought it
was the kids he didn't like he growled
at my son..Then a week ago he had done
the same thing to my husband...The
incident with my son could have been
avoided if my husband had not come into
the room..It did not dawn on me until
things took a turn for the worse today.

I thought my husband was making alot
of this up because alot of the things
I posted about I was going by his recollection of events. But the damage
is done God knows I would give almost
anything to change it but I can't..So
crying has not worked, training hasn't,
being good to him hasn't because the
only thing that can help him is crossing
the bridge were he can start a new life
being able to trust...Men.

So please remember if you have to use
force don't...it doesn't make you look
big...Man or Woman...I just feel like
we all should think about this before
we do it, I am not judging anyone I'm
just wanting people to think.

[RottiMomCT]

Originally posted by mccoy
So please remember if you have to use
force don't...it doesn't make you look
big...Man or Woman...I just feel like
we all should think about this before
we do it, I am not judging anyone I'm
just wanting people to think.

I think it depends on the TYPE of force you are talking about. Would I ever strike my dog...HELL NO , do I know people who are amazed that I can give an 85lb dog a leash correction and he'll obey me, hell YES .

If he's gonna lunge at a person who is going past us at a high rate of speed on rollerblades, you bet your a$$ I'm gonna correct him, and hard! Because he knows damn well he's not to do stuff like that! I have only done this once....the idiot rollerblader came back past us, the dog looked at me like "I better not, Huh?" and he learned his lesson the first time.

Physically striking your dog is a cowardly way to gain control over your dog. It'll obey only because it's afraid of the punishment if he doesn't! That's not how a dog gains confidence in you, and that dog will be a menace to society should it decide one day to defend itself!

I'm sorry your Ozzie can't get past what his previous owners did to him...but he will leave this earth knowing you love him dearly...my thoughts are with you.

[mccoy]

Yes, It is physical violence that I
am talking about. That is something
NO-ONE, man, woman or animal should
have to endure. I think it's just a
waste that a dog that was as loyal,
sweet and starving to please should
have to be euthanized because of a
ignorant person.

I had a very good year with him. He
was loved and seemed like he would do
anything to please until my older son
or my husband tried to correct him. I
just feel like there was something else I could have done?

My little girl's heart will be broken
he always showed her alot of love and
affection, she over heard a conversation
I was having with one of the boys about
him and her answer was he could live in her room and she would not let a man
around him.IF only it were that easy.

[moondog]

mccoy, It seems to me that the problems with Ozzie weren't that you could have done more, but rather that there was a history before you that you couldn't UNDO. That's a much more difficult, and frequently impossible, situation. You can only learn the lessons that are presented (it appears you have) and use those towards a better future. :)

[ajaxsdad]

thanks mccoy. that needed to be said.

[ROTTSVILLE]

..............Mccoy how do you know that this problem is as a result of previous ill-treatment. I'm sure you will understand that some dogs, as a result of bad breeding, simply have problems, who-ever the owners are. And in extreme cases no-one can correct the problem. Not all dogs that are ill-treated turn out this way. I have a friend who works for the R.s.p.c.a. and he see's some terrible treatment of animals , especially dogs, and he always says that most of the worst treated dogs still have the most wonderfull nature. Even dogs that have horrific injuries, and still their basic good nature is intact. So this problem may have been inherited..................... Food for thought ?

[ROTTSVILLE]

maccoy, i can understand how upset you must be, but how do you know categorically, that this dogs problems are due to the previous owner?. Often these problems can be caused by bad breeding. A friend of mine, works for the RSPCA and see's all sorts of cruelty to animals, especially dogs, and he is always amazed how good natured dogs are, after they have been through horrific ill treatment and injuries. Their experiences were awful unyet the basic demeanor of these dogs is often unchanged. But often people blame inherited problems on the owners, when a dog ill bred in extreme cases cannot be helped by anyone. Sometime it's as a result of the disgracefull breeder, not neccessarily the previous owner. !! food for thought ?

[Sheenagirl]

Is this the same Ozzie you posted about this morning - he was doing so much better and now this afternoon you are contemplating PTS? You have owned him one year - has his behavior gone steadily downhill over the past year or just recently he has started giving you problems? Instead of PTS - what about trying to find a home with no children and adults that have more experience in training? I hate to see any animal put down without going all out for that animal....:(

[mccoy]

Rottsville...The dog may have some
problems but I can't see it being
bad breeding all of the rest of the
pups from this litter are of great
nature....

As far as his personality he has a
wonderful one except with men...and
I know for a fact it is from his
previous owners abusing him.:( I am
glad alot of rescue are able to over
come this without the problems he has.

Sheenagirl...This is the same dog but
this thread was started 2/2/02 and we
were at our wits-end that was the first
time I had ever seen him act like he
did...I did not have him PTS but I will
tell you even if I did this was getting
to the point of protecting my family.:(

Would you place a dog like that? I could not. It is one thing to be able
to sleep knowing you did the right thing
for an animal but it is another to place
one not knowing if it will bite a child!

I am alot to blame for his problems I
did not have him PTS and as long as he
keeps progessing like he has I will
never again think of doing it. But if he
doesn't I will do what I have to. To be
able to live with myself. I will not
place this dog with anyone knowing his
aggression.:)

I have went to great lengths trying to
help him and now it seems like it is finally helping him. This was not a decision made on a whim, he has had training and will continue it.:)

[k&s]

Mccoy-

You gave this dog a good life while you had him. You tried what you could to make things work. But you must ensure the safety of your family. It is very possible that the damage that has been done just cannot be undone.

I empathize with you and know this must be very difficult. I hope you can receive some comfort from knowing that at least you gave this dog a very good life and you tried to make a go of it for him.

Best wishes.

[Sheenagirl]

I am glad you are continuing Ozzie's training. And yes, I would rehome this dog under the right circumstances, i.e., a home without children or to someone possessing more training skills than myself that could help him further. I don't know this dog but I don't remember you saying he has bitten anyone. I guess I have that never quit attitude. Certainly you should protect your family but this dog doesn't seem like a lost cause from what you have said. I wish Ozzie good luck with his training... :)

[mccoy]

Sheenagirl,

He is by no means a lost cause that is
the reason I continue to work with him.
I appreciate your concern but like you
said you do not know this dog. He has
never bitten anyone but like I said I
am a responsible owner and if training
does not help what do I do just keep
looking for other trainers and hope he
doesn't bite in the meantime?

As far as finding him someone that is
better at working with him, that would
not be hard to do I have never said I
knew what to do in regards to his aggression that is why he is in training
and why I asked the forum for help.

He is doing so much better now, keeping
my fingers crossed though as we have a
long road ahead of us.:) I understand a
person thinking there is hope because I
do also but when I posted this thread I
felt I had no other option. Which was in
his best interests also.