Who Wants A Problem Dog?

[TrishB]

All too often we hear of people with problem dogs wanting to rehome them. Problems range from house breaking to barking, jumping to chewing, resource guarding to fear biter, over reactive to outright aggressive and dog aggression to a dog with a bite history.

So - I put this question to the great Rottweiler owners of this board. It's often suggested that an "experienced owner" may be able to reform the problem dog. When they say that - they're talking about all of you!

So we have a panel of problem adult dogs available to us right now:

a) not house broken
b) constant barker
c) jumps on everyone
d) chewer of everything
e) resource guarder
f) fear biter
g) over reactive
h) outright aggressive
i) dog aggressive
j) bite history

Right here, right now - which dog are you willing to take into your home?

My answer? None of the above. I don't want another dog with issues. I already have a dog, I don't need him learning any issues from the problem dog. If I'm going to take another dog into my home, I want either a puppy from a great breeder or I might consider a rescue with none of the above issues (I'd consider an elderly dog). Even then - I don't need another dog right now.

[Bucky's Mom]

c) jumps on everyone

ALL other things being ok - I would look at this as a lack of training issue and not a basic character fault.

I am sure housebreaking could be in this catagory as well (but I have no patience for that)

Another issue is "adult dog" - 2 years old and jumping or 7 years old and jumping?

The others are issues I am not experienced enough to deal with - perhaps others are.

[Bruce Lanthier]

If I were of the mind to fix a problem dog then I would take a,b,c, or d. To me those problems are not indicative of a broken temperament and can be fixed without exposing anyone to danger. The other faults are either a broken temperament (weaknerved or broken when young) or a dog that has no respect for humans and will bite. I see NO reason to even try and rehabilitate a dog that will bite humans when there are 10 times as many dogs that just want live with humans, not bite them.

[TrishB]

Lisa and Bruce - just being devil's advocate here....

I'm adding:

k) A very nice dog, some obedience training and no known issues

(Don't worry everyone, even if the dog you want is taken, it's the same situation to everyone. So it's okay to take the same dog.)

[Bruce Lanthier]

Well Trish, like I said, "If I were of the mind to fix a problem dog". As a general rule, if I am going to get an older dog then it will be an older dog, a senior. I do not see myself taking on a problem dog just for the heck of it, I would most certainly take "k" if I were getting a 2-4 yr old dog. Why give myself a headache when there are so many dogs that are not headaches available?
I would see myself taking a problem dog for a special favor for a special friend but other than that, probably not.

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by TrishB

I'm adding:

k) A very nice dog, some obedience training and no known issues

Then THAT is not a problem dog is it?

[anna&jacksmom]

I have an A, B, C, D, I and unknown J dog. She was passed off as a K dog.

I adopted a "problem dog" from the Gwynette County animal shelter in GA about a ago. The shelter DID NOT INFORM us that she was extremely anxious, ate cats (they may not have known) and had HEARTWORMS. I will NEVER do this again. This dog had been taken back at least twice (found that out later) and that should have been a CLUE! I felt sorry for the poor deaf dalmation who they said would be PTS if no one saved her. I was the SUCKER who did. I had 7 MISERABLE months with her until we got her medicine sorted out. Even now, Anna the wonderful rottie with enduring patience has a Dalmation velcroed to her at all times. Anna doesn't seem to mind and even has been known to wake up the dal when she leaves the room. HOWEVER if I had known then what I know now I would have gone to a rescue to request a deaf dalmation (that is actually what we were looking for and would adopt again) WITHOUT seperation anxiety...

At the shelter everyone just said what a SWEET dog she was and how it would be such a shame to put her to sleep. SHE probably would have been better off being PTS the minute she arrived instead of being TORTURED for weeks repeatedly by being in a place that made her literally CRAZY.

I have watched this dog go through windows and tear apart heavy duty wire crates. She has broken 3 of four canines and has many scars across her back that we have not idea about. Maybe more windows or maybe she was abused.

Sadie has turned into a fairly happy dog as long as she has medicine to even her out but this is the third one we have tried and if at some point her demons win out over the meds then we are out of options. I had hoped to do some obediance or therapy work with her but she is just learning to walk nicely on a leash. We are no where near public appearances.

I can be 100% certain that no one here wants to trade their well behaved even tempered dog for my broken one. If they did I would turn them down because they were unrealistic and idiotic.

Some of the problems may be minor but if we are talking about multiple problems and personality problems .........NO NO NO NO NO NO NO I do not want someone elses problem dog. They DO NOT make good PROJECTS! They are a heartbreak waiting to happen and anyone trying to pawn them off as anything else is just neglegent and stupid.



ps... I am not atributing sadie's neuroticness to the fact that she is deaf. She actually copes with that really well. I would adopt another deaf dog who has a proper temperment

[HerculesMomma]

When I went to the shelter I was looking for a dog without all of the problems you listed, except your option b or c - those didn't really matter to me. I was not set on any one breed but rather the behavior of the dog itself.

I was realistic with my selections. I work full time and am the only one in the house. I needed a dog who was poddy trained as I wasn't going to be home to train them. I worked to hard to obtain my house and the things in it. I didn't want to have my house chewed up, but knew that it was a crap shoot whether the dog I got would be a chewer or not.

I wouldn't touch a dog with options f through j. I not only don't need the liability I don't have the experience to deal with it.

I did get a little resource guarding for some items and a little marking in the house. Both were easy to deal with, but I attribute it to the easy dog he is rather than my expertise.

I've learned that there are plenty enough dogs out there that don't have serious problems but that are totally adoptable. So I would most likely pass on any dog with options d through j. I'd pick myself up a nice k dog!

[RottieGirl86]

Originally Posted by TrishB

So we have a panel of problem adult dogs available to us right now:

a) not house broken
b) constant barker
c) jumps on everyone
d) chewer of everything
e) resource guarder
f) fear biter
g) over reactive
h) outright aggressive
i) dog aggressive
j) bite history

Right here, right now - which dog are you willing to take into your home?

Max was a back yard dog. Little to no socialization. This had a huge impact on his abilities. This dog was a sweetie when I saw him at the rescue. Played super nicely with my girl.

However, he will never be 'solid' because of the abuse & neglict he suffered. Most his behavior was learned by watching Athena and I interact. Case in point is hugs. He learned this from watching us and now wants a hug.

a) not house broken - yep. He does now cue me when he needs to go out. This was managed by him being tied to me for a period of about a month when first re-homed after I got him from the no kill shelter.

b) constant barker - this can be managed or diverted

c & d - see above

e) resource guarder - Max had this bad. Swapping works, but I had to use really desired items - meats, etc. He now is starting to trust, so it is not critical.

f) fear biter - 1x I imposed my will. ( honeymoon was over) I knew if we started anything, 1 or both of us would be in the hospital. Out think the dog. Use your noodle (brain). Max should and will never be homed with kids.

Max also gives signs when uncomfortable - example: nail clipping, touching paws.

g) over reactive - ambigious term imo.

h) outright aggressive - bad tempermant. PTS. Any dog growls or lunges without a root cause, this cannot be corrected. Rule out illness, then PTS. Bad genes.

i) dog aggressive - um, this would be half the pit bulls in the world. This can be mostly controlled by training.

j) bite history - I would have to know the reason (resource guarding, no training, dog thinks they're alpha, etc.) - why dog bit and how much damage ( simple bit or requires ER/stitches). Place dog with a home w/o kids, imo.
Most bites are owners putting dog out of comfort zone and ignoring queues.

I don't think half these issues are as simple as they are laid out to be in the material provided. Consult a behaviorist aftereards, PTS the dog with extreme issues. Most are easily solved with diligence and training.

I know dogs don't understand english, but I told my boy he ever hurts Athena or myself, he's gone. he's done a 180 in regards to resource guarding now. It's amazing what a well fed dog can do vs. a starved, neglected one.

[TrishB]

Originally Posted by HerculesMomma

I've learned that there are plenty enough dogs out there that don't have serious problems but that are totally adoptable. So I would most likely pass on any dog with options d through j. I'd pick myself up a nice k dog!

This is the reason of my post.

If you're in the market for a rescue - you'd probably want a nice one! They're deserving of being rescued, would be a loving addition to your home and you saved a life! It's a win:win.

The point is, no one wants a problem dog. If you're in the market, you're going to choose a nice one. Since there are no shortages of nice dogs in rescue, there's no reason NOT to pick K. To pick anything else is asking for problems that you don't need nor want.

K deserves to be rescued. Let's face it - dogs are going to be rescued, dogs are going to be put down. Give the nice ones every chance in the world, that also may offer the opportunity to have additional rescues in your home as well. The K's of the world have earned another chance.

If you don't have a K and want to rehome it - think again. Either fix it, deal with it, manage it or know that you can't pawn off your problem onto someone else.

[anna&jacksmom]

Just a warning..... I was refered to the shelter by a "rescue" group in the midst of grief for a dalmation who recently went to the bridge. The dog came highly recommended by the shelter and "rescue" so I was stupid enough not research the rescue and not to take someone to temperment test this dog. I assumed it had been done. They SAID they were a rescue. I found them on the internet. Unfortunatly there are people and even shelters and "rescues" (note the quotes) out there that will try and pass off a A-J dog as a K dog. Maybe they don't do it maliciously they are just trying to save EVERY dog. I thought I was rescuing a good dog the "right" way. That is probably why this situation makes me so mad. I do take responsibility for the decision to take her but I still feel TRICKED. If adopters don't know these people/places exist then they (me) can end up with a much-less-than-K dog.

[rottnpagan]

I was just saying tonight, that I've got two dogs that I'm glad I have, because someone else would've put them to sleep long ago.

Java is 8, and has her issues, mainly in seperation anxiety, she dirties in the house when we leave her, she breaks out of crates.

My male, Titus, is worse. He's so bad, that if he's left alone, will bust through doors and walls to get out. Has ate sofas, flooring etc. Can't be crated safely. The last time I used a crate, I came home to him with his head out the side, almost hung. Not happening again. We hire a babysitter now.

I'm glad that I adopted my dogs. Yes, they give me headaches, and yes, I get very frustrated with them both... but I think they've made me a better rottweiler owner because of it. I'm grateful for them both, and for the love and devotion that they give me.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Bruce Lanthier]

Originally Posted by anna&jacksmom

Just a warning..... I was refered to the shelter by a "rescue" group in the midst of grief for a dalmation who recently went to the bridge. The dog came highly recommended by the shelter and "rescue" so I was stupid enough not research the rescue and not to take someone to temperment test this dog. I assumed it had been done. They SAID they were a rescue. I found them on the internet. Unfortunatly there are people and even shelters and "rescues" (note the quotes) out there that will try and pass off a A-J dog as a K dog. Maybe they don't do it maliciously they are just trying to save EVERY dog. I thought I was rescuing a good dog the "right" way. That is probably why this situation makes me so mad. I do take responsibility for the decision to take her but I still feel TRICKED. If adopters don't know these people/places exist then they (me) can end up with a much-less-than-K dog.

Then I would have taken the dog back to them. Give them their problem back. Maybe if enough people did that instead of trying to "fix" the dog then they would clean up their act.

[Bruce Lanthier]

Originally Posted by rottnpagan

I was just saying tonight, that I've got two dogs that I'm glad I have, because someone else would've put them to sleep long ago.

Java is 8, and has her issues, mainly in seperation anxiety, she dirties in the house when we leave her, she breaks out of crates.

My male, Titus, is worse. He's so bad, that if he's left alone, will bust through doors and walls to get out. Has ate sofas, flooring etc. Can't be crated safely. The last time I used a crate, I came home to him with his head out the side, almost hung. Not happening again. We hire a babysitter now.

I'm glad that I adopted my dogs. Yes, they give me headaches, and yes, I get very frustrated with them both... but I think they've made me a better rottweiler owner because of it. I'm grateful for them both, and for the love and devotion that they give me.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

You would rather have neurotic, unstable dogs than ones that were stable and with the correct temperament?

[anna&jacksmom]

I might have taken the dog back but she would have just been passed on to someone else and tortured while she was waiting to be adopted again. Emotions also got in the way. We figured it was our fault for taking her and now we were stuck. In hindsight we probably should have made the hard choice and had her PTS. We did consult with our vet who talked us into trying medication first. However, now that we put the effort into fixing her (effort that would have been better served training a non-broken dog) it is kind of pointless to have her put down at least while she has a good quality of life. Plus we have grown to love her over the last year and we do get more joy from her than heartache at the moment. We are well aware that she is not perfect and we along with our vet are watching her mental health closely.

If I had it to do over again I would do things MUCH differently. I also won't say that I am glad we took her or that I am better for it. She was rescued at a very emotionaly trying time to fill a huge void left by a great well tempered dog. Nothing about this experience has made me a better dog owner. I hope that knowing how to manage seperation anxiety and which meds do what to my crazy dog will not be in the job description of owning my next dog.