Question:

> Last weekend a kid knocked at the door and the dog charged the door > breaking through the latch and the child ran screaming with the dog in > pursuit, the child’s parent saw and began screaming too <snip> > Husband can walk dog while roller blading and still control it if it wants > to ‘go after’ another dog.

Any owner that believes they can control a dog, capable of breaking through doors, while roller blading is kidding himself. > My question – what would you all advise the owners of this dog to do about > their problem? – the husbands solution is to lock dog in cellar! That was > not my choice<g> what is your idea on this? > Nancy

As there is no joy in owning a dog that has to be locked in a cellar, why keep it? Rehousing with someone who really has time and behavioral experience would be a better choice. Otherwise, this dog is an accident waiting to happen. Colin.

Response:

>My question – what would you all advise the owners of this dog to do about >their problem? – the husbands solution is to lock dog in cellar! That was >not my choice<g> what is your idea on this? >Nancy

New home. Must have no kids and plenty of experience with training and correcting behavior problems.  Must NEVER allow the dog to be "loose in the yard."  If a new home isn’t found soon, somebody, probably a kid, is going to be bitten or even killed.  The dog probably needs to be re-socalized, too, if possible.  Can you imagine what taking a shy dog to a crowded, noisy airshow full of strangers could DO to the poor thing?!?  That incident alone probably gave the poor thing a complex. Denna Lasik "Hearing only what you want to hear, and knowing only what you’ve heard…" Please remove "NOSPAM" from address before replying. I do not feed or play with trolls; I reserve that honor for those I care about; i.e., my dogs.  For a list of those known trolls that you may wish to avoid, please see: http://www.geocities.com/heartland/plains/4120/oddsnends.html

Response:

This is a multi-part message in MIME format. Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > If they have had this dog for over three years and it is no better > behaved than this, and there is a baby in the house, it is time for > the dog to go.  It is not likely that the dog is going to get any of > the work it will/might take to avert a tragedy.  That the husband’s > solution is to lock the dog in the basement just underlines that. > Sooner of later, I think the kid will be in grave danger.  My two > cents worth. > Waiting anxiously for more responses.  Fascinating. > Robert C.

  Robert, There are a couple of questions to be asked. But based on the facts presented. They are unimportant. I firmly agree with you. It doesn’t look like the owners are going to have the time needed to straighten this dog out. And if they did, it already would of happened. About the child. I wonder how long the dog is going to put up with the mother. Obviously she is not carrying a alpha status. Another point. If the dog wanted to. That boy he chased would of been another headline for the local news.. ‘Dog attacks and kills boy". My position. Get rid of the dog and try to take care of the child better then they did the dog. There you be Dan Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="vcard.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Dan  O’Connor Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="vcard.vcf" begin:          vcard fn:             Dan  O’Connor n:              O’Connor;Dan org:            http://www.bitstorm.net/doconnor adr:            P.O.Box 21;;;Lake Helen;Fl.;32744;USA title:          F.D.L.E. Certified Police K-9 Instructor tel;work:       (904) 228-3647 tel;fax:        (904) 228-3924 x-mozilla-cpt:  ;0 x-mozilla-html: FALSE version:        2.1 end:            vcard

Response:

>My question – what would you all advise the owners of this dog to do about >their problem? – the husbands solution is to lock dog in cellar! That was >not my choice<g> what is your idea on this?

Either euthanize the dog (sorry) or place him in a home where: 1. The new owners have more than just a clue about dog behavior 2. No children reside, visit or adjoin. This situtation has all the earmarks of a tragedy about to occur. Even if the dog miraculously is great with the current child, what happens when others visit the child after school?? Bob Maida Dog Training/Problem Counseling since 1969 Manassas,Va

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I got a phone call this week about a dog that I thought I would share with >you all for comments > the base information is what was provided by the owner >I *know* what I advised the people to do and how I interpreted the >information I was given and I’d like to see other people’s take on the >situation. >Breed – Great Dane black out of Harlequin breeding >weight – aprox 200lbs >age – 3 1/2 years >sex – neutered male >purchased at age 4 months >was kept on cement floor in cellar all the time at ‘breeders’ >breeder probable BYB based on evidence given such as puppy sold out back >door with no view of parents given, dog lacks breed type and structure, no >guarantees, pup unsocialized at purchase time, in addition location of >breeder indicated likely person is one rescue has had to deal with pups >from there before >Dog is described repetitively as ’skittish’ and ‘nervous’ >If walked on pavement dog will have repetitive bowel movements and >eventually diarrhea – owners feel this is related to being raised on cement >- vet can find no problems >Dog will be aggressive with ‘nervous people’ >Owners extensively socialized pup once purchased – spoke of attending a >huge airshow with pup and pup had longer line than the planes <g> >Owners did one basic obedience course at about 6 mo and did not follow >through with training >Both owners can ‘control’ dog if it is on leash >Dog may lunge at strangers especially fearful strangers cited case where >they entered a local garage to speak to friends and dog lunged at garage >manager (no connection owner controlled lunge) >Dog loves to play with kids – one niece is frequently led around by the arm >when dog plays with her – owners discourage that >Dog is becoming more aggressive and owners lock dog in another room when >company comes >Last weekend a kid knocked at the door and the dog charged the door >breaking through the latch and the child ran screaming with the dog in >pursuit, the child’s parent saw and began screaming too >Dog knocked child down and then circled screaming mom when she quieted the >dog went back and sniffed the downed child’s face and returned to the owner >Child was found to have 3 long bruise marks on arm under clothing – no one >knows if they were caused by teeth or dog’s claws >Owner has had some recent success in teaching dog to come when called and >not to ’sneak away when loose in yard’ >Husband can walk dog while roller blading and still control it if it wants >to ‘go after’ another dog. >New 6 mo old baby in house is just starting to chew zwieback crackers and >mother has been able to teach dog to leave the baby’s ‘cookies’ alone when >they drop to the floor with only a couple of repetitions of  training on >the subject >My question – what would you all advise the owners of this dog to do about >their problem? – the husbands solution is to lock dog in cellar! That was >not my choice<g> what is your idea on this? >Nancy

If they have had this dog for over three years and it is no better behaved than this, and there is a baby in the house, it is time for the dog to go.  It is not likely that the dog is going to get any of the work it will/might take to avert a tragedy.  That the husband’s solution is to lock the dog in the basement just underlines that. Sooner of later, I think the kid will be in grave danger.  My two cents worth. Waiting anxiously for more responses.  Fascinating. Robert C.

Response:

I got a phone call this week about a dog that I thought I would share with you all for comments  the base information is what was provided by the owner I *know* what I advised the people to do and how I interpreted the information I was given and I’d like to see other people’s take on the situation. Breed – Great Dane black out of Harlequin breeding weight – aprox 200lbs age – 3 1/2 years sex – neutered male purchased at age 4 months was kept on cement floor in cellar all the time at ‘breeders’ breeder probable BYB based on evidence given such as puppy sold out back door with no view of parents given, dog lacks breed type and structure, no guarantees, pup unsocialized at purchase time, in addition location of breeder indicated likely person is one rescue has had to deal with pups from there before Dog is described repetitively as ’skittish’ and ‘nervous’ If walked on pavement dog will have repetitive bowel movements and eventually diarrhea – owners feel this is related to being raised on cement – vet can find no problems Dog will be aggressive with ‘nervous people’ Owners extensively socialized pup once purchased – spoke of attending a huge airshow with pup and pup had longer line than the planes <g> Owners did one basic obedience course at about 6 mo and did not follow through with training Both owners can ‘control’ dog if it is on leash Dog may lunge at strangers especially fearful strangers cited case where they entered a local garage to speak to friends and dog lunged at garage manager (no connection owner controlled lunge) Dog loves to play with kids – one niece is frequently led around by the arm when dog plays with her – owners discourage that Dog is becoming more aggressive and owners lock dog in another room when company comes Last weekend a kid knocked at the door and the dog charged the door breaking through the latch and the child ran screaming with the dog in pursuit, the child’s parent saw and began screaming too Dog knocked child down and then circled screaming mom when she quieted the dog went back and sniffed the downed child’s face and returned to the owner Child was found to have 3 long bruise marks on arm under clothing – no one knows if they were caused by teeth or dog’s claws Owner has had some recent success in teaching dog to come when called and not to ’sneak away when loose in yard’ Husband can walk dog while roller blading and still control it if it wants to ‘go after’ another dog. New 6 mo old baby in house is just starting to chew zwieback crackers and mother has been able to teach dog to leave the baby’s ‘cookies’ alone when they drop to the floor with only a couple of repetitions of  training on the subject My question – what would you all advise the owners of this dog to do about their problem? – the husbands solution is to lock dog in cellar! That was not my choice<g> what is your idea on this? Nancy

Response:

<snip of very sad Dane story> >My question – what would you all advise the owners of this dog to do about >their problem? – the husbands solution is to lock dog in cellar! That was >not my choice<g> what is your idea on this? >Nancy

Dog needs new home…ASAP.  Preferably a very good rescue home that currently has no dogs/kids, so that full attention can be given to rehabbing the Dane. Experience in dealing with abused/fearful dogs a *must* as well as a behavioral background so that "attitude" can quickly be assesed. Having a professional trainer/behaviorist in the family, or easily accessible would be a very good idea. Patience of a saint may be required, as well as a strictly "positive/reward" training method to start. Physical strength may be a good idea as well. Just MHO, Cat in Alaska (come close at all?)

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