This is a really interesting yet simple and to the point average joe could read document on aggression in dogs and reading dog body language for it. It also asks some very hard questions on the euthanization of very aggressive dogs that we all need to make our own mind up on.
http://www.massanimalcoalition.com/resources/resources-for-groups/kelley-bollen-all-about-dogs.pdf
The simple truth is this though: the average pet owner in no way can handle an aggressive type dog that has both learnt and practiced aggressives behaviours and have repeatedly done them. And, what experienced person in their right mind would want a dog like that?
One sad case that I've seen in the last two weeks is a six month old big guardian dog (purebred) come for a day of daycare to give him mum a break to from their newborn baby. Unfortunately, he both had quite severe seperation anxiety, wasn't going to be neutered at the breeder's request, and even from that age, I could see people aggression right down to the genetics. A dog who you brush by them and they get their hackles up and growl. A dog that to bring in for 20 minutes off fought the leash in a twister, biting and shaking it. A dog who if you EVER had to pull away from another dog, even if he didn't start a spat, would turn around and nail you. This from a 6 month old dog... with a baby at home!! The dog is NOT safe with that baby, and that baby when it becomes a toddler, it makes me shudder. This dog, though having a lot of promise under a strong handler (Meshum and myself worked with him in the afternoon after a gong-show with the morning staff) boils right back to genes. I'm sure you could see it at 6 weeks, the same need to fight any pressure they dislike with a mouthing or biting action.
To top it off, his breeder would like to breed him! There is a difference between a guardian breed who will do his job but at the same time be very loyal to his family. We have some very nice guardian breeds at the daycare who do very well, but can be quite protective of their family (genetics again). Now, I'm not going to run out and say euthanize him, but he needs training and fast. He needs a very strong leader, an outlet for his protectiveness, he needs ways to increase his bite threshold (the article nicely explains a bite threshold). I don't see how that's going to be possible with a very young baby and a very young dog with a lot of issues to start with.
I hate to be totally rude about it, but it's a good thing Meshum dealt with his dad and not me, or else I would have had to say he should be returned to the breeder. He is a true danger to their child and if that child was ever hurt from that dog it would kill me if I didn't speak up. But, we're a daycare. We can't just go around saying "Get rid of this dog." (I haven't actually thought that before, though I HAVE wondered why people adopt certain dogs...)
Anyway, I do not think it is fair for either a shelter, rescue or breeder to place a potentially dangerous dog with a family. This particular dog should have been screened very early and put through puppy tests where he probably would have shown this streak even that young. Then he should have been placed with a breed-savvy man or couple without any children that were intense in their training and had very strong personalities to be alpha over the pup from 8 weeks, never giving the opportunity to learn anything but softness towards people.
But what should happen and what does happen are usually two seperate things.
I just hope for that baby, that nothing happens due to that dog.
Fostering dogs in Victoria, BC. Giving them lifeskills, cushy pillows, structure, confidence and copious snuggles. From chihuahuas to Rottis, to huskies and anything in between, amusing stories, mostly useless dog tips, and cute dog pictures abound.
4 comments:
That is a very interesting document on aggression - however it only touched on aggression in rescue dogs, not any other dogs. Obviously, as you mentioned, as well as is mentioned in the document - aggression can arrive from bred dogs too. It has nothing to do with where the dog was born, or how much you paid for it. Many people tell me they want to buy a puppy because they want to start fresh - but as mentioned in the document, the average owner knows next to nothing about making sure aggression behaviours do not arise.
I believe every dog needs to go to some kind of obedience/behaviour class, but not really for the dog - besides socialization - it's really for the person. To learn how to properly interact with their dog and learn how to read their dogs body language and understand them better etc.
Dogs are wonderful, but they are not people, and how can we expect them to understand us if we don't make every attempt to understand them too?
Re: the issue of aggression towards kids.
I think it is great for kids to grow up with dogs.
My first baby picture has a dog sitting in the baby buggy with me.(I was in-dog-trinated at an early age)That way they are hopefully taught to respect, understand and have compassion for dogs as a loved and valued member of the family.
(so many people I meet who did not have dogs as family pets are apathetic/and or fearful of dogs)
Having said that It is so crucial that people with kids who adopt a dog are 100% diligent about teaching (and enforcing) their children gentleness towards dogs.
Dogs have every reason to be fearful and suspicious of children who are clumsy and rough with them.
I all too frequently see situations where the kids are allowed by the parents to grab,drop, poke at ,hit ,fall on; yank around on leashes etc.
When the parents allow this and the dog reacts .....
The poor dog is expendable.
My friends spaniel bit a kid.
The parents wanted her dog euthanized.
They went to court.
It was revealed in court that the child poked a pencil into the spaniels ears!
I totally agree with you Wendy. I think kids and dogs can enjoy each other very much, and many, many dogs who have come into foster here have great personalities and temperments that would make them great for children.
My own two dogs are overly tolerant of just about anything. At the same time you are right: you have to protect the dog from the kids as much as the kids from the dog.
This particular dog is showing signs of genetic-based people aggression, even towards people who have a really good grasp on dog body language and work with dogs as their profession.
Many people think getting a puppy is getting a clean slate, which doesn't take into account anything to do with what the genetics contribute to the scenario. Just like people, there are some of us that are more fight-happy than others, and others we know that wouldn't hurt a fly even if it drove them to utter insanity.
Regardless if you have a rescue dog or a dog you've had from puppyhood, each dog has their own individual bite threshold, based largely upon genetics.
Think of it a little bit of the nature versus nurture debate. You need both a good temperment and good nurturing to be the best that you can be. However, if nature affects about 70% of your action, there is a bias that a genetic base of aggression will always win out over any of 30% of nurturing will put forward.
Not to say you couldn't make this particular dog into a good canine citizen with good manners under a savvy handler, just that no matter how much training you put into him, his genetics still play a large role in how his brain functions.
At the same time, I wouldn't go around blaming genetics for all the problems dogs have, as most of the time handler error or issue has more to do with it than the actual dog.
This is why it's so important for breeders to temperment test their puppies if they are worth their money, and shelters and rescues need to assess the match between a dog and a person or family.
This headstrong, resorts to using his mouth when under minimal pressure type of dog in my opinion has no place near any child. Even if a child were to accidently bump into him he has potential for damage.
Because as much as you monitor, young children who are just learning to crawl do not get 'rules'.
Back to the beginning though. I do think kids and dogs can and do go together well providing the parents make sure to protect kids from the dogs and dogs from the kids. Just make sure it's a dog with a big bite threshold! Which most dogs are thank goodness.
I had a sweet,adorable (inbred) spaniel.
I "rescued" her from a so-called reputable breeder.
("Reputable"breeder is an oxymoron)
She lived her first 8 months in a kennel and I adopted her before the breeder had a chance to de-bark(mutilate) her - like all her other award winning dogs.
She had lots of health problems but turned out to be the sweetest little teddy bear syndrome dog in the world.... boy she hated ( was fear-full of ) kids though........so... I just kept her (and them) 'protected' from each other.
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