Please give me advice about our aggressive dog
Discussion
How far has the aggression progressed to ?
Our dog Flash, a Rottweiler, is very tolerant but hates another dog jumping on his head. He just shuts them down and then walks away. He has his faults but un-controlled aggression is not one of them.
My FIL has a rescue From Romania, Pixie, lovely dog, very affectionate but always looks a little bit like she has her spider sense working, Flash adores her.
Another dog, a Malmute Akita cross, Harley, came into the family via the Dogs Trust through my SIL and was very aggressive to Pixie. She was a lovely dog but definitely had some socialising issues and whenever she was around Pixie then Flash would watch, he obviously saw more signs than me. One day when I had all 3 I noticed that Harley was particularly dominating to Pixie and snapped at her, as soon as this happened Flash jumped up, clamped onto her neck and pinned her down. She is a 40kg dog but it was all very controlled. He then did the loudest bark he has ever done and sat next to Pixie.
A few minutes later with them all separated Harley wandered over to Flash and sat next to him. They have been fine ever since and Harley is now around different dogs all day as she lives with a dog sitter/ walker. She is a lovely dog.
Is there a confident dog you can take them on a walk with? I’m not saying pop them in the octagon and let them Duke it out but I’m a firm believer that some dogs just need telling and that dogs are the best way to do this.
It’s worth a try if you can be in control the whole time.
Dave!
Our dog Flash, a Rottweiler, is very tolerant but hates another dog jumping on his head. He just shuts them down and then walks away. He has his faults but un-controlled aggression is not one of them.
My FIL has a rescue From Romania, Pixie, lovely dog, very affectionate but always looks a little bit like she has her spider sense working, Flash adores her.
Another dog, a Malmute Akita cross, Harley, came into the family via the Dogs Trust through my SIL and was very aggressive to Pixie. She was a lovely dog but definitely had some socialising issues and whenever she was around Pixie then Flash would watch, he obviously saw more signs than me. One day when I had all 3 I noticed that Harley was particularly dominating to Pixie and snapped at her, as soon as this happened Flash jumped up, clamped onto her neck and pinned her down. She is a 40kg dog but it was all very controlled. He then did the loudest bark he has ever done and sat next to Pixie.
A few minutes later with them all separated Harley wandered over to Flash and sat next to him. They have been fine ever since and Harley is now around different dogs all day as she lives with a dog sitter/ walker. She is a lovely dog.
Is there a confident dog you can take them on a walk with? I’m not saying pop them in the octagon and let them Duke it out but I’m a firm believer that some dogs just need telling and that dogs are the best way to do this.
It’s worth a try if you can be in control the whole time.
Dave!
Sorry for going a little bit quiet, and thanks everyone for the replies.
We went to see the vet, and after hearing our situation they recommended we have her put to sleep, so with a very heavy heart and a certain number of tears shed, we made an appointment for next week.
But then today there is a glimmer of hope! I will update when I know more but the short version is that a friend of my sister keeps and trains dogs for agility competition and has said she will take her on.
We went to see the vet, and after hearing our situation they recommended we have her put to sleep, so with a very heavy heart and a certain number of tears shed, we made an appointment for next week.
But then today there is a glimmer of hope! I will update when I know more but the short version is that a friend of my sister keeps and trains dogs for agility competition and has said she will take her on.
The Moose said:
May I ask why you considered taking on a dog if you’re struggling to make ends meet?
2 reasons mainly:At the time we took her on, we weren't quite as broke
And because in our naivety, we didn't consider that, on top of the usual expenses of dog care, we would have to pay for ongoing behavioural treatment and kenneling every time we want to be out of the house for more than half a day or have people over.
Lesson as been learnt though, I don't think we will take on another dog for a while. We need to sort out our own lives first.
deadtom said:
Sorry for going a little bit quiet, and thanks everyone for the replies.
We went to see the vet, and after hearing our situation they recommended we have her put to sleep, so with a very heavy heart and a certain number of tears shed, we made an appointment for next week.
But then today there is a glimmer of hope! I will update when I know more but the short version is that a friend of my sister keeps and trains dogs for agility competition and has said she will take her on.
Agility could be very good for her. Also I actually think a dog trainer could be more beneficial to her than a behaviourist. There is a difference. I know an ex police dog handler who is a fantastic trainer and deals with temperamental dogs as well, though he is honest and would tell you straight if he thought he could make a difference or not (as I said some dogs will not respond to anything) We went to see the vet, and after hearing our situation they recommended we have her put to sleep, so with a very heavy heart and a certain number of tears shed, we made an appointment for next week.
But then today there is a glimmer of hope! I will update when I know more but the short version is that a friend of my sister keeps and trains dogs for agility competition and has said she will take her on.
As a vet nurse I have seen otherwise healthy dogs put down due to behaviour and it is awful to see but ultimately when lives are at risk or at the least the risk of severe injury is high (esp children) then there is little alternative.
However I think in your case she could be rehabilitated given the right environment and (sorry for saying this) under someone with experience. I hope it can work but I can also understand why your vets were agreeable to putting her to sleep. It is a hard call.
Good luck.
Well after a long and frank chat about her problems and the sort of place that she would need, the arrangements have been made. Next Friday we take her to her new adoptive home in south Wales 
The couple who are taking her on have numerous other rescue dogs that they have had great success in bringing on from people who, like us, were not able to give them the sort of care that they need.
It's a rural location on the side of a mountain so hopefully she will get all the space and quiet that she needs, but also lots of ways to burn energy and keep her engaged with agility training and suchlike.
It will still be hard to see her go, but a huge relief that we don't have to put her to sleep, and other than being a long way away from us her new home sounds like everything we could have hoped for.
Thank you everyone who has replied with advice and support, it is nice to see that not all of PH is like NP&E.
The couple who are taking her on have numerous other rescue dogs that they have had great success in bringing on from people who, like us, were not able to give them the sort of care that they need.
It's a rural location on the side of a mountain so hopefully she will get all the space and quiet that she needs, but also lots of ways to burn energy and keep her engaged with agility training and suchlike.
It will still be hard to see her go, but a huge relief that we don't have to put her to sleep, and other than being a long way away from us her new home sounds like everything we could have hoped for.
Thank you everyone who has replied with advice and support, it is nice to see that not all of PH is like NP&E.
deadtom said:
Well after a long and frank chat about her problems and the sort of place that she would need, the arrangements have been made. Next Friday we take her to her new adoptive home in south Wales
The couple who are taking her on have numerous other rescue dogs that they have had great success in bringing on from people who, like us, were not able to give them the sort of care that they need.
It's a rural location on the side of a mountain so hopefully she will get all the space and quiet that she needs, but also lots of ways to burn energy and keep her engaged with agility training and suchlike.
It will still be hard to see her go, but a huge relief that we don't have to put her to sleep, and other than being a long way away from us her new home sounds like everything we could have hoped for.
Thank you everyone who has replied with advice and support, it is nice to see that not all of PH is like NP&E.
This is indeed, very very good news. Well done deadtom and best of luck to the mongrel dog.The couple who are taking her on have numerous other rescue dogs that they have had great success in bringing on from people who, like us, were not able to give them the sort of care that they need.
It's a rural location on the side of a mountain so hopefully she will get all the space and quiet that she needs, but also lots of ways to burn energy and keep her engaged with agility training and suchlike.
It will still be hard to see her go, but a huge relief that we don't have to put her to sleep, and other than being a long way away from us her new home sounds like everything we could have hoped for.
Thank you everyone who has replied with advice and support, it is nice to see that not all of PH is like NP&E.
bexVN said:
That does sound really good. So lucky to have found this set up for her.
I am sure they will send you updates initially.
What you will know is that if it does not work out with this new home then you did everything you could to give her a chance, but I think she could do really well.
My thoughts exactly.I am sure they will send you updates initially.
What you will know is that if it does not work out with this new home then you did everything you could to give her a chance, but I think she could do really well.
you have done the very best for that pretty girl
These Romanian dogs are NOT RESCUE DOGS.
It's big business, hundreds come over every month, vaccination records and other documentation is questionable.
The vets carrying out the pre export certification in RO are highly questionable.
Many of these dogs are stolen NOT street dogs.
It is a money making scam and part of bigger OCG, the so called charities rehoming them are nothing but a front.
PLEASE AVOID AT ALL COSTS
It's big business, hundreds come over every month, vaccination records and other documentation is questionable.
The vets carrying out the pre export certification in RO are highly questionable.
Many of these dogs are stolen NOT street dogs.
It is a money making scam and part of bigger OCG, the so called charities rehoming them are nothing but a front.
PLEASE AVOID AT ALL COSTS
loskie said:
These Romanian dogs are NOT RESCUE DOGS.
It's big business, hundreds come over every month, vaccination records and other documentation is questionable.
The vets carrying out the pre export certification in RO are highly questionable.
Many of these dogs are stolen NOT street dogs.
It is a money making scam and part of bigger OCG, the so called charities rehoming them are nothing but a front.
PLEASE AVOID AT ALL COSTS
I happen to personally know one of the ladies who rescues these dogs. She is not stealing dogs nor is she somehow making money. She spends a LOT of her own money to do this (just as well she was rather wealthy) each month. It's big business, hundreds come over every month, vaccination records and other documentation is questionable.
The vets carrying out the pre export certification in RO are highly questionable.
Many of these dogs are stolen NOT street dogs.
It is a money making scam and part of bigger OCG, the so called charities rehoming them are nothing but a front.
PLEASE AVOID AT ALL COSTS
That's not quite true. Dogs Trust do bring over a few van loads of dogs from Eire each week but there are plenty of GB mainland dogs available but not the cute ones folks want.
Again Dogs Trust in bringing these dogs over are in my view carrying out a questionable act.
The biggest hurdle is educating the public about dog ownership.
People have been trying for years to do this but have failed.
With the event of facebook etc and the shallow, materialistic society we live in this is becoming even harder.
As an addition to my earlier post re dogs from Ro. Many of these dogs originate from the Russian states. Are brought into Romania and certified as if originating there. We are sitting on a ticking timebomb, sooner or later there will be a case of rabies brought into this country.
Again Dogs Trust in bringing these dogs over are in my view carrying out a questionable act.
The biggest hurdle is educating the public about dog ownership.
People have been trying for years to do this but have failed.
With the event of facebook etc and the shallow, materialistic society we live in this is becoming even harder.
As an addition to my earlier post re dogs from Ro. Many of these dogs originate from the Russian states. Are brought into Romania and certified as if originating there. We are sitting on a ticking timebomb, sooner or later there will be a case of rabies brought into this country.
loskie said:
These Romanian dogs are NOT RESCUE DOGS.
It's big business, hundreds come over every month, vaccination records and other documentation is questionable.
The vets carrying out the pre export certification in RO are highly questionable.
Many of these dogs are stolen NOT street dogs.
It is a money making scam and part of bigger OCG, the so called charities rehoming them are nothing but a front.
PLEASE AVOID AT ALL COSTS
There might be some bad eggs in there but its extremely unfair to tar everyone with the same brush. Trying to link it all to organised crime is just ridiculous scare mongering.It's big business, hundreds come over every month, vaccination records and other documentation is questionable.
The vets carrying out the pre export certification in RO are highly questionable.
Many of these dogs are stolen NOT street dogs.
It is a money making scam and part of bigger OCG, the so called charities rehoming them are nothing but a front.
PLEASE AVOID AT ALL COSTS
loskie said:
As an addition to my earlier post re dogs from Ro. Many of these dogs originate from the Russian states. Are brought into Romania and certified as if originating there. We are sitting on a ticking timebomb, sooner or later there will be a case of rabies brought into this country.
This one is even more stupid than your last point 
If its all organised crime and they just care about money, why would they need to import dogs from Russia to Romania at huge cost, to then export them onwards?
Romania has a horrible stray dog population, anyone could go out with a van and get as many unwanted dogs as they needed at little/no cost. No stealing, no shady Russian imports involved.
The Mad Monk said:
deadtom said:
Dear PH,
she had a family in Romania before being bought to the UK by a rescue centre who bring in a lot of dogs from Romania.
What on Earth for?she had a family in Romania before being bought to the UK by a rescue centre who bring in a lot of dogs from Romania.
Don't we have enough dogs of our own here in the UK?
Algarve said:
Often, no. Unless you want a staffie cross there's plenty of those. Or the right dog is there but ridiculous terms from the UK shelters mean you can't adopt as you've actually got a job etc.
Sorry, but I have to disagree. I have adopted two staffie crosses in my time (nothing wrong with them at all) but I've also adopted various other types of dogs, and have always been able to do so despite working full time. I've adopted from a number of different rescue centres too. I've generally found that the smaller independent rescues are more flexible than the national ones, who tend to have 'blanket policies'. It does require you to show the rescue that you have thought things through properly (eg considered type and age of dog(s) and have arrangements in place for them to be let out/walked while you're away from the house) but I don't really think that's unreasonable. After all, quite a few dogs end up in rescue in the first place because people haven't considered whether their circumstances are right for a dog.Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff