Bitten & Constant Growling - Please Help!

[basenji3]

Many years ago I rescued a chow that was locked in a gargage, never had much attention and was never brushed. His hair was matted to the skin and he had to be shaved completely. His previous owner also had a westie that he was so proud had bitten 6 people. Lets you know what kind of situation he came from. While at the vet for the day to get all of his mistreatment taken care of he became very aggressive. The vet explained dogs that bite to me and said she felt this dog bit to kill. Well that rocked my world as we had never seen anything like that He truly was sweet. We thought he just hated vets. We kept him for years but what the vet said lingered in my head and I was always on gaurd. Not good for either the dog or me. We eventually had to have him euthanized we moved to a new house and he could not handle it as much as we tried nothing worked He walked around growling With what the vet had said it made it impossible to thing of re homing Broke our heart as we felt we had failed him but I finally came to terms it was his first home that ruined a good dog and not us Its a tough decision to make but sometime its the only decision

[sharronhurlbut]

I have to tell you my thinking on putting a dog who is aggressive down.
In my mind this dog is scared, very scared and reacts when it doesn't need to..taking clues from the damage done to it before we get it.
Giving the dog the PEACE of the rainbow bridge can be the kindest thing we can do for these dogs.
Its takes the stress off of all…the humans, the possible target for their aggression, and most of all the dog, who can't control itself and needs to lash out.
Its not a fun thing to do, but in my mind, its the right thing to do.
I do think this is the kindest thing in the long run.

[tanza]

@sharronhurlbut:

I have to tell you my thinking on putting a dog who is aggressive down.
In my mind this dog is scared, very scared and reacts when it doesn't need to..taking clues from the damage done to it before we get it.
Giving the dog the PEACE of the rainbow bridge can be the kindest thing we can do for these dogs.
Its takes the stress off of all…the humans, the possible target for their aggression, and most of all the dog, who can't control itself and needs to lash out.
Its not a fun thing to do, but in my mind, its the right thing to do.
I do think this is the kindest thing in the long run.

As always, Sharron… well said....

[sharronhurlbut]

Pat thank you.
I hate these type of posts.
I want every b' well any dog to be mentally happy and able to bond with any family they have*.
THIS is the ideal, but the reality is that we have some very damaged b's out there.
We need to give them peace.
So, please, don't pass these dogs on, you can be libel , but more over, you can send a damaged dogs into a home where further damage can be done.
Hard decisions.
BUT its the right one for the dog.
IMO.

[direy01]

I'm certainly not going to rehome him. We're bringing him back home tomorrow and like I said in a previous post, I realize I was being naive in thinking he could possibly be rehomed and in major denial of how serious the problem was. This is my baby, foster or not, and we see him being nothing but sweet and loving 99.9% of the time so it's easy to be a little deluded right after something like this happens.

We're meeting with a trainer/behaviorist this week to try to get some answers and help dealing with him. We need to give him a chance because right now we just don't know enough to make a major decision like putting him down. We only have Joey's best interest at heart and we above anyone don't want him to suffer so if it comes to that then it does.

[sharronhurlbut]

I have kept biting b's.
Hubby and I both were nailed.
After a period of time, we learned to read his "signals" and I could tell when he would react.
We loved him dearly.
However, we ended up managing him.
We had folks over the dog was contained, always.
He was always on a leash when out and we made sure No one come over to "pet the puppy" kids were the worst for this.
It was hard, but we made it work.
Just know it can be done…
You have to make the commintment sp to the dog at all times.
Once you decide that, you can make it work.
But you have to protect the dog from "triggers" and the people from harm.
Good luck.
I wish you well.
Please keep us informed and believe we only want the best for you and this b.

[tanza]

There has been many of us on this Forum that that has had to make that really, really hard decision to "let" one go… it is never easy... I have been there... and I know that Robyn (Sherwood Basenjis) with a rescue dog has too ... it is not easy... but in the end.. it was the right thing for everyone, including the dog.... peace comes in many ways...

We do what we can... and if and when the decision comes that the best we can do is send them over the Rainbow Bridge to be free.... there are many, many here that will support your decision and cry the tears with you.. but know that you made the right choice....

Don't worry about denial.. those that have been in this position have been there, done that.... you are not alone.... there are many here that will support you.... if it comes to that choice.....

[sharronhurlbut]

Thanks Pat…well said.

[direy01]

Sharron, I would love to ask you a question about Joey's behavior since you've had similar experiences with Basenjis but it's too in depth to do here. Would it be at all possible to chat with you for a few minutes in the next couple days? I won't take up much of your time but I have this niggling thing that keeps bugging me and think you could offer a good perspective.

And sorry to anyone if I sounded short in my last post. Everyone's been so supportive on here and I really appreciate the input, regardless of your opinions. It's just been an awfully long week and I'm stressed because he comes home tomorrow and I'm pretty clueless as to how all this is going to turn out.

[direy01]

Thanks Pat. Again, I appreciate the support. It means a lot.

[sharronhurlbut]

Ok, I posted to admin to let them give you my info.
BUT if you want to go the BRAT site, and look under Wa state.
That is me!
http://www.basenjirescue.org

[tanza]

Good luck…direy01... certainly you are trying to do the best possible that you can... .... certainly you have support here...

[sharronhurlbut]

I am home today, please phone before 7pm.
We try to keep the evening for family time.

[MaxBooBooBear]

I had a similar situation years ago (but not nearly as bad) with a german shepherd mix. She was about 2 when we adopted her. She was able to bond with me and my boyfriend–but I spent the next 12 years providing special care/management for her. I had a trainer evaluate her early on, and she distinguished between fear based "defensiveness" and "aggression." She said Pepper was being defensive out of fear. I loved that dog with all my heart and provided a good, comfortable, safe home for her until she had to be put to sleep due to kidney failure. I also brought in a basenji puppy (Max) early on, and she was able to live peacefully with him--but it did take special care/management again during the initial stages when we brought him home. She gradually got better as she got older--but also regressed in her very old age to be just very fearful (not defensive).

[direy01]

Good news! I talked with Angie Woods - the Atlanta Dog Whisperer who comes highly recommended by other rescue folks in the area - and we're taking Joey to her place Wed at 10:30 am. She wants him to stay with her for awhile, about a week I think, so we're going to board him one more night so we can just take him there right from the vet clinic. Her regular price is $1,200 but she's giving us a discount rate of $500 given the circumstances with him being a foster, etc. That's awesome!

And I've said it before but I'm just blown away by everyone's support. There are even a couple rescue groups here that are going to try to raise some money to help w/the costs. Absolutely amazing. And Sharron let me call her this morning to pick her brain and was so sweet and helpful. And and and.

I'm so thrilled that we have an actual plan of action now. Thanks so much for your guys' help and input! I'll let you know how it goes.

MaxBooBooBear, I'm sure we're going to have to do exactly what you did with Pepper in terms of taking special care/management for as long as we have him but if that's what it takes then that's what we'll do. Thanks for sharing.

[sharronhurlbut]

Honey, I am so greatful your willing to do all you can to see what you can do to give you dog peace.
I hope you get some answers soon.
Major hugs.

[Duke]

My hat's off to you direy01 - you're truly an amazing person to put yourself into working so hard with Joey. Strong training vibes are headed your way with Joey. Good luck - keep posting.

[basenji3]

good luck, best wishes I so hope this works for all of you. It so tragic that bad things have to happen to good dogs due to the uncaring of some previous
owners Rescue groups and good fosters like you sure change the lifes of so many that would have been lost Keep us all posted we are really rooting for you

[direy01]

Oh, thank you all so much. I know I sound like a pollyanna but I never dreamed I'd receive so much support from complete strangers.

Well we are meeting the foster coordinator at the vet clinic in about an hour to sign the adoption papers. We're even going to get to take him out and play with him a little bit! I'm sure curious to see how he'll behave. Then first thing tomorrow I'll pick him up and take him directly to the behaviorist. A rescue group recommended that I put together a fund raising page for him. We're getting a great discount to have him stay there for a week but truth be told we're kind of struggling right now. I hate to even post this here because everyone already does so much to help in their own communities but I thought I would. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I'd be happy to do an animal painting that you could auction off or sell at an event to help recoup some of the money (although they probably won't sell for much!) I can share my art website if anyone's interested.

Thanks so much everyone.

[sharronhurlbut]

I would like to see your art website.
I think you should post it here if admin thinks its ok and maybe some of your work will sell to help you.
Hugs for doing all you are for this boy.