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Why could this have happened?

Sheila Braund

Well-Known Member
Boxergirl, when I said " I'm bowing down to the master" I don't mean any disrespect... The time you've dedicated, the patients you've had to get to where you are today.... As a dog owner I do know you've didn't do this to received kudos or any recognition.... You did it for the love of your fur baby.
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Oh gosh, Sheila, I never thought you meant it in a bad way. Nobody expects to get a dog like this and I think it's important to share information so that other people don't go around thinking they're alone. I felt alone and I blamed myself. It took me a long time to love him for the dog he is, but when I stopped expecting him to be something he could never be, the depth of the love and commitment was real. Someday when he's gone I'm going to be devastated. And I'm also going to feel a measure of relief, as much as I hate to admit that. I'm also sure there are people thinking that I'm being dramatic or that if they had this dog they'd put him in his place and show him true leadership and the problems would go away. I've heard it before, and that's okay. In this case they'd be wrong, and that's okay too. I made mistakes with him early on that made his anxiety and reactivity worse. I used techniques that were entirely wrong for him. Now I know better. So if by being honest and sharing our journey I can help one person with a dog like Al, I want to do that.
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
The thing that I find frustrating is it is always the cases where it is a pit or bully type dog that get all the media attention. It is a disservice to bully breeds but also dangerous because it makes people mistakenly believe that all the other dogs are completely harmless. Animals are animals and anyone who owns one should know what the warning signs are. Heck even with cats! I mean that's how I ended up with a bloody head by ignoring a cat's warning signs. No animal is harmless and they should all be respected.

Forgot to ask, Nik, how is your head now?
 

Bailey's Mom

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
A Rottweiler I had one time ended coming home with a broke jaw. I didn’t know it at the time but after a visit to the vet, sure enough broke jaw. The only thing holding it together was his back tooth with double roots. The break was straight up the middle between the tooth roots. Only thing I could figure out was he was kicked by a deer, he had cuts on his forelegs. After about 6 weeks you would never know by looking or his actions anything was ever wrong. So within a couple of months after he was completely better he started not minding me and would growl at me when I would try to lead him. I figured he was going through his teenage years as some dogs do, testing the waters. I was willing to work through it. Things changed rapidly with the family though, he growled at my little boy while the dog was eating. All my son did was pat him just above his tail on his back as he was walking by. With the growl came the hair standing up one the neck. Now keep in mind this dog was raised in the house, food taken away during eating and given back to show non threat situation. He adored the kids they were never mean to him. Here’s where hatters May hate, I had the dog put down. I would not consider giving him away with the kowlege I had, and I surly was not keeping him at my house. This was not a dog I bought from some back yard breeder, I paid $1300 and had him flown from California to NC. From a reputable breeder. Bottom line, things happen, in my opinion a responsible dog owner always keeps an eye out for changes in their pets. For what it’s worth, I cried like a child when the dog was put down.

No Hate, just respect. I've faced this choice twice. The first time I condemned myself and spent 30 years dogless because I had failed. The second time was my daughter's Rottweiler, and the pain is tempered by the sad realization that "the next time" someone might die...or someone else's dog might die. I bear the scars both physically and financially for the last two attacks that I couldn't stop. She was dangerous...it was horrible living on high alert. But it was sad when we put her down. With her family she was quirky and loving and playful, but the rest of the world was the enemy; behaviour therapy and training didn't work. She'd go from zero to redline in a nanosecond. A torn rotator cuff and several thousand dollars poorer and wiser. No, no haters here, I'm just sorry that we both have shared this painful experience.
 

Steven C

Well-Known Member
Not sure if you guys watch Hope for Paws Rescue videos but they had a DDB rescue in the CA desert. The dog was emaciated and full of material towels or tshirts in his stomach, the spent upwards of 5k in surgery and getting this dog back into shape. The DDB had a microchip and had his name, came from CA. Everything seemed great and he was adopted out to some guy, which the dog shortly after attacked for no reason. The guy continued to try to figure out what was wrong and attacked again just out of nowhere. They ultimately found the dog had a neurological disorder and was let out in the desert which is barbaric to say the least. The adoptee had to put him to sleep around 4 months after rescuing him and notified Hope for Paws which they advised everyone as people were really rooting for this dog.
 

Sheila Braund

Well-Known Member
Oh gosh, Sheila, I never thought you meant it in a bad way. Nobody expects to get a dog like this and I think it's important to share information so that other people don't go around thinking they're alone. I felt alone and I blamed myself. It took me a long time to love him for the dog he is, but when I stopped expecting him to be something he could never be, the depth of the love and commitment was real. Someday when he's gone I'm going to be devastated. And I'm also going to feel a measure of relief, as much as I hate to admit that. I'm also sure there are people thinking that I'm being dramatic or that if they had this dog they'd put him in his place and show him true leadership and the problems would go away. I've heard it before, and that's okay. In this case they'd be wrong, and that's okay too. I made mistakes with him early on that made his anxiety and reactivity worse. I used techniques that were entirely wrong for him. Now I know better. So if by being honest and sharing our journey I can help one person with a dog like Al, I want to do that.

Yes you're right, at one time I use to be one of those people that thought I could " train" any dog.... Let's just say I have learned a lot since then.... I know I'm grateful for the forum and the awesome people that have gathered here to share....to learn.
Yes these attacks do need to be brought forward... Not as a warning, but more for education. It's just sad that most times there is warning signs that humans don't pick up on. I always tell new dog owners around here the ones that have adopted from rescues from puppy mill that to stop feeling sorry for their new member that dogs live in the now.... Most times that is true....and every once in a while that dog either has way too much baggage from past or perhaps a birth defect.....that takes a very special person / family to reach that dog.... That her/she can learn to trust again.... Sometimes this poor pups need to relearn to trust every day. And for those dogs....well thank goodness we have people like yourself that will take the time to give that dog the 2nd chance at life again...
 

Sheila Braund

Well-Known Member
This is to all us dog owners that have had to make that decision to put our dog down..... Yes it's a very hard decision that never comes easily... All the same it's what had to be done....sometimes that's the only choice a responsible pet owner has.
Owners that dump off their dog to the wild.... Tell themselves that this was better then putting the animal down are cowards in my opinion.
 

Steven C

Well-Known Member
The thing that I find frustrating is it is always the cases where it is a pit or bully type dog that get all the media attention. It is a disservice to bully breeds but also dangerous because it makes people mistakenly believe that all the other dogs are completely harmless. Animals are animals and anyone who owns one should know what the warning signs are. Heck even with cats! I mean that's how I ended up with a bloody head by ignoring a cat's warning signs. No animal is harmless and they should all be respected.

The sad reality is that the bully breeds have made it into households across the world that shouldn't have any breed let alone a strong breed. Ive been to BBQs in the states where they starve the bullys and then turn them against without letting them actually bite each other sickening. Super low end.

That's the reason why the numbers of mauling are much higher for Bullys. So the numbers are not untrue, but there is a reason behind the numbers.

Now the CC is in the same boat and as soon as someone embarks on looking for one and they are all over, you know there is a problem. With DDB you don't have that problem and thankfully Presa Canario is still somewhat tougher to get. CC are available in people own towns if they want, since when could someone purchase an exotic type dog like a CC 1 town over?

The reason DDB is still what I consider safer is because they cost a ton to purchase and then shipping. Although now DDB lifespans are around 4 in England which will is problems on its own.
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
I watch the AKC popularity list every year. You can bet that the higher your breed climbs in the ratings, the more damage will be done to the breed itself. Not by responsible breeders, but by people that don't have a clue. My first breed, boxers, are at 11. That's down one form the last two years. Still not good. Danes and EMs are holding, but still in the top 20. Corsos are on the rise, which I don't think comes as any surprise to anyone here. Popularity isn't always a good thing. I hate seeing one of our breeds showcased in any movies. It just means more people are going to want them and the breed usually suffers.
 

trg

Well-Known Member
This is to all us dog owners that have had to make that decision to put our dog down..... Yes it's a very hard decision that never comes easily... All the same it's what had to be done....sometimes that's the only choice a responsible pet owner has.
Owners that dump off their dog to the wild.... Tell themselves that this was better then putting the animal down are cowards in my opinion.
I agree, I could have sold mine to someone that wanted a mean dog, or someone who may or may not have corrected the problem. I was not willing to chance it, my son was 7 at the time. I have no use for mean dogs, now keep in mind I want a dog to defend me and mine if needed, nothing more. We live in the mountains of Western NC, we have bear, coyotes a few hogs. I also live very rural, no close neighbors. With all this being said, I like bigger dogs for the assurance of having them with the kids in the yard, camping or hiking.
 

trg

Well-Known Member
This is to all us dog owners that have had to make that decision to put our dog down..... Yes it's a very hard decision that never comes easily... All the same it's what had to be done....sometimes that's the only choice a responsible pet owner has.
Owners that dump off their dog to the wild.... Tell themselves that this was better then putting the animal down are cowards in my opinion.
I agree, I could have sold mine to someone that wanted a mean dog, or someone who may or may not have corrected the problem. I was not willing to chance it, my son was 7 at the time. I have no use for mean dogs, now keep in mind I want a dog to defend me and mine if needed, nothing more. We live in the mountains of Western NC, we have bear, coyotes a few hogs. I also live very rural, no close neighbors. With all this being said, I like bigger dogs for the assurance of having them with the kids in the yard, camping or hiking.