What to do with a biting dog???

[kentuck_ike]

I personally would visit my vet and then an hour with a professional trainer that has experience with aggressive dogs. I would listen very close to them and then make my decision. In the end I would more then likely end up putting the dog down, but at least I would feel like I checked out all my options and then made the right(educated) decision.

The difference between this dog and Vicks dogs is that Vicks dog were taught to be aggressive and this dog just is aggressive (almost like an instinct).

These are just my thought and how I would more than likely handle it.

Ike

[Sandmannd]

I think if it had contracted rabies, it would show a lot by now. It's a hard choice and hard for you. I can't tell what you should do, only that I would put it down. My brother had a dalmation that bit a couple of people. One night it bit a cop that reached over a fence (Cops fault, the other cop even said that). My brother loved the dog and didn't want to put it down. Then it attacked his girlfriends 4 year old and she needed stitches. Dog went down the next day. Very hard for my brother, but he had his limit. I wouldn't let it get to where it will bite a child. If a dog is aggresive (and some Palmeranians can be) then you might have to make that hard choice.

I feel for you, it just sucks all around.

[Sandmannd]

I just realized it was you Eric. Really sorry to hear about this. I know you well enough to know you will do what you need to do.

[DT10 Guy]

Thanks Shane, yeah this does suck. We did talk to the vet and he said that extensive training with a specialist may help but there is always the unknown. At this point my wife and I cant risk the "unknown".

Cosmo goes in tomorrow at noon.

DT10

[SP180]

Squirrels are generally not carriers of rabies. The chance of that would be extremely remote. Raccons, fox, bats and bat [PoorWordUsage], skunks are the most common carriers.

[Sandmannd]

I feel for ya Eric. Hard choice, but with a little one coming IMO you are doing the right thing.

[MNUser]

Sad situation. I feel for you. You need to make the best decision for your family.

We got our dog at 10 months and he bit my daughter once. It was within the first 5 days. We had a hard decision to make. Now that he knows that he is NOT the king of the house but a dog that lives at the bottom of the pecking order, life is good for him and us.

We ended up keeping him and working with the dog. His has been GREAT ever since. No more worries. But it is ALWAYS in the back of your mind.

Good luck DT10.

[Heartman]

What needs to be done is part of the responsibility we carry when we become pet owners. Good/bad, happy/sad, whatever it is what it is - anti-social dog behavior can never be good. In fact, biting is the worst of the worst.

It'll hurt like fire to put him down, but it's the only way at this point. Stand tall and move ahead with the confidence you're making the correct decision. It'll never be easy...for anyone.

[Lynch Gun Dogs]

i have worked with several dogs like you are describing. If it were my dog i would use a 12 gauge with a hot dog on the end of the barrel but since he is yours and you may not want to do this then listen carfully. Dogs are not born this way but some (i believe) are more likley to develope this behavior then others. I say this because i know i breed dogs that no matter what you did with them they would not turn out this way but others could. i would bet the dog has just been a pet and has never had any sort of structed obedience training. A happy dog is a dog that is trained. IF he were one of my clients i would start by bringing him in my catch pen with other males on a lead and make him be submissive to them. Let them sniff him and make him lay down. If it were bad i would use a collar to correct anytime he showed any signs of agressive behavior. You need to put his head in a place that he is just part of the pack not contending for anything else. He needs order in his life. I would prefer to use the collar to correct. I do not like to treat agressive dogs with physical agression. The collar works great and a stern voice. I would then teach very strict obedience commands sit, stay come. teach him to leave dummies you throw and pick others, Make him do what you want not what he thinks is next. He needs to be reprogrammed and you are in control not him. I worked with many dogs with behavior problems and after several weeks of this type of training you can see great changes. It will be something you need to do and keep up with for the life of the dog. It will require you to think different and act different with the dog. If you dont think you can change past practices then dont attempt to change, get rid of him.