The dog is old and crochety. When the toddler started crawling he started touching the dog's nose, ears, paws, etc., and the dog started growling. Barked very aggressively toward the toddler once and after that we separated them.We didnt want to take a chance. |
I'm the PP you quoted and, unfortunately, unless we see a real turn around with his behavior with the more intensive training we're doing now (we've been working with him all along but pregnancy pushed up the urgency), we've agreed we're going to rehome him. I never in a million years thought I'd be in this position, I always thought I was solidly in the a dog is a permanent decision, you don't rehome them camp. Now, faced with a dog that has been so resistant to efforts to train or socialize him, I'm finding myself needing to reevaluate all that bravado I had before we adopted him. He was so shellshocked when we adopted him that none of his behavior at the shelter or in the first few days after we brought him home prepared us for his real personality. Now we realize he was practically catatonic at the shelter in comparison to his normal, at home behavior. I've volunteered at shelters and worked with rescues in the past and I know that we would need to make that decision BEFORE anything bad happens, no rescue is going to take a dog with a bite incident on their record, even a little dog like ours. He dislikes and distrusts children so intensely and he's only 4 years old so it's not like we'll be able to keep him separate from the child until he's passed away. He'd honestly be so much happier with a quiet adult only home than he would be with a child in the house. I guess, writing this out, I already know what we need to do. We just love him so very much and I'm having a hard time coming to terms with that. |
Go away, nitwit. |
Each dog is different just like people. Some breeds and lines are generally going to be that great family dog and others.... Stray kids came in our yard and I was petrified about what my dog would do. No jumping on them and he just walked along next to them -very gentle. Not even 1 at the time but 85 pounds. Sees little kids on walks and just sits or lays down for petting. |
| But the same guy hops and jumps - also is different with old people . |
Yea, our other dog is like that. He's never lived with children but he LOVES kids. He will lay on his back and let little kids pet him for hours if he could and, thanks to my nephew, he thinks toddlers are the BEST because they're always dropping food on the floor. The other dog though... just the sight of a kid gets him antsy and pulling like mad on his leash in the other direction. Even a child pointing at him and calling out from a stroller freaks him out and sends him into a tizzy and we know based on other situations we've had with him that he very quickly goes from fear to aggression. |
I wouldn't have a hard time coming to terms with it. If you can find him a home he'd be happier and less stressed to be in it would be a good thing. I foster and rescue too. I hate when the rescue people rush to place dogs and then make sure to say this is their 'forever home'. I look at some of the placements and I wish that more time had been taken in matching dog to owner. Adoptions seem very competitive and rushed now. |
Your kindness and compassion is evident from your tone. I hope you don't own animals or have children. |
Does he like kids? |