Reply to Rehoming a dog that has previously lightly bitten a few people?

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[quote=Anonymous]I’ve been through this situation with my own dog. In our case, the dog is clearly motivated both by fear-based aggression and some resource guarding of the home and family members.

You need to be honest about this dog’s history because you don’t want it to be put in a placement where the behavior could become more dangerous, especially under the stress of rehoming. It’s not fair to the new family, and it sucks when the dog ends up being euthanized without the comfort of its primary people. Unfortunately, every rescue I spoke to over years would not take a dog with a bite history. The trouble is two-fold: It costs thousands of dollars to keep a dog for years on a farm. Also, there are far too many adoptable dogs, and it’s near impossible to place ones with known problems. (House soiling, hyperactivity, and biting are the biggest reasons why rescues get returned). I talked to several rescue farms, and my dog was rejected from all. I also contacted Human Rescue Alliance for referrals, and they very gently told me no such magic farm for dogs with bite histories exists. Even if past bites are mild from a medical perspective, once it’s a pattern of behavior (2+ incidents) rescues worry about the risk of escalation. The only time to get on top of this is when there are signs of aggression/discomfort but no bites or a history of one bite in a circumstance that was clearly provocative.

Your family members’ realistic choices are to work with a behaviorist or pursue euthanasia. Behaviorists can be really helpful in determining triggers and offering avoidance strategies. In some (but not all cases), you can reduce the level of a dog’s reactivity (but rarely eliminate it). It’s a haul, but I highly recommend Nancy Williams of Dogs with Issues. She evaluated Michael Vick’s former fighting dogs. Locally, Brittany Fulton of Dances with Dogs is a great behaviorist. She has led reactive dog classes at Humane Rescue Alliance. I spoke with some veterinary behaviorists, and I wasn’t impressed. Their waiting lists are long, and they are very, very expensive. Better to have a vet experienced in behavioral issues (few are) and a good behaviorist.[/quote]

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