I need help and advice regarding one of my dogs. We took her in when she was 10 months old after she had been in an abused situation. She was a rescue dog. She is terrified of belts and any object that seems threatening but she is also very defensive and not trusting. She is also territorial and jealous of everything. We have had her for 4 years and she is one of two welsh corgis. The other we got as a puppy and is as sweet as can be. I get bit all the time by her. Its often just enough to tear a pantleg or bruise and scratch the skin but it hurts and I'm tired of it. It has been going on since we got her. She has more respect for my hubby but even then she still bites him on occassion. He got it two nights in a row when he was trying to come to bed. She has had obedience training, agility training, etc. She is just so independent she refuses to trust and comply with anyone. I asked our vet what she suggests and was hoping for some doggy anti anxiety pills but she thinks I should just have her put to sleep as there are plenty of sweet dogs out there that need love and a home. We have had Zoey so long and she can be really sweet at times that I would feel awful doing that. I am thinking about giving her a portion of my Wellbutrin (I never take it but keep it around in case I decide to quit smoking) and seeing what affect that has on her. I couldn't find any websites about people who have tried giving their dogs that but I did read the drug trials report and dogs were used in the trials. At HIGH doses negative affects were seen (seizures and liver cancer) but humans had the same risks at high doses (greater than 300 mg/day). My pills are 150 mg and if I split it in 3rds or 4ths than it would only be 30-50 mg. I don't know what else to do. I am also bringing back the spray bottle technique. It saved me yesterday (she HATES water). She had already bit me once yesterday in the ankle hard enough to bruise and scratch it and she came at me again. Just as her lips touched my pantleg I nailed her right between the eyes with the spray bottle. She was so surprised she jumped 10 feet back in an instant. She is one reason we don't feel comfortable having children yet, nor having kids around often. We have to be SO cautious when they are around. Ussually she is fine but we always are on edge lest she do something. Anyway any advice would be great, Teresa

I'll never forget an experience we had with Zoey involving a child. We were on a school field trip with a group of folks and one of them had brought her children. We had only had Zoey maybe 6 months and she was probably about a 1 1/2 at the time. One of her children was about 6 or 7 and was having a real crying temper tantrum. Zoey absolutely wanted to EAT that child and was snarling and snapping at it. We litterally had to drag her away.

Four Ideas on advice for crazy Pooch:

#1 NEVER EVER give human medicine to an animal without checking with your vet. They may be "like" the human equivalent BUT probably a very very different dose. Please be careful.

#2 Exercise your pooch more- typically when you gain FULL control in a walk with a leash the "chain of command" switches to the owner & the dog will naturally fall into a more submisive roll. A well exercised dog is always a calmer dog. A min. of 30 mins a day- everyday!!!

#3 The more calm & assertive you are with commands the better the pooch will be in her aggression. Try to AVOID the situations that make her lash out. EXAMPLE: If she bites you when you are walking up the stairs- teach her to come away from the stairs & stay first. Than always tell her good girl(once command is mastered) try not to reward with food & than proceed up the stairs. Once up the stairs give the dog a "release command" like OK(say dogs name) & than if done well "good Girl". You than have removed her from the situation.

#4 Work on training even more than before. Only work with her alone - not w/both dogs- give her "special time" with you only. Only train for 10 - 15 mins per day. Never train in the same spot all the time- mix up the locations.

If all else fails try & contact a professional trainer in your area that deals with problem pooches-- I wish you tons of LUCK Teresa- You can do this & can create a great relationship- It will just take a HUGE HUGE HUGE amount of patience & time. Good Luck

One more thing- I just glanced at some of the posts. you say she is a Corgi. right? Well that is a very natural hearding breed. She sound like she really needs to be kept more busy using her natural insticts to guard & direct. Look up on the internet fun things to do with your Corgi to keep her active. Most dogs need a job everyday that they enjoy doing. It makes them feel usefull & removes their excess energy.

Oh Teresa, I"m so sorry. I know how you are feeling. We had to put Tipper to sleep, and we were all crying for a week. I know that this was not a situation that your arrived at easily. Two different trainers we used refused to work with Tipper because he was so visciou. There was just no way that I, as a normal person, could have kept him. I firmly believe that he was half coyotee, and that this cintrubted to his problems. (Mom was a stray)

Christina, those are very wise words, but Teresa did try a professional trainer.

((((((((((((((((((hugs for everybody)))))))))))))))))))

Thanks Vine,

I am just so terribly sad about it and keep sobbing about it. She's not all bad but has her cute sweet happy moments. Hubby is as sensitive and attached to her as I am so I can tell how tomorrow is going to go. We try not to even talk about it together or we both end up crying. She is just so willing to bite at us whenever she wants and that last time was so nasty I can't risk it anymore. Thanks for understanding. We don't have kids, so the dogs have kind of been our kids and she was our first. I feel like we failed her though we always did our best. I emailed a trainer in town who has a huge reputation for working with unmanageable dogs but he never even got back to me. I really just think that the early abuse she suffered as a very young dog forever formed her personality.

With all due respect,, I am not a Vet, but I worked as a vet tech for quite some time and also with a trainer that used to train our sheriffs dpt dogs. I own 2 great danes and work with great dane breeders and show-ers.

The dog needs to be evaluated by a behaviourist (sp). It is never never ok for a dog to bite a person like that. She could very much be an Alpha Bit#h dog, but people are always alpha over the dog.

I know you love the dog, and are terrified of her in ways and she knows it, and uses that to its advantage. You are afraid of what she might do to a kid..

Accidents happen, and it might end up being impossible to keep the dog and 3 yr old apart every second. Dogs are fast little buggers, and sneaky smart.

Imagine how you would feel if that dog gets ahold of the kid and mangles its face for life or kills it... You would hate yourself a whole lot longer than you would by putting it to sleep.

The dog may just not be right in the head also, and so if by putting it to sleep you may be helping it out of its misery... Kind of like when a person has depression, they just dont know why and hate that they cant control their own thoughts. In some way the dog may have the same type of situation that it cant help its behaviour.

But have it evaluated by a specialist, not just a regular obedience trainer, and be ready for the worst which may actually be the best for you and the dog,, by putting it to sleep.

Rehoming it still leaves you with a liability due to serious aggression and biting history already.

PTS is a very peacful thing, I hate it and it is tuff, but you can be there while the dog gets sent to Rainbow Bridge, free from any bothers to be a free pup again....

Please have it evaluated,,,,

Hope this helps some........

Teresa , my next door neighboor has a dog withan attitude too, they have tried everything, i kept telling them theyd better be careful before the dogs bites some one else, well guess waht, this past weekend the dog attacked their neighboor while hwas over for a BBQ, the man was rushed to the ER where he recieved 147 stitches in his leg, needless to say the dog is now quarantineed by law from the hospital,they had toreport it to animal control, they are going tp put the dog down. they do not want it to bite anyone else especially one of their children pr their friends. It is a hard thingto do, i love my dogs but if any of them showed aggressive tendencies towards my kids or friends I would have to make a very hard decision..good luck on your decision

So Sorry Teresa- I didn't read all the post- shame on me- its just that reading things about dogs lately is hard on me. So I simply glanced at them - I didn't know you had tried a trainer & they said it was a lost cause. So I wish you luck & know that if you do have to put your sweetie to sleep that you did ever thing possible to help her. I just know you'll make the right decision.

I quit biting people when I started taking anti depressants too..

hehe, you are funny Leatha...

I'm thinking of you this morning, Teresa. Please post and let us know how it went. I'm sorry you had to make such a tough decision, and if it were me, I probably would choose the same path as you. But I know that doesn't make it any easier. I'm really sorry.

((((((((Hugs))))))))

I wanted to let you know that I have been suffering with a very similar decision with my 10 1/2 year old jack russell mix. long story short... he has been a fear aggression bitter and in the past 3 months it has gotten dangerous. he has been having anxiety attacks daily about everything from rain to loud noises and goes into hiding in the bathroom and I can't go anywhere near him - he shakes and pants. in the past 3 months he has attacked me (broken the skin) 6 times. we have tried clomocalm and a thyroid medicine for 8 week and he has not improved - he attacked me again on sunday. we have also been to 2 vets and a nerologist and over the course of his life 3 trainers/behaviorists. My heart is broken as I know that I have to put him to sleep - our appointment is 2 hours from now. When he his sweet and loving he is the best, smartest boy and I adore him - but I am getting scared of him as he can't control his behavior and seems to be suffering with fear. This dog as been a blessing in my life and I am in total disblief about what needs to be done. I relate to your pain and feel comforted by the fact that somebody else has had to make the same tough decsion. I am also smiling at the thought that my Sammy dog will be playing with a new corgi friend in a peaceful place. my heartfelt sympathy, Robin

Teresa and Robin, you have both made extremely difficult decisions after trying to do everything possible to help your dogs. You're going to have a wretched day today, no doubt about it, but you are doing the best thing for your animals. Sometimes they just can't be fixed, no matter how desperately we try. My heart aches for both of you, and I hope you will find comfort in loved ones -- human and furry. I love Robin's image of your two dogs romping together in a happy canine afterlife, free from fear and anxiety. I know that all of us dog lovers will be thinking of both of you today, wishing you peace.

Gosh Robin,

Your situation sounds a lot like mine. Zoey isn't afraid of weather, storms or fireworks but she just constantly paces around and acts nervous. I don't always know why she bites. Its ussually because I'm approaching an area that she is in whether she is under the bed or in the hallway. She also gets REALLy excited by the hose and I've gotten bit even if I just pass by the hose. It is really frustrating especially when you really love them and have given them a wonderful home. She can be really sweet and loving for brief periods of time and then she gets back into that nervous type mode. Our appt is an hour after yours.

Christina, I didn't take any offense at your comment and know how sensitive you are about the passing of your dog. Its amazing how much the loss of a well-loved pet affects us. We are going to take her out for a long walk and stop for an ice cream cone on the way. I've tried to spoil her and giver her extra attention for the past couple of days.

I'm very lucky we have Baylee our other Corgi to get us thru this. He has the most wonderful personality and has never shown any of Zoey's nervousness about anything. He'll be our saving grace. We are taking a long weekend and taking Baylee down to our Grants Pass property. My best friends are going to meet us down there on Saturday.

That's a tough call, Teresa. I am really sorry you've had to make it. I sincerely didn't mean to make light of your situation with my above comment. I hope you didn't take it that way. Hugs to you on this tough, tough day..

Leatha

Teresa and Robin, I'm sitting here abolutly crying for you both. My DH thinks me very calous for putting down our Tipper, because he was just a little puppy. He was turning into a dangerous animal, and my physical safety was in danger just by having him in the house. When he was a good boy, he too was just the sweetest little dog, but he was unpredictable and waking up with my chin in his jaws with him growling was more than I wanted to risk. Ever.

Christina I'm crying for you too because I'm going to have to put my poor old Astro down soon. I know your heart too is broken, and I wish I could offer something more concrete than electonic words on an electronic page. I know how hard it is to read any post about dogs right now.