Rescue for Bad Dog?

[Annarose15]

Now, before anyone starts talking about there being no bad dogs, only bad owners, let me explain my friend's situation.

She found what looks like an Aussie Terrier tied to a tree outside her work five years ago. Since then, he has bitten her to the point of stitches, bitten her daughter, and ruined most of her carpet and furniture with his refusal to go outside to defecate. Her kids are afraid to touch him due to the biting, he hides under the bed and tries to bite when it's time to go outside, and then runs to the living room to pee/poo as soon as her back is turned. She can't leave him outside because he barks incessantly, and he shreds anything he can pull out of the garbage can, off the sofa, etc. As he's gotten older, the food aggression and destructive habits have escalated rather than eased.

Now to my point:

She can no longer subject herself or her kids to this urine-soaked environment or the danger of his temper. She cannot in good conscience adopt him out or give him to animal control/humane society without disclosing his biting. She is trying to find a rescue organization that would be willing to try to rehabilitate him (no idea why he acts this way), in order to avoid euthanasia. Does anyone know of a group in North Georgia that might help?

[Kinra]

I don't know of any rescues, but I can offer some advice. I've never personally dealt with behavior problems this bad, but they can be corrected.

Until your friend can find someone to take the dog I recommend getting a dog crate to keep the dog in while she is out of the house and a steam clean with professional strength cleaning solution. It is extremely important that the smell is removed or the dog will continue to go on the carpets. She might be able to get him to go outside if she crates him and takes him out as soon as she gets home.

To me the dog sounds like it is dealing with some insecurity issues in the only way it knows how. I am not qualified enough to tell you how to correct the his behavior, but I hope you can find a shelter/rescue willing to take in the dog. You might want to look for an animal sanctuary because with the biting and food aggression there are very few rescues that will take him. Most dogs that bite hard enough to draw blood are usually put down by the city if it gets reported.

[Annarose15]

I don't know of any rescues, but I can offer some advice. I've never personally dealt with behavior problems this bad, but they can be corrected.

Until your friend can find someone to take the dog I recommend getting a dog crate to keep the dog in while she is out of the house and a steam clean with professional strength cleaning solution. It is extremely important that the smell is removed or the dog will continue to go on the carpets. She might be able to get him to go outside if she crates him and takes him out as soon as she gets home.

To me the dog sounds like it is dealing with some insecurity issues in the only way it knows how. I am not qualified enough to tell you how to correct the his behavior, but I hope you can find a shelter/rescue willing to take in the dog. You might want to look for an animal sanctuary because with the biting and food aggression there are very few rescues that will take him. Most dogs that bite hard enough to draw blood are usually put down by the city if it gets reported.

She has a crate, but she would have to be able to catch him to put him in it (which means more biting). He used to stay in the crate while she was at work during the day, but now he holes up under the bed (any of the three beds) at night and in the morning when it would be time to put him up. She steam cleans monthly, but there's only so much that can do when he messes at least every few days.

My only disagreement with the insecurity possibility is how much this has escalated since she got him. She does not have mean kids that harass him, he gets along with the cat, and, if anything, she was too forgiving of his actions when he was younger out of concern for whatever he might have gone through in the past.

I'm not disregarding your advice, just frustrated for her.

[Kinra]

Yeah I can see where you are coming from. I wouldn't want to deal with a dog biting me every time I need to crate it. It think my pup has really spoiled me because I forget sometimes how hard a problem dog can be to deal with.

I hope someone can recommend a shelter/rescue/sanctuary that will take him.

[Skittles1101]

Has this dog had any professional training?

[Amon Ra Reptiles]

Well the less and less he's corrected for his bad behavior the more and more be will do it. When he first started the biting is when she should have showed her dominance and let him know that she is the one in charge. But the more and more you just let him bite and let it go, he thinks he's in control.
I personally have only had one dog that had food aggression. He was a pit rescue. I know his aggression was more from never having food so when he got some he wanted to make sure no one els got it. When he growled the first time he was put up and food taken away. After a few times of that he learned it's ok. Also the method of hand feeding. Letting them know YOU give them the food. It's yours first and as the "alpha" of the house your allowing him to eat. It's up to you if he gets fed. He then learns that your not going to take his food your giving up yours to him.
I honestly dont have much advice. I've really never had a problem dog. My sister uses the Cesar Millan books and swears by them. She has two dobies and a mix and her dogs are the most well behaved dogs I've ever seen.

[Annarose15]

Has this dog had any professional training?

Not to our knowledge.

Unfortunately, it isn't limited to food aggression. It's "anything he decides is his or he doesn't want to do" aggression. Usually, I would agree wholely with the comments that allowimg him to act this way has caused the escalation - but how many stitches and vet bills for mandated rabies watch prove you aren't afraid of him?

[bubblz]

You may not want to hear and some people don't like to consider it but some times the best thing to do is to put'em down. Instead of passing the problem on to someone else. I'm sure they're less likely to do so because of the breed but if it was a bully or mastiff breed would they feel the same way? Would they have even given it as many chances? I seriously doubt it.

[lasweetswan]

You should call Dog Town. They are a huge dog sanctuary and take in (I don't know how often) but animals that can't be saved by going anywhere else. They have a tv show. Maybe they could help your friend.

[Skittles1101]

I think especially before putting him to sleep, and even giving him away, then professional training should be set up. I've seen dogs worse off have their bad habits eliminated through professional training. My mom runs a boxer rescue, and any "problematic" dog goes through professional training before being considered for adoption. They've never had to put a dog down due to bad behavior....just a thought.