Rehoming an aggressive dog
Discussion
Is it possible? A friend has a jack Russell who is nearly a year old and potentially needs rehoming. It appears to be fear aggression. gets scared by pretty much everything new or old and lunges to attack. Experienced dog owner tried loads of things to solve behaviour.
The charity's have not been able to help.
It is looking ever more likey he will have to be put to sleep. Which is a real shame as he is a very healthy dog otherwise.
Any suggestions?
Dog is in derby area
The charity's have not been able to help.
It is looking ever more likey he will have to be put to sleep. Which is a real shame as he is a very healthy dog otherwise.
Any suggestions?
Dog is in derby area
They could try putting a 'Private Rehomings' thread on here: http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?act=id...
But I'm not going to pretend it will be easy to find a home at the moment
But I'm not going to pretend it will be easy to find a home at the moment
I work in dog rescue.
Rehoming an aggressive dog is doable, but very difficult. The issue is there are far more dogs available than there are suitable homes... so there isn't any real need for someone to take a 'bad' one.
At one year old you should be able to train these issues out of it. It would be a different ballgame if we're talking a 7 year old dog. Too much effort with no likely return on it and I'd probably just suggest putting it down if you didn't want it any more. But that one is basically still a puppy from a training point of view. As well as from the point of view of rehoming (far easier to rehome young than old).
You might be better trying Facebook groups of web forums that are breed specific. There must be various places where Jack Russell owners hang out, that should be your first port of call.
Rehoming an aggressive dog is doable, but very difficult. The issue is there are far more dogs available than there are suitable homes... so there isn't any real need for someone to take a 'bad' one.
At one year old you should be able to train these issues out of it. It would be a different ballgame if we're talking a 7 year old dog. Too much effort with no likely return on it and I'd probably just suggest putting it down if you didn't want it any more. But that one is basically still a puppy from a training point of view. As well as from the point of view of rehoming (far easier to rehome young than old).
You might be better trying Facebook groups of web forums that are breed specific. There must be various places where Jack Russell owners hang out, that should be your first port of call.
KFC has more experience than me in this, so probably a better source of information than me.
My 2p though.....
I train at an IPO club (Schutzhund) and also work as a bite helper (wear a bite sleeve and have various different Security dogs hurl themselves at me). My experience is pretty limited, but do mingle with some very knowledgeable people. The chap that runs the club where I train is a KCAI accredited behaviourist, trainer, got loads of certificates etc etc and also works on behalf of the Police and Courts to assess dogs which have been taken away from their owners as they've been deemed 'dangerous' for whatever reason.
From time to time, he'll do an assessment of a dog with behavioural difficulties at the ground where we train so have seen him in action with dogs which have shown aggression towards humans and/or dogs. I've seen a dog arrive that when on a lead will go ballistic at any human nearby (caused by fear aggression) and within half an hour, the behaviourist has gone from not being able to go near the handler to being able to physically interact with the dog handler (shake hands etc) and then eventually to being able to give the dog treats. This obviously isn't a permanent fix but probably the first few steps of corrective action leading towards a good end result.
I'm not saying all dogs can be fixed, but would probably first want to understand what help the dog and owner have received? I know another behaviourist who to be honest, in my opinion doesn't understand anything about dogs behaviour, doesn't understand the difference between defence drive and prey drive so seems there is quite a difference in the quality of help you can get.
What have they done to try and correct the dogs behaviour?
KFC is right in that it would be hard to rehome a dog known to be aggressive so responsibility stays with the owner to find an appropriate solution to 'fix' the dog
My 2p though.....
I train at an IPO club (Schutzhund) and also work as a bite helper (wear a bite sleeve and have various different Security dogs hurl themselves at me). My experience is pretty limited, but do mingle with some very knowledgeable people. The chap that runs the club where I train is a KCAI accredited behaviourist, trainer, got loads of certificates etc etc and also works on behalf of the Police and Courts to assess dogs which have been taken away from their owners as they've been deemed 'dangerous' for whatever reason.
From time to time, he'll do an assessment of a dog with behavioural difficulties at the ground where we train so have seen him in action with dogs which have shown aggression towards humans and/or dogs. I've seen a dog arrive that when on a lead will go ballistic at any human nearby (caused by fear aggression) and within half an hour, the behaviourist has gone from not being able to go near the handler to being able to physically interact with the dog handler (shake hands etc) and then eventually to being able to give the dog treats. This obviously isn't a permanent fix but probably the first few steps of corrective action leading towards a good end result.
I'm not saying all dogs can be fixed, but would probably first want to understand what help the dog and owner have received? I know another behaviourist who to be honest, in my opinion doesn't understand anything about dogs behaviour, doesn't understand the difference between defence drive and prey drive so seems there is quite a difference in the quality of help you can get.
What have they done to try and correct the dogs behaviour?
KFC is right in that it would be hard to rehome a dog known to be aggressive so responsibility stays with the owner to find an appropriate solution to 'fix' the dog
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