New dog very aggressive?

lyubov ruf

A week ago, my friend and I found a West Highland Terrier in her apartment complex. Apparently, he was being aggressive and a family had called the pound on him. He was on a leash that was wrapped around a pole. He growled when anyone got too close. I got close enough to sit next to him and hushed him till the pound came.

The next day, I visited him at the pound. He was quite scared and kept scratching at his kennel, recognizing me immediately. He let you pet him and everything!
Fast forward to today, my friend's mother decided to adopt him. Yesterday, my friend gave him a bath and cut his hair, and he behaved well. When we picked him up, he was so happy. We took him to Petsmart, and then ate outside at a restaurant. That's when things got bad.

While we ate, I tied his leash around a chair. He was exploring around and just hanging out with us. When it was time to go, I went to undo his leash, and he bit me! He was very protective and weird about the leash and didn't want anyone to touch it. He became extremely mad, we were lucky to have gotten it untied somehow. After a car ride back to her house, he seemed to have calmed down. We took him in the backyard, where he ran around and let us pet him. He was jumping all over us, just so happy to be free! My friend's sister, who is very good at training dogs, quickly taught him how to sit using treats. Since we planned on taking him to a groomer later, she out the leash back on. Things got weird again. He became very protective again, but this time, it lasted hours. He ended up biting 3 more people. He bites hard, I was even bleeding a bit.

I just don't understand. He was so excited and well-behaved, then he quickly turns. He has a vet appointment tomorrow, but I don't know how we're going to get him in the car. Believe me, we have tried EVERYTHING to distract this dog. Does anyone have advice?

Answer
We don't know why this dog is the way he is. It could have started with a physical problem. Or maybe the dog is just not right in the head, a medical problem, but one that might be impossible or very costly to diagnose. Or, maybe someone tied him up and beat him. We just can't know.

I know a lady who bred a litter of gorgeous pups. Six months later she got one returned for biting. She did everything she could to save that dog, including paying for a very expensive MRI on the dog's head. The MRI showed that the dog was actually missing his frontal lobe on one side of the brain. There was an empty space where it should have been. NO training could fix that. The dog had to be destroyed. The lady then spayed/neutered both the dog's parents.

The rule of thumb is that biters must be destroyed. The problem is what if he bites some kid in the face? Almost nobody could give him a quality life AND assure that he wouldn't bite anyone ever again. Good dogs are destroyed in shelters by the thousands every day in the USA -- most people will advise to destroy any biter and go save one of the good dogs.

The thing is that most dogs have a good deal of what we call bite inhibition. It means you'd have to push them really far to get them to bite. They will TRY not to bite you. But once a dog has bitten multiple times, we know he has no bite inhibition. He will bite anyone any time he is annoyed. That's what you're seeing with this little guy.

It's a tough call. If he were mine I'd try some systematic desensitization on him with a clicker. But it's too much to explain here. And if it didn't show dynamic results fairly quickly, I'd have him euthanized. And I'm a trainer.

If your friend wants to keep him, in spite of knowing that he's a lawsuit waiting for a place to happen, the place to start would be to muzzle him and take him to a vet. The vet can rule out medical causes (but probably can't rule out actual structural problems with the brain for any reasonable price).

The next step would be to find a clicker trainer who is good with aggressive dogs.

But my advice to her seriously would be to take him back to the shelter, get her money back, and tell them what happened. They will destroy the dog. It's a terrible shame, but there is very little chance that he can be rehabbed to be reliable. She can ask for advice over on ClickerSolutions and see what they say, if she likes. That list has a lot of expert trainers on it.

In the meantime your friend's mother should realize that if the dog bites someone, she could be sued, her homeowner's insurance could cancel her, and she could lose everything she owns, including her home. Yes, that happens. So remember that when you read the bleeding heart advice here from inexperienced people.

Oh, to get him in the car, you put a muzzle on him, then crate him, and off you go. Open the crate door and put a leash on him at the vet. Keep the muzzle on him till you get him home.

Bringing a dog from E.U. to U.S.?

***JD***

I have a dog (Dalmatian) and i live in Europe, i am moving to the United States, and i would like to bring my dog. I herd that wether my dog has or doesn't have a disease, it MUST be quarantined for 41 days. If my dog does not respond socially to the examiners, my dog will be put to sleep??

What can i do to prevent quarantine
What vaccines must my dog have
How long before the trip must the vaccines occur

Thanks

Answer
The USA does not have a quarantine on dogs coming in from Europe.

To bring your dog into the USA you must have:

1) if the dog is over 12 weeks it needs proof of a rabies shot.

2) you dog will need an Health Certificate (in English) issued within 10 days of your trip stating the dates, manufacturers, expiration dates of the vaccines your dog has received. It must also state that the dog has been ex mined and found free of disease, internal and external parasites.

3) The airline will require you to have a shipping crate of the proper size.

Upon arrival your dog isn't examined by anyone but you will need to have your paperwork approved by customs. The dog will then be released to you in the same crate that you put it in when you left Europe.

If you are returning to EU with your dog in most cases you will need the same but some countries will require a titer test for rabies and some may still require a quarantine. GB and Sweden are examples of ones that do.

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Bringing a dog from E.U. to U.S.?

***JD***

I have a dog (Dalmatian) and i live in Europe, i am moving to the United States, and i would like to bring my dog. I herd that wether my dog has or doesn't have a disease, it MUST be quarantined for 41 days. If my dog does not respond socially to the examiners, my dog will be put to sleep??

What can i do to prevent quarantine
What vaccines must my dog have
How long before the trip must the vaccines occur

Thanks

Answer
The USA does not have a quarantine on dogs coming in from Europe.

To bring your dog into the USA you must have:

1) if the dog is over 12 weeks it needs proof of a rabies shot.

2) you dog will need an Health Certificate (in English) issued within 10 days of your trip stating the dates, manufacturers, expiration dates of the vaccines your dog has received. It must also state that the dog has been ex mined and found free of disease, internal and external parasites.

3) The airline will require you to have a shipping crate of the proper size.

Upon arrival your dog isn't examined by anyone but you will need to have your paperwork approved by customs. The dog will then be released to you in the same crate that you put it in when you left Europe.

If you are returning to EU with your dog in most cases you will need the same but some countries will require a titer test for rabies and some may still require a quarantine. GB and Sweden are examples of ones that do.

Bringing a dog from HK to America ?

jayanthi s

I am wondering if I should bring my toy poodle to america this winter. Do you think this is ok for him? I mean he never saw snow before and might not be used to the temperatures, should i bring him in the summer instead ?
And how do you book the trip for the dog ? Do you need to bring your own crate ? Is it safe? The chances of him getting lost are low right ?
And how long is the quarantine ?
going to chicago

Answer
Where in the USA are we talking about? If it is any state other than Hawaii, there won't be a quarantine period as long as your dog has an up-to-date rabies shot given more than 30 days before entrance into the country.

I don't think the temperature in the winter should be a problem if you plan on keeping your dog indoors most of the time. And in fact, you may find that he likes snow.

Yes you need to bring your own crate. Ideally you'll bring him in the airplane cabin under the seat in front of you. If he is too big or the airline doesn't allow it, he'll have to travel in the cargo area which may not be a great idea for such a long trip.

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How do you get yellow lab dogs to stop chewing things up?

Chonsie

My yellow lab chews up everything.

Answer
In my experience, this is a phase that must be suffered through. I highly suggest crate training and crating when the dog is not supervised. Liberal use of chew toys should help.

Labs are genetically predisposed to chewing. The same instincts that make Labradors great retrievers also make them want to expend their energy chewing. Chewing is a normal and healthy behavior that should be encouraged and directed in appropriate ways. Not only do chew toys allow labs to use their natural instincts, but chewing helps to exercise their jaws, get rid of excess energy, and can help clean their teeth.

Most dogs love rawhides. Since labs are generally âpower-chewersâ I recommend getting either compressed rawhide or retriever rolls for maximum chewing time. The knotted rawhides and most rawhide shapes just donât last as long at our house.

However, rawhides just donât do well with some dogs and can cause diarrhea, gas, or vomiting. I don't know why, although it could have something to do with the chemicals they use to process the hide â some countries may use formaldehyde or arsenic in the curing process. The recommendation is to only use rawhide that says "made in the USA" because we have stricter processing standards here than they do in other parts of the world. If your dog does well with rawhide thatâs great and there really is no reason to stop giving you dog a supervised rawhide treat. Please make sure to watch your dog when he is chewing on his rawhide as larger pieces can pose a choking hazard if swallowed.

Nylabones may offer a safer option. There are three levels of bone hardness â gumabone is the softest, then regular nylabone, and Galileo bones which are the hardest. A regular nylabone or Galileo would be the best bet for most Labradors. Nylabone also makes edible bones. Depending on how powerful a chewer your dog is, these bones may last quite awhile or only a few minutes. In our house weâve found carrots to last just as long and be much less expensive. (Photo: former L.E.A.R.N. foster dog, Beamish, shows off his Galileo bone (left) and a sterilized beef bone (right).)

Kong toys look like a red or black beehive and can be found at just about any pet store. You can put any type of treats into a Kong - http://www.kongcompany.com/how2use.html has a variety of recipes that you can try, or you can make up your own. To make a Kong last a little longer you can try freezing it. Also, the tighter you pack a Kong, the harder it is to get the food out. I find using both soft and mushy items in a large black Kong works well. We use over ripe banana, left over bread, rice or noodles, and mushy cooked carrots all seem to take a little longer, especially if there is frozen peanut butter or cream cheese over the top and all of the ingredients are packed in tightly.

You can also stuff treats into a sterilized bone. I get mine from Dr. Foster and Smith and none of them have splintered yet, although after 2 years they are getting ragged and need to be thrown out. Not only do the dogs have to work to get the goodies out of the middle (which is a little harder than a Kong because the bones are longer), but some dogs just like to chew on the plain bone. A marrow bone could be another option along these same lines. Get a large, raw soup bone from your butcher or grocery store. Be careful where your dog chews on one of these because they are quite messy and greasy. These are very rich and can make your dogâs stomach a little upset, so give them under supervision and with moderation. These are not to be eaten in one sitting!

You could also try giving your dog meals in a Buster Cube or Molecuball. Both make the dog figure out how to get food out of a hole in the toy. My dogs have been known to spend 30-45 minutes rolling the toys with their noses and batting at it with their paws. My preference is for the Molecuball because it's a little quieter and sturdier, but it's easier to make the treats come out. The Buster Ball is more challenging but pretty loud. I've found that if I put some broken bits of dog biscuit in a Molecuball, then the food doesn't come out as easily. (Photo: Beamish shows off his treat-hunting prowess with a large Moleculeball.)

If you really want to torture, er, challenge, your dog, you can knot the food toys in an old rag before giving it to your dog. Then the dog has to figure out how to get the rag open before getting to the toy and then the food. Make sure to keep an eye on your dog, though, to make sure that she doesn't eat the rag.

Outdoors in warm weather, or in any stain-proof area, you can try giving your dog popsicles. Use any size container and fill it with water thatâs been flavored with low-sodium beef or chicken broth. Most dogs really enjoy chewing on ice and I redirected many inappropriate puppy chew fests by giving my dog a chunk of ice to chew on. In puppies the popsicle not only tastes good and gives the dog something to do, but it can also help to numb the sore gums in a teething pup

Is 10 hours too long? Crate adult dog?

peace

Is 10 hours too long to crate my dog when I go to work? I cannot leave her out unsupervised because she's not 100% house broken yet, and she loves to chew.

I am thinking about having someone over during the day to let her out for a few minutes to run outside. But, I'm worried what could happen if that person didn't come over one day? Would my dog's schedule get messed up?

I'm hoping this crate training phase will not last forever. PS - This dog is 1.5 years old, I had her for 1 year, I'm her fourth owner. I think she has had a rough time, getting passed around - from Illinois USA to Montreal Canada to Ottawa Canada to me (outside Ottawa).
I forgot to mention, I only go to work 3 days a week.
I can't leave her outside because of the wild life here... cayotes, fox, raccoon, fishers, hawks, stray dogs.
Oh, yeah! It's only 10 or 12 celsius during the day outside. To cold.
No I would not like to be in a crate for 10 hours, but she's a dog. Can you offer me useful, insightful advice? Or ya just going to nag?
I am definately not going to teach her that peeing in the house is in anyway a good idea. No towel or pee pads. That'll just confuse her, and that will make it hard for me to bring her anywhere. I like to bring her on holidays and weekend trips. Ocasioanally. I do give her plenty of toys, nylabones and squeeky toys are her favorite :o) I don't think giving her raw hide is a good idea, incase she swallows a big chuck - it upsets her tummy too. She can pretty much chew and destroy a plastic crate liner in one day. She once chewed up my towels, drapes and toilet paper (in the cupboard) in one day. She even jumped up on the counter! She's only 6 inches tall. :O We sometimes call her hoodeenee.

What happens if that person doesn't show up sometimes? Bad snow storm etc. Will it put us back in housetraining?

Answer
Crate training is the easiest way to housetrain dogs, and it also teaches them how to settle down and entertain themselves when you're gone. However, crates won't work if they're used to punish a dog or keep him "out of sight, out of mind." Use the crate only when necessary, give your dog plenty of breaks to stretch his legs and to play and bond with you, and make crate time more pleasant by stocking it with toys.

http://dogtime.com/housetraining-crate-training.html

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How long do dogs have to stay in quarantine for when flying to USA?

dog crates usa image

If we move to Orlando, we will be taking our 3 dogs with us. Does anyone know how much this will cost? And also how long the dogs will have to stay in quarantine for?

Answer
The US does ***NOT*** have a quarantine!!!!
Shipping prices are determined by size of crate PLUS total weight -one dog per crate,of course.
Add in the crate prices,the health certs,taxes ,fees.....
CALL THE AIRLINES for this. All have free 800 numbers,staffed by PROS...it's their job.

Is it safe to take my dogs to Australia from USA?

Clara

I plan on moving to Aussie next year and I need to take my 2 small dogs, they are healthy and are not short nosed, I know that has something to do with the limitations of the dogs riding cargo. I am only allowed to take them in cargo because we are traveling over the oceans.

IS IT SAFE?
SHOULD I NOT DO IT?

I hear about so many deaths amongst pets riding airlines.


IS THERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS I HAVE? What airlines are recommended for pets? Help!

Answer
We brought our Maltese and our cat over from Aussie to the US and it wasn't a problem but we hired a company to handle it for us (crating, documentation, etc). They rode in cargo the whole time in a special pressurized cabin. You'll need to get them vaccinated so go to the Australian Consulate website www.usa.embassy.gov.au and call them to see what you need to do. They will also have to be quarantined for 6 months upon entry into Australia because there is no rabies in Australia.

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How to choose a dog and what it entails?

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PraneethYR

Guys, I am 30+ guy with 2 yrs 7 months old boy. I am averagely sedentary. My son is a very hyper types. Loves to play around the house destroy each and every part of the house if we allow. I would like to ask if it would help to buy a little pet ( dog preferably) that would become a good companion to my son. My Wife hates dogs and says.. I need to take care of it completely. So please kindly share your advice and your experiences. I have the following questions for a starter:

1. How difficult is it to take care of a pet in USA.
2. Which breed would be good for me.
3. How many hours a week we need to spend with the dog ( taking care of it like walking, bathing).
4. How much will be the average cost of a dog.

If I buy one or not, I love dogs.. If I dont buy a dog in my life, then it would be one dream of my life that is not fulfilled.

Answer
SInce you have a younger child that is hyper, I would suggest you refrain from getting a smaller breed (chihuahua, yorkie, etc) these dogs have fragile bone structures and could easily get hurt if a child is accidentally too rough with them.
I would recommend a medium-sized durable breed. (a bigger breed may overpower your small child.)
My entire life we have had a beagle as a pet (multiple beagles at times) and I think they are great! They are smaller than a Bassett hound, which another answer suggested.
Beagles are smart, loyal and make great family pets. And their big eyes and floppy ears can melt anybody's heart. And since they are a hound/sporting breed, they are a very durable dog.
Also, beagle puppies are very playful (which your hyper sound would love!) and with age, they tend become a little more lazy (which means less work for you!)
Also saw that another answer stated the dog would need bathed once a week, this isn't true. Frequent bathing can actually cause problems like dry, irritated skin for your dog. I would suggest a bath once a month or whenever they get too dirty for your liking.
A puppy will need more interaction than an older dog. At least a few hours of playing and exercising. A dog will also need to be walked many times outdoors to use the restroom unless you plan to train them to use newspapers or dogpads. They also need a decently sized crate or place to stay while you are not home. We just lock our dogs in the mud room so they can move around.
The cost of a dog will vary by where you buy it and the breed. I would suggest you check out your local animal shelter. (even the pricier shelters are usually cheaper than buying from a breeder, and you are able to give a dog a home that may not otherwise have the opportunity to have a loving family/home.)
It is not too difficult to take care of a dog. I am in college and have a dog that lives with me at school. You need to be prepared for accidents though. Dogs will make mistakes. (pottying where they shouldnt and sometimes chewing things they shouldn't.) also be prepared to go to vet appointments and the cost of going to the vet.
Also note the fur/hair of the dog you get, it may need trips to a groomer often (example, Yorkie's hair will grow to where you can't even see their eyes, however beagles do not need to have their fur cut or trimmed.)
Overall, a dog is a great pet to have and could become your sons best friend and playmate, but they do require some work (walking, playtime, training/teaching them what they can and can't do). Just make sure you're ready for a pet before you rush into getting one.

Has anyone ever flown with a big dog in the airplane?

Nelly

Hi everyone :) I have question.My boyfriend has to come to the USA from Germany by plane and he has to take his dog/about 100 pounds,7 years old boxer/ with him.Does anyone have an experience traveling with a dog .He is concerned if the dog survive the fly.Thank you.

Answer
The dog must be crated for the flight and travel in a separate compartment.
He will be as warm and comfortable as the passengers.
Do look into quarantine restrictions.
Live animal imports/visits are carefully watched.
Vaccination certificates etc. may be rquired.

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How long do dogs have to stay in quarantine for when flying to USA?

dog crates usa image

If we move to Orlando, we will be taking our 3 dogs with us. Does anyone know how much this will cost? And also how long the dogs will have to stay in quarantine for?

Answer
The US does ***NOT*** have a quarantine!!!!
Shipping prices are determined by size of crate PLUS total weight -one dog per crate,of course.
Add in the crate prices,the health certs,taxes ,fees.....
CALL THE AIRLINES for this. All have free 800 numbers,staffed by PROS...it's their job.

How long is to long for a dog to be in a crate?

Melissa C

We just got a rescue dog with problems potty traning. We have school during the day and need to keep her in her crate so she wont make a mess in the house. How long would it be ok to keep her in the creat for. Do you think it would be better for her if we kept the tv on for her while she is in the crate?

Answer
Hi: Well, it depends on the age of the dog. I undertand you have a life and she needs to go into a crate. Also, the radio or Tv is a good idea for any pet that is alone.

If she is under 4 months old, You will have to give her a potty break ever 2 hours if possible... If not, you can put her in the bathroom with some wee wee paper and a baby gate. At least then she can go on the paper ...

If she is 6-8 months old, she can make it 6 hours or so.... It is hard to know for sure. If there is any way someone can come home at luchtime, to let her out?

Sorry, it is a hard one... You may crate her for more than 6 hours but she may have an accident. You know, she is still a kid.

Best wishes on your new dog.


Marie Of NuVET Plus - Supplements for your dog/ the Best Vitamin in the USA
http://www.apluspetcare.com/untitled4.html

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