ugh ... the sherriff just came by our house

[Tigger&Belle]

I have noticed on this board the general opinion is you can't get rid of a dog ever. It doesn't matter if you are having trouble with your neighbors or spouse or if it bites your children.
It doesn't matter if you are trying to find a good home for it.

But that's not what the OP said, is it. I asked and she hasn't yet answered about why she put the dogs outside when the baby was born. I'm waiting for the answer before I comment on how *I* would hope that she will solve the problem. Could be that the dogs acted aggresive towards the baby, in which case I would give different advice than if I found out she thought that dogs and babies couldn't live together under any circumstances. I do think that training would be the first step, but like I said I don't know the reasons behind her actions.

 

[lynetteSC]

Let's just make the OP feel worse as she struggles with a crappy situation. That will help.

Thanks In a hurry!

Geepers- I had no idea I would start a debate! I guess it is my fault for bringing a "hot" topic to the boards. I was just very upset last nite, and needed to vent!

Ok, I will try to answer all the questions:

We put them outside b/c they each snapped at the baby one too many times! We tried to let them back in and the same thing happened again! Sorry, after waiting 10 yrs to adopt ... silly me, our ds comes 1st!

We even tried to keep them in at night, while baby was sleeping! That didn't work ... they just kept going to the door barking to be let out ...

We have been hunting a place for them for a few months (even before our anonymous letter) hoping to find them a place where they could be happier.
If I didn't care about animals, I would have dumped them out or something else way before now when they 1st snapped at ds!

Training - they have all been through training as a puppy and are pretty well behaved. They have only recently started barking and it is usually when something precipitates it: animal, strange visitor/car, other dogs barking.

I also work from home, so I understand barking can be a huge issue!

both of these dogs are rescues from a pound... so , before ds was our priority they were.

anything else I have missed?!?!?

 

[noseybuddy]

I have noticed on this board the general opinion is you can't get rid of a dog ever. It doesn't matter if you are having trouble with your neighbors or spouse or if it bites your children.
It doesn't matter if you are trying to find a good home for it.

.

I guess the biting comment is referring to my post. If the dog was a nasty mean dog that couldn't be controlled MAYBE i would of felt differently. This dog was none of that. The owners were to lazy to get off their fat butts and reprimand their child for bothering the dog. So, yeah I blame the parents. They were also too lazy to put in some real effort to find a home for the dog. They were looking for a quick way to get the dog out of their hair, and putting it to sleep was their answer. Wrong decision in my opinion. God/ I hope they NEVER consider getting another pet.

No one said the op couldn't get rid of her dog. Most of the poster felt that the situation could be taken care of, without getting rid of the dog. I personally could not get rid of my dogs for that reason. I have to agree that I think that would be a selfish act.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Lynette, thanks for clarifying the situation! I can't say that I'd have a dog around a baby who is snapping. Of course the reasons for the snapping should be taken into consideration (meaning some people let their kids pick on their dog and are then surprised when the animal growls or snaps). Of my 2 dogs, the older more gentle one has snapped, but only when he was being hurt and never in a way that seemed to me like he was trying to bite (more of a back off type thing, not trying to bite). The bigger younger dog has growled a time or 2, but has not snapped and we have always kept a close eye on her when my son was younger (we got her when my son was about 3 1/2yo).

Yes, your son should come first and if you really feel that the dogs can't be trusted with him (and you seem to have thought this through) than I think a new home would be in their best interests.

Good luck with your decision--it's a hard thing to do I'm sure. Please consider rescue groups that will find a home for them and not put them down.

 

[Jennasis]

Okey dokey. So, here is the main question now: Do you want these dogs in your life? If you do, then you need to hire a professional dog trainer now to address both problems (the aggression towards your son and the barking). If you don't have the time/patience/money/willingness etc then I would suggest calling a breed specific rescue or your local no-kill shelter to take these dogs in and place them in a more suitable environment.

Good luck.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Okey dokey. So, here is the main question now: Do you want these dogs in your life? If you do, then you need to hire a professional dog trainer now to address both problems (the aggression towards your son and the barking). If you don't have the time/patience/money/willingness etc then I would suggest calling a breed specific rescue or your local no-kill shelter to take these dogs in and place them in a more suitable environment.

Good luck.

Good advice!

 

[noseybuddy]

Okey dokey. So, here is the main question now: Do you want these dogs in your life? If you do, then you need to hire a professional dog trainer now to address both problems (the aggression towards your son and the barking). If you don't have the time/patience/money/willingness etc then I would suggest calling a breed specific rescue or your local no-kill shelter to take these dogs in and place them in a more suitable environment.

Good luck.

....

 

[Planogirl]

Good luck with the barking problem and thanks for caring about your neighbors enough to deal with this situation. I was once given a sweet Border Collie as a gift (BAD idea) when I lived in a place without a yard. I was extremely busy at the time and the poor dog spent way too much time locked inside alone and started misbehaving. I finally gave him to my aunt who lived on a farm and we were all happier.

If you don't have such a facility available, do consider speaking to one of your local shelters. They will generally try to place dogs in the right environment for their personalities. And again, good luck!

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

Okey dokey. So, here is the main question now: Do you want these dogs in your life? If you do, then you need to hire a professional dog trainer now to address both problems (the aggression towards your son and the barking). If you don't have the time/patience/money/willingness etc then I would suggest calling a breed specific rescue or your local no-kill shelter to take these dogs in and place them in a more suitable environment.

Good luck.

If the dog is being aggressive towards the infant, I think it would be very hard to take the necessary time to have the dog trained professionally. Isn't that a process that takes weeks or months? I don't honestly know since I don't have dogs. Since leaving the dogs outside clearly isn't an option it seems that she may not have a choice but to find them a new home. It could be a challenge, though, since the dogs aren't compatible with small children. I agree that a rescue agency may be the best route to go.

I'm glad the OP cleared this up. It makes a lot more sense in my opinion. I feel that the physical well being of humans always trumps the pets. If the dog tried to bite the baby then the dog needs to be away from the baby. I feel the same way when a family member becomes allergic to the family pet; the pet needs to go. I personally can only approve of getting rid of a family pet when the pet puts the family in danger (by biting or causing allergies) OR when the family finds themselves in a bad financial situation; perhaps they lived in a house, dad lost his job, now they have to move to an apartment where dogs aren't allowed. But adopting a dog and getting rid of it becuase you don't feel like training it is wrong. Obviously, that isn't the case here.

 

[luvwinnie]

I have noticed on this board the general opinion is you can't get rid of a dog ever. It doesn't matter if you are having trouble with your neighbors or spouse or if it bites your children.
It doesn't matter if you are trying to find a good home for it.

Someone posted on here that they were thinking of putting their child in foster care- she was such a problem and they were overwhelmed.
She got much more support and no criticism that I saw.
But heaven forbid someone wants to give away a dog. People go bezerk.

I think the issue is the attitude. I am NOT saying the OP is a horrible person AT ALL...it's just that she does not seem distressed over getting rid of her dogs. I didn't read the post about the child, but if anyone feels they cannot properly care for their child then it's in the child's best interest to live elsewhere. It's in the dogs' best interest to live where they will be loved and given lots of attention.

 

[Planogirl]

Some people aren't demonstrative on a forum so it's hard to judge how the OP feels about this. She may be as upset as can be but maybe isn't willing to carry on to people she doesn't know.

 

[Crankyshank]

Dogs need to be prepared in advance for the arrival of a child. Think of it from their point of view- new smells, loud noises, they lose their place in the pack, less attention being paid to them, etc... They see the child as a threat and are protecting their place and territory.

This is something that can easily be remedied but you need to consult a trainer.

 

[lynetteSC]

Dogs need to be prepared in advance for the arrival of a child. Think of it from their point of view- new smells, loud noises, they lose their place in the pack, less attention being paid to them, etc... They see the child as a threat and are protecting their place and territory.

This is something that can easily be remedied but you need to consult a trainer.

we did prepare as much as possible. we brought home clothes from the hospital,etc. we are very upset at the prospect of giving up our dogs, but we also want them to have a better life if possible! we had a family on a farm that said they would take them, then changed their minds at the last minute (before all this hooplah)!

thanks for more understanding

 

[kristen821]

I love my dogs very much, but if they ever bit one of my kids they would be gone. I wouldn't want to risk my child getting bit. Training may or may not work and with that the owner has to have plenty of time to train too. If they bark enough for neighbors to complain I see no other choice then to give them to a no kill shelter or a very loving family with older kids.

 

[aprilgail2]

my dog is a barker too...I let him out to do his business and then bring him right back in the house. I have called the town on neighbors that leave their dogs outside that bark too...its very annoying..why have a dog if you are going to just leave it outside>

 

[minkydog]

Dogs need to be prepared in advance for the arrival of a child. Think of it from their point of view- new smells, loud noises, they lose their place in the pack, less attention being paid to them, etc... They see the child as a threat and are protecting their place and territory.

I totally agree, but I also want to point out that sometimes the best laid plans go astray. We did the same thing with our 5yo Boston Terrier who, until we brought the baby home, was the best dog in the world. He could not adjust to the baby and took every opportunity to snap at her, tear up her diapers, pee on her clothes, and when that didn't work he took to "messing" in my sewing box. All the attention in the world did not stop him, he was so distressed, and I couldn't trust him with her for 5 seconds. After 6 months of it, I finally threw in the towel. We found him a home with an older, childless couple who owned a funeral parlor. They took him to work with them and he mingled with the crowds & generally brought a lot of pleasure to his new owners and their customers.

Lynette, my heart goes out to you. I know you have come to a difficult decision, but if the dog is not adjusting to the baby(and it is hard for an adult dog to give up his position as #1) then it's time to find him a place where he can be happier. I wish you the best.