|  Author | Topic: Please help us... at wits end. (Read 239 times) |
jen2008
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Karma: 0 |  | Please help us... at wits end.
« Thread Started on Feb 27, 2008, 8:17pm » | |
And hello. 
My husband and I have seven dogs... yes, seven. All but one are rescued mutts, ranging in age from a once abused geriatric old man to a six-ish month old pup.
October 2006 we took in two brothers as babies; their family had an unspayed lab/GSD (great family dog, such a sweetie) and the neighbors dog had literally bent the poles of the metal fence to get at her. Daddy dog is an imported, well-bred pitt... friendly as can be with those he knows.
Anywho, I was a bit nervous but the people had raised the puppies well and were terified they'd be put down. The shepherd marked pup chose me and he is possibly the best dog I have ever owned. Mellow, gentle, and playful as can be.
His brother, though... God help me. He is small animal aggressive (has killed a possum and a feral cat) and since we have indoor cats, he lives outdoors. I spend at least an hour per day out with them and their labrador buddy, tossing a ball, ruffling ears, y'know. The usual.
Well, he is becoming dog aggressive. A week or two ago, he had one of our other dogs down by the throat (poor guy went into shock, luckily Archer did not break skin). He is submissive to humans.
Tonight he went after the old dog, and when I tossed a bucket of water on him, stopped. Usually a firm "Archer!" stops him, but not tonight. As I checked over the old boy, he turned on our lab and grabbed his throat and shook while the lab cried on the ground. Bowie, his mellow brother, is very much Archer's follower and kind of halfheartedly took part. You get the picture.
Well, I am pregnant and just cannot deal with this anymore. I was out front when I heard the commotion of Archer hurting the old dog, and went running back; tried to open the gate and the combination of wrenching our stupidly constructed gate and running on my out of socket hip sent me sprawling in our concrete drive. Ouch. I kind fo caught myself, so baby is fine, just man... not fun.
Right now, I am just DONE with him. He is hurting the others and I will not have it... also, I am having alot of pregnancy related pains and racing out to stop him is putting alot of strain on me. I have never given up a pet in my life, and with his issues I don't think it would be responsible to rehome him; besides, who would want him? DH is very against the idea of putting him down, but I just can't do this anymore; yet, I am the one home so I have to deal with him. Too, Bowie adores his littermate and will be a bit lost without him. What do I do here?
I am also afraid that, though Archer would never hurt a person, he may not see my baby as a person, rather as a small animal, KWIM? I mean, it's small, makes squeaky noises, doesn't talk or walk... I love our dogs to bits, but the idea that he may hurt my baby has me scared. DH does not see that possibility at all, but what do you people think?
For the record, all the others are well-adjusted, happy dogs and get along well. It's just Archer...
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Aussienot
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Karma: 14 | | Re: Please help us... at wits end.
« Reply #1 on Mar 1, 2008, 6:08pm » | |
It is terribly distressing when your own dogs fight. It is possible to have a pack of dog if you can commit the time and energy required. It is also possible to rehabilitate an aggressive dog with enough training. However, with a baby on the way, you need to be realistic about what responsibilities you can take on. So I am not going to give you advice on how to manage the situation.
Unless there is a lot that you have not revealed, it seems like your dogs are mostly responsible for their own behavior and exercise. You expect the pack to just co-exist peacefully. Some types of dogs can self manage in a group and naturally get along. The dogs that were bred to work together and to co-habitate, such as the hunter types, tend to be better at this sort of arrangement. The dogs that were bred for fighting and protection tend not to thrive in this sort of arrangement.
You are spending about an hour a day giving them undivided attention, which is more than many dogs receive. Spread across seven dogs that is about 8 minutes a day per dog.
Each dog should be receiving at least 30 minutes and ideally one hour per day of individual exercise alone with you such as walking, swimming, running or training. Each dog also needs "face time" just being with you for some of each day. Each dog is a big commitment, and with each dog you add the commitment multiplies.
With a baby on the way, I can't see your time commitment increasing, and most likely undivided attention for the dogs will be harder and harder for you to achieve.
Archer needs heaps of training and behavior modification and would most likely need to be the only pet in a new household. He needs to be removed from the situation immediately and rehoming privately or surrendered to a pound or shelter is the best solution.
You are right that his chance of being re-homed is extremely slim. That is sad, but there are 6 other dogs to think about. It would be much sadder if you did not act and one of the other dogs was wounded or killed. There is also your stress and safety to think about.
I am sorry if this sounds harsh and will be hard to accept.
My advice would be to surrender Archer and perhaps two of the other dogs to the nearest shelter. Keeping fewer dogs and giving each of them a better quality of life would be the best possible outcome in my opinion.
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