Posted on 12/04/2013 7:00:11 PM PST by Usagi_yo
He's a male Blue point Doberman, rescued from the animal shelter at a very young adult age. He's actually grown a bit over the 2 years we've had him.
Well he's starting to have some biting problems now after 2 years. He's bitten my sister (the owner) 3 times breaking skin each time, bruising bone and requiring antibiotics. These have happened to her at night when he's sleeping with her and her husband. Seemed it was some type of sleep problem from being woke up from dead of sleep.
Now he's bitten me. I've had direct contact with the dog almost everyday and pet him, give him biscuits, he loves to get facial rubs from me.
After coming in, he had one of those giant burrs from a sweetgum tree in his front paw. I've picked them out of his paws many times, and I know how to pick up a dogs paw. Well this time he latched on to my arm, pretty vicious, drew blood in multiple locations. Deep enough I'll have to go to the Doctor and get x-ray and antibiotics.
If you own a doberman you know they don't growl or warn before biting.
Suggestions? We have 5 dogs between the two of us. We live on about 10 acres in separate dwellings with both houses fenced in for a common dog area. Non of the other dogs are problems, German Shepard, Red Heeler, Basset hound and a hybrid 1/4 wolf 1/4 Malamute the rest Husky. None of them have been a problem or challenge the doberman.
What to do? Is this fixable? My sister doesn't want to put him down. Her husband is pissed. I say have his canines pulled.
I just can't tolerate a dog like this. Not knowing it's going to go off on any slight, perceived or otherwise.
They do the noise and teeth thing pretty well.
Actually they do it to a supreme amount.
They rarely attack unless you trained them to do it.
I trained the Lab to WOOF WOOF WOOF and wheel at them.
I will handle the rest.
Some somebitch shows up here with some sausage and I am toast.
He’ll roll right over LOL
BTW I like the name Odin.
Gnights.
You’ve not truly lived until you’ve had Ibizans.
They straight-arm punch you from behind at 30 mph, right between the shoulder blades.
Just to say “HI!”.
I have no idea how I’ve survived 23 years of these hopelessly happy goofs.
:D
;-{)
Yeah.
Little bit.
;D
Thanks good points. I only advised muzzling because the dog has become aggressive with no clear predictors of when he will bite. I don’t like muzzling either but seemed one way to keep the dog around people for now. I do agree if the dog objects to being muzzled it should not be forced as that can be another stressor leading to more behavior problems.
I think you are on the mark about thyroid especially because of the rather sudden onset of aggression. Even if it does turn out to be a medical problem I think contacting an animal behaviorist would be helpful.
I know what you mean about people being astonished that their dog can listen and do as told. I’m always amazed that people find that unusual.
Djoo ever reach under grab their front legs and ground them like cows?
Goofy reason for naming him that.
In The 13th Warrior, the vikings are yelling “Oooohdinnnn!” into the fog in order to gauge how close they are to shore.
I thought it would be fun to do the same on the frequent foggy mornings we have here in the holler.
So, he got the name.
But we rarely call him Odin.
We call him.....wait for it....~Bubby~.
LOL
Well I’m with you. I know its not much but the “just shoot him” replies have me shaking my head too.
I swear to God that Ruffy and Amos where big shambling galoots. LOL
Most all my dogs have been/are abandoned strays. I live in Thailand, and most of those street dogs, if they haven't developed fear of humans yet, make great pets as well as guard dogs with very little discipline.
Some people might enjoy this photo of the King with his dog, Copper, who was a stray at some location the King was dedicating.
Bubby?
Yer an old softy! LOL!
MY Brother had two strays in India.
I Guarantee they still know him.
Don’t you know that dobermans have da ebils?
< /sarc >
I think you meant me. Yes, my sister owned them. I am familiar with the breed. I also know that dogs just do not suddenly become aggressive without cause. Since there is nothing to indicate any kind of abuse or other obvious causes the sensible thing is to find out if a medical condition could be the cause. There are a number of medical conditions which can lead to aggressive behavior. The dog has been a good family pet for 2 years the owners should not just give up on it.
It *is* a good idea for short, particular sessions, such as vet visits but not general, extended situations like public sessions of socializing.
Heck, I had an Ibizan gal who had MUZZLE written in huge red letters on the charts of every vet she visited.
She just had ‘a thing’ about strangers leaning over her back.
I actually went through this very thing [but not as drastic] with Odin.
At about 1 year, he started growling if I leaned over him which was an issue because his job is to steady me and allow me to grab hold of him to pull myself steady, if necessary.
After the second snarl, we had a vet appt. the same day.
The vet scoffed at the thought of low thyroid in such a young dog but did the test anyway.
It came back VERY LOW.
[much to the vet’s embarrassed surprise]
He had been _born with_ the familial form as his dam had insufficient levels during gestation.
Just 10 days on Soloxine cured it.
I can hang over him, drag myself up by his scruff, stick my hand down his gullet or anything else I feel like doing.
During the interim 3 years, he’s had to have his dosage adjusted several times.
_Every single time_ was ‘announced’ by him displaying aberrant “aggressive” behavior to other dogs or strangers.
The dose would be corrected and he’d be right as rain again.
The thyroid is the master gland and a -powerful- influence on every aspect of ‘bad behavior’.
I’ve come to hate going to the pet stores.
Every other dog is being handled so atrociously that I cringe.
Some people actually are grateful for the ‘help’ and others, like the owner of the poor, terrified Pit, have the attention span and retention of a fruit fly.
[gee...I guess Odin was lucky I didn’t blow his brains out after the first “snap”]
:::rolls eyes:::
Uh...noooo.
Why would I want to “throw” my dogs?
BEEG ebils.
It started as a pup.
“Who’s mah widdle bebbeh?”
Bebbeh...Bubby...natural progression.
Sure gets me funny looks in public.
Shoulda named him Tiny or Fluffy.
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