HELP! URGANT! I adopted a dog....And it's not going well

EnzoLeya

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So we've been thinking about getting a dog for awhile now. We took a trip to the shelter and found this GORGEOUS quiet dog. She's a Weimaraner.....Pitbull mix. She was very friendly and we feel in love with her.
We did all the paperwork and brought her home. I had spoke with the shelter about our cats and they little dog. They said she is good with other animals and they ran her by the cats (in cages) and she was uninterested. So we thought


She did great in the house with all the other animals locked in the bathroom upstairs. She was a little hyper but that is expected of a 6 month old puppy. After she was in the house for about 5 hours we brought down one of the cats for her to see across the room. Everything seemed fine and I was trying to get her attention so she wouldn't be so focused on the cat. She was sitting in front of me all calm and then all of the sudden she flipped out! I had a leash on her thank God, but she started snarling and bit me!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so said, but I'm so scared! I don't wan't to take her back, I really wanted to help a dog that needed help badly! But now I'm scared for myself and my babies. I've never seen a dog go from calm and collected to snarling and trying to drag me across the rooom to attack the cat! She seemed so calm and then she just bit me!


I don't want to take her back at all. I love her and I think she deserves a chance, but she needs a home with no small animals, and I can't give that to her


Someone please tell me they would take her back too!
 
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EnzoLeya

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This is what they have about her:

This pretty little girl was abandoned by her owner--------------left chained up in a closet! She is a beautiful puppy and as friendly as they come. She loves being with other animals and is friendly with all. Please come meet little Inky and offer her a loving permanent home. *INDOOR homes only need apply.

*MANDATORY Spay/Neuter contract will be enforced.

*OWNIG a pet is a life time commitment! Please be ready to make that commitment before you adopt a pet!
 

valanhb

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You have to think of your resident animals first and foremost. At 6 months old, she is going mainly on instincts and has probably had no obedience training at all.

The only way I would keep her and give her another chance is if you have a home situation where you could completely separate her from the other animals until you have a chance to go through obedience training with her. Both Weimereiners and pits are highly intelligent, but pits especially have a stubborn streak (it's the terrier in them).

I don't know how your home is set up. A new home is a lot of stress on an animal. But I'm sure that the shelter would understand if you needed to bring her back because she's not good with your cats.
 

laureen227

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Originally Posted by valanhb

But I'm sure that the shelter would understand if you needed to bring her back because she's not good with your cats.
but she sure is a beauty! good luck headed your way!
 

white cat lover

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If she bit you over a cat, she's a hazard. I've told you my thoughts via PM....but I really do think if she'd bite you that quick....she will bite someone else.
 

lindsey88

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She is only a 6 month old puppy. She is thankfully not set in her ways yet. If you want to keep her take her to obedience classes. My dogs came to me not socialized to cats but they are now. It takes time but can be done especially since your puppy is only 6 months old. She doesn't know you yet. Keep her in a room away from pets and give her treats and pet her for a week or two and get her used to you before you try to introduce her to the cats.
 

KitEKats4Eva!

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There are all sorts of reasons she could have bitten you - she's a rescue, we cannot know her past. You don't want to take her back and I respect and understand that. You also don't want a dog you cannot trust.

Please get a GOOD behaviourist in - not one who uses any kind of fear or coercion methods, but one who is experienced with positive reinforcement and aggression in dogs. Damaged dogs - especially damaged puppies - can become beautiful trustworthy loving safe animals with the proper understanding. You are not equipped to give this to her - you are not a behaviourist. That's what you need, and you will not be returning her to a cycle of rehoming and fostering, which will ultimately lead in something terrible happening - probably her being PTS.

You have no way of knowing what triggered that bite. She could have redirected it to you because she was charged and on a leash, and you were the closest person. She's a puppy who was kept tied up in a closet - goodness, you can hardly blame the poor baby.

Behaviourist, asap. And if that doesn't help then sadly, you may have to return her - only that will not solve her problems and may lead to worse ones with her next owner. It's a tough one - good luck.
 

natalie_ca

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I suggest enrolling her in doggy obedience school.

I don't think she bit on purpose. She's young and playful and probably stressed out and excited all at the same time.

Anyway, doggy obedience school would benefit not only the dog, but also you as well because it will teach you how to manage and be the pack leader.
 

sharky

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I second the behaviorist... I never thought I would use one till I got Ben and learned I DID NOT know hound ... Even a quick 45 min phone consult has yeilded a much easier to handle dog ...
 

blondrebel76

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i agree with the others, maybe a behaviorist or at least some good training. Weims are very headstrong/immature dogs. They seam to stay a puppy at heart for a very long time. I have a friend that raises them, she has never had a problem with hers around other animals except maybe stepping on them occasionally but they are very headstrong, mix that with pitt and you could have a difficult time ahead if you dont do something NOW! I wouldnt blame you if you decided to take her back or rehome her to a safer home without small children or other animals you have to think about your safty and that of your other furchildren first.
 

twstychik

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Originally Posted by white cat lover

If she bit you over a cat, she's a hazard. I've told you my thoughts via PM....but I really do think if she'd bite you that quick....she will bite someone else.
This was my immediate concern. Was it a nip or was it a mean bite? I'd be torn in you shoes... if you take her back it would be irresponsible to not tell them that she bit you but at the same time if it was just her puppy instinct kicking in I'd hate to see them call her aggressive based on that one incident. She's is very pretty too btw.
 
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EnzoLeya

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I will elaborate:

I had her sitting in front of me and Stuart was standing across the room smelling things. Then like a flip of a switch she started snarling and tried to get Stuart. I had a leash on her and when she figured out that she couldn't get loose she turned around and bit my hand. I have a small puncture wound on my hand, luckily that is all, because I had my winter coat on and it blocked most of the bite. My hand is still pretty sore this morning because she put so much pressure on it.

Then this morning my SO and I went to let her out of the kennel and when she finally came out I reached down to pet her and she growled at me. I took her outside to potty and run around a bit. I walked up the the kennel and opened the door and she growled at me again. I don't want her loose in here if she's going to be so unpredictable.
 

twstychik

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Sounds like she may have some aggression issues. It's a real shame too since she's so young but I suppose you can thank her previous "owner" for locking her in a closet. From what you've described I would not be comfortable keeping her.
 

KitEKats4Eva!

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Ok well if she's growling at you, there's no way you can work out on your own why. It's possible that she now views you as her primary caregiver and her former primary caregiver was very abusive towards her. Dogs (like anything) that have been abused have all kinds of issues that need to be sorted out.

Again, a behaviourist will be able to help you more than you know. It's worth the money and most of them really don't work out to be that expensive. If you take her back she may just end up with another family where she does the same thing because she's even MORE confused and she could meet with more abuse and violence - you never know.

I understand that you feel wary of her but you did say you wanted to help a dog that badly needed help, and she sounds like she does. I think if you really want to help her she needs a professional assessment and a lot of time and work. But you must feel safe, and if you don't, then you have a difficult decision. Again, I wish you luck.
 
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EnzoLeya

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I don't feel safe at all, that's the problem. I woke up last night at least four times thinking that dog was loose in the house and I was litterally terrified.

She was so much different at the shelter.
 

baloneysmom

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Are you acting fearful around her? Maybe she senses this? I had an aggressive dog from the SPCA and we took her to the behaviorist and while she wasnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t perfect she got much better. BUT even years after her training if someone was nervous or scared around her she would growl at him or her.

That was my first dog. My dog now (German Shepherd) is the same. She was aggressive and mean now sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s not (cant say friendly since she hates everyone but my Mom, Sister and I… but she doesnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t attack, just ignores everyone). If you walk slowly near her, or are scared ANYTHING she senses is not right she will growl.

I wish you luck… this is a hard situation =(
 

momofmany

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This is a hard situation!!

Your girl looks a lot like my Lola that we adopted last month (she was 9 months old and we think she is lab / border collie). The first night that she witnessed the cats feeding, she also turned wild in a flash and lunged at the cats with a scary growl. She also growled at us when she had toys. As far as we can tell though, Lola was not abused, simply neglected by her previous owners. But we were still very nervous around her for the first few weeks and honestly, she didn't relax until we relaxed. Once we relaxed, we could start training her.

DH and I are very astute with dogs and have worked with a lot of trainers over the years. We have turned Lola around dramatically since we got her, but not without constant monitoring, correction for bad behavior and rewards for good behavior. The best behaviorist IMO is Jan Fennell who wrote The Dog Listener - great book.

If you are willing to make the commitment to her, then I agree with others that you need to consult a behaviorist. Obedience training will also help, but a lot of trainers are not good behaviorists. If she was abused, it might take a long time to turn her around. Our first dog that we found on the streets was horribly abused and it took us about a year to turn her into a normal dog. Neither one of us had owned a dog and we learned through trial and error, and the help of a trainer who had some behavior knowledge. The rewards are more than worth it in the end.
 

KitEKats4Eva!

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Originally Posted by Momofmany

The best behaviorist IMO is Jan Fennell who wrote The Dog Listener - great book.
She's awesome - just amazing. Her method is called Amichien Bonding and it's beautiful. She has a lot of behaviourists trained in this method - here is a link to her site for you to have a look. Amichien is french for `dog friend' - and she really is a friend to dogs. She has successfully rehabilitated dogs who were going to be put down because of their aggression issues - she's really wonderful. We had a lot of success with her methods when Ruby was a crazy, manic insane puppy!

http://www.janfennellthedoglistener.com/

Whatever you do, do NOT go near Cesar Millan or anything he has to say. That man creates aggressive dogs - disguised as calm dogs - who are ticking time bombs. His methods have killed at least two dogs that the public knows about, he's been taken to court and he has no qualifications. Real behaviourists who know what they are doing absolutely abhor him and say that he has taken dog behaviour back by at least 20 years. Steer clear of him at all costs!
 

sweet72947

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The first issue is redirected agression. She was frustrated that she couldn't get to the cat so she took it out on you.

The second issue is probably fear based. I would also recommend a good behaviorist. She doesn't sound very stable however, and you must be prepared in case you need to have her euthanized.

Good luck with whatever you choose.
 
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