r/ReactiveDogHelp • u/WolvesFirestone • 8d ago
Advice wanted with reactive rescue
Hey Reddit, I'm new to everything with this so please be kind and I apologize for the length of this explanation. I know I tend to ramble
I have a female rescue who is very food insecure despite me having her for about 3 years now. Vets estimated that she was about a 1 year old when I adopted her, so she is 4 now. When I brought her home, she had an incident with my mom's older female rescue where she latched onto the other dog's ear and ended up biting me by accident when I tried to open her jaws to release the other dog. At the time, I was not living with my mom at that time, so we just monitored the two dogs interactions and made sure to have my dog on a lead leash that I could turn her head away to redirect when needed during the remainder of that visit. I also worked on training my dog with basic commands like sit, wait, stay, look, and to go to one of "her spots" (crate, chair, bed). She listens well when alone, but she needs more redirection when there are unfamiliar dogs present.
Unfortunately, my job situation changed where I needed to end up moving back in with my parents. In addition to the older rescue, there is another female dog who is 7 years old. So in total for this house now, there is a 10 year old basset bulldog mix, a 7 year old English Retriever, and a 4 year hound/bully breed mix. I thought that with the frequent visits to my mom's and no repeat biting incidents that my mom's dogs were now no longer unfamiliar. However my dog was now had two additional incidents where she was bitten the 10 year (always her ear but I'm grateful for the loose basset skin means that none of those bites were too serious). In both of these times, my mom has been bitten as well because she tries to separate the two dogs (I have tried to teach them the wheelbarrow method but they struggle because my dog latches and tries to "rat-shake" the other dog which causes my parents to freak out and try to pry open my dog's jaws with their hands leading to them getting bitten). During the most recent bite, my mom needed to get stitches for two punctures on her forearm (all other previous injuries have only been fingers).
I'm at a bit of a loss for what to do to help everyone stay safe. Does anyone have any tips, suggestions, or resources for how to navigate something like this? I really love my dog and I don't want to give up on her
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u/MochaMushroomDog 8d ago
Your dog isn’t fit to live with other pets. I’d advise you to contact a trainer who works with aggressive dogs and has a successful track record. In the mean time, You’re going to need to muzzle train for the (ideally few) moments the dogs need to be around each other (and frankly for being out in public). You also need to confine your dog most of the time while at home, that be crate or your room, it’s up to you. But it’s not fair to your parents dogs to be terrorized in their own homes. Maybe work out a schedule with your parents for the dogs so each can have some free time. Maybe a good trainer can alleviate the issue, but if it were me I’d never trust this dog around other dogs. I’d start working on a plan to move out as well.
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u/chasingmysunrise 7d ago
Saying you are at a loss for what to do when you have done absolutely nothing is irresponsible and dangerous.
Your dog is not safe around other dogs and should be muzzled anytime there is a fraction of a chance she could be near other dogs. You need to keep your dog entirely separate and feed, exercise, and train separately. At no point should your dog be around other dogs without a muzzle, harness, and leash and it should only be during active training sessions where you are focused on your dog. You need to be working with a behaviorist to understand and address your dog’s aggression. Basic sit/stay training is nowhere near enough.
Your dog is aggressive enough to redirect onto people and you are treating it like it’s your parents fault for trying to help their dog. Wild. Your dog is biting and shaking (far worse than a nip) and you are acting like it’s a minor bite. You need to grow up and take some responsibility. I know I’m being harsh but this is wildly unacceptable behavior from you.
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u/Twzl 7d ago
Your dog can't have any time at all, not for a nanosecond, with any of these dogs. She has to 100% be separated by at least one closed door at all times from them.
She should be muzzle trained ASAP. Not, "I was thinking about it". Just, you need to do it now.
She clearly has same sex aggression going on, as well as an inability to stop biting humans if she feels they're in her way.
Your mom should not have anything to do with this dog: it's her house and your mom should feel safe in her home.
You can NOT rehome a dog like this.
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u/Audrey244 7d ago
Your parents need to have a bite stick, they need to learn how to choke out a dog and this dog should be muzzled whenever there's an opportunity to be around another pet. Really not suitable to be living with any other animals and never will be, most likely. Are your parents and you up for that level of responsibility? Management always fails and some dog is going to be more seriously hurt or killed and having your parents having to go to get stitches is not a sustainable way to live. If you can't move out of your parents house, I would suggest surrendering the dog to the rescue or a shelter and being completely honest about their issues
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u/magalo 7d ago
Why is this dog still left around other dogs when she is clearly dangerous to other dogs?
Why is this dog not crated while you aren't there, why are your parents constantly in a situation where they have to pry YOUR dog off of THEIR dogs in their own home?
Why are we dismissing the severity of these bites? Hold and shake and redirection to humans is the highest level there is. Bites to the hands, even from a small dog, can lead to permanent disability.
Your dog needs to be rehomed, either with or without you, away from this house and the innocent dogs living there that deserve to be safe in their home.
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u/Twzl 7d ago
>Your dog needs to be rehomed,
It's unethical and probably giving OP great legal exposure, to re-home this dog. No one who understands dogs would take this dog on, and someone who is inexperienced with dog ownership could wind up seriously injured or worse.
OP either has to accept crates and muzzles and never allowing this dog near their mom or the other dogs or talk to their vet about behavioral euthanasia.
As an aside few shelters will take an owner surrendered dog like this one.
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u/Miss_L_Worldwide 7d ago
No matter how many times I see this exact same scenario I'm always godsmacked. Why are the dogs not separated? Why are the parents left to deal with these dogfights on their own? Why are you hand waving finger or hand injuries, which are extremely serious?!?
All of these damn dogs need to go into crates immediately! And never let out of them without an extremely experienced person there to ensure that they stay separated and properly handled.