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Posted by Alyssa on June 5, 2009, 11:00 am, in reply to "Biting"
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Regardless of WHY you might believe the dog is now "suddenly biting" people, the fact is, he has...and on multiple occassions and two of the victims have been children. Bites are bites -- do not try to rationalize the behavior by claiming they "weren't that severe" or they were bites to strangers. You need to remember that the only reason the dog didn't do more damage is because the dog chose to hold back. He may not the next time -- and I can virtually guarantee you that there will be a next time...maybe not next week or next month, but a dog with a bite history will ALWAYS be a risk for bites, regardless of any health issue or training corrections.
Retraining IS a possibility, but the owner needs to be aware that this dog must never, ever be in a position to bite again. If that means no leash walking in places where lots of pedestrians are, that's what it means. If that means always being crated or safely confined in the home while guests or children are present, then that's what it will take. There is no room for error in vigilance with a known biter. The consequences are too great.
Retraining also is a long commitment. This will not be a simple 4-week fix. This will be a slow process and will require that this dog is handled differently for the rest of his life -- and it goes without saying that his training must absolutely be positive. Any "behaviorist" who wants to put a shock or prong collar on for corrections is wrong, wrong, wrong. Anyone who claims they can "fix" the behavior through doggie boot camp is lying.
Giving the dog away will not solve the problem. Most rescues and humane societies will not take a chance with adopting out a known biter. The liability is just too great. If the original owner rehomes the dog himself, knowing there's a bite problem and doesn't tell the new owners the entire truth, then he can be held liable as well.
To be perfectly honest, if this dog has been ruined through harsh training and poor handling, then the kindest and most responsible thing to do is to euthanize him.
Alyssa.
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