Hello,
In our house (well the dogs are kennelled), we have 2 BC's (dog and bitch) which are mine and a 9 year old ESS which is my dads.
The spaniel, at a young age was trained quite harshly, choke chain and no titbits, the dog did it because he had to.
When he was about 2, I went up to him to put his lead on and he growled at me, as I dropped the lead over his head he bit me. It wasn't a serious bite, but I still have a small scar on my hand.
Over the years he has bitten me 4 times. Last year he bit my 11 year old (then 10years) sister when she went to pick the cat food bowl up (had no food in it but dog was protecting it, although he gave no warning he was going to bite). Mum got really mad about it and said that the dog had to go or be PTS.
Last month my dad went to put him in his kennel and he refused, dad went to pick him up and he really curled his lip up and growled. Dad has said it was his fault etc etc and won't have the dog PTS.
What would you do if this was your dog? Me and my mum are worried as my younger sister is only 11 and frequently has her friends round, and they are always playing in the garden. Would you rehome or not do anything? If it was my choice I'd have him PTS but then I don't get a say in the matter unless my mum speaks to dad about it.
My 2 BC's are 100% bombproof with kids, aren't protective over their food what so ever and have extremely good manners round the house, so it isn't as if all our dogs are like it.
Please help,
Char123

What happened to your mothers 4 afghan bitches?

Gdness knows
Char

Don't you know Char?

Take him to the Vets and have him checked out for illness before making such a decision. You sound very hard hearted to me condemned without any reasoning as to why he is behaving like this.

The poor old fella may well be feeling under the weather.

Thought you also had a Patterdale?

Sorry, didn't say that he's already been checked out by 2 vets, and both said he's fine.
Have also had a behaviourist out and, apart from charging us about £90 told us to keep him away from kids at all times didn't really help.
Train a Patterdale, don't own it, have it 4 days a week and take it to the dog shows with us.
Melody- do apologise. HappyAfghan was my sister and her friend having some fun and so I thought I'd go along with it. But I've decided that since Champdogs has been such a good place to gain information and help that I'll just be totally honest with you - I'm sorry.
Char

You said on 29th June my new Patterdale!!!!

Might only be a little one - but I think - foll de roll!! ;)

How deep did the vet check go? All limbs checked for heat, swelling, sensetivity? Back and neck checked for any abnormalities? Ears and eyes? Cataracts or other vision problems? Blood and urine tests? So often a 'vet check' means a cursory look in the ears, temp, no visible sign of lameness and a check on the heart rate - and the dog is pronounced fit and healthy....... Mean time the dog may have spondolysis, arthritis, thyroid problems (a fairly common cause of change in temperament which often goes undiagnosed) or any one of a number of problems which is causing it to feel vulnerable and sufficiently defensive to snap at members of its family. Incidentally dogs do not snap with 'no warning' - they always give a warning (unless there is some mental problem) the problem is that us mere humans often don't recognise it - especially if the dog has been previously punished for growling he will often resort to the simple 'stare' which is effective against another dog - but ignored by humans -which is when humans get bitten :(

6 months ago he had a nose tumour and the vet x rayed him, and removed the tumour. Since then he's been fine. He went to a chiropractor 2 weeks ago (all our dogs go every 4months) and nothing was wrong with him. Could you explain what a thyroid problem is please?
What would you recommend we do next, do you think we should take him to the vets, explain what's happening and ask him to do some tests? What tests should I expect him to do?
Thanks
Char