Hi again, been a while since i visited and i hope you are all well.

Well we were making such progress with Buster, his wlaks were becoming good, no attempting to attack other dogs, he would sit and wait for them to pass, and as i said last time he never showed any of us any aggression, he was super with us, but know he has gone bad! He lunged for my 8 year old daughter but really nasty, i have never seen anything like it of him or any other rottie we have owned, it was out of the blue we were in the kitchen she just walked past behind him as she always does nothing diffrent nothing new, myself and my husband were luckily sat there, but what if we hadnt of been there? i dread to think, my daughter is now scared of him and she has never been scared of dogs ever, He is getting on to 18 months old now(in july) but even before people could stroke my dogs in the street and on walks they loved it but Buster now tries to bite, so its back with the muzzle when out of the house, and he is now in the kitchen when the children are in , but my question is this as its causing no end of grieve in our house, i have said i think it is only a mtter of time, before he does something that cant be rectified, my husband disagrees saying he didnt mean it, and making a lot of excuses for his behaviour whilst i cant see any excuse at all, he has been checked at the vet several occasions he is fit and healthy, he gets the same love and attention as our Roxy, i just dont understand, it could maybe have been a bit diffrent if it was some person he didnt know but he has known us all since he was 10 weeks old! I really dont know what to do, my children do come first, do you think i am right or my husband, he says he will end up chained in a garden etc... but not if i do it preoperly he wont? This is awful, His breeder said she cannot have him back because she is no longer breeding has no dogs as she is now ill. Pleas ecan you advice?

Thnk you

roxy and busters mum x

I get the impression you have already decided you dont want him.

If you are still willing to try you need to find an excellent trainer to see what is going on. Without seeing his behaviour it would be dangerous to tell you how to solve the problems. Until something is sorted out you need to keep him safe from your children and supervise every second around them.

Edited to add: a rescue might not take him on due to his issues but you MUST tell them everything.

He lunged for my 8 year old daughter but really nasty,

Roxy I am with you. I am sorry but that dog would not be in my house for one minute longer.  A dog of that size and power would never get a 2nd chance around my kids. Some of the pro trainers on here may disagree but I wouldn't be taken the chance.  Infact the fact he has lunged at her before to me is the warning that says " take notice". 

I pray you get this resolved as I wouldn't like to read later that something has happened.   Some dogs are just not suited to children. I don't mean breeds just some dogs of any breeds.

I agree totally.  You'd never forgive yourself if the dog attacked your child.  The damage a dog of that size can do is enormous.

I can understand a dog not liking an other dog, after all we as humans dont get on with everyone. However when it comes to humans it a def NOT ON situation.  Think how you would feel if your dog attacked a child outside.  they are either going to be killed or badly scared for life. Also if you decide to keep your dogs think of how many years you could be living like this? avoidance in this case isnt an option Id have thought.  You have a time bomb on your hands and it is just a matter of time before you have 'a situation'

I would ask for a referral to a reputable behaviourist.  without seeing exactly what happened and what may have led up to it there is no way of knowing if you or your husband are right.

This is an age where a male especially will test boundaries and try to assert themselves and that will include children who he will consider lower ranking enough to try to challenge.

Did he make contact with your daughter, or was this a get out of here, get off, leave my possessions territory kind of thing.

I certainly don't think it responsible to try to re-home a dog that has any questions over it's temperament, either it needs dealing with, or if needs be then you must bite the bullet and if he really is unreliable then have him put to sleep, it would be irresponsible for any rescue to re-home him too.

I am not for a minute suggesting it will come to that.

Have you tried altering the way he sees himself by instigating the NILIF principles where he will be expected to earn all the goodies in life he takes for granted.  this method puts you in charge without being confrontational, you outsmart the dog, seems to work well for older untrained dogs and those with uppity tendencies.

Here are some links: http://search.live.com/results.aspx?q=NILIF&src=IE-SearchBox

I can't offer any constructive advice, other than get a referral to a GOOD behaviourist (sadly, a high proprtion seem to not be good). I just wanted to say, I really feel for you.

When you say he went for your daughter did he bite, or just growl and 'tell her off' maybe for walking too near him, if he thinks he is her 'boss'?
Your husband seems to see less of an issue with the dog, what did he think happenned?
While you make up your mind what to do, you need to be always in the room if the children are with the dog. Maybe he should be muzzled when they are home, so they don't come to fear him.
Get your vet to refer you to an experienced behaviourist.
Start your children working with the dog, make sure he doesn't get any play or attention from them unless they instigate it. (It is no good if he comes up and 'asks' for stuff, and they tell him to sit, then give it, as he still instigated the process.) If he is asking for food or attention they should ignore him, but give him food and attention when they decide to after asking him to do something for them (eg sit and wait for a few seconds).

Really sorry to hear of trouble with your boy.
My friend has a boxer the same age and after he was here with me and my lot I have a BT  male & bitch terrier x He went back home and was very subdued my friends OH came home from work and the dog Rodney ignored him and then when the OH went to stroke him by his ear and he bit him. The second incident was when her 9 year old daughter was colouring on the floor in her room and Rodney was lying next to her, her daughter tried to move the dog off her colouring paper and he growled at her.. Luckily like yourselves Mum was there, as soon as she opened the bathroom door he ran downstairs. How did your Buster react when this incident took place  and how did you react with him? Did you shut him out for a while to have time out ?

As your Buster has been good up until now maybe your daughter startled him in to reacting the way he did ? It maybe due to him being in the kitchen the place of food? Maybe you could get him to lie in his bed when your busy in the kitchen. I think making an assertive dog lie in their bed for 5- 10 minutes a day is good for them anyway as it makes them learn to obey more. A baby gate on the stairs & in the kitchen . How is he going through door ways in your home-does he want to be first or barge past your daughter? making him sit until everyone has gone first will make him stop & think.  Has he been castrated? I think that would do him good also-  especially with having a bitch in the home. He is still a teenager and as someone put it hear in a good word having a Kevin moment .
I hope your daughter gets over her scare and you all get help for your boy. It will affect her as well if you did decide to get rid of him. 

Sorry Magica, but how the dog goes through doors has nothing to do with it.

I just thought with the pecking order in the house and him being a young male he might be getting to think he can boss a young child. Same with eating- people eat first then dogs. Mine don't with me, because they have no issues with who's the boss- I am, but a young male rottie- surely needs to know he can not have a go at the kids at home ?? Its a very non confrontational way of dealing with pecking orders. He did not actually bit this child did he?   Only lunged at I think ?

I agree pecking order may be involved. However, going through doors has nothing to do with pecking order. Dogs rush through doors first because they want to get to whatever might be on the otherside as quickly as possible, it has nothing to do with pecking order. Getting the dog to sit and allow you to go through first is teaching it what we view as good manners, nothing more.

I think in the situation the OP mentioned it is unwise to advise anything really, other than that she seeks the advice of a good behaviourist, and I would personally be very careful about any interaction the children have with the dog until then, purely because a dog of that size could do so much damage very quickly if something were to happen.

However, your post has made me wonder if dominance theory has been used to train this dog or modify it's behaviour at any time? Simply because it would cause the dog to shut because it may be scared of the adults around, but woudl still have a problem with whatever the problem was in the first place. So, say it was food guarding and adults had told it no and taken the food away. It might be scared of them, so would allow them to do it, but when a child came into the kitchen, it woudl still be scared they were going to take it's food, but not scared of the child, so would react. Does that make sense? I am not sure i am explaining myself very well!

I can get the gist of what your saying about the dominance training/ being fearful of grown ups etc.
When I had to take my dog to a behavioral specialist for a 6 week training course this was due to dog on dog aggression. I found it was the little subtle things than made a difference to my dogs attitude -As letting a assertive dog get frustrated can be a dangerous thing.  Getting my dog to think before it reacts is a good one saying that this was when my dog was 4 not at 18 months. I did notice my dog was better generally when I went out walking him after I did the door thing for about a week or so, than when I didn't  bother before.
Obviously there is a whole load of issues with this dog that need sorting . If the person lives near Devon I would highly recommend the place I went, to help with their dog Buster. There is also a lady who does seminars and is a dog aggression specialist- Trouble is I have forgotten her name! You can take your dog down to her home for a one to one assessment- it is costly but is this incidence would be worth looking into.

Keeping the dog away from children would be expected, muzzling him would not mean the child is safe as being such a big dog could easily knock her freaking her out without him using his teeth, it can not be trusted now with anyone, until it has been assessed as to what triggered this off.  

> However, your post has made me wonder if dominance theory has been used to train this dog or modify it's behaviour at any time? Simply because it would cause the dog to shut because it may be scared of the adults around, but woudl still have a problem with whatever the problem was in the first place. So, say it was food guarding and adults had told it no and taken the food away. It might be scared of them, so would allow them to do it, but when a child came into the kitchen, it woudl still be scared they were going to take it's food, but not scared of the child, so would react. Does that make sense? I am not sure i am explaining myself very well!

I know what your saying, but I doubt that would cause any problems (I am a believer in the dominance theories). I think a dog would be more likely to go for a child over food as children a rarely involved in feeding the dog, therfore, regardles of any dominance theories the dog never makes a positive association with kids & food (ie. they don't asociate a child as giving food), this is the reason my children regularily have to feed our dogs (they don't get percieved as a threat then).

I completely agree that this needs sorting out by a good behaviourist, one with experience of this breed, and they can't take any chances with the kids. Keep the dog away from the children unless strictly supervised.

> I did notice my dog was better generally when I went out walking him after I did the door thing for about a week or so, than when I didn't  bother before.

My pup is only aloud through a door before me if I tell him to 'go on'. If he barges past me on the way out for a walk I have a hard time controlling him (he pulls like a tank & thinks he can do what he wants), if I go through the door first he is very well behaved & looks for direction from me.
My old mutt behaves the same wheather he barges out first or not!!

Sure my reply will not be welcome or agreed with but IMO dogs do not go for people or children with no provocation and survive. If he were mine I would want to make sure he was not suffering with some sort of disorder that has made him behave as he did. If the vet gives the all clear then I think he would have to go, and I do not think it right to pass this problem dog to rescue people.

You could try a behaviourist but in the mean time you and your children are in danger along with anyone else who come in contact with him.

There are thousands of nice dogs around who are desperate for a home and will repay you with love and devotion and I see no reason once you have established that this dog is not sick that you should keep him.

Behavioural problems are part of what we potentially face when taking on a dog, I would try my best to get this dogs attitude sorted out before considering having him PTS. In the dogs mind he may well have had a valid reason for going for the child, (ie, he may be guarding the kitchen, adults, any food that was about, he may be just be being an adolescent male and seeing what he can get away with), this doesn't excuse his behaviour, but it means it is sortable.

If all the dogs in rescue shelters didn't have any behviour problems, most of them wouldn't be there in the first place IMO - (how many people dump thier perfectly behaved dog in a shelter? )There wouldn't be many dogs about full-stop if they were all PTS as soon as they showed any unwanted behviour :(

If all the dogs in rescue shelters didn't have any behviour problems, most of them wouldn't be there in the first place IMO - (how many people dump thier perfectly behaved dog in a shelter? )There wouldn't be many dogs about full-stop if they were all PTS as soon as they showed any unwanted behviour

I find that statement extremely ill thought out!  Of course most dogs in rescue do not have behaviour problems - very few do in fact.  The vast majority are there because of ignorance of whichever breed traits, byb's churning out puppys and not caring where they go to, and believe it or not many are there because of relationship breakdowns.

Or in the case of mine because they had either got to old to run or were not fast enough!

Off topic I know but it does annoy me when people still believe and promote the idea that dogs are in rescue because they have behaviour problems.

I only go by the fact that every dog I've had from a shelter has had 'behaviour problems', unfortunately the ones we had when I was a child were quickly shipped back by my mun. Relathionship breakdowns are an excuse for most IMO, apparently that was the reason our rescue dog was there - I think the fact that he would escape at any givven moment, was extremely cowed, would bite very hard in play and had food/toy aggression was more to the point (all of which we sorted out).

I take back my ill-though out statement :)

>Of course most dogs in rescue do not have behaviour problems - very few do in fact.

I wonder why so many dogs are advertised as needing to be the only dog/not suitable with children/not good with small pets/can't be homed with cats/must go to experienced home etc..if they are all perfectly behaved? (I don't blame the dogs for thier problems, sometimes it takes proffesional help to sort out thier issues)

I'm definitely all up and for behaviourists trying to sort out problems and am one of the first to advise this.

But, breed has to come into consideration when a dog begins to act aggressively,

Buster now tries to bite, so its back with the muzzle when out of the house,

This would be my first worry, with many breeds it is copeable, I always judge how safe a dog like this is by the handler. A dog that can pull you over, is no good to walk when showing any aggression if you are a big strong man or woman and can handle the pull that is fine, if not then you can not be a safe owner.

Buster will no doubt be a heavy dog, with a strong bite hold, therefore will do a lot more damage than some other breeds would. It all has to be taken into considertion when a dog is showing any signs of aggression.

My honest opinion is I would no longer have the dog, he is untrustworthy, to lunge at your daughter and try to bite outise the home too, I'm afraid his number would be up with me, nothing comes before my children, nothing!  My husband could sulk forever I wouldn't care.

You have Roxie, you know the difference between them, you have to be able to trust a dog, especially a big powerful one. I met two monster Rotties a few months ago, soppy as anything though, that is how they should be. If your daughter is afraid, then you need to be afraid too.

I would suggest asking people in your area for a well respected behaviourist.  Without seeing your dogs behavour it would be irresponsible to give you advice.  My male Rottweiler is 19 mths, he is going through a pushy stage but I do not for one minute doubt his temperament.  He does occasionally 'talk' when people make a fuss of him but he is guided to behave correctly.
I do believe some dogs of any breed can be born with slight issues and it is not always down to how you bring them up...the same as with people but the majority of the time alot of the way they act is down to what they have been allowed to do while young.
It is a shame the breeder will not help at all, whether or not she doesn't breed anymore she brought that dog into the world so she should help.
Obviously keep him away from the children but please seek the help of a qualified behaviourist.

http://www.ukrcb.org/

Lucy

Hi and thanks to all of you, firstly i must say we were seeing a behaviourlist for his aggression when walking etc.... she was recommended by our vets.... it didnt work out, also i have had him checked at the vets and he was given a clean bill of health. In the attack towards my daughter i will explain how it happened, myself my husband and my daughter were in the kitchen, my dogs were moping around as usual walking around myself and my husband sat at the table having a cuppa, my daughter walked past to get something as she always does nothing diffrent same as happened since we have had him, as she reached the side of him in passing he flew out for her and scratched her arm and hand as he bit her, he was about 3 ft away from her, he just flew it was awful, the noisse was like he was in a fight, he was then repramanded by my husband and then told to go outside where he stayed for a good hour, on his own. My dogs mainly stay in our kitchen in is very large and it has a stairgate on so if i need them to be in there and stay they will, although if told to stay they will not cross the threshold, my children regularly feed them, treats and crisps! or whatever they are eating sometimes will share like an ice cream! This has always been the way, my dogs dont snatch or jump up they have what i would say are manners well at least i thought they both did!
Buster has been taught a lot of obediance by my children, they are taught to sit give paw play dead and sing! It is really upsetting me because although my children come first no matter what my dogs play a large part in our lives, its so confusing as well because luckily i have never been in this position ever before with any of my rotties. I feel ashamed because i have always bigged the rottweiler up as a great pet if brought up correctly with the right owner and i feel so far i have done everything within my power, and now look at me! I think i might have to look further a field for a trainer, we live in north yorkshire so if anybody can help me i would really appreciate it, i really dont want to give up on him, but the way it is going i have to think of my children,. He isnt castrated but someone once told me it rarely helps in these situations. Anyway thank you again,

roxie and busters mum x

Have you contacted the breed club for advice?  they may know of someone locally who is a breed expert who may be able to help assess the situation and advise accordingly.

First you are not to blame.
Second neither is the breed.
Some dogs and some humans do seem to have a few cogs missing and do not develop the inhibitors that make them able to live in harmony with their own breed or others who they feel restrict them in some unwanted way.

Of course your daughter must come first, and you and the rest of the family must be able to live in safety and security in your own home. How this is achieved is down to you but if you can't make this dog reliable do not risk a more serious attack for which you would be to blame.

A horrible and terrible decision to have to come to but sadly all part of responsible dog ownership, and it sounds to me as if you are responsible and I feel for you in this awful situation.

My good friend had to make this terrible decision in similar circumstances over her then 3 year old son, with her 3 year old Doberman male.  The attack was unprovoked and fortunately no harm was done as the little lad was knocked to the ground and made no move to get up while the dog menaced him/and owner got him off.  It really was a split second and under supervising.

This was a very experienced owner who has owned 7 of the breed and her other 6 including the current bitch have all been perfectly reliable with visitors especially children.

Thanks, it is awful, but i really cannot trust him at all, Buster keeps trying to let himself in but he cant and my daughter is sat at the table shouting me ; mum buster is trying to come in: hes playing now in the back garden with Roxie, like butter wouldnt melt, but i know the other side to him, he can be rather nurotic too, throws himself at the back gate if he hears anybody a mile away! he takes guarding to the extreme, and sometimes when my eldest daughters comes out of the kitchen and locks the stairgate behind her he runs for her! but only as she walks out, (shes 15) i am starting to see every little thing he does in a diffrent light now, my husband is refusing to talk to me a bout it now, btw my garden has a 7ft wall and gate to match! What would you do?

roxie and busters mum x

Well same as i have said we have owned rottweilers for years i would have said there is no other breed for us, i would have recommended them to the right families, i worshipped evry one of them, i would see a story in the paper and think the owner was more to blame than the animal, how stupid do i feel. We had four at one point, trusted every single one under the correct supervision, would all walk next to me even when let off for a run, wouldnt go to other dogs unless i gave a nod, never ever showed any aggression, with anything or any one, none of them, i feel a failure.

Think you know how I feel and if you do come to that decision IMO you are acting responsibility and for the best for your family. I also think you will realise I do not think sending him to be re-homed and passing the problem to someone else is the way to go either.

I am sure that what ever you decide will be for the very best of motives and you are in my thoughts, if it is starting to cause a problem in the family the quicker a decision is made the quicker the family will heal. Try to discuses it with your husband and include the older children. Good luck and I hope you will be able to reach a decision you are all comfortable with soon.

You are not a failure, you have always had dogs that are safe and you have done your very best for this one.

> he can be rather nurotic too, throws himself at the back gate if he hears anybody a mile away! he takes guarding to the extreme, and sometimes when my eldest daughters comes out of the kitchen and locks the stairgate behind her he runs for her

This sound s so like little things with my friends dog.  Unlike every other she had he wouldn't accept her take on visitors and the need to guard.  He could also be funny with some visitors with odd looks and stiff body posture and these were all experienced breed people.

After he was PTS (she had his ashes back like all the rest, as she loved him), she could see the little signs had been there that in themselves were nothing, but all put together.

First you are not to blame.
Second neither is the breed

First you are not to blame.
Second neither is the breed

First you are not to blame.
Second neither is the breed

Let that go in, very good response Nova. :-)

The dog has a different personality, you see it and you are taking it seriously, what you do about it is ultimately your decision, but you are not ignoring it, therefore stop blaming yourself pleeeeeease. :-)

> First you are not to blame.
> Second neither is the breed

Completely agree. You are aware this issue is serious and needs adressing - you are being responsible.

Please take a look at this link, it is behaviour modification programmes for Rotties, run by a Rottie rescue. There is a programme there for dog-human aggreassion as well as many others. They offer advice over the 'phone (for FREE) to suit your dog if you don't feel the standard programmes will help.
Please, even if you feel you can not do anything more to help Buster, give these people a ring, they may at least help you come to a decision.

http://www.rottweilerrescuetrust.co.uk/dynamic/contents.php?filename=behaviouradvice.htm&PHPSESSID=90c165801f74c86a1dad43bcdecd5e72

> my daughter walked past to get something as she always does nothing diffrent same as happened since we have had him, as she reached the side of him in passing he flew out for her and scratched her arm and hand as he bit her, he was about 3 ft away from her, he just flew it was awful, the noisse was like he was in a fight

I am afraid this says it all.  You cannot keep an unpredictable dog like this with a young child.  You haven't failed him, you know the breed, you must also know that he is not stable.

We had a situation like this with a large breed, a brain tumour was suspected by the vet, but in those days they had no way of diagnosing it.  luckily we did not have children and kept giving her a second chance, she was only our second dog and didn't know any better. Then she bit once too often, had it been a child it could have been fatal.

I think that advice to go to a behaviourist is not unrealistic......BUT you now have two problems to deal with. You have the behaviour of the dog, and the fear that your child has of the dog.
I think you should have a good long discussion with your daughter about exactly how she feels. You say she is scared of the dog, but establish how bad the fear is. How is the fear affecting her daily life? Is it affecting her sleep? Is she scared the dog will break in to her room? Is she scared to go in the kitchen?
It is important to recognise that even if you can get somewhere towards improving your dogs behaviour, you may never resolve your daughters fear of him. She should be able to feel safe in her own home, not live her life scared to move, looking over her shoulder....and remember that she is having to live by YOUR choices. She has no other place to live.

> First you are not to blame.
> Second neither is the breed
>
> First you are not to blame.
> Second neither is the breed
>
> First you are not to blame.
> Second neither is the breed
>
> Let that go in, very good response Nova. :-)
>
> The dog has a different personality, you see it and you are taking it seriously, what you do about it is ultimately your decision, but you are not ignoring it, therefore stop blaming yourself pleeeeeease.

couldn't agree more.

Whilst I accept that well-meaning posters believe that behaviour modification may be the answer, I'm very fearful for your children.

Supervising your dog's time with your children is no use because, as you know, if your dog attacks you will be unable to stop him. In full flight an adult rottweiler will be too powerful for you to control.
Don't delay,this dog is not right for your family or perhaps any family.

Whilst after the later posts I am inclined to agree from the information we have that having the dog PTS may be the only option, we mustn't forget we are on an internet forum and no-one other than the OP has seen the dog, which I feel means we aren't really in a position to comment on the dogs behaviour.

> we mustn't forget we are on an internet forum and no-one other than the OP has seen the dog, which I feel means we aren't really in a position to comment on the dogs behaviour.

Think that is why we have said the final decision must be hers, we are responding to what we are being told, there is no other way to respond. The only other option is not to respond and offer no support at all.

Thanks , my daughter is scared of going into the kitchen on her own but knows that he is not going to get into her room or anything like that but it is awful and yes. My husband has now agreed with me after a long discussion with me and has said i am right it isnt safe. It is going to break all our hearts he is so loved, he is beautiful and although this sounds probably stupid, what a waste of a life, but i have tried so hard, but that incident with my daughter was the final straw i cannot in any way have a dog especially a large powerful breed just attacking out of the blue my own children so i think a decision has been made.

Thank you so much for all of our comments.

Roxie and Busters mum x

You don't need me or anyone else to tell you that you have reached the right decision, or if it comes to it the wrong one.

Every now and again a dog is born that is not and never will be able to be a family pet. It is very sad but a fact.

If you let go of him before he does any damage to your family you will at least be able to remember how beautiful and loving he could be.

One can only offer condolence.

My brother had this problem a few years ago with his collie cross, he started jumping up at the new baby and being territorial with it as well so he had to go as their mastiff was just fine, it was very sad but they managed to find a farm which would take him and he's now living a happy live running free on the fields and also having a career as a guard dog.
My brother checks on his reguarly to make sure he's well cared for and he's never seen him so happy!! :)

Maybe you could contact some farms and see if they would like him? Obviously make sure the farm is of good standard and would treat him right etc like my bro did, but if no shelter would take him and he cant be rehomed theres only one other option isnt there? :(

Nice thought but he would have to be chained and I am sure no one would want that for a dog that is already untrustworthy. No responsible person would let a dog known to be agressive toward both people and dogs run loose.

I agree with you,  it would be nice for him but if he could be trusted i would have no problem! There is no way he could run round a farm he would attack anything moving i think! Also it would be a nice alternative for a farm but i wouldnt be able to rest, i have spoken to some one at a rescue and they have said they may have a suitable home for him, a husband and wife in wiltshire he is an ex police dog handler, they have no children, i may follow that route, see how it goes, but i must say this is the worst thing i have ever had to decide as far as my dogs are concerned. I am looking into every possible avenue with this the decision for him to leave us has been made, the desision now is where? He could be ideal for these people, and if he was pts i would never forgive myself but i will never know will i if i did. My thoughts are all over the place.

But again thanks for your comments all.

roxie and busters mum x

Just an idea for you :)

I would seriously go with the ex police couple as my 1st choice and really really push for it as well, they will know how to handle very strong breeds in a controlled way to get maximum results while not being cruel or inhumane, if anyone takes him on from rescue they may THINK they can train him but without actully knowing about large breeds and extensive training then he wouldnt be safe would he, its sad like you say but he hasnt actully done anything yet so maybe as youve nipped it in the bud real quickly he may be savable as alot of dogs who attack were giving loads of signs beforehand that werent heeded by the owner and then they do actully attack one day and the worst happens, so you should be pleased in that you see it quickly and he may get help before anything could or did happen :)

a husband and wife in wiltshire he is an ex police dog handler, they have no children

Sounds as though that could well be worth a try due to him being a young dog, it is worth a try, as long as they know his history, the reason that I like these people, is if they can not turn this dog around, if he is just a bad seed, they won't pass him on again, being an ex police dog handler they will have him pts and will be responsible owners.

I can understand it is a very harrowing time for you, I believe it to whole heartedly be the right choice, let these people give him a chance to turn around without putting anyone else in danger, if anyone can do it a trained police dog handler can............... I would be on the phone today.

> Sounds as though that could well be worth a try due to him being a young dog, it is worth a try, as long as they know his history, the reason that I like these people, is if they can not turn this dog around, if he is just a bad seed, they won't pass him on again, being an ex police dog handler they will have him pts and will be responsible owners.
>

I would want an undertaking that is what would happen if things don't work out.

I would want an undertaking that is what would happen if things don't work out.



Yes, a very good idea. :-)

>Well same as i have said we have owned rottweilers for years i would have said there is no other breed for us, i would have recommended them to the right families, i worshipped evry one of them, i would see a story in the paper and think the owner was more to blame than the animal, how stupid do i feel

This isn't going to be what you want to hear but it must be considered.

Wasn't going to put any comment on this thread, but if you are considering re-homing this dog then you have a big responsibility towards the people who take him on as well as your own family, you must make sure they understand FULLY why he is being re-homed, you have already written on here that whenever you have heard of Rotties behaving this way/attacking it was the breeding or the way it was brought up/handled.  You now know this isn't always true.  The people who take him on may do so believing the same as you did and pay the ultimate price - through no fault of their own.  Are you absolutely sure that you aren't re-homing him as you can't face the alternative?

It's an awful situation, but one that can't go on - for all your sakes!

> they may have a suitable home for him, a husband and wife in wiltshire he is an ex police dog handler, they have no children,

Get in touch with them today. I'd make a list of evry little tiny bit of behaviour that may be part of this so you can give as big a picture as possible.

I really, truly believe that Buster should get another chance, he could be a dog that requires a different approach than what you usually have and an ex-police dog handler could be just the thing.

I really hope this works out for you all.

Wasn't going to put any comment on this thread, but if you are considering re-homing this dog then you have a big responsibility towards the people who take him on as well as your own family, you must make sure they understand FULLY why he is being re-homed, you have already written on here that whenever you have heard of Rotties behaving this way/attacking it was the breeding or the way it was brought up/handled.  You now know this isn't always true.  The people who take him on may do so believing the same as you did and pay the ultimate price - through no fault of their own.  Are you absolutely sure that you aren't re-homing him as you can't face the alternative

Sadly I  have to agree, the responsibility of this dogs belongs to you,  as good as this ex-police handler may be.. how will you feel if the worse happens and he actually bites  him or someone close ot him.

I understand  how hard this may be for you,  but for me,    if he was mine he would be PTS..  I would not take any chances by passing the problem on to others.

As an experienced Rotti owner,  you know this is not normal  , for a well bred  , brought up dog.... so why do you feel someone else maybe able to do with him, what you cant.

I know my opinion  may not sit well with some,  and how hard the decision would be to have him pts.

I know the Rotti rescue in my area, has  at least 40 dogs in at this given time, a friend of mine is helping rescue out, by taking a few in (she has stables)    over the week end to give her friend a little breathing space... but has had to send one old boy back to  the centre...he is 12 yrs old, and so far has shown worrying signs.... these are experienced Rotti people,  and  know the breed inside out... but this boy seems to have issues, that unfortunately will result in him not being a candidate to re home...   it breaks  her heart to have to do this, but so many dogs need  so few homes, and to place an unpredictable dog in a home (no matter how experienced ) is a responsibility to far.

I feel for you , I really do, and dont envy your decision, whatever it may be.

Good luck.

I am sorry if this upsets anyone but I am afraid the dog would have to go either to a child free home with an experienced owner of said breed or PTS .
No matter what a behavorist would tell me I would not trust this dog with my children .
I adore my dogs with a passion but if I had young children and they showed any sign of aggression towards them they would have to go ...plain and simple.

Roni