I'm reaching out in the hopes that someone can help me with a very difficult situation. I adopted my cocker spaniel from a shelter 2 years ago. He was about 5 years old at the time. He had been in 2 other homes prior - one proported to be a loving environment with a master who cared for him but had to surrender him due to a terrible personal living situation. The second home was with a family who brought him back to the shelter because he bit one or more family members. His first owner supposedly found him either in a shelter or on the side of the road - so he might have had another home before the first one I know of. Spencer has been 97% wonderful and 3% terrifying. He suffers from severe separation anxiety and our vet put him on clomicalm (basically puppy prozac). I have spent a lot of time in behavioral training with him, which proved to be helpful at first, but no longer seems to be working. In the last month Spencer has gone after and bitten me, my father, and my future mother in law. He has attempted to bite 3 of my friends as they have left the house. 97% of the time he is a wonderful companion, but when he snaps the other 3% of the time he is terrifying. I just don't know what to do. I'm getting married in a few months and while we don't plan on having kids right away I cannot have this dog around children - I'm just too afraid. I've spoken to the vet and she said she'd change his prescription, but didn't think it would help. I called cocker spaniel rescue, but I am terrified of Spencer doing something to another owner, and I can't help but think that part of this is a result of being bounced from home to home. I want to do the kindest, most humane thing possible, which my vet and another dog trainer I know says is to put him down. I just feel awful and am so upset over this. He attacked me on Sunday, and I have never been so afraid of him. But now its as if all is fine (on his end). What do I do?
wc0143
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
Muzzle?
I don't know what to say ... I am soo sorry!
I am just very surprised a vet & trainer would say to pu him down.
I really wish I had some good advice.
kelly4
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
All I can say is that me and my DH sorta resucesd our dog (he found us) and he was very timid to the point of us beng afraid the dog would have a heart attack- never aggresive though and after having him for almost a year he has been much better. It has taken a lot of time and care and understanding to help him. I would never wish for another dog- even though it has been a rocky road with us. I just wish you the best of luck! Keep being gentil and consistant with him/her and hopefully with time your pup wil come around. If it's only 3% of the time, I't's not ( at least it soumds) to be too forgone. I'm sorry I can't offer you more advice.
Lora
RedHead
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
I am sorry about your situation. My neighbor had the SAME problem (romeo was the dog) and he is from a breeder!! This typw of behavior is rather common in Cocker Spaniels. Romeo also had to be medicated. Nothing really changed unfortunately. I think you also have the added problem that this dog was somehow neglected and has been passed around quite a lot. Just as a dog owner i would go back to a professional trainer who deals with aggression. You can go to the AKC web site and get a good referral. I am sure they will be able to help you. Also ...dogs know when their owner fears them and you can't be afraid of him.
PS- another common problem with cocker spaniels is hip problems. During the day, my neighbor caged Romeo. One day they came home to find that he couldn't move his 2 back legs!! They had to put him to sleep.
Don't give up on your dog just yet...talk to a trainer
ChristineC68
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
I am so sorry about your situation.
When I was little, my parents had a pedigree poodle from a puppy. The dog would only allow my mother to walk him or feed him. He never did anything to my sister or I but he snapped at or scared the bejeesus out of everyone else. He had to be tied up in the house if we had company.
My parents tried to have him placed in other homes but the centers kept calling my mother to come and get him.
They ended up putting him down at the suggestion of one of the placement agencies.
It was a hard decision for them but they would not have been able to live with themselves if this dog ever hurt my sister or I.
Jenn P
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
I'm so sorry you're going through this. Make euthanasia an absolute last resort. Perhaps you could ask another trainer for advice. I know of a trainer who might have another suggestion, I'll FM you her number.
HearzBellz
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
um, I am sure your vet has checked all the bases, but was your CS checked for Rabies or distemper?
The only other thing I can think of, and it is really out there, is if you go to the city & get a pet holistic healer.... it is a long shot, but I had a friend wo had a similar problem with a Jack Russel (which are notoriously feisty). The holistic healer changed the dog's diet, gave it soem natural herbs & supplements & even taought the pwner how to massage the dog to calm him down.
Unfortunately I do not speak with this friend any longer, but I know they re in Manhattan.
Good Luck. This is never an easy decision in any situation
swags1016
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
My parents Bischon is a dog that came from an abusive home and he is a terror. We cannot have people in the house without caging him. He HATES when people come into the house and ESPECIALLY hates it when people leave. Even after 6 years (almost 7) he still goes after DH. The only people that can come and go as they please are me, my Mom and my Stepfather. He has gotten slightly better with age, but I still would not be comfortable bringing children into the house.
We did bring in a trainor to try and work with him, but my stepfather didn't like his dog being 'broken' and threw him out.
I wish I could offer you some advice.
good luck and hopefully with a lot of hugs he will get through it!
WeddingsRock
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
Try to increase the dog's prozac. We have a dog that is very difficult, destructive and demonic! However, once we adjusted the mg of the clomicolm, she has gotten so much better and is a much calmer dog! Don't give up yet! There are so many dogs in the shelter system but try to contact Cocker Spaniel rescue. It is very difficult because Cocker's are a difficult dog to begin with. Good Luck and God Bless!
violet
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
I'm sorry, I hope you can get help with it somehow. If that is common in that breed of dog, maybe you can do a search on the internet for a Cocker Spaniel message board where people post for advice and other general things about that kind of dog? I'm sure you could find a few, and perhaps someone has gone through this and could have a solution. Like I go on a Labrador message board sometimes when I have problems with my dog because some problems are common with a specific breed. Try searching 'cocker spaniel forums' or something similar.
My parents' dog can get nasty sometimes too. She's a great dog. Okay, she likes to sit at the table with my parents when they eat, but they don't yell at her for it because she's very spoiled. But sometimes, when someone leaves, she gets very mad and will try to nip, but she just needs to be watched closely when someone leaves. And sometimes if I walk her, she doesn't like some men, and when she has passed them in the past, she tried to jump on them because she just doesn't like something about them. I don't think she'd bother anyone if she got free because she's just protective when she's right by me. I must say she is great with kids though. She's never once snapped at any of my nieces and nephews. She just follows them around like she's one of the kids.
sophie78
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
You got to be careful if you return the dog to a shelter. A lot of times the shelters in order to help the dogs get adopted don't mention their past biting incident. Then families with children adopt the dog to find out for themselves.
I LOVE animals. But your vet and trainer might be right.
The only other thing I can think of, and it is really out there, is if you go to the city & get a pet holistic healer.... I know they re in Manhattan.
9th St - btw 2and 3rd ave --I know this b/c I pass it going to our favorite restaurant...shoot - it may be on 8th...but there is one there...
also - crating...
kmcwed
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
x
HappyEverAfter
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
Firstly to you, it must be so difficult dealing with a wonderful dog 90% of the time, and then having the dog turn on you.
I agree w. the other posters, I would go back to the vet and see if you can adjust the medication. Just like w. people, I would guess you have to play w. the meds to get the mix that works best w. your dog. Also, our vet always recommends tons of excersize for our dog, who has severe seperation anxiety-we also give him a favorite toy (a teddy bear) as a reward when he has been really, really good. He loves that thing to death, and it is key in training him not to poop all over the house when we leave.
I feel for you, its a tough situation-i admire you for sticking with your doggie. Best of luck!
Donna
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
I'm sorry I have no advice I just wanted to send hugs and hope that everything works out.
NYCMeghan
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
I've been to 2 trainers and 3 vets, 2 of which are 'behavioral specialists' - we've adjusted the medicine 3 or 4 times. There is NO way I'd put spencer in another shelter - its too cruel.
He went nuts again this afternoon and nearly bit my mom. I just don't know what to do.
Dee7772
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Re: Dog Problem - need advice....
I am the biggest pet lover, but I think it is time to get rid of the dog. You always hear of these scary stories of when the dog turns on their owners and other people and sometimes it is fatal. Hugs to you. I know this is a really hard decision.
