Any one else think they will have to do this by the time their baby gets here? We have an almost year old mixed breed(of what..no one knows) but he is SO BAD & borderline aggressive, but it kills me to know that we will more than likely have to get rid of him. He is still just a puppy, but he doesn't respond to anything which makes it even worse. Any one else gonna have to take this step??
Re: Having to get rid of a pet..
Absolutely not. They are here to stay.
It isn't your dog's fault he doesn't behave or listen.
This. Call a trainer and be a responsible pet owner.
I agree with PP. A good dog trainer and discipline from you can be very helpful in this situation. I am a firm believer in the fact that you brought this dog into your home to love and care for like family. You wouldn't send you child away if it was behaving badly or going through a rough time?
* I don't mean to sound rude or hurtful. I just hate when people get to a point with there pets where they don't want them anymore for whatever reason. I truly believe that you can get through this with time and patience. Don't get me wrong, there are situations when a dog may need to be removed from the home if aggression is to the point of biting or seriously hurting someone. Give you little guy a chance, he may just surprise you. It's amazing how similar taking care of a dog and a child can be. Especially when it comes to discipline. Good Luck!!
***NEWSFLASH** Most puppies are hyper and need exercise and training.
Why would you get a puppy right before you're TTC, that seems like terrible planning on all counts.
We've had our cat for about 8 years now and we were worried about having to keep her away from DD since she was awesome with us but did not/does not like anyone else! My sisters are big cat fans and they are a bit scared of our cat because she is so crazy and will hiss at people. No clue why she is like that but she just is.
Anyways, from the moment we brought DD home (she is now 2 years old) our cat has been amazing with her!! You might be surprised! I know we were!
I agree with this. The idea that she since she got the dog now she could keep it forever no matter what is ridiculous. It's an animal, not a human being, and there are even adoptive parents of children who end up having the child re-adopted. There are sometimes situations where it is better for both the people and the animal if the animal finds a more suitable owner.
Kelly, Mom to Christopher Shannon 9.27.06, Catherine Quinn 2.24.09, Trey Barton lost on 12.28.09, Therese Barton lost on 6.10.10, Joseph Sullivan 7.23.11, and our latest, Victoria Maren 11.15.12
Secondary infertility success with IVF, then two losses, one at 14 weeks and one at 10 weeks, then success with IUI and then just pure, crazy luck. Expecting our fifth in May as the result of a FET.
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:Steps on soapbox:
There are only a few things that irk me more than getting rid of a pet because of a baby coming...
This pet was your responsibility and when you took it in, you vowed to give it a longterm, loving home. Just because it gets hard DOES not mean you can just give up on the pet! Would you do that to your child? Its not the dog's fault he doesn't listen. Get a trainer and take care of your animal...
:Steps off soapbox:
Lurker jumping in.
This is aboslutely not correct! I do agree that there are extreme circumstances where you may have to give up a pet. The circumstance presented by the OP is 100% NOT one of those circumstances. I'm sorry, but when you adopt a pet, you are making a lifetime committment. That animal knows nothing but you.
OP, you are doing a great disservice to yourself and your dog by not getting him trained. One, he's a puppy still and puppies will be puppies. Deal with it. Two, most dogs will have a good turnaround if trainng is needed and provided. Money is not an excuse. Three, is he fixed? It may not make a huge difference if it's gone on this long, but it's better for him health-wise anyway, if you do not plan on breeding.
I'm sorry, but I have a HUGE issue with people thinking it is okay to give away their pets because a baby is coming into the home. My dogs are my first babies. I have severe anxiety attacks weekly thinking about how we are going to keep them taken care of and not have them be upset while I'm in the hospital having the baby. And, believe me there is dog hair all over my house, they still have accidents here and there, and they are crazy spoiled to have our attention at all times. But, I will be doing everything I can when the baby comes to make sure all FIVE of the beings living in my house will be happy and cared for when baby comes.
Well great for you. If someone else does not feel the way you do, telling her to feel differently is supremely unhelpful. Better that this dog be responsibly re-homed than remain in this home where 1) they didn't have the patience and desire to train it properly in the first place and 2) those things are only going to be in shorter demand going forward. Insisting on keeping the dog who is not well-trained and not 100% wanted anymore is just punishing everyone involved, including the puppy. There's nothing special or magical about a dog staying in its first home. We have both adopted older dogs and gotten puppies straight from breeders and you can't tell me for one second that the adopted older dogs were somehow hurt by the transition.
This is bullsh!t. Bull. Sh!t. You took a living thing into your home to provide and care for it, and now you would dump him in an unfamiliar place because you MIGHT have problems down the road? Find a behaviorist/trainer and get this dog some training. It's not his fault you have failed him on learning what the boundaries of your house are.
If you do still decide to give this dog up, please don't ever adopt another pet. Not even a hamster, mouse, snake, etc. They deserve better than being dumped when you get tired of them or can't be bothered to train them.
Also, check this out for really good input on how to introduce the baby and the dog and how to let them interact: https://babiesandbeasts.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20MOST%20IMPORTANT%20post%20in%20here
Ugh this and the OP's post just made me so effing mad. I have 4 dogs, all of which have some sort of "issue" that is a lot worse then being slobbery and I would never entertain the idea of getting rid of any of them. They are MY RESPONSIBILITY, I chose to be their mom and by doing so I made a promise to them. They are not disposable!!! I can't effing stand people who are so irresponsible with pets. GAWD this thread just pissed me off on a beautiful Friday...
I volunteer with my pup through an animal shelter. We visit schools, etc to talk about meeting dogs safely. Whenever we go in to get our official badges, my little dog and I wait near the "surrendering" area. To watch a happy pup come in and then watch its master walk away without him is just awful. The dog looks so hopeful as its led back to a cage... where is my person? When will my person be back?
I ask that if you must give away your dog (though I hope you reconsider) please find someone to take him or her, not a shelter. Please.
He obviously understands the order of the pack if he listens to your husband. In his mind it is your husband, him, and then you. You need to fix that with training. Jumping? Also a problem remedied with training. Ignore him when he jumps, turn your back on him. He is seeking your attention by jumping...do not reward the behavior by giving it to him. Just turn away. And alternatively reward with a treat or with a rub and "good boy" when he does not jump. As far as hyper goes...dogs are hyper people! they require exercise of 1 to 2 hours a day!
Not a chance.
We knew we eventually wanted kids when we brought both dogs into the household. We focused on training and socialization with both of our dogs from the beginning. One is a rescue and one we've had since she was a puppy. If we see any behavior issues, we address with our trainer/behaviorist and do in home sessions (these were especially key for our adopted dog, as he came from a really sad background). They make sure that they both see and interact with kids, other dogs, and adults on a regular basis - and they're monitored carefully for these interactions. We do regular training classes with both of them, and we make sure they're properly exercised (both with us and through doggie day care) throughout the week.
We're signed up for classes through our trainer on "dogs and storks" - she also offers "dogs and babies" and "dogs and kids" sessions. We've read up on some of the awesome dogs and kids blogs out there, and we've bought a few books on transitioning dogs to a home with kids. We'll do move proactive pre-baby introduction in the next three months.
BTW, our dogs are high-energy, very intelligent, hyperactive dogs with herding instincts who are EXTREMELY attached to us.
Work on socialization and get some professional training for your dog now - he's still a puppy. What you see as "borderline agressive" is most likely FEAR, because he doesn't know how to react to unfamiliar situations. I'm suggesting this because I'm assuming you WANT to keep your dog - if you don't, adopt him out now while he's still a puppy and highly desirable.
I'll admit, I judge the *** out of you. The second we adopted both of our dogs, we fell in love. They are our family. I wouldn't even know what to do with myself if something happened to them.
Were they bad? Hell yeah they were. Our shepherd mix was just a puppy when we got him. He went to the bathroom all over the place, got into the trash, ripped up carpet, ripped up pillows, and was super hyper. We lost a lot of money on fixing those things. But it wasn't HIS fault. We got training for him and took him to doggie day care twice a week to get out his energy. He now is the sweetest boy in the whole world. Sometimes still hyper but he knows boundaries.
Our second dog we adopted when he was 2. He didn't like people very much because of the shitty life he had before we got him. We worked with him, showed him love, and guess what? He is now not shy anymore. He is still food aggressive but we make him eat away from the other dog.
This isn't the dog's fault. It's your fault because no where in your post did you say you exhausted all training options.
Yes and this is not one. This situation could be easily fixed. Also, this "it's an animal not a human being" way of thinking is disgusting.
Well, I'm an animal lover, so you won't get any sympathy from me. However, we don't have a dog - we have two cats. They'd never been around children and when my niece and nephew came to visit prior to our baby being born, they hissed and swatted at them. I was a little nervous about bringing our baby home, but just thought we'd have to keep an eye on them.
By day two, they were in love with her. If the baby was crying the cats would get under my feet and howl at me, as though to tell me to hurry up and help the baby. Now my DD is 2.5 and kitty was her first word. She gives them hugs, which involves laying on top of them and they just take it. They have never hissed or swatted at her.
I honestly believe they were more aggressive with my older niece and nephew because the kids were more aggressive with them. But having been with our DD when she was tiny and immobile helped them adjust slowly to the now pretty rough and tough toddler years. They still come and howl at me if they hear her moving around in the morning and we haven't gone to get her out of bed.
I agree with the others that training sounds like a great solution. Good luck!
I don't normally post on 2nd tri, but I felt the need to here. You indicated yourself that he is still JUST A PUPPY. Why in the world did you not start him in training classes if he is 'so bad'? If you are still in 2nd tri (I can't see if you have a ticker) then you have time to work with a trainer before a baby gets there.
IF, this borderline aggression is serious, a trainer will be able to tell you if he/she thinks your dog has the potential to be dangerous around a child.
But please... do NOT just get rid of the dog because 'it's still a puppy and so bad'.
You need to consult and get assistance form a dog trainer. You made a commitment to this animal by bringing it home. They are no so easily disposable. After seeking professional assistance, if the dog has not shown appropriate improvement, then IMO it is your responsibility to find it a good home.... not drop it off at the pound. These are all the things responsible pet owners do....
Your dog looks part mastiff, as a mastiff owner myself, you should have taken that into account when you got the animal. also, mastiff's are big, my dog is 150lbs and weighs more than i do, but we've trained her and walk her daily so she gets her gitters out...sounds like your dog needs more exercise.
What the hel! is wrong with you people that you get rid of pets before there is ever actually even cause for concern!?! You didn't even have a problem you were just "scared" about a problem developing? How do you FUNCTION in the real world?
I need to leave, this discussion is turning me into a nasty b!tch.
OP-- What are you referring to to make you say he is "borderline aggressive"? Lots of people do not understand dogs behavior/body language. How much excercise is he getting? Can you give more specifics regarding the problems so we could potentially help with some problem solving?
Some of these responses are killing me. Saying "it kills me to do this" just irks me because if that were the case you would keep your animal. There are so many solutions to most of the problems a lot of poster excuses here (hyper, drool, potentially not liking a baby, etc) and it is just laziness or lack of knowledge. I am hoping in this case it is lack of knowledge and maybe you can get some helpful advice to keep the commitment you signed up for. Why would you think someone else wants you "bad dog"? Every 8 seconds a shelter animal is euthanized due to lack of space and homes. A "borderline aggressive" dog will be harder to place if placed at all.
Also, if it is "aggressive" and you knowingly give it to someone else, you are responsible if your animal ever injures anyone in that family.
Please keep the commitment you made to this animal.
Okay, so it hurts me that you didn't think of the potential issues before getting a dog. You picked this dog and you decided to get him when the possibility of children was probably on your mind. That being said, sometimes a dog and a family just aren't a good fit for each other. It might be better for everyone, including the dog, if he finds a new home.
I think you should first try to work with a trainer and increase your dogs exercise routine. A young dog usually needs about an hour of exercise a day - some dogs need more, it depends on the breed and energy level. If he's not getting this - he's going to act out.
If you are likely to ignore your dog when the baby comes, then he might be better off in another home. If he becomes a backyard dog or spends too much time locked in another room or crate, he's just going to develop more issues.
So I hope you can take the time to ensure that he goes to a good home that is willing to work with him. He might your dog will end up euthanized if you drop him off at a local shelter.
You were scared, so you gave away an animal that had done absolutely nothing wrong? WTF is wrong with people?
So what are you going to do when your baby is a PITA? You can't get it to eat or sleep or whatever? You gonna pass it off to someone who is responsible enough to take care of it? You never should have gotten a dog if you weren't going to take care of it. End of story. It's still a PUPPY. Your baby isn't going to come out walking and talking, so don't expect your puppy to magically train itself either. Put some effort into training your dog.