Okay I know I've posted a question about this before but a lot of you who answered were asking for more details. My dog Jake bit someone a few weeks ago when I was walking him. I was about 18 weeks pregnant at the time but still very capable of walking him. He saw these boys tossing a football and for some reason he started barking at the boy who was closest to us. He lunged and pulled me down (i was walking my other dog as well) and got away from me and bit the boy. The bite was bad enough to need stitches but the boy is okay and the family isn't suing me. Jake has never done anything like this before. This is the first time. Tomorrow I have to attend a "dangerous dog hearing" because I was given a choice.....either put him to sleep or attend this hearing. I was going to put him to sleep but could not go through with it. I've raised this dog from a puppy and I know he's not a bad dog. I am willing to do everything possible to get him help and to make sure it never happens again. I have bought him a muzzle already and if the hearing goes well i'm going to be paying 400 dollars for training. I know a lot of you are going to say "think of your baby that you're going to have" and I am that's why i'm going to get my dog training. My question about the hearing is....what should I expect? I've never been to any kind of hearing before. I'm really scared they're going to force me to put Jake down. I don't want to do that because I love him and care for him very much. I live in the state of Texas. I have walked my dogs hundreds of times and have been around many different type of people and neither of them have ever even shown a sign of aggression towards anyone. I know how serious it is though. I am willing to accept the consequences of what happened....even if it means being forced to put him down....I'm allowed to bring evidence to the hearing. I have a few pictures of Jake and a baby I used to babysit for and also pictures of him and my friend Venessa. I'm also bringing in the muzzle I bought for him to show them I'm taking precautions. I am so scared so if you have any kind words and or advice please let me know. (and I don't need any negative responses please. I'm dealing with this and my husband is in iraq and i'm pregnant....so its very stressful already).
Recommended Answer:
Relax, and don't worry - this will hurt your unborn child. Surrender your anxieties to God, and allow Him, trust Him, to work things out on your behalf. I'm not just saying this because I'm a sympathetic grandpa, but because I actually know that it will work for you.
It doesn't seem as though anyone's going to hurt you or your dog. You have a good attitude and it will come out in court, I'm sure.
Be sure to mention to the judge that your husband is in Iraq; he will sympathize with your situation, I feel.
Good luck to you, say a prayer, and I will include you in mine. God Bless.
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Recommended Answer:
Relax, and don't worry - this will hurt your unborn child. Surrender your anxieties to God, and allow Him, trust Him, to work things out on your behalf. I'm not just saying this because I'm a sympathetic grandpa, but because I actually know that it will work for you.
It doesn't seem as though anyone's going to hurt you or your dog. You have a good attitude and it will come out in court, I'm sure.
Be sure to mention to the judge that your husband is in Iraq; he will sympathize with your situation, I feel.
Good luck to you, say a prayer, and I will include you in mine. God Bless.
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- Shanna has a really good answer\
Im really sorry about your dog.... - All you can really do is show them what you plan on doing to prevent it from happening again. Pictures of the dog with certain people don't mean much because pretty much every dog can get along with at least some people.....what they want to see is what have you planned as prevention. Do you have a fenced, secure yard? If so, bring pictures. If you plan on having the dog go through training, have a letter from the trainer you plan on using stating that you have them lined up to use their services and have the trainer outline their plan for working with this dog. Bring the muzzle, and any other training tools you plan to use. You need to have everything planned and mapped out, from how you plan to exercise the dog without people getting hurt to how are you going to deal with people coming to your home without getting hurt....etc. These are all questions they may ask and you need to have an answer ready. The more prepared you are, the better the chance that things will go your way.
Good luck. - I definitely remember your story, and also many of the awful responses you were given. I am so pleased to see you back here with an update. After your question was removed, I was very worried for you and the tough road ahead. That said, I think you have done all that you can do and you just have to trust that justice will prevail.
In addition to very specialized training, I would also tell them that you are willing to have him evaluated by a behaviorist to determine if he is temperamentally sound. I just hope that whatever decision is reached will be in the best interest of Jake, yourself and also that baby in your tummy. If it is determined that he is a dangerous dog, take heart in knowing that you did exhaust all resources available to you and did not just give up on Jake at the first sign of trouble. You have been very strong through this, especially considering what a full plate you have had to deal with.
Best of luck, and please let us know how it works out! - i am so sorry for you your dog was protecting you and you should make sure the judge knows that with your husband gone to iraq and you being preggers your dog is more protective and not normaly that way i cant beleive they pressed charges good luck god bless you
- I'll try to highlight the positives here, but to ask people to 'shut out' the rest isn't very realistic.
This is the first time he's ever bitten, so that's good. But he bit hard enough to require stitches, which isn't good. Dogs that aren't 'serious' will rarely inflict deep wounds. But let's assume that this is just a case of the dog mistaking the boy's football throwing as a threatening gesture, and that he may in fact have felt protective of you. Now you know what to watch for and in the future can not only muzzle him on walks, but avoid situations. Often dogs will react differently with teen males and men than with other people and children. They seem to have a sixth sense that men pose a greater threat than women and kids.
What you have to face is a temperament assessment of your dog to determine whether this was a bit of a freak occurance, or whether he's showing signs of being overly suspicious and aggressive.
It's a bit late now, but ideally you should have an experienced behaviorist/trainer evaluate him and take him/her to testify at the hearing.
Now, many dogs who are overly protective with strangers can be FINE with their own family members, including children. But this isn't something you should take a chance with. You love your dog and if you weren't expecting a child, you might be able to promise the dog will be trained and muzzled whenever you walk him, and that would be good enough. But you have to go into that hearing and whatever expert assessment they may present, with an open mind and 'big picture' mentality that your responsibility to your dog comes second to your child's safety, and even that of your community.
So, stay calm, prepare a written statement to read rather than 'winging it', because nerves are not your friend at a time like this. Answer all questions truthfully and let your willingness to do what's right come through while conveying your desire to give the dog a second chance.
If you do win at the hearing, please, please follow through with training and temperament assessment.
Good luck! - I'm not sure what to expect. I've never gone through one. But make sure to tell them you're willing to muzzle him and have him go through classes, etc.
My mom's sheltie did something similar, and I know with that dog it was herding instinct. She seen the kids running away and wanted to bring them back towards the house. Nothing came of it but I don't think anyone reported it...I live in hickville USA though so who knows.
Good luck and let us know how it goes, I really hope things come out good for you and Jake!!
edit:
I just wanted to add I think it's freaking AWESOME that you're sticking up for your dog. I have seen so many people just put it to sleep because they'd rather not. You're alone and pregnant and yet here you are doing the right thing and standing up for him. Way to go and if it does turn out bad, just remember you did your best. - Honestly, you've already got the right idea. Do absolutely everything you can do to stress that you have a trainer lined up, have purchased and use a muzzle in public situations, and intend to do everything in your power to correct the behavior.
If I were in your position, I would also say that I believe that the dog was protecting me due to the pregnancy. Some perfectly docile dogs will become very protective and territorial when their mistress is pregnant. Especially because your husband is gone, your dog may be feeling the need to protect you even more so.
I would also try to tug on some heartstrings by saying that the dog and the baby will be all you have until your hubby gets back from the war. Nothing wrong with trying to get the sympathy vote!
