Need advice on rescued dog

ScareCrow · 03-08-2007, 09:20 PM

Hi everyone, I just registered today so I'll make a short introduction before asking my question. My name is Robert, I have a wife(Cathy) and two girls, Lillian who is almost 8 and Gracie who is almost 6. We live in Indiana near Indianapolis, my wife has a lot of experience with dogs, especially large breeds as her parents bred and raised a lot of rottweillers and pit bulls when she was a kid. Personally I've always been the type of person who liked dogs, as long as they showed they were friendly but I've always been the nervous type around the ones that seemed ferocious(something to do with a dog attack when I was in second grade that I never fully emotionally recovered from.) Both of my girls have been exposed to rottweillers at their grandparents house but they are still both fairly new to the dogs as well.

We wanted to add a dog to the family for a long time now but wanted to be careful in the decision we made. After much thought we decided that instead of getting a small puppy we would try to find an appropriate dog for our family at one of the local animal shelters. We found a dog at a local shelter that seemed perfect, her name was Annie and she seems like a very docile dog. She was found as a stray back in September and the lady at the shelter said when they found her that she was so malnourished that they couldn't even give her a shot because there was no meat to stick the needle into. They hand fed Annie back to health and checked her to see if she was properly socialized. Annie seems to be great with pretty much every situation except cats(she wants to eat them). Annie was such a great dog that they even had her work as Santa's helper last Christmas.

We decided that Annie was a perfect addition to our family and a perfect dog to be around the kids for a first dog. Annie isn't a great big large dog, she is about knee high to me but she is very broad and powerful, they geuss she is about 2-3 years old. As far as breed, they don't really know but I think she has some lab in her. Anyhow Annie has adjusted well to her new home since we brought her home yesterday up until about an hour ago we thought we had the perfect dog.

When the kids got home from school today they were both hand feeding Annie who was so gently taking the food from the kids(under my wifes supervision of course) We went for a car ride with Annie and she sit in the back seat between the two kids, even fell asleep with her head on Gracies lap while being petted. It was almost time for the kids to go to bed when Gracie came out of her room with a few coins she had found under her bed and a keychain. When she went to give the stuff in her hand to her mother Annie lunged at Gracies hand putting the enitre hand in her mouth. I was on the other side of the room but heard Gracie scream at the top of her lungs and thought Annie was attacking her I just reacted and tackled Annie to the ground. I did get a little rough but not rough enough to hurt her, the common reaction any father would have if they thought their child was being attacked. The thing is Annie never actually bit down and I quickly realized this because Gracie didn't have a single mark on her. I let Annie up and tried to let her know it was okay, Annie just sit there with her tail between her legs and shaking. I then turned my attention to my daughter who was sitting on the floor crying for daddy. I gave Gracie a hug and then suddenly Annie lunged at Gracie's foot, this time with a small growl, scaring my daughter even more. This time I simply said NO really loud and she stopped and again Annie never bit, just put her mouth on her foot.

My wife, well I want to trust her opinion from her experience but well I just can't. She says that Annie is just playing and that we have to teach her not to play like that. I think this is an aggressive tendency and do not like seeing this toward my children. If this dog wanted to act like this toward me that would be fine, I could put the dog in it's place in the pecking order but my daughter is only 6 and doesn't understand how to do this and it worries me. I personally plan to call the shelter back first thing in the morning for advice from them as well but I'm hoping to maybe get some advice between now and then. Ever since this incident Annie just keeps her tail tucked between her legs when she sees the kids now, not just Gracie but both of them. She seems like such a sweet loving pooch but I think I found a side of her that I can't tolerate around my family. Do you guys think this is play(remember she is at least a year or two old) or aggressive behavior? Anyone have any suggestions on what should be done about this behavior or do you think I should take Annie back to the shelter and continue my search for a companion?

Elijah · 03-08-2007, 09:35 PM

Quote:

When the kids got home from school today they were both hand feeding Annie who was so gently taking the food from the kids(under my wifes supervision of course)

Point #1

Quote:

Gracie came out of her room with a few coins she had found under her bed and a keychain. When she went to give the stuff in her hand to her mother Annie lunged at Gracies hand putting the enitre hand in her mouth.

Point#2

What is the possibility that Annie, who had previously been hand fed by the kids suddenly realized Gracie was handing out food again and she was just trying to nab a little of it? She didn't know what was in her hand and may have figured it to be food. Could be since she was in the shelter a while that she had or developed a little food aggression. I wouldn't give up on her just yet. Talk with some others that have a better understanding of this as I just gleaned what appeared obvious to me.

In a house with a man, wife and kids you can't afford real aggression for yourself as it would only sooner or later spread to the rest of the family. However, I'd still give it another go until you get a more professional opinion. Watch her, nevertheless.

opossum · 03-08-2007, 09:44 PM

It's hard to say what was going on with the hand without having seen it, maybe Annie thought it was some food being offered? It does sound like your reaction scared her half to death. I know you reacted as any father who thought his child was being attacked would. She may have gone for the foot because she thought you were correcting the child. Everyone will have to adjust to the new situation, especially Annie. Since your wife is experienced I would say give it some time. I would keep a close eye and not leave your kids and Annie alone at any time. If she is tucking her tail when the kids are around she is scared of them. I would work on making everyone more comfortable but don't push it. Let the kids keep giving treats and playing with her under supervision.

I want to add - she is probably scared around the kids now because of the incident when you jumped on her. I would try to reassure her and help her forget about that.

Elijah · 03-08-2007, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Personally I've always been the type of person who liked dogs, as long as they showed they were friendly but I've always been the nervous type around the ones that seemed ferocious(something to do with a dog attack when I was in second grade that I never fully emotionally recovered from.)

I can appreciate that as I probably had a similar or worse experience myself except I was around 31 when it happened and that's been 30 years ago...never forgot that either but, you can't live in fear all your life about the possibility of it happening again-it could but, maybe it will never occur again. I've also been thrown from horses but, I climbed on again.

There's been several threads here lately about dog attacks so many of us are in the same situation...you have to go on and quit reliving a situation from years ago. I'm a good one to preach but, it won't do your relationship with Annie much good if you do. It's sort of like ex-wives-one or two bad ones can't spoil your life. It's like a football game...just keep running that play until you get it right!!

RonE · 03-09-2007, 06:17 AM

It doesn't sound like the dog was being aggressive, but I'd discourage the girls from hand-feeding her. How is Annie supposed to know if they are feeding her or feeding themselves? A misunderstanding can be frightening for the girls, for dad and for Annie.

ScareCrow · 03-09-2007, 07:12 AM

Thanks for the advice. For some reason I didn't put the hand feeding with what happened until I read it here. I think we are going to try things a little different today and see what happens.

Kerry · 03-09-2007, 07:27 AM

I'm the first one to say "get rid of the dog" if there is an aggression problem with children in the home. But it doesn't sound like you are at that point just yet.
My Golden Retriever would growl at my 5 year old, so we had her evaluated by a trainer. They did a couple of things to determine her level of aggressiveness and it ended up being fine.
There are people who will come to your home to help "train" the whole family. He/she will be able to address issues unique to your house and kids.
Let us know what you decide and best of luck.

opossum · 03-09-2007, 08:36 AM

I wouldn't stop the kids from hand feeding her. I would help them understand how not to confuse Annie though. And explain to them that they need to remain calm around Annie and not be afraid. I know little girls like to scream and over react, but that's not good for Annie. It sounds like she has good bite inhibition though.

ScareCrow · 03-09-2007, 02:13 PM

We talked to the lady at the shelter today, the one who had brought Annie back to health after she was found. This lady told us what she thought was going on was that Annie thought my daughter had food in her hand just as has been mentioned here. As for the lunge at my daughters foot, well she said Annie was never the type of dog to take food from just anyone and she seems to have very strong maternal instincts(it seems Annie had a litter of pups shortly before arriving at the shelter). She thinks that Annie is more attached to my youngest daughter because of her size and that Annie thought I was trying to harm my daughter when I was hugging her. She thinks Annie was trying to warn me when she pounced on Gracie's foot and that I need to work with the two of them together to let Annie know that I'm not here to hurt anyone. She actually told me that from what she heard from me I should not even raise my voice to my youngest daughter in Annie's presence because Annie has chosen this little one as her own lol. I guess I'll start working on this tonight, I planning on giving attention to both of them at the same time but any other suggestions are welcome. BTW thanks for all the help.

Elijah · 03-09-2007, 04:58 PM

Glad to see you've had your mind set at ease a little more about this, ScareCrow. Annie could turn out to be a super dog for you all and your home is far and away better than where she came from. Give it some time.