Wilbur is the sweetest most loving dog. I adopted him 6 months ago. Since then he attacked 2 separate dogs and then last night, he attacked my Cocker Spaniel, Grace. They've always gotten along. No fights or anything. She's doing OK after a trip to the ER, but I can't let this happen. He tore my thumb up as I was trying to get him off her. I love him to death and want to help him. Is there anything I can do or should I find him a home with no pets?
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Your dog has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I'm sure he wants to just get along, but every once in a while he has flashbacks and sees those other dogs as his attackers and tormentors. So, in his mind, he is defending himself.
Unless you have experience with mentally traumatized dogs it's unlikely this will get better.
Do you know anyone who is very experienced with abused dogs? Unfortunately I think your dog needs someone who is more experienced to handle his issues. Otherwise, I'm afraid your Cocker Spaniel may end up injured or worse, or you could be a subject of a lawsuit by others if their dogs are harmed.
I would find this dog another home, and quickly! From what I know about the law, there is a "one bite" policy, and then the dog has to be put down.
This dog is what Cesar Millan would call a 'Red Zone' dog, and him and other dog behaviourists and rehabilitators have special skills for rehabilitating these animals. YOu could watch past episodes of The Dog WHisperer, especially in regards to Red Zone dogs, to see how he does it.
IN general though I agree with the consensus, that unless you have the ability to rehabiliate him, he needs to be rehomed. They will try to adopt him out with a NO OTHER DOGS note on his file, or in a better case scenario he will go to a sanctuary. Worst case scenario, of course, he will end up in a kill shelter and be put down, but at the end of the day you probably need to look out for your own family first.
I would say find someone who is willing to take him that doesn't have any other animals or small children just to be on the safe side. This way no one else or other animals gets hurt and he also gets individual attention which just might be what he needs.
I would turn the dog over to a person who knows how to deal with such behaviors described. A soldier who suffered from PTSD needed a dog to help him and he also knew how to train dogs from his own family occupation. This man said he wanted a pit bull as he'd seen them in action during his service stint and he knew what to do.
Please read this. Dogs like this can progress from attacking dogs to people. www.dailymail.co.uk/
Do you live in Ohio ?? Because I got a dog a year ago & a couple weeks and he looks the exact same as this dog scars and everything he was also a bait dog but he never got along with any animals at all as soon as he smells one or sees one he tries to go after it I would just like to know if this is the same dog
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