Vet thinks puppy should be put down!! Help!!!
- Thread starter alisonCO
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Poetic_thing
Boxer Insane
I def agree with everyone else...this is a puppy you are talking about. My little girl is now 11 weeks, I have been doing clicker training since she was 8 weeks and she really responds well to it with me, DH doesn't do much of it as I am the main trainer as I am with her 85% of the time, once she gets things down better he will jump in and do more training - commands with her. She is just starting to get better with me and biting, but she has a problem with DH. I find when she is really wound up she wants to bite more and it is harder - I then get her involved in a game, give her a chew toy or take her outside and get her running around which tires her out and she then eases up on her biting. When puppy is biting lots, tell them to yell ouch, get up and walk away. The pup will soon learn that type of behaviour gets no attention.
"She held him to her chest and held his head against her saying that was a move of domination. Of course the dog didn't like this and was squirming. She then took him and flipped him on his back like a baby and held his head again. He went nuts. He started barking and growling. She told him NO and it just made him more mad. He bit and scratched at her until she finally just put him down." - Most pups don't like this, especially from strangers - who the heck wants to be confined by someone they don't know?? My girl did the same thing with DH when he put her on her back - I don't have a problem with this, she loves to be on her back with me.
As for the peeing, they need to be totally consistent until the pups starts to get it. After naps & eating straight outside - treats and LOTS of praise. I started by putting my pup outside every 15 minutes until she went. If she went I would wait about 20 - 30 minutes and then go back out. At 11 weeks, she is now good for about an hour - she also goes to the door 90% of the time. Tell them to watch for signs, sniffing and circling - when they see this take puppy out side. When she does pee in the house as they are watching, say NO firmly, carry pup outside and tell him to go. If they miss it, clean it up with vinegar/water/b. soda and make sure puppy does not see it. Puppy will come around, but they NEED to be consistent and totally on top of puppy at all times.
IMO both DW & DH need to get some training, read some books about puppyhood / behaviors and patients. Start with "Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson and also the "Dog Listener" by Jan Fennel. Once again, this is a puppy - they DON"T know any better - they need training and patience.
I also believe, the vet they have...SUCKS!! Good luck and please tell them not to give up on this puppy, it gets better - really it does
Keep us posted.
"She held him to her chest and held his head against her saying that was a move of domination. Of course the dog didn't like this and was squirming. She then took him and flipped him on his back like a baby and held his head again. He went nuts. He started barking and growling. She told him NO and it just made him more mad. He bit and scratched at her until she finally just put him down." - Most pups don't like this, especially from strangers - who the heck wants to be confined by someone they don't know?? My girl did the same thing with DH when he put her on her back - I don't have a problem with this, she loves to be on her back with me.
As for the peeing, they need to be totally consistent until the pups starts to get it. After naps & eating straight outside - treats and LOTS of praise. I started by putting my pup outside every 15 minutes until she went. If she went I would wait about 20 - 30 minutes and then go back out. At 11 weeks, she is now good for about an hour - she also goes to the door 90% of the time. Tell them to watch for signs, sniffing and circling - when they see this take puppy out side. When she does pee in the house as they are watching, say NO firmly, carry pup outside and tell him to go. If they miss it, clean it up with vinegar/water/b. soda and make sure puppy does not see it. Puppy will come around, but they NEED to be consistent and totally on top of puppy at all times.
IMO both DW & DH need to get some training, read some books about puppyhood / behaviors and patients. Start with "Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson and also the "Dog Listener" by Jan Fennel. Once again, this is a puppy - they DON"T know any better - they need training and patience.
I also believe, the vet they have...SUCKS!! Good luck and please tell them not to give up on this puppy, it gets better - really it does
Keep us posted.
Alydarling
Boxer Buddy
I have never had this problem with a boxer but we have had it with a boston terrier we owned before.
She too was just a puppy. She refused to be put on her back, even in a cradling position, like a baby. She would not let you touch her feet, if you grabbed her scruff she would snarl, turn around and try to bite. We took her to a vet as well as a behaviorist he recommended to us.
Their advice was the same. Get rid of her. Any puppy so young and so aggressive is like a time bomb waiting to explode. This was not normal puppy playing and nipping but extremely aggressive and nasty behavior. We tried to work it out. We kept her until she was about 8 months old. We had her spayed and had her get some one on one with a behaviorist. To no avail. She was simply not going to accept that she was not the alpha dog in the house and snapped and bit anyone in reach.
We finally found a home to place her in that had no children and another boston. This was our vets suggestion and he helped us find a suitable family for her.
Some dogs are just born with issues. Betty was one of them and this pup sounds kinda the same. I have never, ever had an aggression issue with a boxer. This is not normal puppy behavior to me.
When I look at a pup the first thing I do is see if they lay on their back and will let you play with their paws and their muzzle. I didn't pick out the boston, my husband did, and she was the last of the litter and he thought she was cute.
Why do some people grow up to be killers? Who knows. Even with the best of raising some people just turn out to be wierdos. The same can go for dogs. Two vets advice is enough for me. That dog would be gone, either back to the breeder or to somebody who would want to try to take a chance and see if they could not turn it's issues around.
She too was just a puppy. She refused to be put on her back, even in a cradling position, like a baby. She would not let you touch her feet, if you grabbed her scruff she would snarl, turn around and try to bite. We took her to a vet as well as a behaviorist he recommended to us.
Their advice was the same. Get rid of her. Any puppy so young and so aggressive is like a time bomb waiting to explode. This was not normal puppy playing and nipping but extremely aggressive and nasty behavior. We tried to work it out. We kept her until she was about 8 months old. We had her spayed and had her get some one on one with a behaviorist. To no avail. She was simply not going to accept that she was not the alpha dog in the house and snapped and bit anyone in reach.
We finally found a home to place her in that had no children and another boston. This was our vets suggestion and he helped us find a suitable family for her.
Some dogs are just born with issues. Betty was one of them and this pup sounds kinda the same. I have never, ever had an aggression issue with a boxer. This is not normal puppy behavior to me.
When I look at a pup the first thing I do is see if they lay on their back and will let you play with their paws and their muzzle. I didn't pick out the boston, my husband did, and she was the last of the litter and he thought she was cute.
Why do some people grow up to be killers? Who knows. Even with the best of raising some people just turn out to be wierdos. The same can go for dogs. Two vets advice is enough for me. That dog would be gone, either back to the breeder or to somebody who would want to try to take a chance and see if they could not turn it's issues around.
MOST VETS are NOT experts on dog behavior. A lot of vets also tell you Purina Dog Chow is good food too! Doesn't make it so. Vets are great for sick animals, vets are great for shots, stitches, surgeries, x-rays. Get an opionion from a QUALIFIED animal behaviorist to make an adequate assessment of this puppy. Someone who understands dogs and their behavior need to evalute it, not the vet. You don't put a 10-week old puppy down because a vet thinks it's aggressive. ITS A BABY. MOST puppies do not like strangers handling them and ding things to them. Maybe this puppy wasn't taught bite inhibition yet, who knows if it was with its litter until 8 weeks or not. Please have your friends get a proper evluation of this puppy from a qualified behaviorist so they can make the best decision for this puppy and themselves.
This is all such total nonsense!
If this pup is alpha, & I have a alpha bitch & I don't have any problems with her,it takes love & proper training for an alpha, if you connect with your dog emotionally & are willing to work with them, its the greatest reward for you & your dog. There is nothing my alpha bitch wouldn't do for me!But when she goes to the vet or any where, I don't just let them take her back & try to do anything they want to her, I'm right there with her, she knows & the vet knows I'm there to take care of anything that might happen,she will trust me in any situation & that is a key issue with any alpha. Hanley
If this pup is alpha, & I have a alpha bitch & I don't have any problems with her,it takes love & proper training for an alpha, if you connect with your dog emotionally & are willing to work with them, its the greatest reward for you & your dog. There is nothing my alpha bitch wouldn't do for me!But when she goes to the vet or any where, I don't just let them take her back & try to do anything they want to her, I'm right there with her, she knows & the vet knows I'm there to take care of anything that might happen,she will trust me in any situation & that is a key issue with any alpha. Hanley
I can't understand how those two vets can determine the agressivenenss of a nine week old puppy - at that age, puppies love to play and will use you (since there are no other puppies around) as playmates. When they play, they do get very vocal and will bite, although they don't mean to hurt you. It is at this age that they learn bite inhibition (to bite easy), so tell your friend that it sounds as though her puppy is acting normally for his developmental stage. You can also search other threads that I'm sure will provide more helpful info for your friend. ~ Cathy
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Shanz
Boxer Insane
sounds like your puppy has separation anxiety and dominance issues..nothing some traingin wont correct. BTW... if the vet is just judging this by the "look in his eye" and his behaviour towards her..then its really noting to go by. OF course the dog is going to be upset by a stranger..a vet none the less which most dogs dont particularily like to begin with...holding him down.
shannonmac
Completely Boxer Crazy
try "the dog listener"
I would suggest getting them "the dog listener" to read. it has a lot of great advice.
I've also watched the dog listener on nat. geographic channel and there was a boxer on there who was told needed to be put down by their vet and he came and told them that was nonesense and showed them exactly what they were doing wrong, and it made a world of difference.
please, please, please tell them not to give up!
I would suggest getting them "the dog listener" to read. it has a lot of great advice.
I've also watched the dog listener on nat. geographic channel and there was a boxer on there who was told needed to be put down by their vet and he came and told them that was nonesense and showed them exactly what they were doing wrong, and it made a world of difference.
please, please, please tell them not to give up!
Rlr.Giraffe
Banned
Uh yeah, I would get upset if I was getting pinned by a stranger too. Sure...I can accept that this pup may be dominant by nature... I can even get behind the fact that it might not change. It's hard to say... we're not there witnessing the puppy's behaviour. But I can NOT believe that a 9-10 week old puppy has incurable aggression problems. And from your friend's description of events, I would say that the dog is behaving exactly as one would predict... not in a dangerous manner. I really hope they consult a behaviourist or similar if they are worried, but really, they should relax and consult some books etc. As for vets; I wouldn't rely on my general practitioner to provide advice about my behaviour or mental health... when we are having trouble, we go to a psychologist.... Why are we so quick to assume that vets know ANYTHING about behavioural issues... they take care of the body, not the mind.
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