Topic: I Need Someone to Save a Dog
started by: Liberal
Posted by Liberal on Sep. 08 2010,7:04 pm
My folks have this little white 2-3yr old purebred dog that reminds me of a mop head. I'm not 100% sure what breed it is but I'm thinking it's a Maltese.The problem is that the dog has attacked my parents multiple times. It's resulted in stitches a couple of times, and just a week ago he bit my mother's hand so severly that it took 5 stitches in two different wounds to close it up. She said that he had ahold of her hand so hard that she couldn't get it out of it's mouth. Just a couple weeks before that my father was giving him a bath and the dog tore both his hands up and the bites went nearly up to his elbows.
My folks think that it might be that he gets scared and then bites because he's easily startled. They said if he's going out in the morning and a leaf is blown near him he will jump straight up.
Aside from the biting the dog is really well behaved little dog, but my parents just can't keep getting bit like this. The only option they have is to have him put down because the police told them that nobody will take a dog that bites.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Posted by Spidey on Sep. 08 2010,7:35 pm
Is this dog new in the home, or did they get him as a puppy?It is very hard to break the habit of a biting dog once he has started. Him being startled at everything that moves makes me think he may have vision problems .. perhaps his site is going? Or has he always acted like this? Not knowing how long they have had the dog makes it difficult to try and figure out.
Posted by hairhertz on Sep. 08 2010,8:06 pm
Maybe inbreeding?
Posted by Wolfie on Sep. 08 2010,8:07 pm
Any ideas?...how about a .22 to the head.
Posted by nphilbro on Sep. 08 2010,10:28 pm
My experience raising Australian Shepherds has been vigorous excersize with a fun activity and vigorous training.Whenever we have a problem with a dog it's because they lack both from us and have too much energy and think it's OK to think for themselves. This will make them bark more and even be more aggressive.
We've put a correction collar and a leash and left it on our 10 year old aussie for a couple of days just to remind him who was boss. When they know you're boss and don't feel like they don't have to judge every new situation, many dogs can relax and be great pets. Close companionship and routine is important during this correction time.
Posted by Geek Squad on Sep. 09 2010,1:08 am
It's crazy that this dog keeps bitting the hand that feeds it.
Posted by Liberal on Sep. 09 2010,8:39 am
They got him as a puppy, and I think he's always been like this. They say he bit her last when she put him in his kennel at night even though he's slept in it since he was a puppy, and he's been bathed since he was a puppy.
Posted by grassman on Sep. 09 2010,8:56 am
Some dogs have better attitudes than others.
Posted by hot84svo on Sep. 09 2010,9:09 am
Rabies?
Posted by ControlledHyperness on Sep. 09 2010,9:42 am
Have they (or you) tried the dog wisperer from Nat Geo? I know he has dealt with other dogs in similar situations, and rehabilitated them just fine. just athought...
Posted by bianca on Sep. 09 2010,10:24 am
4 years old and a pure bred Maltese, male, and never been neutered. Does that make a difference? His name is Barkley and he lives true to his name. He barks ALL the time. He is a good dog. My dad takes him for a walk every day and he obeys commands and walks right next to him while in the road walking. He's never attacked my sons or I. But mom and dad said that now and ever since he was a puppy he still likes to "nip" at people's ankles when they walk.The dog is so adorable to look at and they have treated him very well. They haven't contacted a vet yet to ask for any advice. I can't stand the thought of having the dog "put down"
IMO, the dog probably doesn't know any better so he bites no one would ever think of putting an Alzheimers patient down because they don't know any better and bite. Very sad situation and mom and dad genuinely are attached (no pun intended) to the dog.
Posted by twingroves on Sep. 09 2010,11:50 am
a 22 sounds like a good way to keep him from bitting any more
Posted by nphilbro on Sep. 10 2010,12:09 am
I would recommend finding a reputable dog trainer (person trainer). That's where we learned most of what we know. It could be a good time out with your parents and the dog. We drove over an hour away for ours but it was very much worth it.
My dog can now run on the beach for miles with all of the other dogs chasing balls and giving everyone else's dog a good workout too.
Posted by Expatriate on Sep. 10 2010,1:03 pm
A pure bred Maltese with papers is a big money dog, $ 1,500. maybe better, take him to the vet they can sedate him, bathe and cut his hair trim nails..if the folks want to keep him this may be the answer.. If not advertise him in the star trib for a lower price to recoup your vet bill and advertizing cost be truthful about his behavior some breeder will pick him up..
Maybe your folks should contact Caesar the dog trainer LOL..
Posted by bianca on Sep. 10 2010,1:28 pm
I keep telling our parents that it could be something as easy as talking to a vet about this behavior. They have never contacted one. I was reading in a dog book that there are ways to stop a dog from biting. It talked about how even taking the dog out and playing with it for 15 mins a day could help. The dog doesn't get played with....my dad will take him for a walk but there's no play time with that dog at all. I've played with him before and he loves it. It also said that the person who gets bit should make a habit out of giving the dog treats from her hand when the dog is good ( maybe that's where the saying comes from). She doesn't do that either.
With his barking, it's probably like a kid. He wants attention so he barks and he gets attention. Kids do the same things they "act out" sometimes in order to get attention. Even if the attention they get is being yelled at or spanked they're still getting the attention they "acted out" for in the first place.
The dog also has not been neutered, some people say that just neutering a dog will calm him down.
It's frustrating because the only time they seem to want to get rid of the dog is when she or my dad gets bit or nipped at. The other times they talk about how the dog will only eat if mom is sitting down playing solitaire and how cute that is, and how good of a dog he is on walks.
I believe I paid close to 500 dollars, maybe 600 for him when I bought him as a puppy for them. I just don't want them to have him "put down" when I know he could be a good dog for someone and he's just adorable! I have a full-bred Yorkie and of course my sons want to take the Maltese, but two dogs in a house....not so sure of.
What the heck, maybe I should and then just go into the breeding business
Anyone have a female Maltese or a female Yorkshire Terrier 
Nawwwwwww, too much trouble!
Posted by Geek Squad on Sep. 11 2010,4:15 am
Tell your parents to drop the dog off at there favorite neighbors house next door. The Hegwood's. 
Posted by Grinning_Dragon on Sep. 12 2010,9:07 am
Any dog can be broken of its bad habits.Positive re-enforcement is the way to treat the dog. There is a show on Animal Planet called "It's me or the Dog" and most of the episodes deal with issues just like the one you are describing and are those toe nail trimming type dogs (to me a real dog is like a Black Lab, a Rottie, ect..) and the show has some real good pointers.
What I have seen from the episodes to stop the barking, was they were training the dog to become dis-interested in that type of behavior by re-directing, ignoring or removing the animal from the area until it stopped and was rewarded for NOT barking, sometimes the owner has to change a routine as well that may set off the barking, after all dogs take their cues from their masters behavior.
Now if I could get my dogs to mow the yard and take out the trash all would be good in life.