Re: [pyrnet] behavior issues

["Karen Reiter" <kreiter@servtech.com>]

<< Karen, the difference is, as I see it, is what do you folks really see as
dog aggression?  Anything in their behavior that you fear?  >>

If we come across a dog with a behavior (read aggression) problem, we have
an experienced Pyr rescue person foster the dog for a reasonable period of
time (usually 2-3 months) to see whether the dog is truely aggressive or
just freaked out because of the circumstances that they came from.  If the
dog bites while in foster care, it is put down.  I'm not talking about a nip
because we pulled too hard while grooming mats or something *simple* like
that.  I'm talking about outright, umprovoked aggression.  Case in point, I
had a 12 month old bitch in my home for 2 and 1/2 months who was a
wonderful, smart and in excellent health.  She was being evaluated for a
family type home with 2 children (6 and 8 yrs).  One evening she stole
something off the counter and when I attempted to take the food from her,
she bit me, released, bit again and did not let go of my hand.  She *lost*
it, had a glazed look in her eyes and continued to growl and hold onto my
hand.  This is a bitch that I could give a piece of steak to and remove it
without a second thought.  Aggression is biting, aggression can be as simple
as something is just *not right* with the dog.  With a breed this large, and
with the potential of serious damage because of it's size, I would prefer
not to take chances.

<< They can't talk, and we can't read them as well as they read us, so the
generic answer to all this is  " better to put them down than risk and
incident ". >>

Ah, but there are people who can read canine behavior VERY well.  And I
don't think that there is a "generic" answer to this.  Each *case* is looked
at individually and the decision to euthanize a dog is made by at least 4
people on the board of my regional club and the rescue chair.

<< Instead of fighting screwy lawsuits ( of all kinds ), it seems everyone
is saying " put the dog down" it is the easiest solution.  >>

Unfortunately, we live in a lawsuit happy society.  My regional club is
exists to allow Pyr owners (and non-owners) throughout the Northeast to
share in the love of our breed and dogs.  We cannot put the club at risk if
we deem a dog is dangerous.  This isn't an easy decision, but it IS one that
we have to make.

<< Some of us just don't think it is that easy, or cut and dried.  >>

I don't think that I ever said that it's "easy" or "cut and dried".

<< Some of us really do think that animals have as much of a right to this
planet and their existence, and that their very being ( in whatever form )
is valuable.  >>

What would you propose that those of us that do rescue DO with dogs that are
unplaceable?  When we run out of foster homes and we have wonderful Pyrs on
death row in Kill Shelter's, where do you think they will go?

<<Animals do things that work for them, that we don't like ( like a
corrective nip to pup or child ), and they are deemed aggressive? >>

We recently took in a Pyr that nipped a 2 yr old child who was poking him in
the eyes.   We evaluated him for 4 months (with older children) and he now
lives in a wonderful home situation.  There was nothing wrong with this dog.

<<Note that Katie has said the least about this since she first asked, but
was she asking for help, or did she think the nine year old dog was
dangerously aggressive?  I got the impression the dog was getting old, and
maybe crotchety, and less amused with human children.  Does that make her
dangerously aggressive or deserving of death?  >>

I don't know if it makes her "dangerously aggressive or deserving of death",
but I DO know that if it were my dog, I would NOT allow my children to go
near it.  I guess that Katie needs to ask herself if she can live with the
consequences, whatever they might be?  That's what it boils down to for
her...

Karen
kreiter@servtech.com


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