Hey guys,

This is basically a "What would you do?" post. I know what I am going to do, but I am interested in others opinions as well.

Here is the story:

A team mate, who joined, came to one training and then has not responded to emails or came to trainings.
They were having issues with their dog, a 2.5 year old BH, and called me a few months ago stating that the dog had become aggressive, biting and drawing blood when putting on her harness, fighting over food ect.....they told me they were afraid for their children and that the handler was beyond frustrated and was basically beating the dog after putting her on the floor did not work.

Things got busy and they never contacted me back.

NOW, there is an article in one of our papers:
"Purebred BH, Free to good home, needs lots of attention"
and it is their home phone number.

Since I only worked with the dog one time, I do not know the dog. I do know however that it is very hard to rehabilitate BH's after aggression has started.

This ad is a misrepresentation of the dog and I am taking steps to obtain the dog. I do not want her be in the news in a month as a BH that mauled a small child. I would feel absolutely awful and guilty if that happened, knowing the background on this dog.

However, it is unfotunate, but I will not have an aggressive BH around either, so she may have her fate already sealed.

She has bitten over 6 times, drawing blood on each occasion and I am sure she is also having her behavior reinforced as the wife told me that they jump away from her.

SO, what would you guys do? The dog is three (respectively) and was a "rescue" also.

What's a BH? Bloodhound?

I don't know about you, but I'd be tempted to put the dog down. Are you planning on getting it with the intent of retraining it?

That is a sad story Carol. Is there any chance the original "rescue" might step in and take her back? What about a BH rescue?

What a miserable position to be in. Too bad you are responsible; otherwise, you could just ignore the ad and when someone was hurt by the dog say "oh well" not my problem. No, instead you are going to take possession of this dog, see if she can be saved and if not make the heartbreaking decision to have her put down. If that is what happens know that you have done more for this poor girl by recognizing she is not disposable than anyone else in her life.

And now a question; why are BH more difficult to rehabilitate once they have become aggressive?

I don't know whether you (I mean you personally, Carol) could do anything to rehabilitate this dog, but I do think that, knowing what you know about the situation, and the "misinformation" that was listed in the newspaper ad, you should do everything you can to get a hold of her before someone unsusspecting does.

As a pretty experienced dog handler - and with BHs specifically - you would be a better judge of what this dog's "fate" really should be than the current owner (who sounds like a complete jerk if you ask me... not only are they failing their dog by not seeking professional help for her issues, but they're flat out trying to dump her on someone else without being truthful about what she is). If I were in your shoes I'd at least get a hold of her long enough to assess the extent of the problem.

It's a sorry a thing that so many responsible and caring people have to go out of their way sometimes to clean up other people's messes, but at least you have the drive to do it at all... this does sound a lot like an accident waiting to happen - big props for considering intervene.

Hope you'll tell us what you were planning to do anyway
~Natalya

 Quote: Sheila Buckley

And now a question; why are BH more difficult to rehabilitate once they have become aggressive?

I'm very curious about this as well - they seem to have pretty easy-going, aloof temperments on the whole - is this 'irreverible' aggression a genetic issue?

~Natalya

I do not think that I am responsible for the dogs behavior at all, but I do know that I would feel responsible if someone got bit.

I am pretty sure the dog may be too far gone, but I am going to keep an open mind and see what happens.

She will be kept in the kennel for the first few days and we will work on bonding, then we will slowly work into house time and working.

BH's tend to be cantakerous (spelling) and they are NOT the big mushy dogs you see on Hee Haw.
They tend to be protective of their surroundings and more often than not they are food gaurders.
Also, this is a dog that was for SAR. My male is a big goof, but he also gets testy when people come near his crate, dog run or house.....he is fine on a trail and fine when he finds his "victims". However, I know he has a bit of a crabass side so I manage that.
I do not correct it out of him because then he will be an unpredictable crabass, I just know his every movement and when he looks like he is going to be a jerk, we redirect.
Never once have I had an issue where someone was afraid of him. But I am rather diligent about my dogs and interacting with people.

I talked with a friend who has been around and worked with BH's for years and years and he said that if it were a two or three year old Mal, I would have a better chance at rehabilitation.

I have to look at the fact that the dog was beat as well.....not good......with any breed.

I will keep you all posted on what happens.

I can only speak about temperament being around the working variety of hounds.
All I have been around, which is quite a few, have had their own little quirks.

The pet and show quality I have never worked with......

Oops Carol, maybe that didn't come out right. I meant too bad you are a responsible person.....in no way are you responsible for the dog's behavior.

LOL, I got a kick out of the description of your boy's "crabass side" Reminds me of our local BH, Lucy, she is a doll baby 95% of the time but watch out for the other 5%. I never knew it was possible for a dog to sneer contemptuosly but she has it down pat.

No biggie, I read it wrong....sorry.

Yeah, they do have a side that they don't explain in the breed temperament section. My boy has the "go ahead, make my day" look down to a science.

I guess I feel responsible because it is a team member, albeit a distant, never come to trainings or workshops member, but a member just as well. Plus, the dog deserves a chance and "free to a good home" does not put up much of one for her. IMO at least.

"Free to good home" makes me think: dog fighting ring, hoarder, potential puppy mill if the dog is not neutered/spayed and the least of all evils an inexperienced family. Which in this case would be as bad as the other situations.