10 months ago you posted about how this dog "nipped" your daughter twice and that he growls when someone other than you gets near his food. And now this 115# Rottweiler has bitten your 5-yr-old son? "The dog bit him on the arm. To my wife, that was the last straw." Sounds like she's made an accurate assessment of the situation!

My butt puckers just thinking about your description of his behavior and what can happen with one more momentary lapse in judgment or supervision. If your "families well being" truly comes first, it's time to $h!+ or get off the pot! I'd keep this dog away from all family members until a professional trainer has evaluated the situation and told you what needs to be done, which may include placing him with someone else. You're way beyond getting training advice from forums members and watching DVDs.

Just my humble opinion, if you want to keep him, kennel him when he's not working or sell him to an experienced individule with no kids. He's just not going to be the family dog.

When this Rottie MAULS one of your little kids, be sure to have Child Protective Services send the evidence photos to Ed Frawley for his "dog bite PIX collection" he keeps to show people how NOT to manage dominant, aggressive & dangerous dogs <:-(

David, you have a dangerous dog.

How do you know that one day when you're not there, your 5 yr old son won't open the crate door? I've never known any 5 yr old that remembers everything told him/her and obeys completely. It just doesn't happen. Somewhere, sometime, the reminder of the parent will be ignored. It's a given.

Even with you there, the child/children seem to be in your dog's mind his competition for your attention and would you be able to pull a 115 lb Rott off one of your kids?

I understand the emotional ties for you with your dog, but better you be hurt emotionally than someone in your family to be hurt both physically and emotionally. At this point, trying to get your kids to train with your dog and your family trying to exert some kind of alpha role over him is an accident waiting to happen, IMO. I wouldn't advise that AT ALL. As you said yourself, you protecting your children (and your wife!) is the utmost priority.

Yeek. I just read your other posts on this dog. You have a dog that is a ticking time bomb. It's not a matter of "if." It's a matter of "when."

I also understand your attachment to your dog. I'm VERY invested emotionally with my GSD. But I have to tell you, if he EVER made any aggressive moves towards my child, I would string him up so fast there wouldn't be words for it. This dog has been threatening to every member of your household except you.

Obviously you're picturing the distress you would feel at having to rehome this dog. But do yourself a favor and close your eyes and imagine the kind of damage a 115 pound, agressive rottie can do to your child. I mean, REALLY form a visual image of this.

This is not fantasy. Dog attacks on a child can be terrifying for the child and if they're lucky...that's all that happens. Otherwise they are permanently disfigured or KILLED. It does happen, and it happens with dogs just like yours in exactly your situation. You have been given AMPLE evidence that your dog is a danger and count yourself lucky that you've been given warnings.

You simply cannot gamble with your children's safety. YOU will be the one responsible if your dog seriously harms a child, not the dog. YOU.

I'm not trying to be a hard ass. Please, please, please...be objective and take a hard look at this situation and the possible consequences. Go back and read your other posts.

I'll feel really badly for you if you have to rehome your dog. But if your dog seriously hurts one of your children after all of these warnings...

David, why don't you email Ed? I don't think I've ever suggested that to anyone here but if everyone so far believes you have a ticking timebomb on your hands, I'd at least try to get some one-on-one with one of the best there seems to be on the subject - Mr. Frawley.

Either your dog is way beyond your management skills or he's not but getting absolutely clear, concise step-by-step guidance from this thread to me is akin to bringing a watering can to put out a blazing fire. It's just not enough.

Time to bring out the big guns.



Edited by Judy Troiano (03/13/2007 11:46 AM)
Edit reason: typo

I agree, my old grandson LOVES to open crates and play with the dogs...YIKES I know....therefore, there are locks on the crates when he comes to visit....PERIOD
He is allowed to play with the Dutch and the Dutch obeys his every command, he has learned German and sometimes the dog listens to him better than he does us. This is SUPERVISED interaction and if we cannot watch, then the two do not play together.
I have video of them playing hide and go seek with the dogs toy and once I figure out how to download it I will post it.

PLEASE PLEASE do the right thing and have the dog evaluated and find it a home free of children with a handler that can handle him.

As an EMT I have treated 6 dog bites in the last 3 months ALL on kids, some were bad and others were REALLY bad.

Hey David, sounds like the same situation I was in except my kids were allot older and capable of deciding to get with the program or not. Anne mentioned an appropriate correction that many do not like to talk about because some people don't agree but Ed even mentions them in his videos. Not saying you haven't but if not, you'll need to if you want to keep your dog. I've given my chow a level 10 correction on a prong and it's dangerous for you as well should the dog turn on you but he learns you can put the screws to him for misbehaving. I believe Michelle mentioned the family members being on board. If any of them are still approaching the dog to touch him they need to stop. He needs to submit to them calling him but...when he's loose around other people, he should be on a leash and some sort of correction collar. Even when sitting watching TV I still do this with Bruno. If I get up to go to the bathroom, he goes with me. And, as someone mentioned, a muzzle is an excellent, safe way to teach him and correct him until he learns whats what and it takes a long time.

In short, always under control (on a leash or in a crate) and everyone needs to understand what's at stake and be cautious. They wouldn't do this with an alligator and your dog can kill them just as fast. Or put him down. With my chow we opted for the hard, long road but it paid off. He's still a potential threat but we know how to manage him. And it only took 2 years

While I'm certainly no expert, it would think that a prong may not be the best collar for this situation. I've read over and over again on this forum that a prong can stimulate redirected aggression - certainly no picnic with a dog of that size/strength.

For the type of correction you mean, Eric, wouldn't a dominant dog collar be more advisable?

Again, I'm no expert, especially in the field of aggression, just regurgitating some of the information I've read here (and I may have incorrectly interpreted it).

If you want my opinion you should consider re-homing this dog to some one who understands pack structure and does not have kids.

Read my what I have written on preventing dog bites in children and pack structure. I wont retype what I have written - your family is in danger because of the way you have chosen to live with this dog. Thats should be enough