I did send an email to the Parenting.com web site right before I posted the link.

No reply yet.

I would probably also copy a link to all our responses.

I agree. There was so much more they could have done. And ending the dogs life should not have been an option. I also feel that not the whole story is told, the dog may have been sleeping when the child climbed into the mothers lap, maybe the child startled the dog?

Theres so many possibilities on what could have happened, the fellow acted on emotion and did the wrong thing.

And not training the dog?! That is just stupid.

OMG, I knew more about how to raise dogs than this guy when my family got our first dog years ago. And I was SIX.

As someone pointed out he bought a puppy from a pet store on an impulse. I'll admit I had one pet store dog but that was years ago before all the information about those pups came out.

Then the idiot does no training and when the dog starts showing signs of aggression gets some pure positive idiot and puts the dog on meds. Problem solved? Of course not. Now there's nothing wrong with massage or meds. They can help but they can't do it all. Dogs, like kids, need training. And yes, I'd be willing to bet they basically raise their kids the same way.

And to top it off he writes an article that basically is just a lot of excuses as to why he finally had the dog killed. He learned nothing from the experience and didn't even bother to research and find out why it happened much less mention any lessons learned in the article.

The Guy should not be allowed to have Kids, He should have his bits snipped to save unwanted problems he will enfict on his kids, the same as he did his dog, He is a pathetic person

 Quote: alex corral

...I can't believe he thought it was ok to write something like that. Now, people who are in a similar or less stressful situation will think what he did is ok, and do the same. He really does not deserve to own a dog. I hope he and his wife have better luck with their kids.

You guys, we all know this was a pack issue, but this guy doesn't. I just want to point out that I would have been this kind of owner, had I not researched prong collars, and came across the leerburg.com article on fitting the collars correctly. From there, I read the article on pack structure, and started ordering useful videos. The bottom line--I was lucky I found it, or my dog wouldn't be laying here by me right now in a down, she would be all over, tearing up stuff like the guy's dog Wilson was. And the dog would be on the couch or a special chair that was the "dog's chair," and would probably sleep with me in the bed! You see, people are SO misinformed on dogs and the way they think, that they believe they are doing loving, caring things with them, when they are only teaching the dog that it is in charge.

I think writing emails to this site is a good idea, as apparently they have no idea what they are talking about with regards to dogs. If we send them enough emails that are sincerely just trying to inform them that they are giving misleading advice, I am sure they will post a counterpoint. This is a parenting issue, in fact, and I am sure many people read this magazine. Let's help!

 Quote:

You see, people are SO misinformed on dogs and the way they think, that they believe they are doing loving, caring things with them, when they are only teaching the dog that it is in charge.

Exactly why articles like this are so dangerous - people will actually believe that what this guy did in terms of raising his dog/disposing of his dog like a broken toy was okay.

 Quote:

I think writing emails to this site is a good idea, as apparently they have no idea what they are talking about with regards to dogs. If we send them enough emails that are sincerely just trying to inform them that they are giving misleading advice, I am sure they will post a counterpoint.

Let's hope. I just sent them quite a lengthy email suggesting that they DO write a counterpoint. I hope others will write as well. Maybe if they are inundated with mail about this article they will be inspired to write about how this situation SHOULD have gone down. Grrr...

I believe that folks here are being a bit harsh on this (albeit dumb) owner. He reminds me of a LOT of dog owners. Misinformed? Ignorant? Absolutely. But hardly should he be described as an "asshole" - that seems uncalled for. He DID take the dog to a vet (who didn't advise him to go to a trainer, or to check out leerburg.com) but instead prescribed doggie prozac. Then he took him to a TRAINER who is the REAL asshole in this scenario - imagine massaging (I read petting/rewarding) a dog for bad/dominant behavior.
This poor sod sought out advice from the experts and THEY were the ones who failed him.
I hope that emails to Parenting Magazine include some helpful dog-aggression-training tips, and not just attacks on this guy's character.

 Quote: Mike Armstrong

What a pathetic person. And he claims he insisted the dog had to go, but didn't even have the huevos to take the dog in either time himself.

I read back through the thread to see if anyone pointed this out. It really jumped out at me. He made alot of choices, did this and did that. But honey, take the dog to the vet to be put to sleep.

Sorry Charles, I think destroying a dog for no good reason is "uncalled for". Calling this guy an ASSHOLE is a step up from what he truly is. Let's give credit where it is deserved - squarely upon the ASSHOLES shoulders.