Hey, I'm not the OP seeking euth. advice on the board. She was already told to see a trainer.... Years ago.

You think it's unethical to PTS (sight unseen - I guess Griffey could be Beethoven underneath it all). I think it's unethical to rehome (sight unseen - But maybe he's Kujo). It's a difference of opinion.

This is all theoretical as it is. SO, I will qualify my statements with - If what the OP is saying is true, with the confirmed history of bites/attacks on people and dogs, and given my personal experience with many people with similar stories, then my opinion in unchanged.

Just saw your other post.... I think you might have missed the part where another member dug up some old posts about the dog biting people.

A dog killing a cat is not the same as attacking the other dogs in the home and neighborhood, or attacking people. I hope that's not what you think I thought.

I would NEVER recommend euth on a dog with normal crittering prey drive. That's just stupid.

 Quote: Ana Kozlowsky

The rescue or a trained professional would be in a better position to give a recommendation after seeing the dog than somebody who only read owner's description of the problem on the internet.

It is considered inappropriate to give medical advice over the internet yet it seems fine to recommend PTS without actually seeing the dog.

I'd usually agree with that. If the dog has just killed a cat or had DA issues I'd say the same thing. BUT this dog has also bitten at least one person. Most rescues won't touch a dog like that due to liability issues.

He may be an awesome dog underneath. But is I were involved with rescue, I wouldn't take him. Too many dogs with absolutely no aggression - why take a chance on one with this history?

It sucks for the dog, because this sounds like it might have been easily prevented, but that's water under the bridge now

Last point, and then I'll shut up about it -

During agg evals, it is very common (in my experience) for the client to leave out the 'really troublesome' stuff about their dog (much like the OP in this scenario). Their opening statements usually go something like this -
"He's a really good dog. He's very loving. He just seems to have a problem with...."

They care about their dog, and want to frame them in a good light. I have to ask many follow up questions to really get the full scope of the aggression problem.

Point is, people tend to down-play (knowingly or unknowingly) the true extent of their dog's problems. So, usually, the problem is actually worse than the person is willing to express at the moment. (Like this OP)

Does anyone else think it is rather unusual that she never mentioned the incident of the dog biting the man in her first post here?

You know, the one where she was looking for approval in killing her dog?

Sure, it could of been a Cujo type thing, it also could of been just a rambunctious untrained young dog.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Good points.

Also, just in case this is a thought: surrendering this dog to a shelter (as opposed to a rescue) to live in anxiety and loneliness before a lonely death with no loved one there is the absolute crap way out.

Amen

Deeep sigh. In a perfect world, someone who truly understands dogs and is experienced in training would be given the FULL TRUTH about Griffy and then be able to evaluate him. In a perfect world someone would be able to determine if the older man being bitten was just an untrained, unruly dog vs an aggressive dog, etc... But this all is based on finding the experienced professional who could honestly and accurately evaluate this dog, AND the owner being 100% up front about every situation in which the dog has been involved.

Sadly, most of know how rare it is to find that combination, together, in the same place at the same time.

One more post which just makes me so darn sad for the innocent dog. Michael may have been right from the get-go...

Jenn K: He recently bit an old man who always walks the street, don't know why.

 Quote: Betty Waldron

Does anyone else think it is rather unusual that she never mentioned the incident of the dog biting the man in her first post here?

Absolutely Betty. That was the first thing that came to mind when I saw that other post. Why no mention of this now. It’s definitely ammunition she could have used to plead or solidify her case.

And just as interesting, no mention of the dog attacks in the other post.

 Quote: Jennifer Krimmer

The St. Bernard, Griffey, attacked my male Golden, Wrigley, about 3 years ago…. Is was very serious and expensive.

Was this not around the same time, if not before.

And this was a bit strange to me too - 2.5 years ago (going by Barbara’s calculations) there was mention of 5 daughters, sounding like a busy young couple with young girls all about and then this post, just 2.5 years later – no mention of children at home but now she’s alluding to two grandchildren. I wonder if there are kids in this picture at all.

 Quote: Jennifer Krimmer

The other two were going through the fence ….they would be running the neighborhood,

In my neighborhood, not only would this be extremely annoying … there would have been some serious discussions. And most people around here get it; the dogs WOULD NOT have been the focus of those talks.

The whole zoning thing too. Possibly an “excuse” or add-in to the previous post so she wouldn’t get suggestions to put up a fence. Some people feel fences aren’t that aesthetically pleasing or perhaps she didn’t want the added expense. She had no problems, this time, stating that they “Accordingly” put one up and throwing out dollar figures. (I wonder how much prodding that took?)

And now that the dogs are contained, it would be difficult to throw in “biting strangers” without some huge culpability on her part.

 Quote: Lisa Brazeau

During agg evals, it is very common (in my experience) for the client to leave out the 'really troublesome' stuff …..

Point is, people tend to down-play (knowingly or unknowingly) the true extent of their dog's problems. So, usually, the problem is actually worse than the person is willing to express at the moment. (Like this OP)

Perhaps, when people are looking for rehab or training or placement with a rescue, but this lady is trying to sell us on justification for killing her dog. Don’t you think the full extent of the issues (if they were true and really that bad) would be brought forward?

I’m not going to expound on what I feel is really going on because the way my mind is thinking, it’s an ugly, ugly thing. Finding that information (it’s a gift – I rarely forget a dog’s name, people are another story ) and actually putting some thoughts into words already had me in tears once for this poor dog.

 Quote: Jennifer Krimmer

We do live in a neighborhood, where other dogs behave and their owners are not walking down the streets chooing every animal away, etc.

I do wonder what’s really happening here though. Seems a bit envious. Perhaps someone is not getting the warmest receptions ….

And it’s not like this is a brand new rescue, she’s raised this dog for five years. That’s a lot of influence to put solely on a dog’s shoulders.

But like I said, not going there. One thing I have said before though is that when our dogs are acting out, it’s often time to take a look in the mirror to see what’s causing it or what often has the ability to prevent it. But it seems that, if some folks really don’t like what they’re seeing, they simply get rid of the mirror.

It’s such a shame because often, if we’re willing to really look, we can learn so much.

But then again, when we’re not looking, Kujo just may sneak up and bite us in the ass. Bad dog…. I don’t think so. A very loud WAKE UP call maybe, but I don’t think this is a bad dog.

---

Ha ha... Jethro did bite me in the ass - in our last day of obedience level 1 when we were performing commands for class. I hadn't practiced the exercise enough - it was the Finish command (dog comes in from the front, circles around my right side and finishes in a nice tight Sit on my left). As Jethro was making his pass behind me he took a nip at my rear end right in front of everyone - and then Sat with a look of innocence on his face. Everyone was laughing. We came second in the class...

As an owner of a St. Bernard, I was so sad to read this post. I think this whole situation was handled badly from beginning to end, and that there is much more to this story than what is being told.

My own Saint, Moe, can be very dog aggressive in different situations. My way of dealing with this is to avoid putting him in these situations.
On leash (where his aggression is worse), I do not let him stop to engage with other dogs at all, just keep moving, no matter how much he huffs and puffs.

Our yard is one acre, fenced in, where he loves to be under his apple tree and playing with Texas, our Dobe. Since Texas has higher energy , there are times when Moe lets him know when he has had enough. We are also there to pick up on his signal and engage Texas in something else, if he doesn't pick up on the signal, which he usually does, most Goldens I know wouldn't.

We also have to keep his age and physical condition in mind. Moe is 8+ years and has joint issues. This dog is 5 years old, they age faster than other dogs, perhaps he has pain issues?

These dogs are known to be very stubborn,but over all he has been a wonderful dog with all my animals, family members, and grandchild.

Honestly, I thinkl the poster is looking for an easy out of the size, slobber, and work of a giant breed. These incidents have been few and far between,IMO, if we have been told correctly, really not an issue that I feel couldn't be dealt with.

Yet again, the dog pays the price.