Actually, check that, he bit my face. I have a bite mark right near the corner of my eye and it was bleeding. It stings but I didn't notice anymore then that. I think I'm gonna put him to sleep today.=(

Sorry Doug. I wish things had gotten better for you both. I wish I could say this was abnormal dog behavior to get possessive about sleep spots but it's not. This was a handler error in leaving the door open but it's becoming apparent that this is not the dog for you. Frankly if I had a dog of that size with that kind of behavior I'd be a short lived dog in my home as well. I know other people here can adapt with, prevent, and work with that kind of behavior but I'm the first to admit not every dog makes a good pet for the average owner.

If that eye cut starts to look even vaguely infected (puffy,red) run, don't walk to your doctor. The bacteria in a dog's mouth is nothing to mess with, especially around your eyes.

Best of luck,

MT

Am I giving up too easily? Am I taking the easy way out? I don't know what to feel here. He's sleeping in his kennel near me right now. He's been playing and snuggling with Sawyer all day. What if he was just playing yesterday in my bed? I don't know what to do.

Should I go in today? Should I keep waiting? What if I don't wait and nothing ever would have happened again? What if I wait and something happens? Ugh I have no idea what to do! I hate Jake for putting me in this situation.

You know, Doug, you have made many mistakes here. The bed thing was another one. But this doesn't mean it's your "fault" exactly. It means that you have the wrong dog and are not experienced enough to deal with the dog. The dog was a bad choice, but the dog probably had no other, better options.

"What if I don't wait and nothing ever would have happened again? "

Well, we never know that. What would change you from the experience level that you are to a higher one? The thing is that you have to decide based on what you know now and then never second-guess it.

All we can do is our best.

Doug, so sorry you're going through this, but Melissa is right about not all dogs being the right match for just any person (that's not a slight against you at all, it's just the way it is). I just reread your very first post on this thread and you mentioned Jake being aggressive to Sawyer regarding the bed... this is an issue you knew about, and he should simply have NEVER been allowed on the bed again.

It's quite unfortunate that the shelter did not inform you about his failing their aggression tests... not to say that an aggressive dog can not be worked with and go on to lead a safe, happy life - with the appropriate owner - but many shelters would have avoided the exact situation you, an average pet owner, are in by putting a dog like Jake to sleep on the spot. You have done very good things with this dog (the initial trainer work on food aggression, the vet care for the injured paw, waiting out this strenuous healing process), and at this point, you need to decide if you're willing to take things 10 steps further and put Jake through some serious bootcamp with you and a QUALIFIED trainer, specializing in aggressive dogs... or whether you've given all you possibly can and just don't feel confident or comfortable enough to live with a dog that will most likely never be trustworthy, at least not in the way that your second dog is proving himself.

This is an awful place to be in, I have no doubt. I've only PTS a very old dog who was clearly suffering and had little left to enjoy in life - and that was excruciating. To do the same for such a young guy who could have much more potential is indeed a heartbreaking idea... although it is realistically the best option if the intensive training and support system he needs in order to be safely controlled can not be provided. Very few people can fill that order Doug, I don't think I'm one of them either... but I've never shared my life with a dog like this.

~Natalya

First and foremost you should take the dog to a vet since you know it's paw is hurt. Second give the dog to someone who wont wait for almost a week to get the dog medical help if it need's it. Mabey you should get a fish for a pet instead.

Agreed on the bed thing- I didn't realize I left my door open. I just can't take it, he's such a sweet loving dog but this other side of him is making me feel like I have no other choice.

I love Jake so much but I don't want to have the kind of relationship with my dog where I have to ALWAYS be on point or else some negative aggressive repercussion. I want the kind of dog that loves me and sleeps by my feet and wants to be next to me but I don't have to always be the dominant super powerful leader. This is torture.

I think I'm gonna take Jake to the park for a run and then to the vet for the unthinkable.

***Embedded image deleted ***


thats my eye. you'll have to click to see it closer and its an awful picture I took with my webcam. You can see the bite mark to the side of my eye and where the teeth scraped my eyelid.



Edited by Connie Sutherland (08/14/2009 01:22 PM)
Edit reason: mod delete

You need to make it a link rather than an embedded image. Thanks.

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7308/photo35d.jpg

No problem. That's the link.

I'm just going to ignore Franklin rather then get into an argument right now, its not worth it.