John, it appears that there is a history of this dog being a bit more dog then your skills are ready to handle. I did go back after you said that this was the same dog.(back in the beg of Oct)..& you stated that he went for your leg a couple of times & he was more dog then your training skills was able to handle. That was your reason for sending him out for training. It looks like the dog has now taken this up a notch. I can assure you that this is only the begining of his testing. It will continue, if it is not checked. Even then, some dogs continue to test throughout their lives. It is just their nature. I have a very pushy male (almost 3 1/2yr), not dominate, but will keep testing the boundries. Even though he is checked at each attempt. He is not a bad dog, is very stable, social, very enviromentally sound, but just gets a whooley up his butt & really tests me. Because of the nature of this dog, if I were to ever to rehome him it would not be in a home with kids, unless with a skilled vigilent handler that can manage his outbursts.

From some of the dogs in your dogs pedigree, it looks like he is a hard, strong dog. I would think about whether it is a good fit for a dog like this in the hands of less experienced handler with small children in the home. JMO for whatever it's worth.

ETA...a decision to rehomme a dog is very difficult. I have been there. It can be heartwrenching. But you have a child that has no say in this & it is your job to protect your child. I wish you the strength to make the right decision for all of you.

I've decided to keep the dog, ensuring the kid and the dog are always separated, not get him neutered so as not to risk having a negative effect, and then just evaluate things as they go.

If I need to make a decision at some point to give him up, then I'll do that. But, at this point, I'm comfortable handling him, and my wife is on board with it all.

I know I'll probably take some flak for this decision. But, the kid has been removed from the equation, and the growl that was directed at me was when he was still reeling in pain from being hit by the toy firetruck and I verbally corrected him (I've been hit by it, and it does hurt. I just checked and he has a cut on his leg where he was hit). He has not growled at me for any physical corrections since.

Like I said, I'll evaluate as it goes.

Your kid, your life, your dog. Good luck with your decision. I hope that it all works out for you.

 Quote: John Stopps

... ensuring the kid and the dog are always separated

This is paramount. If you can do this, then good for you for keeping your dog.

 Quote:

...not get him neutered so as not to risk having a negative effect, and then just evaluate things as they go.

I agree with this too; I am not at all convinced that neutering is going to change this dog's inherent temperament; he seems to be a product of his genetics (not saying this is a bad thing!)

 Quote:

If I need to make a decision at some point to give him up, then I'll do that. But, at this point, I'm comfortable handling him, and my wife is on board with it all.

Wife being on board is essential. If everyone involved is not 100% committed, you will fail.


Good luck!