had another fight :-( help please

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hannah87

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Another update, not so good this time.
Had a good week after my last post of Gizmo attcking Louis, had been following all advice on here and it seemed to be working. Anyway a couple of days ago, Giz flipped over nothing - after coming in for a walk, Louis was allowed back in first (after me) then giz. Gizmo flew in and went wild at Louis who was desperately trying to get away :-( Couldnt part them, OH eventually managed to get Giz off, getting a nasty bite in the process. Followed usual procedure of Gizmo isolated till calm.
Giz was castrated yesterday.
Today Gizmo attacked Louis again, badly. Threw a huge pan of freesing water over him, didnt stop him. Again OH managed to get him off but had to take Louis to the vets just now with puncture wounds to his leg
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He is ok though but he was crying and screaming for a good 15 mins after the fight. I felt so helpless.
I dont know what to do. I feel like i cannot trust Giz at all and am on constant guard when they are together. Oh and I are so worried about Louis getting badly hurt, he is such a lovely dog and I feel so bloody awful that I have put him in a position of getting injured.
I realise it takes a while for hormones etc to settle after being castrated and Giz is probs feeling sore and grumpy. But I dont know what to do.
Any advice welcome. We are considering finding him another home with no other pets, but really dont want to. Its not his fault, its his previous owners fault for not socialzing him etc.
Help
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I would be seriously considering rehoming him - there are plenty of good potential homes where he will be loved by someone but also not putting another dog into this situation.

Sorry hun - I feel your pain so much.

xx
 
Horrible, horrible situation, but I do agree with Kitsune.

Rehoming has to be a consideration. I'm cringing just thinking about how much stress you must all be under at present.

Good luck with finding a solution.
 
We had a big problem with our dogs fighting. It was mother and son and son had decided he wanted to be top dog. They were staffies too which meant once he had locked on he wouldnt let go. We had him castrated but in his case it didnt help. He wasnt a normally agressive dog and was fine with people and my daughter but he had this thing for his mum.

It all came to a head when he just wouldnt let go and was tearing her ear. I was beating him with a peice of wood (sounds bad I know) and he would not let go. I was screaming like a banshee and was absolutely terrified. He was a big dog. When they eventually separated, mums ear was torn to shreds and needed stitches and she had punctures all over her face. Son came to vets to and was PTS. We couldnt have him carry on that was and nothing we did seemed to help. I couldnt risk it being my daughter. I have never been so scared and afterwards was distraught for days.

Probably not what you wanted to hear I know but this was our only solution. I hope you find a better one and I feel your pain.
 
Some dogs are better off as only pets - there is no shame in rehoming him, just make sure he finds a good home (maybe someone off the forum would like him?) and you can rest easy x
 
He really is a lovely chap, and if he were our only dog i know we wouldnt have any problems with him. I hate the thought of him being uprooted again and how unsettling that must feel for him. But I just cant risk Louis gettig hurt :-( 99% of the time they are best mates and then something switches and Giz goes for him. If we meet other dogs on walks Giz is very submissive to them. I dont believe he is a nasty or aggressive dog but just has had little life experience and wants to be top dog all the time over Louis.
 
We were in a similar predicament a couple of years ago, when a dog we fostered and hoped to adopt turned on Stella a few times and also bit a couple of people. He had been a stray for a long time, so was possessive of everything in the home, most worryingly me. We consulted a behaviourist, and mostly because of the size difference (he was a 50lb dog, whereas my Boston is 16lbs) she suggested rehoming him as an only pet so that's what we did. It's not a nice position to be in, and if you truly feel like it would never work out long term, maybe it is best that he finds a new home as an only dog.
 
Sorry to hear this, and with you doing the right thing in the first place by giving him a home
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We've done both to be honest.

My old girl used to fight with my Mum's bitch and had her by the throat one day, I will never forget it, there was blood everywhere and she told me to go and stand around the corner and shut my eyes
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She was sent back to her breeder for six months and when she came back it all settled down...the older bitch was PTS not long after though, as she was 12 and had CDRM.

We've also sold on younger dogs that didn't get on with established dogs to show or pet homes.
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Now that I am, ahem, kennel manager, I would make a concerted effort to work through it, but I can understand why you wouldn't want too.

If it happens again water can work, but it is important to keep calm as if the attacking dog gets scared or stressed they tend to hang on tighter - IMO the best policy is getting a length of anything, cord, a lead around the neck, and lifting up in the air off the front feet. Basically cutting off the air supply so they HAVE to let go and you are far enough away so as not to get it if they whip their head around.
Having someone to support the attacked dog so that their skin is not stretched while you do this is also helpful.
 
I'm sorry, it sounds like he's had three chances; each time getting progressively worse. I wouldn't be giving him another and I don't think it's fair to pass the problem onto someone else if you rehome him. Again, sorry, not what you want to hear but next time, it could be a child he attacks; I wouldn't give him the chance.
 
Have been in your position and it is really hard I know. My rotty bitch started attacking my ridgey bitch. Poor Matt ended up at the vets a couple of times for stitches in her back and chest. We also had war wounds as we split them up. It always happened when people came around and seemed to be Sage being jealous of any attention Matty may get.
We have learned to recognise the flash points and step in to defuse the situation. I also used a remote training collar on the Rotty. Both dogs are spayed.
It has worked foer us for around a year now but we always have to be vigilant and watch Sage like a hawk. We did consider rehoming Sage but gave her a last chance. We laso got a behaviourist in although she wasn't the best in the world.
Whatever your decision the very best of luck to you. J x
 
MFH in all fairness - say for instance I wanted him and had no dogs - he would come to be and never be in contact with kids, I'm not sure he needs PTS he just needs careful rehoming.
 
And unless a child is directly in the way, dog aggressive dogs are very rarely people aggressive, quite the opposite, they usually think they are acting in 'defence' of themselves or their 'people'.

ETA - agree with Mattilda, would you consider a behaviourist as a last gasp attempt? A good one who can deal with this sort of issue?
 
Unfortunately some dogs are just like this. It may not be anybody's 'fault', nature has just made Giz more dominant. The castration will help but it will be a few months before the hormones are out of his system, and even then you may have to deal with 'learned behaviour'. I really would advise to rehome Giz as soon as possible, to a home where he is either an only dog or where he will live with only bitches.

If that isn't possible then I'd seriously consider having him pts. I know that sounds dreadful but if things continue as they are he could end up killing your other dog. Dogs fights are nasty and you and your partner could very easily get seriously hurt in trying to stop them. At the end of the day it just isn't worth the risk.
 
I think you guys are right re rehoming him.
We are all constantly on edge which isnt good for anyone. I cant risk Louis getting seriously hurt, and each fight seems to be more serious than the last.
I think Giz needs a home where he is the only pet and would be happier himself.
What is the best way to go about rehoming?
Obviously my priority is the best home possible for him.
 
Is he a pedigree? A friend of mine is involved in Boston terrier rescue, and while human aggressive dogs are a no-no, they frequently find homes for dogs that, through lack of socialisation usually, are not good with other dogs.
 
It would be better all round if you could rehome him via your own home rather than him going into kennels.
Maybe someone on here could help.

Do you think a behaviourist is too much to ask though?
 
No hes not a pedigree, tbh I think hes a cross between a jack russel and possibly a fox terrier. He is 8 months, microchipped, vaccines and very newly castrated.
 
I agree with the other re rehoming, if you have not the confidence to deal with the fighting and an experienced behaviourist is out of the question.

Where abouts are you?
 
Im not sure im experienced enough to deal with it tbh and we are very worried Louis will get seriously hurt next time. Plus living in a constant state of fear that each time they are together Giz may attack is leaving everyone stressed and not helping. I have thought about a behaviourist, although the vet said it could help but will take time and its up to us if we want to risk it any further. Im not sure we do.

Im in Gloucester x
 
Oh your not that far from me then, I will put the feelers out for a suitable home.
Personally I wouldn't be rehoming but I understand why it may be the best option for you. Try not to keep worrying yourself sick about it, I know thats hard but the right home will be out there for him.
 
Part of me feels terrible for putting him through another rehome and I really dont want to. I dont know what to do for the best for both my dogs. They love each other most of the time and have a ball playing etc. It is really hard.
 
If you want me to have Gizmo for a short while then I am sure my greyhounds would soon kick the fiesty little s*d into touch very quickly and teach him some manners
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I am near Gloucester too
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Not sure how serious you are!lol. Do you think that could work?
The thing is, he is VERY submissive to any other dogs we meet on walks in particular big dogs. I dont think its a case of him being aggressive to dogs, just to Louis as he wants to be the boss. I could be very wrong though i guess!
 
I am serious, but like you I am not sure whether it would solve the problem? I think he would be very submissive to my three (and probably the other dogs on the yard which are a lurcher, GSD and labradoodle) as they are all bigger than him
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But then he might still try it on with Louis when he gets back, as nothing really would have changed
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Yooooooo hoooooo Cayla, what do you reckon????
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Oooooh, this could be interesting! Having someone to put him in his place?

I know what B would do
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But in fairness one of the turning points for him was having another dog bat him down, he wasn't used to it and it gave him a taste of his own medicine. And it was Ickle Tikka!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I am serious, but like you I am not sure whether it would solve the problem? I think he would be very submissive to my three (and probably the other dogs on the yard which are a lurcher, GSD and labradoodle) as they are all bigger than him
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But then he might still try it on with Louis when he gets back, as nothing really would have changed
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Yooooooo hoooooo Cayla, what do you reckon????
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[/ QUOTE ]

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NO COMMENT
 
Gazey and a J.r.t
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yeah right.
I think he would be put in his place....as a foreign body in Amy's throat
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But if he was returned home it may may the fighting worse, as generally prolonged time spent apart could make the fighting worse, if the OP is struggling and anxious of dealing wih the situation......could u not just move in Glazey and sort him out that way
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Ah thank you for your valued opinion
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but NO I am not moving in, nor am I squashing both of the little JRTs into my already over-crowded mobile home
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I actually think Islay might get there before Amy did mind you
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Sorry Bramble it was a serious suggestion, but it seems it wouldnt help the situation
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