Okay, so I am a vegetarian, environmentalist, animal-lover. I detest any harm done to any animal, but I have a dilemma.I'm not dog trainer or veterinarian but, having accumulated a number of links and done a fair amount of research since starting the blog, I felt confident replying with some resources, though I ask any readers out there who have an expert opinion or experiences with this sort of opinion to contribute their comments for Delilah. I'm sure she could use our support.
I walk and bicycle everywhere. My neighbors have a very aggressive (probably territorially aggressive, as suggested by the blog) dog, and they refuse to keep it in the fence. I have seen it chase, snarl, and snap at a number of people, including the mailman, gas-meter man, passersby, etc. It has tried to bite me more than once while I have been on foot and on my bicycle.
Advice-givers have told me to just hit it in the face with a stick or kick it, but that seems too violent for me and potentially very dangerous (what if it gets really angry that I smacked it?). The people who own it have seen it try to attack me and others, and only call the dog back but do not try and remedy the situation in any way.
Many people in my neighborhood use bicycles and walking as their main mode of transport. Kids run around all over my street. I had to call animal control on this dog because it is a danger to me and to everyone else that does not live in that house. Since there have been no reports of actual bites, the dog won't necessarily be euthanized (I assume).
I just have such a dilemma because I don't really feel that it is the dog's fault. It is the people's fault for not providing a proper place for this dog (and, of course, their other dogs that run free, but this is the only aggressive one), and I feel bad that the dog will be the one punished. What generally happens to dogs like this? Is there any answer to that question? It is a German Shepherd that looks like it is probably about to reach reproductive maturity.
Thank you for your time,
Delilah
Louisiana
Delilah,
Do you know the dog’s gender? I have a hard time reading the depersonalizing “it” over and over again. :)
Sadly, situations like this rarely work out well for the nonhuman, due to their property status and the lack of care exhibited by owners toward them. However, with patience, good will, and a little bit of research, the situation may be improved.
Definitely do not hit the dog. Like people, some animals will consider this an act of aggression rather than correction for a certain behavior. This may just further traumatize the dog and make him or her more aggressive.
Have you and your neighbors spoken with the dog’s owners? If you’re not comfortable doing this on your own, I’d definitely suggest meeting with others in your neighborhood and getting together as a group to stage an “intervention” on behalf of the dog and all the residents in the area.
It’s important that this be done with everyone’s interests in mind, particularly the dog’s, so such a meeting should be as non-confrontational as possible. Otherwise, matters will only grow worse. After all, there could be a health issue with the dog. If this aggressive behavior is relatively new, it could point to an underlying illness of some sort, one only a vet can diagnose.
If it’s not medical (and even if it is), this dog is probably lacking something important: socialization, exercise, discipline, or all of the above. You and your neighbors should express your concerns with a bit of behavioral research provided to back up your concerns, as well as some strong solutions and alternatives, so you’re not just complaining, but offering to help. Solve this as a community, not as adversaries.
Here are some sites that might help, in terms of better ascertaining the situation and handling it:
http://www.k9aggression.com/sitemap.html
http://www.dogproblemsolutions.com/
http://www.dogaggressiontraining.com/dog-aggression.html
http://leerburg.com/aggresiv.htm
Thank you for your concern for animals and for getting in touch. Good luck!
All the best,
Eric
Labels: aggressive dogs, companion animals, dogs, pets
