Tink
20-12-2009, 10:11 PM
I need an opinion.
Okay, Bounce is our "psycho dog". Basically, she was tied to a tree and they shot bottle rockets at her all night during her first fourth of July. She was so traumatized that she was deemed unadoptable because she has a lot of fear aggression and they would have euthanized her but K took her in.
She's Jack russel and Australian sheperd. We have two other dogs that are extremely well mannered and good natured. A saint bernard/lab mix named Dee'Ogee and a flat coated retriever named Misfit. Those two couldn't hurt a fly.
So Bounce has issues. But we prevent any drama. She doesn't go outside unless she's on a leash and we take her for runs in deserted areas because she will attack other dogs or small children so we go to K's work (a huge sawmill) after hours to prevent incident. If someone is coming over, we lock her up.
She is not allowed to even be in the same room as the ferrets so I have a system for musical rooms and I won't even give a chance for something to happen because I do not trust her.
She has accepted the cats like the other dogs in which she doesn't really like them but she tolerates them and does no worse than growl (all bark, no bite).
Thing is, she's getting worse. K's sister and her fiance stopped by for Thanksgiving and she snapped at both of them. Sometimes I think the poor thing is so traumatized from her past abuse she has flashbacks. Literally no one will be threatening her and all the babies will not even be close to her and she stares in the distance and starts growling and whining. It's like she is seeing something we don't.
She's extremely possessive of her dad. To the point she acts out if me and K hug or kiss.
We've gotten used to it and we know she'd be euthanized if she wasn't with us.
But there's a new behavior that's really disturbing.
Dee'ogee is our oldest gentle giant and has epilepsy. She's had seizures on and off for awhile and well they are coming back. Weird thing is now Bounce will attack her while she's having a seizure. That is NOT cool.
I don't understand because she didn't always do that. She used to keep a respectful distance. We had a dog die in our house before (a neighbors dog was laying in the street dying and they werent home some we brought it in so it could be warm and comfortable when it passed). Even then she stood vigil and was very respectful as that dog took its last breaths. She seemed to calm down when it was necessary.
But now? Why is she getting worse? We do everything to let her know she is safe and loved. We probably let her get away with too much but we love her and we know the other option is not a good one for her.
This is a dog that needs to be sedated to be taken to the vet. She will get the muzzle off everytime and has drawn blood on several doctors just by them trying to examine her. She will urinate and defecate in the presence of others.
It's very sad but we are getting frustrated. K got her when she was about a year old. She is about seven now. Also, she wasn't spayed yet when he got her and he got that done but it was a "late alter" so could that be why too?
Basically..is there any hope for Bounce? Why is this progressing when we do so much to appease her? Or is that the problem? Are we letting her get away with too much? Is it us?
Okay, Bounce is our "psycho dog". Basically, she was tied to a tree and they shot bottle rockets at her all night during her first fourth of July. She was so traumatized that she was deemed unadoptable because she has a lot of fear aggression and they would have euthanized her but K took her in.
She's Jack russel and Australian sheperd. We have two other dogs that are extremely well mannered and good natured. A saint bernard/lab mix named Dee'Ogee and a flat coated retriever named Misfit. Those two couldn't hurt a fly.
So Bounce has issues. But we prevent any drama. She doesn't go outside unless she's on a leash and we take her for runs in deserted areas because she will attack other dogs or small children so we go to K's work (a huge sawmill) after hours to prevent incident. If someone is coming over, we lock her up.
She is not allowed to even be in the same room as the ferrets so I have a system for musical rooms and I won't even give a chance for something to happen because I do not trust her.
She has accepted the cats like the other dogs in which she doesn't really like them but she tolerates them and does no worse than growl (all bark, no bite).
Thing is, she's getting worse. K's sister and her fiance stopped by for Thanksgiving and she snapped at both of them. Sometimes I think the poor thing is so traumatized from her past abuse she has flashbacks. Literally no one will be threatening her and all the babies will not even be close to her and she stares in the distance and starts growling and whining. It's like she is seeing something we don't.
She's extremely possessive of her dad. To the point she acts out if me and K hug or kiss.
We've gotten used to it and we know she'd be euthanized if she wasn't with us.
But there's a new behavior that's really disturbing.
Dee'ogee is our oldest gentle giant and has epilepsy. She's had seizures on and off for awhile and well they are coming back. Weird thing is now Bounce will attack her while she's having a seizure. That is NOT cool.
I don't understand because she didn't always do that. She used to keep a respectful distance. We had a dog die in our house before (a neighbors dog was laying in the street dying and they werent home some we brought it in so it could be warm and comfortable when it passed). Even then she stood vigil and was very respectful as that dog took its last breaths. She seemed to calm down when it was necessary.
But now? Why is she getting worse? We do everything to let her know she is safe and loved. We probably let her get away with too much but we love her and we know the other option is not a good one for her.
This is a dog that needs to be sedated to be taken to the vet. She will get the muzzle off everytime and has drawn blood on several doctors just by them trying to examine her. She will urinate and defecate in the presence of others.
It's very sad but we are getting frustrated. K got her when she was about a year old. She is about seven now. Also, she wasn't spayed yet when he got her and he got that done but it was a "late alter" so could that be why too?
Basically..is there any hope for Bounce? Why is this progressing when we do so much to appease her? Or is that the problem? Are we letting her get away with too much? Is it us?