Dangerous Dog!

I can't even begin to describe the huge issues we have had with our rescued GSD x Bull Mastif, but all I will say is that this weekend he took things to the next level.

Having already sought advice from a dog behaviourist who read my detailed report and thinks already there may be nothing she can do, we are having to make that horrible decision of what we should do as responsible owners. The dog behaviourist is still coming to see him so we can be sure we have covered every option.

Considering what has happened he poses a significant threat, imparticular to children and therefore he is not suitable for lets face it most homes in the UK.

I want you to realise that this dog is the most affectionate dog with us and our friends and family and no-one could believe that he did what he did but there is no denying he has some serious underlying issues, we have tried every trick in the book and it has had no effect. He is very well trained but it is the issue of people and dogs that pose the problem. We don't want to give him up but we are trying to be realistic, is there somewhere out there that maybe would consider a dog that could be classed as dangerous?

We have exhausted every option so would be open to any suggestion. The rescue homes near us will not take him, so this is not an option unless you know of one that has special resources. We would be more than prepared to travel to make sure the next home he has is one for life as we would like to think that he could still stand a chance of being happy.

Thanks for listening, sorry for being vague but it is just too complex to cover in a post.

to be honest, i feel anyone would be hard pressed to give you any suggestions without knowing the actual details

I appreciate what you are saying but there is no advice that can be offered in relation to training, techniques etc as we have tried everything.

We were just after some suggestions for re-homing a dog that could be considered in this category as despite my research I have not been able to find anything.

Thanks

What is he actually doing or attempting to do when children are around????
It is a hard choice when they have deeply ingrained issues that may never totally be able to work out of them, but at the same tiime you can decrease their response it does take time and a whole lot of effort, sometimes it may not work anyway.
This is just my general opinion as yes it is very vague and have no clue to what you dog is actually doing to children.
I don't envy you choices.
Emma

I tried to edit and add this but it wouldn't let me so pretend it is all one post
I don't envy you choices as rehoming a dog with issues that can/or are dangerous then you need to be responsible, as giving the dog to someone else is not a solution to the problem it just takes it off your hands.I am not trying to make you feel bad (and would not like to be in your position), but I don't know anyone who does not come in contact with children.
Emma

Not sure in the point of your post!!

You haven't told us anything so how can anyone give you any advice re rehoming

as regards to your first paragraph, and with all due respects, there are a few people on here with experience and *may* be able to help,
but if you dont explain the problems and what you have done so far, you wont actually know you have 'tried everything', as you wont yet know if someone comes up with a suggestion you arent aware of yet?

as regards your second parapraph, i do work for rescues and have been a professional rehomer, and from that point of view, i also couldnt advise you how to rehome a dog when i dont know what it has done either.

aside to say you said if its rescue dog, have you tried returning it to the rescue you got it from?

I'm so sorry to hear this.
I'm assuming he seriously attacked another dog or aggressed towards a human.

Can I just ask, how did you find your behaviourist and are you certain they are absolutely reputable? The reason I ask is because anyone can call themselves a behaviourist and although yours may be a good one, there are too many that aren't and that could not cope with this sort of problem. If they are a member of, for instance, the Associatoin of Pet Behaviour Counsellors you will be on the right track.

Did they suggest a vet check? as sometimes seriously problematic behaviour can be due to a medical problem. This can range from pain to a brain tumour to anything in between ...

Can you say what sort of things you have tried? I ask as some suggestions/books can make dogs worse.

Some people will have dogs that, for example, are dog and people aggressive but they tend to be fairly experienced homes and the dogs usually tend to be their own dogs....also they are not always extremely severe, which does sound the case with your dog? it's hard to tell because we don't know much about what your dog tends to do

Wys
x

This is not the place to rehome an aggressive dog (sorry). Why not contact trainers / rescues who specialise in rehabilitating challenging dogs and see if they are willing to work with him or at least assess him?
At risk of sounding hard, you can`t just pass on the problem. He needs to go to someone prepared to work with him (and most dogs can be rehabilitated).
As he is part GSD I would contact some GSD organisations and ask for contacts. This would be a start.
And because one rescue won`t help, doesn`t mean any other won`t. It doesn`t have to be in your area.
I`d be approaching breed rescues, trainers and behaviourists till I found one who had some positive suggestions, personally.

You say he is loving with the Family does this include children ? If so and you have a problem with dogs and children out side of the home can he not be muzzled when walked ?

If it is children visiting the home can he be put in another room with a gate across so he can see but not interact if he has a problem with children and strangers visiting the home?

My dog a large breed does not get on with all visitors so he is put in the kitchen with a gate across he can see us, hear us but is more than happy to be out of the way and relaxes and goes to sleep. He is very loving to his Family too.