So I've spoken to a few of you regarding where I got my my dobe Hoss, but for those I haven't, here's a run down. My boss does lots of dobe rescue on her own, getting them in, getting them fixed and healthy and finding them homes. She's been at it awhile, and done an amazing job.
But her latest dobe, a fawn boy, is proving to be a tough case. He came in about 7 months ago, he was HW positive, weighing in at about 53lbs (he was GROSS), and in heart failure (go figure, a heart FULL of worms in failure..) The vet said he had a 50/50 chance of either just dropping over dead, or surviving. We had wanted to get him to gain some weight first, get him stronger, but with his heart in failure, there just wasnt time. So she went for it.
Amazingly enough, he survived! He's gone through THREE HW treatments, those of you that know HW, know what an incredible feat that is! He has also gained nearly 40lbs while with us. So right now, he is HW free, at a great weight, and over all, VERY healthy! (though his heart is going to have to be monitored closely the rest of his life)
He's a gorgeous, VERY handsome boy who loves love. So here's where it gets tricky, he's become VERY possessive/ aggressive, not only of my boss, but of the daycare, his kennel, etc. The thing is, I've worked with a LOT of aggressive/possessive dogs, I know what makes them tick. I also think there is more to his story than just being possessive of things/people. I think at some point, someone beat the hell out of him.
Let me explain.
When you don't make eye contact, or call him over, or attempt to tell him to do anything, he will come up to you like your average dobe, shoving his nose in anywhere it'll fit to get some love. BUT if you attempt to ask/tell him to come, he flips the hell out. If he's been rotten, I can holler at him to knock it off and sit down, and he will.. he sits and looks guilty, stops what he was doing and most of the time once I've walked away, will come up behind me and nuzzle my hand, like.. "Sorry, you're not mad right?" normal behavior.
But my guess is, someone would command him to come, then did something awful to him, cause if you call his name, or tell him to come, that's when he freaks out on you. When I say freak out, I mean charges full speed at you, snapping and snarling, which is the point where I whip out my handy dandy spray bottle, a gesture that more often than not, stops him in his tracks.
If I didnt have four dogs of my own (one being a dobe that already needs some work) and had the time, I would take him on, find out what makes him snap, and work on it. But alas, I do NOT have the time to take on a severe case like him. Nor does my boss, she has a business to run, a wedding to plan, and a baby on the way, plus she has 6 dogs of her own (5 dobes and a mutt) as well as another foster dobe with a degenerative spine that of recent, can no longer even walk on his own. (sadly may have to be put down soon, poor sweet guy) So she has WAY too much on her plate, and consistency in a dog daycare setting is tough.
To be completely honest, if it were anyone elses dog and they either couldnt or wouldnt get professional help for this dog, I'd suggest putting him down.
Please let me be clear, this is NOT an option I take lightly when it comes to behavior. But I ALWAYS put human safety first, I do NOT want to get into any sort of discussion or argument about behavioral euthanasia.
He really is a danger in the current circumstance, a case where either the foster parent adopts the dog, or puts the dog down. I KNOW my boss will not euthanize him, it would break her heart, all of our hearts, especially after the fight he has won with HW. But with her own 6 dogs, her other foster, and a baby on the way, she can not take him home, the baby's safety would be at risk). I can not take him, I dont have the time/space, and my other coworkers do not have the knowledge/skills to safely work with him.
SO. the only other option is to find someone who can work with a severe case like him, he's going to need a LOT of help, and best case scenario, a job to help him cope and to put his energy towards instead of possession and whatever is causing the aggression.
If you know of anyone who can work with a dog like this, please let me know. He really is a sweet dog, I just think he has some wires crossed, and needs someone that will understand him, and that he will understand, so they can work together to make him a beneficial member of human/dog society.
Dog is located in NE Ohio.
I have pictures of him somewhere.. of when we first got him and now, I'll find them and upload them
But her latest dobe, a fawn boy, is proving to be a tough case. He came in about 7 months ago, he was HW positive, weighing in at about 53lbs (he was GROSS), and in heart failure (go figure, a heart FULL of worms in failure..) The vet said he had a 50/50 chance of either just dropping over dead, or surviving. We had wanted to get him to gain some weight first, get him stronger, but with his heart in failure, there just wasnt time. So she went for it.
Amazingly enough, he survived! He's gone through THREE HW treatments, those of you that know HW, know what an incredible feat that is! He has also gained nearly 40lbs while with us. So right now, he is HW free, at a great weight, and over all, VERY healthy! (though his heart is going to have to be monitored closely the rest of his life)
He's a gorgeous, VERY handsome boy who loves love. So here's where it gets tricky, he's become VERY possessive/ aggressive, not only of my boss, but of the daycare, his kennel, etc. The thing is, I've worked with a LOT of aggressive/possessive dogs, I know what makes them tick. I also think there is more to his story than just being possessive of things/people. I think at some point, someone beat the hell out of him.
Let me explain.
When you don't make eye contact, or call him over, or attempt to tell him to do anything, he will come up to you like your average dobe, shoving his nose in anywhere it'll fit to get some love. BUT if you attempt to ask/tell him to come, he flips the hell out. If he's been rotten, I can holler at him to knock it off and sit down, and he will.. he sits and looks guilty, stops what he was doing and most of the time once I've walked away, will come up behind me and nuzzle my hand, like.. "Sorry, you're not mad right?" normal behavior.
But my guess is, someone would command him to come, then did something awful to him, cause if you call his name, or tell him to come, that's when he freaks out on you. When I say freak out, I mean charges full speed at you, snapping and snarling, which is the point where I whip out my handy dandy spray bottle, a gesture that more often than not, stops him in his tracks.
If I didnt have four dogs of my own (one being a dobe that already needs some work) and had the time, I would take him on, find out what makes him snap, and work on it. But alas, I do NOT have the time to take on a severe case like him. Nor does my boss, she has a business to run, a wedding to plan, and a baby on the way, plus she has 6 dogs of her own (5 dobes and a mutt) as well as another foster dobe with a degenerative spine that of recent, can no longer even walk on his own. (sadly may have to be put down soon, poor sweet guy) So she has WAY too much on her plate, and consistency in a dog daycare setting is tough.
To be completely honest, if it were anyone elses dog and they either couldnt or wouldnt get professional help for this dog, I'd suggest putting him down.
Please let me be clear, this is NOT an option I take lightly when it comes to behavior. But I ALWAYS put human safety first, I do NOT want to get into any sort of discussion or argument about behavioral euthanasia.
He really is a danger in the current circumstance, a case where either the foster parent adopts the dog, or puts the dog down. I KNOW my boss will not euthanize him, it would break her heart, all of our hearts, especially after the fight he has won with HW. But with her own 6 dogs, her other foster, and a baby on the way, she can not take him home, the baby's safety would be at risk). I can not take him, I dont have the time/space, and my other coworkers do not have the knowledge/skills to safely work with him.
SO. the only other option is to find someone who can work with a severe case like him, he's going to need a LOT of help, and best case scenario, a job to help him cope and to put his energy towards instead of possession and whatever is causing the aggression.
If you know of anyone who can work with a dog like this, please let me know. He really is a sweet dog, I just think he has some wires crossed, and needs someone that will understand him, and that he will understand, so they can work together to make him a beneficial member of human/dog society.
Dog is located in NE Ohio.
I have pictures of him somewhere.. of when we first got him and now, I'll find them and upload them