I don't have a frickin clue 'now' and I need HELP!

[Bearsmom]

Delete...pup is fine and doing awesome. Just needed some exposure. Thanks for the info and comments!

[George Streepy]

I was in the same dilemma a while back. I got rid of the dog after it bit my wife. It was a shame because it showed more potential at an early age than any pup I had before. Mine was more aggressive with other dogs. It never showed aggression towards people. It was always scared, you would have thought it was abused prior. It wasn't, I got her when she was 8 weeks old. Some are just like that. I would always think I was to hard on the dog, but I wasn't. I read every article on skittish dogs, tried alot of things, nothing worked. Sorry, I know that isn't what you want to hear. Good luck.

[Bearsmom]

He's fine 'with me'...and he is amazing training...I just don't know how to make him 'trust' others besides me? Because I was not 'there' tonight I don't know...but they said they had him 'cornered' and he was scared and fought. Apparently enough these guys were nervous when I demanded they shake my hand while having him on a leash and he showed no signs of aggression then? I guess I will just keep working with him and do the best I can...and see what happens. Thanks for your reply!

[crowley]

with enough exposure to strangers the dog may come out of it, but more than likely, even if he acts better, the fear will always be in the back of his mind. the question you need to ask yourself is; is the dogs potential worth taking the risk of some kids face being scared for life???

[bency]

I have a few of those skittish dogs in my kennel...they slowly but surely get better, they need lots and lots of interaction with random people to get over it and bring them in your house a lot too.... but I dont try and fix it because I like my dogs like that...makes it harder for random people to pick them up. But far as with me, they handle great and hunt hard, so I dont see any real problems, unless your dog starts to get too aggressive with strangers.

[houndnem]

I was in the same dilemma a while back. I got rid of the dog after it bit my wife.

That was your mistake george!! I've been looking for a dog that would take after my wife and bay her up for me when she gets on one of her rants.
on a more seriouse note, get rid of this dog. I know it's not what you want to hear, but hounds that are agressive toward humans have a defect that cannot be fixed, only curved or controlled. You assume alot of liability by owning this dog and no matter how much you train him his animal instinct is to fight. don't take the chance that he someday feels threatened by that cute little 18 month old and he bites him. there are so many good dogs out there, it aint worth it. I had a dog that was not just a good prospect, it had been on over 40 lion trees. I spayed her before she had a litter of pups and it made her mean. she took after my brother, a guy that worked for me, and a buddy that went to pick her up for me one day. that was it, even though she was worth thousands of $ because of what she had seen, it wasn't worth the chance of her biting somone. I had to send her to that kennal in the sky.

[catenaround]

cull the dog! not worth the risk of a kid being bit let alone some sue happy asshole that shoudnt trie to touch your dog in the first place. Richard

[George Streepy]

Well the Old Lady has been trying to figure out a way to get rid of dogs for years. If you ask her she was mauled by a pack of wolves, even though it was a small scuff on her finger. None the less, I have always lived by the fact that I cannot assume the liability of a biting dog. I have a 5 year old and 2 year old kids running around here. I have to be able to completely trust my dogs. The dog was always pretty good with me but just before I dropped it off at the "farm upstate" it tried to get a hold of me. My friends daughter was bitten in the face by a dog, it is very sad to see. I wouldn't want my selfish desire to have good dogs permently disfigure a child. I agree that there are other good dogs out there. It is up to you on whether or not you want to take the risk. The dog is not curable, and I sure as heck wouldn't let it around my kids.

[Bearsmom]

I just spoke to the lady again where all this took place to get a better understanding of all that happened. She said the dog was not aggressive until the 3 men cornered him and put a slip pole on him. She thought he was way more scared then aggressive and fighting against them rather then at them. I had two dogs involved and it was my malamute that was very aggressive trying to get her little dogs. Yes the malamute is a cull....I've already been putting up with issues with her the past month and had enough there. She doesn't bite people but I would shoot a dog that came on my property attacking any of mine and I believe those people deserve my same respect. I wanted to make absolutely sure I was understanding the entire situation with both dogs before I make a snap decision. I do agree and won't own a biting dog AT ALL!!! Skiddish is an entire different story from 'aggressive'. When I took him out of the box (sheriff's) the lady was not afraid of him at all and put her hand out so he could smell it and he was fine. I will watch him closely though and any signs of aggression he will be gone. Thank you everyone for the advice.
I did just have him at a dog trial and though he was nervous at first I walked around with him and let him adjust to all the 'newness' and people/dogs and he was ok there. That is partly what confused me when they said he was aggressive and I wanted to make sure.

[pegleg]

this is one of those areas i don't agree with the mainstream on. I prefer a wary hound and will select one over it's buddy finding litter mate for the same reason mentioned above a hound who is so damn friendly anyone can load it up is a easy target for a thief. I rather have a hound who will skirt around a stranger and continue on it's way. I don't believe this is shyness it's normal for anything to regard anything new with suspicion. and if you look at it from the hounds point of view a person has cornered you and beat the hell out of you and now three of them have chased you into a corner and attacked you what are your options?
I think we have domesticated our dogs to a point where it's actually more dangerous then before. people have lost respect for dogs in general as they no longer represent any type of threat and have been portrayed wrongly in our media as furry people this leads idiots to expect them behave like humans. If i want a guard dog that's what i want. not a symbol of one. if my children are playing and some stranger acts threateningly I want to KNOW what their dogs will do to protect them not hope. I wouldn't worry about a law suite nearly as much as i would a kidnapping. kidnappings tend to have a much higher mortality rate. perhaps if we looked at dogs as dogs we would have a better understanding of their response. a dog is a better crime prevention then your local police officer. your dog is on the scene constantly plus a loyalty to You that most of us couldn't afford to purchase from any human.
the fear that dogs will strike out at children comes from this regression of domestic dogs to a puppy state. those breeds that are most friendly and playful are also those exhibiting the highest level of infantile behaviors. as wild dogs/wolves age and mature they loose their high degree of playfulness exhibited as puppies. this playfulness and willingness to allow strangers into their pack unchallenged is a stage of learning and exploration coupled with self preservation. the adults also exhibit a protective nature towards the immature pack members. Think about this have you ever seen a strong well respected member of your pack ever seriously attack a young pup? then answer this have you ever seen a really playful and goofy acting adult chew hell outa a pup? My experience has always been that way. those breeds of dogs that have been breed to maintain their puppy behaviors the most like toys are also the ones that behave most poorly with a higher incidence of biting children but because of their physical size the damage and act is minimized. we should use that as a guide in selecting behaviors and traits we breed for in larger breeds. I am not promoting extreme shyness and fear biters or the other type which tries to challenge and dominate every adult in its path. just saying we should give some thought to what causes the problems not just what they appear to be caused from.

[Bearsmom]

Thank you very much for your input...everyone's. But I just took this video on the 3rd? I was very upset when they told me that pup was 'aggressive? I'm glad I took the time to go back and talk to them to get more info before I cull a pup that 'might have' just had the hell scared out of him. I have no fear of him biting a child..that is my grandson and the biggest LIGHT in 'my world' right now and I would NEVER put him in harms way and kill anyone that did...and you can see in my video this pup is very calm with him and loves him.
I'm gonna keep working with him but on a different level now...but I will be 'watching'...thank you again everyone for your input! I am listening and learning!

[George Streepy]

With all due respect pegleg you were more likely to be kidnapped than your children. Violent crimes against children are are at a level equivalent with the late 1960's from what I understand. The media has a habit of focusing on any bad story. Now days we have 20 news channels competing for the worse story. It is what brings in viewers. You are alot more likely to experience negative effects from a dog that does something than to have your children assaulted or kidnapped. I would rather be bit in face than have any ones children experience something like that, but we have a responsibility to maintain safe animals so some one isn't permanently disfigured or worse. I don't think they should do away with the dog. I think they need to way the good and the bad and make the decision for themselves. I have decided to not take the chance. I wish Bearsmom the best of luck. From what is being said it doesn't sound like the dog is vicious, just skittish. I do not like the dogs who get so skittish they do unpredictable things.

[Bearsmom]

Thank you George and I did not take in 'all' in the prior post because I am not familiar with the name...
I am taking in ALL of the posts and also what I am still 'gathering'...in info and from what I SEE in my OWN videos...I will kill ANY DOG if I see it aggressive to a child...even 'yours' if I was there. (hypythetical remark) I just want to make sure I do 'right' by a dog...they don't ask to be 'beat'...but ALOT of young hound owners do...wanting a 'perfect dog'...IMMEDIATELY! And there are some that are...used as a 'tool'...mine are NOT just tools...I realize they can be lost at any time but they are still dogs...that rely on 'someone' to 'do right by them'....and I do believe if you do 'them right'...you will get the same results. (well, the best they can...to their abilities..I'm not stupid there either!) I still don't see him as a 'cull' yet...maybe I just need to work 'harder' and this is a learning leason for me and the dog...time will tell...thank you again so much for response/advice!

[grouse]

It seems to me you all ready have your mind made up so why ask for suggestions ?

[radar]

As long as he likes you ,your family and the people plus there dogs that you hunt with, F-every one else right?I'm mean I don't want just any one to pick'em up .It says it on there collare name plat "DON'T PICK UP"Who knows how those Sheriff's were treating him. Cull a dog cuz he's growlly twards strangers? You guys sometimes

Maybe he likes the smell of pigs and was gonna try bay'em up