So I have a bit of a situation on my hands. I need some opinions and ideas quick. My girlfriend and I (Im 21 and she's 19) got a lab mix pup about 3 years ago. She's one of the most loving, playful dogs I've ever been around and she feels like a child to me. I couldn't imagine every getting rid of her. She's my best buddy when I'm outside, she sits on the deck and lays beside me when I have fires, when we run in the yard she trots along side us, she's a beer drinker, and she shows more love than any other dog I've ever met. I definitely understand why they say "Man's best friend". Anyways, we've taken care of her for the last few years (all through high school) and now that my girlfriend has gone to school, we don't get to see the dog as much. The dog stays out at my girlfriend's family's house out in the country, and generally while her dad is outside working (mowing, etc) he lets the dog off and lets her run. She's done this for three years, and we've never had any issues. She gets along with the neighbors dogs and she goes over and plays while she is off the chain. The neighbors dogs also come over our way when they are off. The dogs range in size from Chihauhaus, labs, rotts, and german shephards. The one problem with the dog is that she's scared of strangers. When we got her we had an idea that she had been beaten and mistreated very poorly as a pup. I've done alot of reading up on it, and they call it "fear aggression". When we have people over, she ignores everybody until she gets to know them. She'll avoid them until she is comfortable with them and then she will start to come around. We have always told everyone this and that they just ignore her- we've never had any problems. When someone does go at her (when she's chained, usually in a corner), she cowers down, tucks her tail, and growls. She snapped at one lady about 2 years ago (lady had her cornered, Nikki cowered down and growled, the lady kept reaching for her, and she snapped at her- she was still a pup), we thought we corrected her and and we've never had a problem since. Well just a couple days ago, I guess my girlfriend's dad let her off as usual. He was in the yard working and heard a dog whine. He said he looked up and here came Nikki running across the yard with another small dog (we have no clue who it belonged to- never seen it before, ever) in her mouth. He couldn't believe it and he said he yelled at Nikki and she dropped the little one. Nikki came to him and the little one ran off. She's never done ANYTHING like this before. She's always got along with the other dogs and never hurt any other dog. I have seen her chase squirrels, rabbits, birds, etc., but never hurt another dog. So the girlfriend's dad says we have to get rid of her. I don't know what to do. I have no place for her. I told him I would buy several new chains to keep her tied off all the time, and I offered to buy and install an electric fence for her, but he disregarded that idea and said it wouldn't work. He said the only way to consider keeping her is if I pay to take her through Behavioral Classes, which are VERY expensive, and I don't have the funds to pull that off. The little **** is a GREAT dog. Extremely loyal, loving, and playful. I don't know what happened to cause her to do that- we didn't see it. All I know is I'm extremely torn over this and don't know what to do. I'm hoping some of you guys on here have some ideas. I've never met any of you guys but I trust alot of you and I know you guys have experienced alot of situations. I'm up for ANY ideas. Thanks in advance, guys. PE http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b293/englum_06/?action=view¤t=083007_1754.flv
You say you don't have the funds for behavioral classes but do for an electric fence. I think the latter would cost more and besides from the sounds of it she is too old for those classes now. Why is it you can't keep the dog, I saw why your girlfriend can't but either I overlooked why you can't or it wasn't mentioned. Sounds to me like the FIL doesn't want the liability. Chaining up a dog is not the answer, a kennel would be a better solution but I'm not found of them either. Unless you can find someone willing to boarder the dog I think you are up against a hard decision. Good luck and hope it all works out for you.
Chaining dogs magnifies fear aggression and will actually make it much worse. Changing a dog's behavior requires much more than classes. Classes should teach the owner how/what to do but training a dog requires working with the dog every day. You cannot change fear aggression. You have to train the dog to follow commands so that you both can work around the fear aggression. If you have no place for her then I do not see how you can work with her to get her issues under better control. I would suggest contacting a rescue organization, a lab rescue if she looks enough like one, let them know the story and ask them if they can find a home for her. If she goes to a shelter it is likely that a dog with her issues will not leave.
The fences I checked out were anywhere from $200-300, where the classes were $100/hour for the one in my area and it made it seem as though MANY classes would have to be attended. I can't afford that. I live in town with a small yard and I'm working on convincing my dad to let me keep her there for a while...he's pretty hard-headed though.
