On Guinness

[deza]

I don't think there's any question that I absolutely adore my pupperboy. Even when he's aggravating the hell out of me, he's still my furbaby. He is my constant companion and emotional support, particularly on the really bad days. I truly believe he's kept me out of the hospital, helping to regulate my body temperature when I've had some bad methotrexate reactions.

A few months ago, a young friend of ours came to visit Rowan for a week or so. While she was here, Guinness snapped at her. She wasn't hurt, thank heavens, and since I didn't see it I just assumed she'd somehow provoked it and left it at that. H, I'm sorry I didn't believe you.

When my friend Cat stopped byon her way home from the Frozen North, she started playing with Guinness. He was loving it, playing right along, all his body language in full PLAY mode - until he bit her three times in quick succession on the wrist. He didn't draw blood, but he did break skin and left some pretty severe bruising. Immediately afterward he was slightly disoriented, but ready to go right back to playing. Both Andrew and I saw this, and neither of us could have predicted it.

One afternoon Kyle and Guinness were laying in bed with me watching tv. This is actually pretty much a daily thing. Kyle drapes himself over Guinness, Guinness washes his face, and everyone is happy. Except for the one time Guinness snapped at Kyle instead of washing his face, leaving a faint bruise that stretched from his eye to the bottom of his ear. Again, Guinness seemed disoriented afterward, and went back to normal behavior as if nothing happened.

One of Rowan's friends was over a few weeks ago. She was sitting on the sofa watching tv - I didn't see this one, but Andrew was there. The dog was on the sofa next to her, and she was stroking his head. Again, something that's happened many times before. Guinness lunged for her, and Andrew blocked him. Thank heaven she wasn't hurt.

These things are happening without warning. Guinness isn't being provoked, an he doesn't seem to remember it after it happens. He's confused about why he's suddenly being punished. I spoke with a behaviorist about this. He said that just from what I was describing, it sounds like a form of epileptic seizure commonly called "rage syndrome." Medications may help control it, but there are no guarantees.

We'll take him to the vet of course, once Andrew has some time, but if the base vet determines Guinness to be a dangerous dog then he will recommend immediate euthanasia. No matter what, with a disorder like this he obviously can't be trusted to be my service dog. I'm not comofrtable trusting him around my kids, either. All it would take is hurting one neighborhood kid, and he'd be slated for immediate destruction - not to mention how civil amd moral liabilities for having a dangerous dog.

Dealing with this has not been good for me. I have enough drama without wrestling on whether or not we have to put down our much-loved family dog. Would nyone here care to adopt a very sweet Dobie mix, in the hopes that the meds will work? I think it would be best if he were in a home with dog people, and no parade of neighborhood kids visiting every day.

Comments

[deza.livejournal.com]

You're right, there are training issues. And I've addressed this from a training standpoint, including old tricks like having the kids spit in his food bowl before he eats. But the sad truth is, there is onlyso much I can do from flat on my back in bed, which is where I am most of the time now.

I did look at this as a dominance thing first. He does have some dominance issues. This isn't one of them; the behavior is different.

Regardless of which of us is right, though, it underscores that I'm incapable of giving him the home he needs. I can't be a strong enough owner for this dog, and Andrew's not here to pick up the slack.

[hotcoffeems.livejournal.com]

Every single incident you've described involves two things: [1] a human who is not one of the two Alphas (that is you and Andrew) and except for the one incident, a *child* and [2] some level of play, or a context in which there is usually play.

You also say: One afternoon Kyle and Guinness were laying in bed with me watching tv. This is actually pretty much a daily thing. Kyle drapes himself over Guinness, Guinness washes his face, and everyone is happy. And he's used to sitting on the sofa next to humans.

You acknowledge Guinness has dominance issues. Yet you have him and the children in positions wherein he is *likely* as a dog to interpret them as littermates. Explain to me how this is unlikely to be part of a dominance issue. How do you think dogs act when they think children are their littermates, with whom they must vie for position?

This has escalated rather badly as he's bitten...what? four people? You're right: you can't handle this. But if you don't get him a trainer, his goose is cooked.

M, I'm sorry; I feel bad since I sort of went off on you about this. But I really DO feel this is a situation where dog owners should know better.

[deza.livejournal.com]

He's been to trainers. The first time he went ballistic on a gate guard was the day after he came home from a two-week stay with a trainer.

And honestly, this isn't a case of "Marna can't tell the difference from her ass and a hole in the ground." I've got over 20 years' experience working with dogs of ALL levels of pack personality. I really am capable of telling the difference between a dominance issue and somethings else, even when kids are involved.

[hotcoffeems.livejournal.com]

Then re-home him and get it over with. You clearly can't keep this dog.

[deza.livejournal.com]

That's the point i'm reaching. Not happy about it, of course. Thing is, I won't let him to go to just anyone, because I don't want the problems recurring. He needs to go to a child-free household with dog owners who know what thery're doing with strong-willed, intelligent dogs. They need to be physically active (right now, Andrew takes Guinness for 2-3 mile jog in the evenings when he's in town) and highly affectionate. Other dogs are great, but small animals may be chased.

I love Guinness, and I want the best home for him. I'm in tears that the best home is not mine.

[blueingenue.livejournal.com]

Guiness knows he's subordinate to Kyle. Face-licking is a submission behavior.

[hotcoffeems.livejournal.com]

Read this.

Just...read it.

[deza.livejournal.com]

That's been bookmarked on my computer while I've been trying to figure out what's going on. The part that scares me is the adsence-seizures mentioned at the end most closely match his behavior - the lights are on, but no one's home.