I am heartbroken over this, I plan on calling another trainer in the morning, but I don't know.... I'm typing quickly to get the child on top of me to bed so excuse typos. We have a 7 year old doxie, we have had him since he was puppy. He was still a puppy when we had DD1 so he has always been around children.
Dobbie certainly has issues, some he has had since a puppy, separation anxiety mostly that has gotten increasingly worse over the last couple years. We used to have another doxie that passed away 3 years ago, after Frankie died, we also moved right after, Dobbie started tearing apart the house. Peeing all over the carpet, breaking into cabinets, jumping onto counters and knocking everything off, etc... We put him on anxiety meds, worked with a trainer, crate trained him and life improved somewhat, We've never been able to stop the non stop howling he does when we leave and have seriously considered debarking him so he could bark in peace without us always having to get onto to him all the time. He also throws himself against the crate and injures his face, I'm constantly healing wounds. Anyway, while having to replace half the flooring in my house hasn't been pleasant I've dealt with it because Dobbie is a member of the family.
A few weeks back he snipped at DD2 who is 3, she was bouncing around him, he nipped her hand but didn't break the skin so I took it as a warning to really watch them together. He had never snipped at anyone before this so while I know dogs are animals, it was out of character for him. We've done this before, our previous doxie had been a rescue, he has been abused, we discovered that the quick movements of a child terrified him. I never trusted him around children and kept him separated from DD1 for almost 4 years until he died. DD2 doesn't get to pet him anymore, and they are never left alone together, no small feat considering how this house is laid out. I took Dobbie into the vet to see if something was going on, we discovered he had an infected tooth, he has been on antibiotics for that and he had his teeth cleaned on Monday.
This afternoon, DD2 was standing about 3 feet away from Dobbie, he was up on the couch trying to get closer to the fire, it was freezing in the house and he does get cold easily. She was playing with her LeapFrog standing close to the other side of the couch, I was on the other couch a couple feet away nursing the baby. DD2 never moved but Dobbie ran over to the end of the couch and snapped at her face. He didn't break the skin but she has bruises underneath her eye and all on one cheek, he snapped at her several times and then ran away.
We were lucky this time that no real damage was done. I know he can not be with children at all now. I also know that with three children and this house layout it would be impossible to keep him separate like we did before with our other dog. And the problem that he howls anytime he is crated or placed in a room away from us even if I am still in the house. He has so much emotional baggage, would a rescue even want a dog like him? That is if I can find anything in my very rural area.
Dobbie certainly has issues, some he has had since a puppy, separation anxiety mostly that has gotten increasingly worse over the last couple years. We used to have another doxie that passed away 3 years ago, after Frankie died, we also moved right after, Dobbie started tearing apart the house. Peeing all over the carpet, breaking into cabinets, jumping onto counters and knocking everything off, etc... We put him on anxiety meds, worked with a trainer, crate trained him and life improved somewhat, We've never been able to stop the non stop howling he does when we leave and have seriously considered debarking him so he could bark in peace without us always having to get onto to him all the time. He also throws himself against the crate and injures his face, I'm constantly healing wounds. Anyway, while having to replace half the flooring in my house hasn't been pleasant I've dealt with it because Dobbie is a member of the family.
A few weeks back he snipped at DD2 who is 3, she was bouncing around him, he nipped her hand but didn't break the skin so I took it as a warning to really watch them together. He had never snipped at anyone before this so while I know dogs are animals, it was out of character for him. We've done this before, our previous doxie had been a rescue, he has been abused, we discovered that the quick movements of a child terrified him. I never trusted him around children and kept him separated from DD1 for almost 4 years until he died. DD2 doesn't get to pet him anymore, and they are never left alone together, no small feat considering how this house is laid out. I took Dobbie into the vet to see if something was going on, we discovered he had an infected tooth, he has been on antibiotics for that and he had his teeth cleaned on Monday.
This afternoon, DD2 was standing about 3 feet away from Dobbie, he was up on the couch trying to get closer to the fire, it was freezing in the house and he does get cold easily. She was playing with her LeapFrog standing close to the other side of the couch, I was on the other couch a couple feet away nursing the baby. DD2 never moved but Dobbie ran over to the end of the couch and snapped at her face. He didn't break the skin but she has bruises underneath her eye and all on one cheek, he snapped at her several times and then ran away.
We were lucky this time that no real damage was done. I know he can not be with children at all now. I also know that with three children and this house layout it would be impossible to keep him separate like we did before with our other dog. And the problem that he howls anytime he is crated or placed in a room away from us even if I am still in the house. He has so much emotional baggage, would a rescue even want a dog like him? That is if I can find anything in my very rural area.
mama, you are in a tough situation!!
