What is the right thing to do?

[nicoley73]

A few months ago I rescued a young male german shepherd that was running around our neighborhood. He seemed to integrate well into our household - two young children, two cats and an adult female dog. Two days ago he snapped at one of the cats while he was eating his dinner and put her in the hospital with a ruptured eye and broken nose. He has shown occasional food aggression towards my other dog, and had one episode of protecting a toy from her, but has shown no aggression towards any of the people in the house.

I am not comfortable keeping him in my household. I want to re-home him and have contacted the german shepherd rescue in my area. But I worry that even though I will fully disclose his faults, he may bite again. Clearly I am not comfortable keeping him. Is it reasonable to try to re-home him?

[Ola_]

If it's just food aggression, I think re-homing him is fine. Esp. with other animals instead of people. And I agree to go with a rescue - they are more likely to have the resources to screen potential homes well.

I'm sorry that your kitty is hurt though, that must have been very difficult for you. {{{hugs}}}

[lifeguard]

I'm sorry that happened. Poor kitty.

We are always cautious with the animals & food & although we generally don't have food aggression issues I do try to keep everyone separate during feeding.

If you are definitely set on rehoming I think it would be a good idea. This isn't an issue that would immediately make me not take an animal into my home.

[Oubliette8]

Food agression is something that can be worked on with a trainer fairly effectively. As can resource guarding of toys etc. So long as the new owners are made aware of this, and directed towards resources to help, and seem motivated to do the work, i wouldn't have issues rehoming him. If rescue will take him that's probably best. Since so far the aggression has only been directed towards other pets, I'd try to rehome him as an only pet. I also wouldn't recommend him for a family with young children- probably teenagers would be the youngest I'd consider.

[mattemma04]

I would rehome.The rescue might be able to work with the dog on the food aggresion.Hope your kitty is ok.

[nicoley73]

Thanks for the responses. I'm still waiting to see what happens with my cat - but it seems that she will recover, although she may lose her eye.

I could use some advice about the dog - he will need to live with us until we can find him a new home, and I need to make sure my children and other pets are safe. I am currently feeding him outside on the porch and keeping him locked up while we are eating. Is there anything else I should be doing? We have always fed him last, and he has to sit and stay before we put the food down.

[Oubliette8]

I would continue feeding him in a secure area- and make sure he is locked up while any other animals or people are eating. It might also be a good idea to remove all toys since they've caused conflict before. I would not let your small children near him, even supervised. all it takes is once for a bite, and he;s severely injured your cat. If your children were older it might be different, but small children Move quickly and don't understand that any toys or food near the dog is dangerous. Sometimes dogs can be guarding toys that they aren't even playing with- I'd hate for them to reach for something near the dog and be bitten.

If you want to work on the food aggression yourself beyond containment, I'd HIGHLY recommend working with a trainer. Given the severity of your cats injuries, I think you need a professional to advise you and see the situation in person. It is not a situation that I think internet advice is safe or appropriate for. I know advise givers have the best intentions, but without seeing the dog, it dangerous to follow the advice. I've seen situations personally where someone tried to describe what was going on to me, and then when I saw it for myself in person, it was a completely different issue than what sounded like was happening from the description given. And in this case, that sort of thing could get somebody bitten.

[Sol_y_Paz]

Fed the pet in a secure area, for instance, a very large crate.
Take the food bowls up when finished.
Contact a behaviorist for more ideas. You might want to incorporate some of a Nothing In Life is for free approach.
You might find this book enlightening.
http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB740

[nicoley73]

Honestly, I am not trying to work on the food aggression - just trying to keep everyone safe while we find him a new home. There is a young, single guy who works with my husband who has expressed interest and I think would be a good match. The rescue organization has not returned my calls/emails and they close for holidays after today.

If we can't find someone to take him soon I am considering boarding him - I am keeping him isolated and under constant supervision, but he doesn't understand the change in routine, and my kids don't understand why they can't play with him anymore.