Wicked Worksaws - Wicked Work Saws - Terry Landrum - WWS

[MustangMike]

The wife and I used to volunteer at the shelter quite a bit, and we dealt with many of the most difficult dogs. The majority of dogs at the shelter are Pit/Pit mixes. Most are loyal, trustworthy dogs that would give their lives for you, but there are a few with loose screws, like there are with every breed.

One of the most dangerous dogs at the shelter was a Yellow Lab! He just did not like or trust people, and he would go for you. It is a no kill shelter, and frankly they keep a few that they shouldn't.

I'm all for saving all that can be saved, and have been successful working with some that came in absolute nut cases, but others just never respond.

 

[smokey7]

I recently had to put 1 of my rescues (all 3 pits of some sort) down. I tried so hard for 8 years to train/work the issues out of him. He was a Colby pit mastif mix and honestly had to be bipolar. He was pretty decent dog. For about the first 4 years after I rescued him from a dumpster with the rest of his litter. Then he interrupted a guy breaking in my garage. The guy beat him pretty good with a crow bar. But Duke got him good in the end. 255 stitches and staples in the thiefs arms but and legs. Duke had some good lumps on his head and body with a few good cuts. After that he was a lose cannon and i couldn't trust him. After another 4 years trying every idea and option that I could to save him. He finally nipped my 3 year old daughter on the lip requiring a few stitches. There were several close calls and warnings prior to this. I finally had to choose protect my family. I had tried several times to place him on farms junk yards or places that needed or could use a guard dog. But either I renigged or they fell through. God he was so great when he was good that I gave him so many chances. Way more then I should've.

 

[MustangMike]

My heart feels pain reading your post, there as so many of them right on that line, and I'm sure that incident (which was not the dogs fault) pushed him over the edge. What a shame a dog has to pay the price for what a person has done, but you did the right thing.

You always have to err on protecting the kids. A good friend of mine's son had a dog that was very good with him, but not anyone else, and when he had a son the dog acted in a menacing way. It was very painful for him, but he had to put it down.

 

[MustangMike]

Before the AH's started training them as fighting dogs, Pits were known as "Nanny Dogs" out in the West, because they were so great at looking after the kids when parents were busy. I'm sure they would also protect the kids from Coyotes and Mtn Lions, or anything else that came along! (including other dogs or not so good people).

 

[3browns]

We have gotten 2 mutts from the pound over the years

Both times I kept waiting for the SPCA ads spouting about how rescued dogs are loving and grateful, etc to kick in and come true

Both dogs were ungrateful, destructive, etc

Obviously a TV ad is not a guarantee but sadly people come to expect to get this instant bond with their new “best friend”

As you say if it doesn’t work out the blame usually needs to be put on the former owners

But not always

Sometimes they are just bad dogs

Breeding? Whatever

It’s a heartbreaker

 

[Dub11]

We have gotten 2 mutts from the pound over the years

Both times I kept waiting for the SPCA ads spouting about how rescued dogs are loving and grateful, etc to kick in and come true

Both dogs were ungrateful, destructive, etc

Obviously a TV ad is not a guarantee but sadly people come to expect to get this instant bond with their new “best friend”

As you say if it doesn’t work out the blame usually needs to be put on the former owners

But not always

Sometimes they are just bad dogs

Breeding? Whatever

It’s a heartbreaker

Out of the last 2 dogs Ive had one was a rescue and has been the best dog ever. But the trick was made 5 trips to the pound before I found him. Now visiting that man time can be sad but it was worth it for me.

The other dog was a stray mastiff that was pretty good too. He tore the *s-word out of stuff and was an outside dog only, but you weren't getting in the yard unless I said so.

 

[Deets066]

Meh, just a dog. When it’s time.... it’s time

 

[av8or3]

Meh, just a dog. When it’s time.... it’s time

What?

 

[Junk Meister]

Meh, just a dog. When it’s time.... it’s time

Professionally inserted SBD in a loaded Elevator...

 

[Deets066]

What?

If you get that attached, you shouldn’t buy one if you can’t handle the let down. It’s like buying a small tragedy.

 

[Deets066]

Famous words of George Carlin

 

[MustangMike]

Dub, you got it right. I always recommend folks who want to get a dog from a shelter go a walk a few dogs several times and see if they respond to you. That is how to find the right dog.

I knew Thor was the right one (even though Staff warned me to be careful of him) when I was walking him and he sat to watch deer with me, and got up to move when they moved and sat again as soon as he could see them. He realized I wanted to watch them, and facilitated that.

IMO, that is how you find that diamond in the ruff!

You will know after a few walks if the dog is responding to you or not. Always walk a few, the one who responds may not be the one who you think it is going to be.

 

[kingOFgEEEks]

Dub, you got it right. I always recommend folks who want to get a dog from a shelter go a walk a few dogs several times and see if they respond to you. That is how to find the right dog.

I knew Thor was the right one (even though Staff warned me to be careful of him) when I was walking him and he sat to watch deer with me, and got up to move when they moved and sat again as soon as he could see them. He realized I wanted to watch them, and facilitated that.

IMO, that is how you find that diamond in the ruff!

You will know after a few walks if the dog is responding to you or not. Always walk a few, the one who responds may not be the one who you think it is going to be.

I learned this the hard way. Duke was a shelter rottie, and when he first met me, he wasn't impressed. After a few minutes, he warmed up to me, and seemed like a good dog.
I brought the family the next day to meet him, and it was the same process for them - he was very leery, but warmed up after a few minutes. We decided we could work with him, and started the paperwork. The shelter pushed the paperwork through THAT DAY, and sent him home with us (that should have been our red flag)

He adjusted to us well, but never warmed up to strangers. We worked with him for a month, and even had a dog behaviorist come over and consult on him. When the behaviorist worked with him, and said that this dog was a lost cause, we knew we had to take him back, before he bit somebody worse (he had already bit 2 people in that month, but both were minor nicks - we were trying to train it out of him).

The shelter claimed ignorance, and didn't want to take him back, but we forced the issue, and they did. They immediately put him up for re-adoption, and did not note that he has aggression issues in the profile. I knew then and there that the shelter wasn't reputable (not an ASPCA shelter, BTW, but a private one).

TL-DR - take your time, and don't rush dog adoption - it can literally bite you.

 

[3browns]

Luckily the pound in our area has adopted the “take them out for the day” model of business since my experiences with them

Makes so much sense

 

[MustangMike]

Unfortunately, you will never know (nor does the shelter) what your dog has gone through. My dog Thor was great, but when I pulled out a hand gun to show it to my SIL, the dog went bonkers! I had never shot in his presence, so I have no idea how he knew what a gun was … but he knew!

 

[tree monkey]

well this thread has gone to the dogs

 

[Junk Meister]

well this thread has gone to the dogs

SAYS an ASStute MONKEY

 

[MustangMike]

Thankfully!!!

 

[Dub11]

Dub, you got it right. I always recommend folks who want to get a dog from a shelter go a walk a few dogs several times and see if they respond to you. That is how to find the right dog.

I knew Thor was the right one (even though Staff warned me to be careful of him) when I was walking him and he sat to watch deer with me, and got up to move when they moved and sat again as soon as he could see them. He realized I wanted to watch them, and facilitated that.

IMO, that is how you find that diamond in the ruff!

You will know after a few walks if the dog is responding to you or not. Always walk a few, the one who responds may not be the one who you think it is going to be.

Mac the pound dog got me instantly when they let him in the viewing room and he jumped on my lap shaking with that look of please take me home.

Unfortunately, you will never know (nor does the shelter) what your dog has gone through. My dog Thor was great, but when I pulled out a hand gun to show it to my SIL, the dog went bonkers! I had never shot in his presence, so I have no idea how he knew what a gun was … but he knew!

My first dog a greyhound boxer mix would go head over heels when ya grabbed the squirrel gun. Goofy ass dog tried catching them when they fell from the tree. She'd also get a bird flying low every once in a while too.

 

[3browns]

Unfortunately, you will never know (nor does the shelter) what your dog has gone through. My dog Thor was great, but when I pulled out a hand gun to show it to my SIL, the dog went bonkers! I had never shot in his presence, so I have no idea how he knew what a gun was … but he knew!

So what you're saying is the anti-gun people have now moved on to turning our dogs against us?

The bastards...