I am looking for any help or feedback I can find at this point. I am at a total loss.
Koda is 2 and a half years old. I got him at 10 weeks from a breeder who seemed legitimate. Even at such a young age, he was terrified of anything and anyone. On walks he would hide behind me whenever a person or dog approached us. At 14 weeks he was 'beat up by a Great Dane. A month later he was bitten by a Pomeranian in our Neighborhood.
I knew he was a fearful dog and tried to no avail to socialize him as best I could. All he ever wanted to do was get home as quickly as possible.
As he's gotten older, the fear has become full blown fear aggression. He is fantastic with members of his 'pack'. Friends and family that he knows, he always acts like a big slobbery mess. However, he is frighteningly aggressive with strangers and dogs. He especially seems to hate women and children.
He was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia at 8 months. My vet told me at the time that he has arthritis on the scale of a 10 year old dog. The only options for him have been total hip replacements on both hips. (About 20 thousand dollars)
We moved from NYC to Florida about 6 months ago. His aggression has seemed to intensify since we moved. In the last few months he's bitten twice. One was a 10 year old child. (babysitter brought the child into his yard while I wasn't home, even though she was EXPLICITLY instructed that he did not like children) The other was my boyfriend's 75 year old mother.
(I came into the house with her, and the dog just went for her with no warning at all)
Both times, required trips to the hospital for stitches. My boyfriend's mother did not report the bite, thankfully.
I have him on pain meds, a behavior modification schedule with a professional trainer (who he loves, by the way), consultation with a behaviorist scheduled, and vet visits. His hips have deteriorated badly. He now has knee and elbow problems as well.
He's basically a mess. But he's my son, and I love him. The problem that I am struggling with is, do I spend thousands of dollars and time and recovery from surgeries and trainers, medications, etc. on a dog that is essentially a loaded gun?
I've been told that his aggression may not be pain motivated and that he may just be wired wrong.
I cannot take him ANYWHERE. He reacts violently to all strangers and other dogs. Every training class at his school is like starting from scratch! It's like he forgets everything he's learned the week before. I know I can't have a dog that is a bite risk. I want to do everything I can for him, and I will. But I'm afraid that I will spend thousands of dollars on an animal that I will still have to put down.
His quality of life is so limited. My quality of life is awful. I can only go away as long as his potty schedule allows because i can't trust him not to attack even a friend if they try to come in the house while I am not here.
I feel I am in the worst situation ever. I look at him and know what a loving silly dog he is, but i also know that he is potentially incredible dangerous if something were to happen out of my control.
Rehoming him is not really an option, as no one wants a dog with aggression issues who also happens to need extensive, expensive surgeries. Does anyone have and input?
This dog is my son. But as much as I love him, I also want to do whats best for us both. I don't want him to be stressed or in pain his whole life, but I also cannot bankrupt myself, set myself up for huge liability or become a prisoner to my pet.
Please help. I'm heartbroken and crying every day over this.
Thank you
Koda is 2 and a half years old. I got him at 10 weeks from a breeder who seemed legitimate. Even at such a young age, he was terrified of anything and anyone. On walks he would hide behind me whenever a person or dog approached us. At 14 weeks he was 'beat up by a Great Dane. A month later he was bitten by a Pomeranian in our Neighborhood.
I knew he was a fearful dog and tried to no avail to socialize him as best I could. All he ever wanted to do was get home as quickly as possible.
As he's gotten older, the fear has become full blown fear aggression. He is fantastic with members of his 'pack'. Friends and family that he knows, he always acts like a big slobbery mess. However, he is frighteningly aggressive with strangers and dogs. He especially seems to hate women and children.
He was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia at 8 months. My vet told me at the time that he has arthritis on the scale of a 10 year old dog. The only options for him have been total hip replacements on both hips. (About 20 thousand dollars)
We moved from NYC to Florida about 6 months ago. His aggression has seemed to intensify since we moved. In the last few months he's bitten twice. One was a 10 year old child. (babysitter brought the child into his yard while I wasn't home, even though she was EXPLICITLY instructed that he did not like children) The other was my boyfriend's 75 year old mother.
(I came into the house with her, and the dog just went for her with no warning at all)
Both times, required trips to the hospital for stitches. My boyfriend's mother did not report the bite, thankfully.
I have him on pain meds, a behavior modification schedule with a professional trainer (who he loves, by the way), consultation with a behaviorist scheduled, and vet visits. His hips have deteriorated badly. He now has knee and elbow problems as well.
He's basically a mess. But he's my son, and I love him. The problem that I am struggling with is, do I spend thousands of dollars and time and recovery from surgeries and trainers, medications, etc. on a dog that is essentially a loaded gun?
I've been told that his aggression may not be pain motivated and that he may just be wired wrong.
I cannot take him ANYWHERE. He reacts violently to all strangers and other dogs. Every training class at his school is like starting from scratch! It's like he forgets everything he's learned the week before. I know I can't have a dog that is a bite risk. I want to do everything I can for him, and I will. But I'm afraid that I will spend thousands of dollars on an animal that I will still have to put down.
His quality of life is so limited. My quality of life is awful. I can only go away as long as his potty schedule allows because i can't trust him not to attack even a friend if they try to come in the house while I am not here.
I feel I am in the worst situation ever. I look at him and know what a loving silly dog he is, but i also know that he is potentially incredible dangerous if something were to happen out of my control.
Rehoming him is not really an option, as no one wants a dog with aggression issues who also happens to need extensive, expensive surgeries. Does anyone have and input?
This dog is my son. But as much as I love him, I also want to do whats best for us both. I don't want him to be stressed or in pain his whole life, but I also cannot bankrupt myself, set myself up for huge liability or become a prisoner to my pet.
Please help. I'm heartbroken and crying every day over this.
Thank you