Wanted Opinions On This Type Of Behavior

[LaRen616]

Originally Posted by BlackthornGSD

Sounds like bad temperament. But I would have gotten/recommended an outside opinion if I were in that situation.

I heard a story recently of a family who took their 12 week old Golden puppy in to the vet to be euthanized. The vet asked permission to adopt the puppy out and did so and the dog later became an agility champion. The family wanted another pup a few years later and asked the vet for help. The vet very carefully picked out a puppy with really good temperament. A few weeks later, the family was again convinced the puppy was crazy aggressive and wanted to euthanize the pup. The vet again placed the pup in a great home. And then suggested to the family that perhaps they should not get a dog.

My point is... I would never recommend euthanizing a puppy for temperament sight unseen or without an evaluation by someone who can really read canine body language (which it sounds like you can, but you're the one questioning whether you read it right).

However, I do believe that very rarely there will be a dog who just isn't "wired right" -- and it's not related to socialization or mistreatment. Something's just not right with them. And I would euthanize a dog or puppy in that situation rather than pass the problem on to someone else and hope that things turned out alright--particularly if it were a puppy I had bred.

I think something was really wrong with the mom, I was not allowed to meet her, not even see her, maybe she was extremely aggressive and passed it on to him? I dont know, I just know that my family, friends, vet, boyfriend and I were alarmed by him.

[Lilie]

I currently own a Golden Retriever with psychological issues. He is 11 years old now, and we've managed him through out his life. I've witnessed him have a small seizure 2 or 3 times. When he was one, the vet advised us to have him euthanized. Because of our loction (in the country) and the way we are set up, we have been able to manage him. If we were in a house in the city, I would have had him PTS.

I got him at 9 weeks. My first clue that something wasn't right was the first time I put a collar on him. He totally flipped out as some pups do the first time you use a leash on ht. I took my time and tried several different collars, but he presented the same reaction EACH time.

The first time I tried to give him a bath he attacked me (he was a puppy). Not a bite here and then run. He went after me. Because he was young I wasn't injured anymore then scratches on my arms and legs.

He WON'T come into the house. He does use a dog house. To get him used to a kennel, I took away the dog house and put a crate in the back yard. It took him a month to go into the crate.

To best describe this dog, is that he is void of emotion. He'll wag his tail when you throw his ball, but when he gets the ball he attacks the ground around the ball pulling all of the grass out.

He has many other traits - but he is manageable for us.

[GSDMUM]

I guess being so young I would have a consultation with a top notch behaviorist before I did anything. I'd also look into places that accept hard to place dogs that can rehabilitate most dogs. It's possible some medication could even him out after a long period of assessment. I think 12 weeks is not giving him a chance, but that someoneout there may want to take on the challange.
Someone else had a good point as being a Siberian Husky, he could have some wolf in him. Has he ever howled as a pup?

[BlackthornGSD]

Originally Posted by GSDMUM

I think 12 weeks is not giving him a chance, but that someoneout there may want to take on the challange.

When there are dogs with absolutely lovely temperaments dying for a lack of a home, I would prefer not to pass on a known problem dog and have someone else get their heart broken when it doesn't work out--particularly when the problem is aggression and someone might get hurt.

That said, I prefer to err on the side of life for the dog--as long as the quality of life is decent.

[JoMichelle]

I always think that as humans, we can have many psychological disorders and that animals must have their own versions of these. There must be conditions they are born with, just like us.

[Freestep]

Originally Posted by BlackthornGSD

When there are dogs with absolutely lovely temperaments dying for a lack of a home, I would prefer not to pass on a known problem dog and have someone else get their heart broken when it doesn't work out--particularly when the problem is aggression and someone might get hurt.

That's exactly how I feel. If I had a puppy like the OP's, I'd have had him put down if the breeder wouldn't take him back. There's really no need for badly bred, inappropriately aggressive dogs. Sure, maybe someone with a lot of experience and skill could "manage" him, but why? When there are dogs with lovely temperaments languishing in shelters... why spend resources on a dangerous one?