Two days ago something happened and now, we are faced with the very real possibility that we will have to put Chassard down. You see, 97% of the time, he is the sweetest, most affectionate dog who would do anything for a pat from both friends and family. The other 3% is his wild side seen by the vet, the postman and neighbours with big dogs.
In the last few weeks he has been getting increasingly aggressive. Two weeks ago, he bit a neighbour who was standing unaccompanied by family in our porch. I think he thought he was a stranger on his territory, but even so, he attacked without so much as a warning growl. We pulled him off and called in a professional trainer.
However two days ago, he bit my brother. He was trying to leash him up for a bath when he growled and finally bit. We brought my bro to the A&E department to get cleaned up and he has been on MC for the last 3 days.
When he was younger, Chass used to escape the house and on occasion would fight with big dogs. We eventually got quite good at checking him and minimising such instances. We hadn't had a complaint in the last 2-3 years.
The attack on the neighbour was something his vet termed as "doing his job". Of course the neighbour doesn't quite see it that way and has been gunning for Chassard's demise since. He has been making threats and even called the trainer without our knowledge to educate him on how Chassard = Satan.
We have since arranged for a separate gate to be built so we can confine him further when necessary in addition to chaining him.
The thing is this. If he attacks other dogs and unaccompanied strangers, there are things we can do to keep them safe from him. But now that he has bitten family, is it possible to keep us safe?
My mom is 69 and is at home often. Is it fair to risk her getting bitten if she has to chain him? My maid bathes him. Can I in good conscience ask her to do something I am now afraid to do myself?
Lance, the trainer, believes that once we achieve a certain level of control, it is not a problem, but it will take time. Chassard can be trained. He is the most trainable of all the dogs I've ever had. The question is: Do we have time...time before he bites again?
We thought of placing him with Noah's Ark's retirement programme but they are full. Other kennels charge a high price and he will be constantly in a cage which really isn't a good option - he'd go completely starkers.
Then there's also the consideration of his health. Chass has been having a bad rash around his neck for a good 8 months which has not gotten better despite repeat visits to the vet. He has also been losing fur on his underside until now, he is almost bald there except for some short hairs.
Most of all, his dislocated leg from the car accident has been acting up. He is limping a lot more, has trouble getting up and sometimes will just run on 3 legs. The vet said he is in pain and that there's nothing that can be done for him except to give him painkillers. Again, pain meds for the rest of his life? Not exactly a great option.
Basically, he is both constantly itchy and in pain. I guess that could be why he's been getting more aggressive recently.
Our last hope is a trip to the vet. If he says that Chass is having pain aggression and can offer us a plausible solution, we will take it.
My dad called this morning to ask me to beg Noah's Ark to take him in. They really can't especially with all his problems. Dad was never like this with the previous dogs. My bro doesn't dare touch him now but even then he prefers paying for his stay at a sanctuary to putting him down.
I guess it's a sign of how much the silly dog has wormed his way into our hearts. And now, it's only fair that we try all possible avenues before the last resort.
Afterall, he's family, right?
Friday, April 24, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Curing the reculcitrant butt-sniffer
All dogs sniff butts. But in this department, Chassard was in a class of his own. While most dogs would take a polite sniff and move on, Chassard would shove his cold, hairy snout right in your butt cheeks and hold it there.
Pushing him away would result in a repeat assult. We had several visitors jump with a "Gaaaah!" when he snuck up behind them.
He loved it best when I wore skirts. His whole head would go under the skirt, giving him about a second before I moved aside. Flare skirts were even better - more room to manuvre.
All the pushing, scolding and smacks in the world weren't making him stop.
Then one prayer-answering day, I had diarhea. I was peering into the medicine cupboard when I felt some gas coming. I was about to close the cupboard and head for the loo when I felt something nosing about in an all too familiar region.
It surpised me and I let it fly.
When I turned around, Chassard had leaped a few feet away and was staring at me with a look of raw shock and absolute disgust. He sneazed, snorted and then shot out of the house.
It was the last time he tried that on me again.
Pushing him away would result in a repeat assult. We had several visitors jump with a "Gaaaah!" when he snuck up behind them.
He loved it best when I wore skirts. His whole head would go under the skirt, giving him about a second before I moved aside. Flare skirts were even better - more room to manuvre.
All the pushing, scolding and smacks in the world weren't making him stop.
Then one prayer-answering day, I had diarhea. I was peering into the medicine cupboard when I felt some gas coming. I was about to close the cupboard and head for the loo when I felt something nosing about in an all too familiar region.
It surpised me and I let it fly.
When I turned around, Chassard had leaped a few feet away and was staring at me with a look of raw shock and absolute disgust. He sneazed, snorted and then shot out of the house.
It was the last time he tried that on me again.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Doggie Boot Camp
(Warning: Long post. Left handphone in office, so no photos)
We finally decided that for the sake of the nieghbourhood and the family, some of Chassard's ...er... less endearing habits had to go. Top of his list of sins was fighting with other dogs, jumping on people, pulling on the leash and food thieving (I really need to blog about this one day).
He's 7-years-old, mind you, and finding a trainer that would take him on was ridiculously difficult. As a neighbour very kindly told me, "Your dog is beyond help." Anyhow I managed to find a trainer who promptly told me that with a bit of work, he could still be trained. It was really a big relief as compliants about him have been mounting.
And training begins...
Chassard generally likes people once he knows they are welcomed by the family. Lance was no exception. I guess Chassie boy didn't know he would be spending the next hour in hard labour.
As a dog's bad behaviour stems from bad training, the rest of the family had to fall in as well. I soon realised that reversing Chass' habits of 7 years, meant reversing my habits of 30 years. Gulp! HELP!
This means no more giving in to his "pet me" face, no more free snacks, no more fussing if I accidentally step on his tail, and above all, no more asking him to hug me. You see, I've trained him to jump up, wrap his fore legs around my waist and rest his head on my tummy.
Cute, yes? But my mom's friends don't think so. So out that goes.
All in all, the first session consisted of making him take a snack only when we say he can (with a LEAVE command), jerking a coin-filled bottle when he jumps (with an OFF command), making him wait for everyone to walk through the door before he does (WAIT), and getting him to walk at our pace with SLOW.
The result?
Especially considering its the first lesson, I think it went really well. By the end, he was walking nicely by our side and didn't even need one correction! This morning, he was tugging on his leash and I used WAIT, and he stopped immediately and sat by my side.
OFF works a bit too well. I took Chass to the vet today who wanted to see how he stands on his hind legs. I tried my best to get him to jump on he and he absolutely refused! He even had the "this is a trick, right?" look.
He still needs some work on LEAVE, but once he gets it, we'll be able to use that whenever he is distracted by other dogs on walks. Yay!
AND...throughout the whole session he didn't even growl once or show any displeasure at being disciplined!!! Double yay!!!
Trainer's verdict?
The trainer, as it turns out, specialises in behavioural problems especially in aggressive dogs. He takes on dogs who bite and lunge at their owners or have killed other dogs in a fight. He said Singapore has a lot of really aggressive dogs.
After he heard the list of greviences against the black one and spent 1.5 hours with him, he said that Chassie is fine (woohoo!) and that I should see some of the other dogs he trains. He also said that I made him sound really bad on the phone. Aiyah, trying not to be blinded to his flaws mah.
Chassard may be just another mongrel but he's proving that old dogs can learn new tricks. He does have all his flaws but I'm still proud to say that he's my dog and the family's fuzziest loved member.
We finally decided that for the sake of the nieghbourhood and the family, some of Chassard's ...er... less endearing habits had to go. Top of his list of sins was fighting with other dogs, jumping on people, pulling on the leash and food thieving (I really need to blog about this one day).
He's 7-years-old, mind you, and finding a trainer that would take him on was ridiculously difficult. As a neighbour very kindly told me, "Your dog is beyond help." Anyhow I managed to find a trainer who promptly told me that with a bit of work, he could still be trained. It was really a big relief as compliants about him have been mounting.
And training begins...
Chassard generally likes people once he knows they are welcomed by the family. Lance was no exception. I guess Chassie boy didn't know he would be spending the next hour in hard labour.
As a dog's bad behaviour stems from bad training, the rest of the family had to fall in as well. I soon realised that reversing Chass' habits of 7 years, meant reversing my habits of 30 years. Gulp! HELP!
This means no more giving in to his "pet me" face, no more free snacks, no more fussing if I accidentally step on his tail, and above all, no more asking him to hug me. You see, I've trained him to jump up, wrap his fore legs around my waist and rest his head on my tummy.
Cute, yes? But my mom's friends don't think so. So out that goes.
All in all, the first session consisted of making him take a snack only when we say he can (with a LEAVE command), jerking a coin-filled bottle when he jumps (with an OFF command), making him wait for everyone to walk through the door before he does (WAIT), and getting him to walk at our pace with SLOW.
The result?
Especially considering its the first lesson, I think it went really well. By the end, he was walking nicely by our side and didn't even need one correction! This morning, he was tugging on his leash and I used WAIT, and he stopped immediately and sat by my side.
OFF works a bit too well. I took Chass to the vet today who wanted to see how he stands on his hind legs. I tried my best to get him to jump on he and he absolutely refused! He even had the "this is a trick, right?" look.
He still needs some work on LEAVE, but once he gets it, we'll be able to use that whenever he is distracted by other dogs on walks. Yay!
AND...throughout the whole session he didn't even growl once or show any displeasure at being disciplined!!! Double yay!!!
Trainer's verdict?
The trainer, as it turns out, specialises in behavioural problems especially in aggressive dogs. He takes on dogs who bite and lunge at their owners or have killed other dogs in a fight. He said Singapore has a lot of really aggressive dogs.
After he heard the list of greviences against the black one and spent 1.5 hours with him, he said that Chassie is fine (woohoo!) and that I should see some of the other dogs he trains. He also said that I made him sound really bad on the phone. Aiyah, trying not to be blinded to his flaws mah.
Chassard may be just another mongrel but he's proving that old dogs can learn new tricks. He does have all his flaws but I'm still proud to say that he's my dog and the family's fuzziest loved member.
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