Tengu Update
The trainer came on Sunday, but we didn't have a very successful session. She and her assistant got bit quite a few times, though thankfully Tengu didn't break skin most of the time. The trainer told me that it would be hard to break him of his habits and make him be more submissive. The assistant got bit hard and recommended that Tengu be put down, that he was unmanageable. But I gave him a dirty look and said that I wasn't giving up. The trainer then started to try and claim the objects that Tengu bites to get. He was muzzled and prong collared, and the trainer distracted him with a treat, pulled him away, tied him to a post and slowly stood over the toy Tengu had. When he lunged, he just got jerked by the leash which was tied to a post. The assistant kept on giving him treats while the trainer stood over the toy and then walked over, then once Tengu was eating a treat she gave him back the toy. But in the end there wasn't a noticeable change in his behavior, though the trainer said that there was a bit of progress.
Comments
I hope things work out better as time progresses. Tengu has the potential to work with, but the effort, time, and patience is what is needed.
Its very awesome of you to continue trying with him. Hes a very beautiful boy, and it certainly takes a lot of courage to take on such a dominant dog. And its obvious that you care. If anyone else was fostering him, they probably would've given up by now.
Steph, as someone who works in a rescue, and just saw the photos of a six year old boy after much of his thigh was pulled from the bone by a dog, I would have to disagree with you. If Tengu were in a forever home I would say it is a different story.
But the questions that need to be asked are these, do you believe that Tengu can be trained to a point that you would feel safe with him in the company of children? Not necessarily living with children, but kids happen you can't hide a dog from them forever. Can he truly be placed? And if so do you think that he would be a happy healthy addition to the family. Dogs that show this kind of aggression generally have known a lot of suffering. They live in constant fear.
I am not saying you should put him down. But I am saying if he doesn't show significant progress he may be a bit too far gone. If that is the case, take some solace in knowing that aggression stems from suffering. And if he is that angry, he is suffering alot. Putting an angry fearful dog down is offering it the gift of freedom from the trauma and suffering lived in that body.
I have seen dogs turn around. But I have also had to put one of my own dogs down. My dog Bunny bit 3 people and eventually attacked me. He had so much pain and hurt in his heart that 3 different behaviorists told me the most merciful thing I could do was to let him go.
I hope the best for you and Tengu, just please do not jeopardize yours or your loved ones safety. Whatever happens know that you are giving this dog more than he has probably ever had, and that you are a wonderful person for giving so much to him already.
Even if Tengu is turned around a bit, it seems like he is a dog that could never have children in his home, unless he is crated in another room. He would also need a very experienced handler, finding the right adopter could be very tough.
I kind of fear reading the possible future post that Tengu didn't hold back for once when deciding to bite.
I've done fostering and rescue, but I know my capabilities and limits as a non professional when dealing with a really damaged dog, and I know only keeping that dog to not give up can lead to serious injury for me, my husband or my own animals.
Tengu needs to be with a professional or someone that has dealt with this sort of damaged dog before, I too fear the possible future post of Tengu not holding back, and I would hate to read who was injured. Please consider consulting your rescue for other options for this dog.
**edit: I just read the thread that you are moving anyway - what are they going to do with Tengu?
I don't really know what will happen with his future, but it will be up to the rescue. I think that, even if I were staying, I would not continue to foster Tengu for much longer, he needs professional training.
You have done so much already and I think sadly the situation was way out of your hands before he arrived. He has learned that force gets results and that he will follow through. Tangu has given a very clear message that he will not compromise and everyone really needs to listen. Since two professional trainers (who we presume have handled lots of animals) have been bitten the likely hood that an average adopter can handle him is very slim. Placing him and potentially knowing that he could harm someone is a huge risk. The bites he has placed on individuals so far may have not left physical marks but it does leave mental scars. Yes, even for trainers. I do think of the child that was knocked and pulled on the shoulder. Next time it might be a vulnerable adult. You really need to think about whether you want to continue to carry the burden and liability of having to safely provide for an animal like Tangu. Doing so is exhausting. He may be fine 97% of the time but the other 3% it will be a heck of a weight in worry to manage.
Life long sanctuary situations for animals like this are not very helpful because most dogs do not do well being outside of a social environment and will further degrade mentally.
Continue the open communication with the rescue you are fostering for and make a collective decision based on the professional trainers evaluations and liability risks. In the quest to rescue and for the love of the animals it sometimes requires one to bring peace, weather that be for a terminal illness or mental injury that can not be overcome.
Know that everyone supports your quest to help …In sheltering and rescue know that we all have been there at some point or another. The decisions are not always easy.
Snf
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Working in the shelter and now mostly with rescue, there are major differences in resources and options, and if this dog is in a rescue, there are many, many other options for a dog that has not significantly showed harmful aggression. Even with a foster I had 3 years ago, he bit me really, really bad because I walked over a bone he wasn't even near. They wouldn't take my word for it and put him into a foster home of a behavioral specialist in their rescue network. The behaviorist adopted the dog. In rescue there is rarely an instance where euthanasia is even an option unless the dog is dangerous, extremely ill or severely tormented and unadoptable.
But I guess protocol is different in every rescue.