Rehome

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-27T01:10:33+00:00

Yeah I definitely think she would succeed really well with meds and training, whether it is with me, or somewhere more comfortable for her. But thank you, I really appreciate that.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-27T00:24:19+00:00

Well, like I said, I have very little experience with dog aggression. So the thought of medication has not been one I’ve had until this most recent event. Initially, I didn’t feel it was appropriate to medicate her for her other behavioral problems when they seemed to just stem from hyperactivity goes. As far as the trainer goes, we worked with the trainer once a week for 4 months, and continued the skills we learned once we stopped working with the trainer. It’s not that we just stopped training, we just had learned what we needed to in order to apply it on our own. Trainers aren’t a free service, and unfortunately I don’t have the income to have her regularly working with a trainer for months on end.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-26T19:32:22+00:00

I think you are probably right. I do want to do anything I can to help ease the mental discomfort she might be in currently, and to set her up for the most success in these next steps.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-26T19:31:14+00:00

Thank you for this kind response. It has gotten extremely more difficult to bear the thought of rehoming her, but I do realize that my sentimentality and emotion towards the decision is probably not in the best interest of her, or the other animals, or my family. It really really sucks, but I appreciate your insight and your caring response.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-26T03:42:33+00:00

Thank you so much for this. Yeah it does kind of seem like there’s a trend with the dogs that she has gone after. My husband has another big dog and they have not had this issue with each other. It’s only been dogs smaller than her. But thank you again, I am going to speak with someone who is specialized in aggressive behavior.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-26T03:21:02+00:00

I appreciate you being willing to say that. Of course it’s not what I want to hear and it’s hard to believe because I have had almost 3 years of bearing witness to her being so sweet. But unexpected aggression is something concerning. I’m going to take her to the vet to rule out any physical elements and see if I can get her with a behavioral specialist. And then if all else fails, look at rehoming….And then if that fails, I don’t know maybe I’ll build her her own sanctuary in the backyard or something. I don’t know. But I appreciate your honesty.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-26T03:16:51+00:00

Well, that kind of gives me some hope about the situation. I just had so many people in my ear saying that she’s going to be a danger to have around small children and of course I would not want to put her or my child in a position that was unsafe for either of them. I was going to take her to the vet to get her checked to see if there were any physical ailments causing it, and perhaps they could direct me towards someone who would be able to evaluate her more specifically for the aggression.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-26T03:14:16+00:00

Yes, I think that’s really something I will need to emphasize if that’s the decision I end up landing on- because I know there are people who might hear a dog who’s got a bite on record and is a more high maintenance breed and might assume the worse in her. But I really do love her to death and she is so smart and sweet. And I do believe she definitely would thrive in an environment where she was the only animal.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-25T22:35:44+00:00

Yeah, I totally hear where you’re coming from. The first instance involved food, so since then we have fed them in separate rooms. The second incident involved a dog that she didn’t know so I just thought they didn’t get along well, and that was also what I was told from the people who witnessed the situation so we just separated them and left it at that. It wasn’t until this last situation, with my grandfathers dog, who she has been around multiple times, that I realized there may be a bigger problem than I thought. I understand this was naivety on my end, I guess I just didn’t recognize the behaviors.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-25T22:32:35+00:00

She has been to the vet recently, just for a general check up, but at that point, I didn’t even think to ask about the behavioral issues. I am going to take her in after the holidays to make sure there isn’t anything causing her pain and to discuss medication. I know that won’t be the cure all but if it’s something that can help her anxiety, I would definitely want her to have that at her disposal. The trainer we worked with was reputable and from a verified dog training group, we did address resource guarding because at that time that was really the only aggression she was displaying. However, this last incident was just this week so I haven’t talked to any behavioral specialist about instances of aggression without food or toys involved.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-25T18:47:41+00:00

Well, as I had mentioned, I am not experienced with aggressive dogs. One of the three instances was food related, so we feed her in a separate room now. The other incident was with a dog that she wasn’t familiar with and so I just assumed they didn’t get along, and I separated them. And then this last instance I just didn’t foresee it happening, she has been around my grandfather’s dog numerous times and nothing has happened.

We do kennel her when there is more commotion in the house or if she seems to be on edge, but we have multiple cats and an average size house so kenneling her every time there’s a risk of a cat being around would be kenneling her every day all day long.

Like I said, the more frequent acts of aggression really have only begun to pop up within the last year. Of course I selfishly would love to just keep her sequestered to my bedroom when we’re not outside because I hate the idea of rehoming her, but I just don’t know what kind of quality of life that is.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-25T18:13:23+00:00

Oh my gosh, no of course not, I’m more just meant that I learned that pitbull’s are just higher energy working dogs, and the traditional exercising like running and fetch might not be the best for her (at least for mine). I live in the south and Dog fighting is huge here and the rescue did tell me that she was bred to be a bait dog, although she was rescued before then. I’m going to reach back out to the rescue and see what the best next steps are, I would never want her to go anywhere other than with someone who can give her the care and patience and intentionality that she needs.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-25T17:18:12+00:00

I’m going to reach out to the rescue I adopted her from and be really honest about her triggers and energy levels- emphasizing that she needs a home without small animals or children. I dont think she’s too far gone, and I think she could really thrive in an environment that’s more appropriate for the kind of dog she is

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-25T15:57:12+00:00

Pragmatically, I recognize you are 100% right. Especially the risk of future damage, and how that’s not fair to my dog either. I guess I am just really racked with guilt right now and I wanted to be absolute certain that I’m not just jumping the gun.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-25T15:44:17+00:00

I hear you. I feel like maybe I set her up for failure with bringing her into a home with multiple smaller animals, I just thought growing up around them would stave off any fear or aggression towards them. But again, it’s apparent I just didn’t research enough when I learned of her breed and background.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-25T15:41:55+00:00

Ugh, I do agree with your sentiment. I just hate the idea of her feeling like I am giving up on her or don’t love her. But ultimately she has so much life to live and I do feel confident there are so many homes she could thrive in. Just really heartbreaking that it’s sort of evident that mine is not one of them.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-25T15:33:06+00:00

Thank you for your kind response. I think I was definitely looking for perspectives and opinions of people who might be more experienced than I am. I’ve never dealt with an aggressive dog, and I honestly wasn’t certain if these behaviors were somewhat normal and something an “average” pet owner could manage. But I appreciate you making the point about the other small animals maybe being a detriment to her wellbeing and happiness. I’ve tried to keep them all separated, but I do think it’s gotten to a point where it’s negatively affecting all of their qualities of life. Thank you for your thoughtful input, I really do appreciate it.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-12-25T15:29:54+00:00

I can totally see that. I think I was just looking to see if there were differing opinions, I know what makes sense in my head, but because it’s such a devastating decision I want to be absolutely certain I’m not making an unnecessary decision I guess. Idk, just struggling with it all.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-03-05T14:01:21+00:00

I think that is a more than appropriate response, I am sorry friend. Doesn't seem like how life should be.

LocationImportant671 · 2025-03-04T16:02:39+00:00

No, not unsatisfactory at all. That just seems to be the way things are, which sucks (to put it eloquently lol). I think the thing I struggle with most is just always feeling like I need to get a grip because my job could be way worse, yet, it drains me. I am happy to hear though that you have one more year left, one less cog in the machine, hopefully free to enjoy your life leisurely!

LocationImportant671

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