MX639

Okay I'm new to this so bare with me. Okay I adopted a Basset Hound from down south and live in New England. He is a great dog but randomly will attack. He attacked my girlfriends little sister twice while she was walking by him and the cut required stitches. Now I'm starting to think its a dominance issue because if he is laying somewhere on the bed and I try to get him down he will growl at me and show teeth. Just the other day Him and I were laying on the floor and he woke up from a nap and moaned and looking at me out of the corner of his eye and attacked the side of my face ripping me ear open and cutting just to the right of my right eye. I am unsure what to do. Can anyone help me?

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I'm very sorry, but it is my opinion that a dog that randomly attacks with enough force to require stitches is dangerous and should be euthanized.

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CatherineM

I had to put one down that started biting, including my son's face. Hardest thing I ever had to do. My step-father actually had to take him, because I just couldn't.

MX639

I would just hate to do that. I got him 4 months ago and he is 3 and a half years old and I don't feel that putting him down would be the responsible thing to do. When I signed the adoption papers to me it was like adopting a child and I'm looking for advice on what I can do to curve his behavior I feel like everything is cureable and as dumb as this sounds if he is only biting me I can deal with that and change it but I dont want him biting someone else I would rather have him bite me that way I would think it would be easier to break him of the habbit.

duder

I'm sure there is some training that could be done to eliminate this, would probably be awfully difficult given his age. I would talk to a trainer before I put the poor guy down.

My youngest had some aggression issues and the few times that he did snap or bite I let him know very quickly that I bit harder than he did and that pretty much ended the aggressive behavior.

MX639

How did you show him that? Mine is 55lbs and a male so I was a little apprehensive on what to do? I have already gotten on the phone with a trainer and scheduled appointments but was curiuos to see what has worked for other Basset owners. This is my first Basset on my own but I had four growing up and I would never put him down just due to the fact that he deserves life and until he brutaly hurts someone I just couldn't put the cute lil fella down.

5bassetbakery

U don't put a dog down because of improper training. This dog obviously has dominance issues. Regardless if he was from the south, hell I'm in the south with 5 southern Bassets. One was aggressive while growing up. It took alot of patience and training 2 rid of that aggressive behavior. U have 2 get this dog on a schedule. Walks, walks, and then more walks. U have a computer...look up DOG WHISPERER with Ceasar Milan.
The easiest option is 2 put a dog down....that is never the answer!!! Be responsible and get help.

bklantz

Definitely sounds like an issue that a behaviorist would be helpful in, I would look for a trainer who specializes in aggression and is a certified behaviorist.

If it ends up that you personally can't help the dog I would look for a basset hound rescue to surrender him to, they won't put him down and maybe they have a foster who has dealt with aggression before that could help? It would be worth a shot to look and contact some.

roscolaylamommy

You might think of trying a muzzle until you can get with a trainer. Also private message Mikey T if he doesn't comment on this thread. He has loads of experience with bassets and should be able to give you some good advice on what action you should take.

Another thought would be to contact a local basset rescue in your area and ask them for some advice. They deal with stuff like this and hopefully will be able to help you with his issues.

Thank you for taking in this hound and I applaud your determination to work with him.

CatherineM

Putting the dog down wasn't my first or second choice. It was about the 20th. Our vet was a basset breeder (who didn't have any puppies at the time I bought this one). He said the aggression was part of a genetic neurological problem, and he was the one who talked me into it after everything else we tried failed.