This story just ran on the 5pm news...
TOLEDO -- A south Toledo dog lover is looking for some answers, after her cocker spaniel had to be euthenized. Marjorie Jackson fell in love with the dog last Friday at the humane society and decided to adopt him. But when Marjorie got him home, the dog's cute demeanor took a turn for the worst. "The dog became violent, and he was like rrrrrrrr. He came off like attacking," she said.
So she took the cocker spaniel to a Petco store to see about some obedience lessons. She explained that the dog was growling and wouldn't behave, and the instructor offered his advice. She said the instructor told her to yank on his leash and hold on, until he calmed down. But when marjorie got home and tried the technique, the dog got even angrier. In fact, he got so vicious, she called the Lucas County dog warden's office, and they took him to the pound. "We came out and took the dog, because they were afraid of the dog," said pound manager Karla Hamlin.
Yesterday, they were forced to euthenize the cocker spaniel. Karla thinks the advice from Petco may have put the dog over the edge. "They were given instructions to do some things with the dog that, in my estimation would have provoked it, and made it worse," said Karla.
Karla also said that yanking on a dog's leash, which is what the owner's claim they were instructed, is a common approach, and in her opinion, a common mistake. "I think it's really sad these people are using these archaic techniques," she said.
The management at the Petco store in Toledo would not comment, but the store's communications director in California told The News Channel that they are confidant the obedience instruction program is a good one, and they do not believe any bad advice was given.
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