Dixie Belle
08-24-2005, 08:39 AM
It's been forever since I had a chance to get on here. I think it's been a year. For everyone who doesn't know me, I am Dixie Belle. I usually have a very odd assortment of animals, and an invisable "i have food" sign that every stray manages to find.
At the moment, my animal list is pretty tame. I have St. Bernard's Dixie Belle and Thor, my boxer, Missie, and a newly adopted cat, Trinity. No strays have stopped by, but then hunting season hasn't really kicked in yet.
We are however looking at another Saint. His name is Rascel and he turns two Friday. Only problem is that he has aggression issues. The onwer who has him now can't handle him and doesn't trust him. I've been going to see him every day this week to see how he behaves with me. So far, he has let me pet him, has obeyed the "sit" command, and has not growled. His lip has curled up a few times, and when it does, I back off.
I really haven't decided if I can take him or not. My husband is going to go with me Saturday and see how he acts then. I really don't believe that he is a bad dog, I just don't think they went about his training corectly when he started showing the aggression. Belle showed a lot of the same signs when she was a pup, but with constant work, we got her through. Grant it, I would never let someone she doesn't know in the yard with her but I never lost my faith in her.
I'm really not sure if I could re-teach Rascel or not. So far, I'm the only person who has gone to see him that he has even tolorated. And I'm scared to death that someone is going to take him to turn into a fighting dog. But at the same time I do have my son, and my baby on the way to think about. Plus there is Thor. (For a memory refresh, Thor got hit by a car when he was six months old. He has come a long way since then, and has healed a lot, but one leg can't bend do to the knee joint getting destroyed by a pin that slipped.)
I just don't know what to do. Please, any advise and suggestions are welcome
At the moment, my animal list is pretty tame. I have St. Bernard's Dixie Belle and Thor, my boxer, Missie, and a newly adopted cat, Trinity. No strays have stopped by, but then hunting season hasn't really kicked in yet.
We are however looking at another Saint. His name is Rascel and he turns two Friday. Only problem is that he has aggression issues. The onwer who has him now can't handle him and doesn't trust him. I've been going to see him every day this week to see how he behaves with me. So far, he has let me pet him, has obeyed the "sit" command, and has not growled. His lip has curled up a few times, and when it does, I back off.
I really haven't decided if I can take him or not. My husband is going to go with me Saturday and see how he acts then. I really don't believe that he is a bad dog, I just don't think they went about his training corectly when he started showing the aggression. Belle showed a lot of the same signs when she was a pup, but with constant work, we got her through. Grant it, I would never let someone she doesn't know in the yard with her but I never lost my faith in her.
I'm really not sure if I could re-teach Rascel or not. So far, I'm the only person who has gone to see him that he has even tolorated. And I'm scared to death that someone is going to take him to turn into a fighting dog. But at the same time I do have my son, and my baby on the way to think about. Plus there is Thor. (For a memory refresh, Thor got hit by a car when he was six months old. He has come a long way since then, and has healed a lot, but one leg can't bend do to the knee joint getting destroyed by a pin that slipped.)
I just don't know what to do. Please, any advise and suggestions are welcome