[nvideoe]

I adopted a 2 year old APBT type dog from a local rescue. She was a staff favorite and they think she's the greatest dog ever. Since coming to my home, she has started running my fence-line barking at people very aggressively. I have had several friends over. Three of these friends own at least 3 dogs each. My new rescue stares at them and has climbed up them slowly on seperate occasions. I now keep her leashed when I have company over. She has not done anything "wrong," but my friends are afraid of her because she feels "creepy." I am mildly afraid of her. My three friends have told me that they do not want to be around her. My friends and I are not afraid of the breed, we are nervous about this dog. She stares too long, too intensely. She crowds me and climbs up when not leashed, so now I keep her leashed or crated.

I have had this dog for 3 weeks.

Obviously, I am the wrong home for this dog. I believe that if I corrected her strongly enough to stop unwanted behavior that I might be bitten. My question is, should I return her to the rescue group that thinks she's the sweetest thing ever? I am afraid, and almost certain, that they will place her in another home that is ill-suited. I have talked to them about my concerns and they say that I am reading her wrong and that I must have done something. I haven't.

Do I return a dog that scares me to a rescue that thinks she's a sweet angel? I worry that she will hurt someone and that it will be my fault for returning her to a group that is ignoring spooky, preditory, or very dominant behavior. I am considering euthanasia instead of a return. What is the right thing to do?

[Arrocousa]

most rescues make you sign contracts saying you agree to return the dog if you are not keeping it,did you sign anything like that?

[bobibnoxx]

i would take her to the vet, and go from there.

[Nppracph]

I think it best you return her to the rescue. If you are afraid of this dog, then she knows it and that is not a good situation. It could be that she would be a good dog for a different owner. My son owns a dog that would have been a disaster in the wrong hands as she is a dominant dog who loves to try and "punk" people to see if she can get away with it. She also likes to use eye contact and some people find this scary but she is really a big baby.

Just be sure to let the rescue know of the behaviors that bother you. This is obviously a bad "fit".

[nvideoe]

It says I can't rehome her, but not that I can't put her down. I signed that I was responsible for all medical expenses and the rest. No where in there does it say she can't be put down. I just can't give her away. Only they can.

[CealialactBek]

It sounds like she's trying to be close to you, clingy, which is pretty par for the course. "Pit bulls" are people dogs. LOVE their humans. Try setting some boundaries. Don't let her up unless she's invited, use positive reinforcement. How much exercise is she getting?
If she's not right for you, she needs to go back to the rescue.

[nAKMzyBN]

What is the right thing to do Does this even exist? There are many options but what is "right" for one may not be for another. If the place you got her is so convinced she is a nice dog then maybe they are right and something about your environment doesn't sit well with her or perhaps you are misinterpreting things. Did you see the dog interacting with staff before you picked it up? I wonder if they have some sort of training technique which could put a stop to the unwanted behaviour. How reputable is the place you got her? Are they likely to be wrong about their assessment of a dog? If I were in that boat I would take the dog back and observe interactions with the staff. If its only occuring on your property then maybe see if they could come by to take a look. Then if they are able to put an end to the behaviour, maybe they can give you some tips to prevent it. If they just accept it and you feel uncomfortable I would leave the dog there. There could be a risk that some unsuspecting owner may get her and lead to trouble. If I was SERIOUSLY concerned about it I may consider euth, although I would first look for a better handler than myself and see if they would take her.

[bobibnoxx]

It says I can't rehome her, but not that I can't put her down. I signed that I was responsible for all medical expenses and the rest. No where in there does it say she can't be put down. I just can't give her away. Only they can.

did the contract say that you can return the dog to the rescue if there are any problems?

[nvideoe]

I walk her twice a day for about a half an hour each. She plays with another dog in my yard quite a bit. I do a couple of short obedience sessions a day with her. She will take treats, but she isn't crazy about them. She won't play at all with people yet. She doesn't really cling to me. She lays at the bottom of my steps a lot, but I could be wrong.

I took her to my agility instructor, but after meeting her, she declined her as a student. I have had her to the vet twice.

[engideNedmupe]

Its obvious to me this isnt the right dog for you and I have to wonder if the breed should just be off limits to you as well.

Id return her to rescue and hope some one more pit bull savvy takes her.

[bobibnoxx]

agreed with alma. TBH, this breed is not for everyone. i think you should return her to the rescue.

[nvideoe]

I have 3 other pit bulls. I love the breed and have done very well with my others. Maybe I just got lucky with them. I have owned and competed with the breed for 3 years.

At least I know enough to know that I'm not the right owner for this one.

[weaddercaps]

A dog can take up to 6 months to get used to a house. Also if you dont know her prior situation you dont know what she doesnt understand. I have had dogs that LIVED in crates, never allowed inside a home...maybe this is the case and the dog doesnt "get" what to do. Have you ever owned a rescue? If not you should do LOTS of reading and things may start to make sense. My dog stares at me all the time, usually she wants attention to go out, or me to put her to bed (crate). She will literally sit there like a little creep in the corner starting at me.

[CealialactBek]

I REALLY think you should return her to the rescue instead of euthing her. Of course, none of us are there to see her behavior, but she doesn't sound like she's a danger. She sounds very needy and maybe a little timid. Maybe you should suggest to the rescue that she be part of a single dog household.

[TheDoctor]

I don't care what breed it is, not every dog in every breed works for someone who is great with that breed. There is not one breed out there that I would want to have every dog who was that breed so why should he be flamed for one DOG not working out.

Take the dog back to the rescue, let them know your concerns and why she isn't working out. Maybe they have another dog that would fit your family better.

[engideNedmupe]

Three of these friends own at least 3 dogs each. My new rescue stares at them and has climbed up them slowly on seperate occasions. Training issue, not aggression.

She stares too long, too intensely. Not an aggression issue. In fact, I know MANY APBT who do this and have zero aggression.

She crowds me and climbs up when not leashed Training issue, not aggression.

As far as the fence running, that can be corrected with training as well. Its for these reason I made the suggestions I did and still recommend returning the dog.

[Kilsimpaile]

Please please please return her to the rescue. I'm going to edit our contract to now include that new owners can not euthanize the dog for behavioral issues.

[weaddercaps]

Please please please return her to the rescue. I'm going to edit our contract to now include that new owners can not euthanize the dog for behavioral issues.

Same here! That is scary.

---------- Post added at 03:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:01 PM ----------

I don't care what breed it is, not every dog in every breed works for someone who is great with that breed. There is not one breed out there that I would want to have every dog who was that breed so why should he be flamed for one DOG not working out.

Take the dog back to the rescue, let them know your concerns and why she isn't working out. Maybe they have another dog that would fit your family better.

No offense but many rescues will black list you from another adoption if you return a dog for something that is not a temperament issue.

[KeettyGlots]

Euthanization seems extreme here. By your standards my rescue should be put down as well. She sits in the doorway to the kitchen while I cook and stares (since she knows she's not allowed in there while I'm cooking!), she stares at me when she wants on the bed, she stares at me when we're cuddling on the couch and that's the sign that you have to watch out for the tongue because she's a big kisser as well. You can tell the difference with her stares though because she will also fixate on the cat. The cat will want on the couch and you can tell the dog is anticipating the cat jumping up, and that's when I do watch her pretty closely. It takes some practice, but for someone who's been around dogs, you can tell the difference in a dog's looks. She's rather clingy, but getting better. She also barks at men on the sidewalk when we're in our backyard, but with some work she's getting better about not caring so much as well. Sounds like your dog just isn't a good fit. Please return her to the rescue, instead of trying to find loopholes in a contract to PTS a dog that doesn't sound unsound at all.

[Kilsimpaile]

Winston, the pit in my avatar like many of our abused rescues will stare as well. I think it's because they've been through so many horrible experiences with humans that the kindness they now receive is sometimes unbelievable to them. I imagine it's overwhelming to go from living with an owner that has left them with permanent scars to finally escaping and living a tragic life on the streets to then finally being trapped by some crazy lady that keeps feeding them. They are brought to a home where they are allowed on cozy dog beds and couches. They have toys and plenty of food and treats. Their wounds are treated. Winston stares at me all the time, often trying to "crawl up me," but he gets better and less clingy everyday. When he stares at me, I see a lot of pain in his eyes. I think he just feels lucky that he's here. We rescued him about 6 months ago and because of his past, we have yet to find an appropriate home, but if we adopted him out and found out his new family had him euthanized because he stares and he's clingy....I would be absolutely devastated. I spent 2 weeks gaining his trust sitting on the stoops of an abandoned crack house so I could lasso a leash around his scarred neck. He wouldn't let anyone touch him at first, he was absolutely terrified. We've spent months rehabilitating him and training him. I don't know the kind of time and efforts the rescue you went to put into your adopted dog, but it sounds like they really loved her. I think it would be cruel to put her to sleep when they'd probably be more than willing to take her back.