Temp Testing On A Beagle That Has Bitten (allegedly) A Child

[Beagle Rescue NSW]

I work with beagle rescue and occasionally we get a beagle that is surrendered for biting. Most times it can be food aggression or fear biting which we can work with but sometimes there does not seem to be a trigger. We have been very lucky to have the help of Marcia Davey help out but as some of you know she is out of action due to a work accident.

We have just had a 20 month old beagle named Ollie surrendered for allegedly knocking down & biting (on the face) the 6 year old daughter of the family. According to the wife it was totally unprovoked - the daughter was just walking past him & she has never shown fear or done anything to aggravate the dog. The husband said it was only a scatch but he wasn't there when it happened. There were a couple of other minor incidents as well & apparently he also shows "dominance" over their other beagle, his litter brother. He was actually taken to their vet to be PTS! Fortunately the husband stepped in & Ollie went into boarding kennels which is where we picked him up.

Ollie has been in foster care for a few weeks with a beagle breeder who has several beagles & Ollie has shown no sign of aggression. The breeder's granddaughter who is 5 years has handled Ollie & there have been no incidents. While all seems to be going well I am reluctant to place him without knowing what causes these incidents. Being in a pack situation is different to being in a private home where the family is the pack.

I am reluctant to place Ollie until we know what his problem is. When we have known what causes the aggression we work with reprogramming the dog and then add a disclosure to the adoption agreement so the new owners are aware of what might trigger a relapse. Fortunately there have only been a couple as this is not generally very beagle-like behaviour.

Does anyone have any idea what we can do to test him out. None of our carers are behavioral experts although most are very experienced beagle owners. Ollie is in care at East Kurrajong.

Would appreciate any help

Thanks

Gwenda

[Salukifan]

I'd be going straight to K9Pro for an evaluation. You can't afford to take chances and frankly your liability in rehoming a dog with a bite history on a child is massive.

[Tralee]

Hi Beagle Rescue

I am sure that Robert Holmes gave me an article on dog family hierarchy.

Dogs do not see children as 'people'

In the dogs view, on the ladder of priority, there are adults-masters, dog, and then children.

Dogs then chastise children as they would a puppy.

I don't think it always is a temperamant problem but more of a dog management issue.

From your description the problem is more a lack of supervision, or naivete, on the part of the dog owners.

Unfortunate I know, and mistakes will happen, but these things have to be factored in when getting a dog.

We cannot afford to have a nonchalant attitude towards dog husbandry.

Regards.

[huski]

Hi Gwenda

We are in Kurrajong Heights, shoot me an email at [email protected] if you'd like to organise a temp assessment.