just adopted a neutered male, 21/2 year old Pointer. Good dog. BUT

Stepdaughter left him with her dad today, went out briefly, bent to kiss him, he nipped and growled. She told him No. He growled even more.

He has met stepson who has been in home. Friendly with him or growls when he goes to pet him.

Certain body movements: Waving of arms, boyfriend had leash or something he was making a noise with, snapping maybe, dog reacted.

Stranger female, fine until she started waving arms and purse around- barking

I leave him all day to go to work and he is fine when I come home, with me constantly.

Vet visit: Sedation and muzzle needed. Fine with shots, But to get his ears cleaned and medicated took myself and 350 pound man to hold him down on the table just for the ears. I cant medicate ears. He lip trembles and/or growls. Same with meds for kennel cough, had to put it in food, and same for diarrhea meds, in food.

I can rub his ears when he lays with me, but med on finger even, NO WAY. Yet I can rub inside of his ears without med.

He has scars, places on legs where fur did not grow back.
He barks when left alone in the yard to potty.

Rides good. Obeys well. Housebroke in my home easily. Need pinch collar for walk on leash, because of pulling.

Introduced him to pet bird. All is well there. He listens, not to jump at her cage.

We have had him 10 days. SPCA dog. Nothing known except he came from another shelter in another area.

He is fine with other dogs and people when I walk him, no signs of aggression even when other dogs bark at him. Took him to doggie playground, met little dogs, one nipped when he got tired of the sniffing, Indie just back off and left dog alone.

He is becoming more protective of house by way of barking when people or noise outside. If with him, he on leash outside, other people near me doesn't bother him unless waving of arms, etc.

I don't know if this dog has been abused. When he sees birds, his focus is on them, he points and acts like a hunting dog. Do not know if he was used for hunting. Duriing this, it is difficult to get his attention.

He does not like to make eye contact. He will look away, or even turn his head.

He is just starting to play and I can take toys from him to throw them for him to go get, until he has had enough, then growls.

Don't know what to do. I have two weeks if I want to return him to SPCA. Is he showing signs of abuse, or possibly an aggressive dog that I need to get rid of?

He let young boy pet him, kid had his dog out, then his dog was put in house, but when kid came to pet my dog, the dog growled at him. Ths kid is an animal lover.

Thank you for any advice or help you can provide.

Linda



Sincerely,


Linda Smith

Edited to remove visible e-mail address

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,

He sounds like he is showing a lot of signs of abuse. He might be better with intensive rehab, but he might never get better. I don't think that at this point he is a very safe dog to be around. You might check with the shelter and see if they could recommend someone to work with him. If you decide to take him back please make sure you tell them everything that he did. He may not be an adoptable animal. I hope that everything works out, good luck.

You could also look for a dog trainer that specializes with abused dogs. A good trainer can help you develop a program of behavior management and desensitization that could make your dog safer and your life with the dog managable.

you know if you take him back he will probably be put to sleep. only you can decide if his behavior is bad enough to lose his life.