I have not been bit but....

[Ginni]

My dog Diva is a sweetheart she is intelligent,loving and aggressive. Thats right aggressive. I don't know why, but around 6 months old she developed a bone infection. The vets never determined what caused it, but she was in extreme pain. She stayed over a week in the clinic, and had to come home with a shunt left in to drain the infection. During this time she was given lots of antibiotics, steroids and pain medication. She recovered and was her sweet self with the exception of suddenly being aggressive.
Diva is now 2 1/2 years old. She has to be kept separate from my other dogs. I have chain link fence completely around my house. I had it separated back and front. Diva was given the front. One evening I heard a fight and went outside to find that Diva had chewed through the chain link and was attacking Suzie she is a small terrier mix. Suzie required staples all around her neck.
I took Diva into the vet and had all test that could cause aggression ran on her. Thyroid, diabetes , everything. She was fine. They recommended euthanasia saying that there where to many non aggressive dogs in the world to let an aggressive one live........that she was a liability.
I have had two trainers work with Diva and they both said she was red-zone. She is also aggressive toward some people, but not all. So walking her is an ordeal and I muzzle her.
This dog gives my family so much love, and it breaks my heart that she is unstable. When outdoors when I am not with her, I have to put her on a tie out. In the chain linked fence. I hate doing that, but feel its the only way to protect other animals and people.
She cannot be indoors when the others are and vice versa.
Our family suffered a devastating loss last April when our golden retriever was intentionally poisoned and he was sweet to everyone a love sponge.
We could not bear another loss.
So even though its not always easy and sometimes I wonder if its the best life for Diva. She lives and gives us her love.
I've read both Caesar Milan books and I am the pack leader with my other dogs, and she lets me be the pack leader with her..until she sees another animal or person.

[Theresa]

Hey Ginni,
I'm glad you decided to post. And Diva is adorable, those big brown eyes could melt your heart. And I am so sorry for the loss of your golden retriever, so someone poisined him on purpose? That is just sick, but I know how you feel, I have lost 2 golden retrievers. Jasper died a little over a year ago, and I still feel that loss every second of every day. He was, and still is my best friend, we depended on each other, and there will be a big part of me that can never be replaced until we meet again at rainbow bridge. But anyway, I know this is probably going to start something with some people, but if Diva is still loving to you, and you can keep your other dogs and people safe from her, I wouldn't put her to sleep. I believe even the most aggressive dogs should have a chance, but unfortunately, most shelters don't agree. I'm glad you didn't listen to your vet and put her down. People like you are a hero in my eyes. As long as you keep working with Diva, and maybe you can get Cesar Milan and she can go to his center and go through the "boot camp". I don't know how much it would cost, but that would more than likely get her better. I don't know, but don't give up on her, she can't help that she is the way she is, but I think if you really keep trying, even though she is a red-zone case, I think that she can get even a little better. Do all of your dogs live and sleep outside? And is it just you living with your dogs? And how old is Diva? Just wondering. Well hang in there, and give all your doggies big kisses from me!
Thanks for posting,
-Theresa

[Ginni]

Thanks. Diva is 2 and a half, and its me and my 11 year old daughter, and husband. She loves us all. Losing our Golden Sam was devastating and we have still not stopped grieving for him. Diva and him got along well. She seemed to respect him. I've rescued the other dogs since. But no other animal can lessen Sam's loss.
Sam was the victim of an evil human. My daughter is working hard to change antifreeze laws. She has a website www.haleyham.com
I let the dogs indoors more than out, but I just can't let Diva in at the same time as the others, so I rotate. They all stay in at night, but are crated. So thats not a problem.
I want Diva to go to Caesar, I just don't know the cost. I'm going to look into it.
She also suffers from food allergies, and is prone to frequent ear infections. So she is on a special diet and has learned to dread seeing me with ear wash or drops, but still she has never once tried to bite me.

[Krisztina]

Don't give up on her and yes she deserves a chance, do you think that she is losing her hearing?? A lot of times they get that way when they are going through a change. I have a friend who has a dog named Blue and when she found him and even now gets ear infections and lost his hearing do to the infections. If she is not aggressive with your family just other dogs, try the muzzle like i did with mine when they fought all the time. This will prevent injury and she might realize that when she acts like that she gets the muzzle. Don't keep it on her for more than 5 to 10 min. that is long enough to have realize how much she doesn't like it. And don't have it on her when she is away from the other dogs. It should be a negative for her when she fights.

[Ginni]

That is a great suggestion and I'm going to try it. As for her hearing she seems to hear o.k., but with the frequency of her ear infections she may not. Are you able to keep yours together now? Thanks

[Krisztina]

yes i also put peroxide on a piece of paper and wipe it that way, and put neosporin (sorry forgot how to spell it) in it. No alcohol though that will just hurt them. I treat it like if he was a baby less is better. The muzzle for me worked to much though because my two boys now will only chase each other and never wrestle. Oh, also try giving her a toy that is hers only, she might have a problem with sharing and jealousy. And since she lost her best buddy she might also have an issue (just like humans do) with getting close to someone once you have lost a loved one. You know what i mean? Let me know if i can help