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bob
 
Oct 24, 2006 at 13:01
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Sam's story on his aggression...
before i start, just want to say chris and are fine, chris had the hardest thing to do when he decided that poor sam had to go, but there was no choice.
We got sam at six weeks old, bob didnt come along until a year later, so this aggression was before bob too. infact we noticed it at six months, he picked a clothes peg up, and naturally i went to his mouth so he wouldnt swollow it, we have had dogs for thirty years and never had a problem approaching them. well, even at six months he froze and had that look in his eye, come and get it if you want it, i couldnt believe it. anyway eventually he dropped the clothes peg, i told chris and i dont think he believed me at first. before i go any further he didnt bite other people or dogs, the thing that made him change his personality was possesion of items, we found that certain toys especially fluffy ones he would pick up and not drop at all, and he got that horrible look in his eyes, no way would we dare approach him to try and get the item. The vet did see it in his eyes when we used to take him for his yearly jabs, he always had a muzzle on. the reason we kept him so long was we got used to it and each time he picked an item up we just left him and eventually he would drop it, but it could be hours later. he was a lovely looking dog and great markings, its the breeders fault, we found out later he didnt change his breeding stock at all. Sunday afternoon changed chris's mind, we had some friends call, the dogs always get excited when anyone comes. we were sat in the room chatting and sam disappeared, didnt know but he went into the bathroom and pinched a bath towel and took it back to his bed in the kitchen, we noticed he had it in his mouth, but just left him. chris got up and went into the kitchen to make a drink for us all, the towel was there on the floor but sam was still in his basket, so the natural thing for chris to do was pick the towel up, and when he did sam lunged and swung on his hand, this could have been me, or worse still one of our friends who automatically saw the towel on the floor and might have gone to pick it up, and then that would have been terrible. also the last six months he has got worse, he was always fine off the lead and pleased to see other dogs, but once or twice up the lane a couple of big dogs have come down and he has shown his teeth. it is sad he was a loveable dog too. bob is doing ok, at least now bob can have alot of toys and chews around, especially fluffy ones and he can pick them up when he likes, we couldnt do that as sam got possessive, why we will never know. i could throw a ball in the field for him, ask him to drop it and he would, but here in the house a different dog. we did take him to training school at six months, and chris spent hours and hours in the fields trying to train him, but somehow he was so stubburn just wouldnt do anything. even a small command lately and he showed his teeth at us.
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bob
Oct 24, 2006 at 13:04
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Re: Sam's story on his aggression...
so chris slept on it and waited until he had calmed down, but monday morning it had to be, it wasnt worth the risk. after all these years of having dogs, we thought we were a good judge of breeders, but it just shows you.
thanks for your support, but the subject will close now, and time to move on.
LOVE JANET AND CHRIS XX
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Yoka & Moshe
 
Oct 27, 2006 at 11:16
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Re: Sam's story on his aggression...
What a tragic story . I would have been scared to have a dog like that in the house.
So sorry.
Hugs Yoka & Moshe
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Iver & Sailor
 
Oct 24, 2006 at 13:25
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Re: Sam's story on his aggression...
What a sad story. Thanks for sharing and I hope both you and Chris will recover from this terrible tragedy. Which is actually a travesty perpetuated by a puppy mill.
I'm simply curious, did Sam have black markings or Caramel ones. All the spaniels we meet at the park are Caramel ones and are the sweetest animals you can imagine.
But my brother always got black marked ones, and they were just plain crazy...they'd snap out and bite for any reason, not just because they possessed something. Do you think aggressiveness is a trait of the color of the spaniel.
The reason I'm asking is because Labrador Retrievers have two different personalities. The Black Labs are intense and aggressive while the yellow and chocolate ones are just big puppies...as easy going as you could want a dog to be.
Maybe this color thing is just a Labrador thing.
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bob
Oct 24, 2006 at 13:38
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does the colour cause aggression
dont really know, sam was black and white, our springer before him was liver and white and he was lovely and very inteligent.
HUGS JANET XX
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Cheryl
Oct 25, 2006 at 08:31
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Re: does the colour cause aggression
We had two lab mixes -- one black and one yellow. The black one (Samantha) was as sweet and well-behaved as could be -- not an aggressive bone in her body. Our yellow lab mix (Sadie) developed some kind of senility thing that some labs are prone to; she became very unpredictable and posed a danger with her biting, and we had to make the sad decision.
I don't know if it is a color issue, or like people, sometimes things just go horribly wrong...
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Jeanie, Jolly & Hattie
 
Oct 24, 2006 at 15:41
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Re: does the colour cause aggression
Isn't THAT interesting that Sam was black and white and so were David's brother's dogs. I am so sorry, Janet....you did all you could. Hugs to Bob and all of you.
Jeanie, Jolly &Hattie
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bob
Oct 24, 2006 at 13:42
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will we get another dog...
at the moment no, we will enjoy bob and take it from there, may be when we retire, but living in a flat is not easy for training a pup, and i don't want an older dog at the moment.
HUGS JANET XX
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Enya
Oct 24, 2006 at 14:31
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Re: Sam's story on his aggression...
Janet, you did the only responsible thing. Just imagine he had bitten a child or a stranger. If you lived here, you would have gotten sued for everything you have. It's sad, but it had to be done.
Marie
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McTavish, SGirls & Becky
Oct 24, 2006 at 18:34
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Re: Sam's story on his aggression...
I am so sorry, Janet. It sounds like you did everything that you possibly could to help him. I can only imagine how much you guys must hurt. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
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Sonny and Cayla
Oct 24, 2006 at 19:17
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Re: Sam's story on his aggression...
Janet, I am sorry, but like others said you did the best you could. Maybe another family would not have been as patient as you and Chris.
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Max
Oct 24, 2006 at 19:22
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Re: Sam's story on his aggression...
Janet, such a sad decision for you all to make. Having lived with an agressive dog and never knowing when he would attack, I understand the danger, not only to you, Chris and Bob but to your guests. We know Sam is at peace now, sending hugs your way. xxxMarianne and Maxxx
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Robert Mack
Oct 24, 2006 at 22:41
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Re: Sam's story on his aggression...
I'm sorry it had to come to that ..
I have had dogs for years and I had one that would be fine one min then the other he would bite. My vet said he has seen dogs with mental issues. I tried to fight through it but it did get worse....
One night it was storming outside, I wasn't home I was working, my wife tried to comfort him and he had a look of fear and anger in his eyes...
The next day I had him put down...I loved him very much but he weighed 120 lbs about 20 lbs more than my wife...And I was worried he would hurt her...
Today I have a friends Scottie at my house. She came from several puppy mills and spent over a year in a great house. She still acts like everyone is going to hurt her and I have started working with her. Right now it is a battle of wills. She wants to be in charge and I won't let her..The problem is several people have worked with her and I have only been working with her for a couple of weeks and I am afraid she might have mental problems...and it is sad..
take care
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The Oregon Girlies...
Oct 24, 2006 at 23:43
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Re: Sam's story on his aggression...
There's no doubt that you did all you could Janet. It's very sad to say that Sam is in a better place now. They are such lovely dogs, over the years we had three of them, all black and white. Only the one was like that. Had she not been killed as a pup, I'm sure we would have had to face the same decision., because we had small children then.
Our thoughts are with you all.
xxxxBetty and the Girlies...
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Lynda and the Minkies
Oct 25, 2006 at 03:28
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Re: Sam's story on his aggression...
It's such a shame as he was just lovely while we were there and as good as gold. It's a pity they overbreed them and a perfectly lovely dog has to go because of that. I don't suppose you know anyone with any of his siblings ? It would be interesting to see how they got on. I know it won't change anything but I'd like to know if he was mine.
You did well to deal with him as long as you did.
XXX.
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Mackinac
Oct 25, 2006 at 19:33
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Re: Sam's story on his aggression...
We hope you are doing well, everyone involved. You did do the best thing, you gave him 4 yrs. Prob longer than most people would.
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