Dear Dog Talk: I sincerely hope “Braveheart” takes your advice. About 2 1/2 years ago, I adopted a 6-month-old female pit bull mix who had been brought to the no-kill shelter as a stray. She was adorable and lovable until I got her home. Annie settled herself on the couch. She refused to get off. The first time I reached for her, she growled at me. The second time, she snarled and snapped at me. There was no third time. I looped a leash around her neck and pulled her off. When I called the shelter, they offered some free obedience training, which Annie and I took. I already had a 160-pound Rottweiler and an 80-pound Doberman mix. Both of dogs had been through obedience training. It’s not like I didn’t now how to train a dog! Annie was the perfect little lady during training, and she never growled or snapped at me again. But, this 45-pound witch terrorized the other dogs. My gentle giant Rottie never fought back, not even when Annie tore a chunk of skin from the side of his face. When my Rottie died and I got another Doberman mix, Annie became worse. And you never knew what would set her off. One of the dogs could just walk past her and she attacked. I paid quite a few veterinary bills because neither dog, both of whom outweighed her, would defend themselves. I talked to dog trainers and tried everything I could think of to control Annie’s vicious streak, but to no avail. The final straw was when she killed one of the stray cats I feed. I talked to the veterinarian, who reminded me what she had told me the first time she met Annie, that I had a dangerous dog. I cried when I had Annie put down, and I cried for a few days after. But I’m quickly getting over it when I watch my two dogs play. They are more playful than I can remember. They walk with their heads up, and they actually wag their tails a lot. Best of all, there are no bloody dog bites on their muzzles and heads. They’ve even put on a few pounds! I’ve been through it — I know how dangerous a “Jekyll & Hyde” dog could be. You gave Braveheart the right advice — I certainly hope he heeds it. Dear Been There, Done That : Thank you for writing and sharing your experience with “Dog Talk” readers. You certainly made an effort with a difficult animal. As I’ve said many times before, adopting a dog is a noble endeavor. Sadly, it doesn’t always work out. Dear Dog Talk : I was very fortunate to have read your book, “Adoptable Dog.” I now have two rescue dogs. Both are very young. One is a Labrador/husky female about 2 years old. I have owned her for about a year. The other dog is a Hungarian vizsla who is about 14 months old. I’ve had him for six months. Both dogs are neutered, well loved and well fed. I’m particularly concerned about the vizsla. He apparently was abused before he came to us. He doesn’t care for men. He hates when people (except our family) raise their hands/arms around him. He is very territorial, even to dogs and/or people outside our yard. We have both physical and invisible fencing. I thought that as he spent time with us and felt safe, he would become less anxious. However, that hasn’t happened. I’m worried since he has grown to about 75 pounds. I’m afraid that he will really hurt someone who comes in, and we’ll have to have him destroyed. He has bitten (nipped, not mauled) a couple of roofers who were here when we weren’t home. He’s absolutely fine around kids, but one of the roofers that he bit was a man who we had introduced him to. Apparently he didn’t mind the man while we were at home, but became aggressive when we were gone. Please advise me on how to educate him that he should protect his home/family but that his aggressiveness is overdone! Thanks very much. Dear Precarious Situation : It is my opinion that you are probably not going to be able to change this dog. That said, I have never met the dog, plus he is only 14 months old. If he were a full adult dog (two years and beyond), the prognosis for positive change would be much worse. You need to contact a trainer and/or a veterinary canine behaviorist who deals with dogs with aggressive behavior. Allow an expert who regularly works with aggressive dogs to evaluate him. Follow their advice, although it might prove to be expensive and time-consuming. In the meantime you have to run a tight ship. You cannot place people in harms way. Keep your dog securely away from anyone that he may even remotely consider biting. If he injures someone, not only will you have to face putting the dog down, you potentially could be facing a lawsuit. If you give him the opportunity to bite someone, it is your fault and you can be held liable.

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