Any advice on how best to find a good home for a dog?

My 65 lb. dog growled and snapped at one of my kids 5 year old friends this morning and we just can't have that. My kids tug and hang on him all the time with no issues. They even grab his tail and he drags the little one across the yard. We have kids at our house all of the time and this happened once a good while back, but it has not happened since. He did have some sore ear issues at the time.

I am not concerned at all about this dog with my family, but I can't have a dog where I feel I have to lock him up when other kids are over.

He's a Pudel Pointer. 2 1/2 years old. Registered and comes from a champion blood line, but has had no formal hunting training. He has had obedience training and knows the commands... not that he always follows them. He's basically been a good family dog that spends about 1/3 of his time inside and he sleeps inside.

If I go forward with this it's gonna kill my kids so I have to be able to look them in the eye and tell them he's going to a good place.

Thanks for any advice.

If I wasn't trying to reduce my kennel....

Good luck.

I may get a PP in a couple of years, but I want to start with a puppy.

Does he hunt? If so, it shouldn't be too hard to find a home. Take lots of pictures and post them up. Check with the breeder. Lots of breeders will help re-home their dogs.

No, he doesn't hunt and that's a big negative for a lot of people. He has gone hunting, but he doesn't really "hunt". Haven't worked with him anough. We have some land and all of the time I was planning on training and hunting went to working to keep up with the place. He's just a family dog who LOVES the outdoors and water.

If we decide to get rid of him I know our breeder can help.

Thanks

If you decide to get rid of him, post up some pictures. I will pass the word around.

I helped a really fat lab find a home and he didn't hunt, but the guy took him dove and duck hunting just as a companion.

If its only other peoples kids you have to worry about I would crate or kennel him when they're over.

Was your kids around at the same time? Was he raised w/ them? If so, he thinks he is another kid. Thats not something that is a bad thing. He might have felt protective or something. Honestly I would lock him up instead.

Thanks Stinkbelly. Kindall, It is only other kids, and very rare behavior (two episodes in two years). I don't feel I need to be in a rush because of that.

PlastikBulletz... He was raised with my kids and he definitely feels like he's one of them. Probably too much so. The episode today was at the front door. He is very protective and when the door bell rings he immediately runs over and starts barking. This morning my wife saw the guests coming down the walk and opened the door. She forgot the dog was in the living room and he came charging over. She held him behind the door and when the little boy came around he growled and nipped at him. This kid is at our house a lot and never an issue before. I do think that whole "front door" situation led up to that.

I have seen that anytime a dog is restrained, it will act more aggressive. That combined with someone entering his house.

Don't jump to a decision, but be very cautious for the kids. You can never take back a dog bite.

Can you post some pictures of him? Or send them to me in a PM.

My 1yo pup does the same thing, she will get very aggressive when she is held back. A couple of things can be done about that. Have your friends help you out, and practice answering the door. Make sure you know before hand. What I do is tell my dog to go to her box (her kennel) or have her sit, before I open the door. The moment she thinks about getting up I send her to her box. The box is her place, its not time out, its just like putting her outside, as she is an indoor dog.

very good idea Plastik. Thanks

Here a few photos asked for:

Duck hunting this past weekend (he was no help but sure enjoyed himself):



Being lazy:


Mug shots from his younger days:

Bloodlines?? Registered with who??

I'm with the folks who are saying the verdict to get rid of him seems premature. And I agree about the confining... under stress, they've got 'flight' or 'fight' and flight was not an option. Restraining him seems to have exacerbated the situation. I'm with Kindall and PB on the crating him when kids are over. We have a mess of dogs in the house at any given time. Some can be pretty protective - we just put them up when folks are over til they calm down (takes about 5-10 minutes.) I could train them otherwise, but I choose not to. I'd rather just put them up. Doesn't sound like the dog has an aggression issue - sounds more like something that can be resolved with either putting him up or training.

Thanks Iron Spikes. I am leaning to doing just what you say. The only two episodes we've had were when we grabbed him by the collar when he was being a little too aggressive. It's like that told him he had to step it up a notch.

If we are choosing sides, I agree with keeping the dog and resolving the issue, either through training or crating. I grew up with chows(parents raised when we were little) and they were very protective of us, but once they were socialized with friends, they had no problems and no one was ever bitten. Once I got older and started hunting, we had Brittanys and even raised them for awhile during college. Again we had a few that were "unsure" of others, but just spent time socializing and crating two of them. My mom has a standard poodle that is very protective of her and has to be crated when my brothers kids are there, but is a great dog for us and my kids. All that being said, this seems to be a very common issue because, i believe, dogs are very social and loyal. Talk to others and get their training opinions and socialize him with as many people and kids as possible, with adult supervision of course. Don't rush to re-home unless all other options have been exhausted. IMHO.

Bird dogs were not designed to be pets or house dogs orig., not
including labs or retrievers in gen'l. My father had two Eng.
Proctor Pointers he raised from pups, and once in the house they
wouldn't let him in if he'd be off working for a time in the oil
field..both would kill another dog if it growled at them, and they were just as bad on one that didn't honor their point..They
have improved since the 40's..I'm down to about 10 now, with 4
being my wifes' Old English Mastiffs..and I keep my Gordon in the
house with them..He might bite, but not family..Suggest you get
you youngn's a hound..usually they can stomp on them and not get
hurt..When my 3 boys were all in diapers, I saw all of them on one of my old Blueticks holding his, ears, tail and one poking him at his eyes and setting on him the whole time...Must dogs
do not have that good a temprament...My Mastiff's are great but
too big for little ones...they'd hurt a kid just stepping on him.
Luck..Don