Should I get rid of my dog for growling at me a second time?

Question

My 10 mth old catahoula leopard growled at me(didn't show teeth) last month after I punished her for eating cat litter. My husband and I really didn't want to give her away so we gave her a chance and signed her up for dog training. She is still going 2 hrs a day once a week. And we are both working with her at home as well. We thought she was doing great until today. I caught her eating litter again. When I went to yell at her"NO!" she ran and cornered herself. I tried to grab her and she growled at me like she did last time only this time she was showing teeth. I stuck my hand in there and she went to bite me. I have never been scared of her until now. I never heard her growl like she did and I really feel like she does not like me. She NEVER acts this way with my husband or my 4 year old. She wont come to me after this happened tonight. She is still hiding under my bed. I can not even get her out to put her in her crate for bedtime. On top of all this, I am 35 weeks pregnant. Should I keep working with her or get rid of her?

Please read about this type of dog breed before you leave feedback. Alot of people have not heard of them before yet they are the oldest dog breed in America. I am not a big believer in getting rid of dog. They are family and not for your convienence and we were willing to do whatever it take to work with her and train her. BUT with a baby due in a few weeks that does change my opinion.

Answer 1

You want to get rid of her for GROWLING at you? Come on, give her a chance. Think of the situation through her eyes. A person, much bigger than yourself, comes and starts screaming at you for eating what you thought was food. You run to get away and she gives chase. She goes to grab you so you defend yourself. All dogs growl when they feel threatened, so you obviously scared her. Next time you catch her eating cat litter say no gently but firmly and DO NOT YELL.

Answer 2

either that or hit the dog every time it does that.

Answer 3

catahoula leopard dogs are extremely intelligent, and, having rescued one before, need persistant training. When you are popping her for doing something wrong, it scares her. And she growls to defend herself, to make herself look bigger and scarier so you'll stop hitting her. And, it works. You back away, right?

So, instead of popping her, look her in the eye and say "NO" in a stern, dead even voice. That, or move the litter box to a place where she can not get to it, that way you won't have to worry about her getting into it and then you having to punish her.

Answer 4

I think you should keep it, but be careful around her so as not to get hurt. Try explaining and showing her you want to be her friend, but she has to listen.

Answer 5

Baloney, you are treating your mutt like it is the dominant pack animal.

Take her by the scruff of the neck, spank her butt and chuck her in the basement for a few days.

If that does nor work send her to the pound.

The dominant pack ***** will try to kill the pups of a secondary female in the pack.  

Answer 6

Yelling is not a correction they understand.  There isn't much you can do about the cat litter unless you get a cover for it.

A scared, cornered dog WILL bite.  Sounds like she may have been mistreated & abused.  How old was she when you got her?  Do you know anything about her back ground?

Another point to make is that you DO NOT punish a dog,  you correct a bad behavior.  You NEVER punish,  you correct.

There are quite a few Catahoula Leopards here.  There is always a few advertized in the newspaper.

The tone of your voice is another important factor.  A high pitched voice for praise & a deep throated NO, sounds like a growl, which she will understand.  Yelling does no good except to raise your blood pressure. LOL  

Answer 7

watch Dog Whisperer

Answer 8

Is there a way to keep the dog out of the room with the cat box? Like a baby gate or something similar? Or like another poster stated, hood the box and face it towards the wall.

If she has improved, you just need to make sure she can improve by not allowing the temptation. I had some small dogs that would not stay out of the cat box, we ended up moving the cat box upstairs and placing a baby gate to keep the dogs downstairs. Not the perfect solution, but its one less headache.

If you are truly concerned for your safety, then yes, you should get rid of the dog. I would make it a last ditch response if nothing else works out, but safety for you and the little one come first.

Good luck, it sounds like you an interesting road ahead.

Answer 9

If your safety and the safety of your baby is at risk, then yes, get rid of the dog. Try to work with it ONE more time, but if she goes to bite you, that's it. You can't risk yourself and your child because of a dog. But, I am against just sending it to the pound, so if it gets to the point where you can't keep her in the house, put her up for adoption, or give it to some one you can trust. Good luck, I really hope things get better.

Answer 10

I have a chow chow who bites any and all strangers.  My solution is this - don't let strangers around my dog.  When a first-time visitor stops by, the dog is penned up.  After 10-15 minutes, he calms down and if I stand near him, he will allow the visitor to pet him.

I am a great dog owner and trainer and I am certain I will never break him of this habit.  So I changed my way of life to accomodate his problem.  I hope you can do the same with your dog.  And don't EVER let him around your baby unsupervised.

Good luck.

Answer 11

train them they are like kids they need direction not to thrown away

Answer 12

Dont get rid of her, get a cat box with a hood on it and have the door opening to it face the wall so the dog can't get to it.  

Answer 13

no you should definitely not give your dog away...it will be a lot harder on your dog than on you. you should ask the vet. or show him/her who's boss. as soon as he/she snaps at you...you snap back and tell him NO...on a stern voice...it will get better...

Answer 14

Your dog is behaving like she has been mistreated.  I wonder why this is.

Answer 15

I HAVE A CHIHUAHUA MIXED WITH catahoula leopard AND HES REALLY NICE [:

Answer 16

either that or mix vinigar and water, and put it in a bottle and everytime the dog growls at you spray his nose, that's wut we did with my schnoodle

Answer 17

no! i think he was only trying to protect his food! but of cource im only guessing. ask his trainer what u can do to not get him to eat it. maybe try a different type ofdog food or give him more treats so he doesnt want to eat litter

Answer 18

I have a pomeranian, and he growls and bites us a lot. However, we love him, and we always will. I don't think you should get rid of your dog. With enough training he'll soon stop. Growling can be that he doesnt recognize you, which happens sometimes, he doesn't feel well and wants to be left alone, or anything else. Your dog will forget about what happened by tomorrow. Keep working with her please and don't give up. Dogs need love.

Answer 19

keep your dog. it must just want to play or need something .but remember never hit  or kick your dog, it will act like it is mistreated.instead say no, shush, or quiet in a deep voice. hopes that helps. good luck

Answer 20

You should never get rid of a dog!!!  It is apart of your family right?  Would you get rid of your child if it talked back to you?  My dog bit the top half of my ear almost off.  Did I get rid of the dog of course not she was a puppy and I wouldn't let her down.  You need to train the dog and put the kitty litter somewhere else so you do not have this issue.  The only reason it acted this way is because it felt threatened.  What I do when my dog trys to eat the kitty litter is I do one big clap and it startles him then you say no and move the kitty litter it is that easy!!  Well good luck!

Answer 21

Ok don't hit the dog!!!!!!!!. u p**s them off when u do that

do not corner the dog!!!! u making them scarred

u r the problem

the dog is good 4 the baby when the baby is a kid. but the dog can be to ruff with the baby

put the cat litter were the dog can't get it.

Answer 22

If you want to get rid of her, that is your choice. However, you said that she does not growl at your husband or daughter. It would seem to me that she does not see you as a leader and was telling you off.

It's not that she does not like you, she does not respect you. Hounds, as a whole, can be headstrong and need a firm, yet fair hand.

If she growls again, stand your ground and do not show fear, dogs can smell it a mile away and fear is weakness to them.The answer is not to yell or hit, but to be firm and tell her "No growling" when she does. She is testing you. Also, get a hooded cat box, or place the box where she cannot get to it, but the cat can. Most dogs cannot resist a chewy treat like that!

I have a friend who adopted a Catahoula and they are great dogs, but will take advantage of an owner who is not strong enough to manage them . Good luck.