Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I will start by saying that I am definately not an expert & would love some advice on what do do about my great dane Samson's behavior. He was given to us by my husband's uncle. He is 3 years old. He was kept in a very large pen & was alone most of the time. I thought that he was just unsure of how to act now that he is in the house with a family. He is usually very sweet, but he has started to growl at me & my 3 kids recently, but never at my husband. He played with the kids all the time & one day he bit my 2 yr old in the face. They were running up & down the hall like they did all the time, barking & laughing. All of a sudden, I heard this long, loud, horrible growl, then a very loud bark, my son hit the wall & started screaming & crying. I thought he just got knocked down or got scared. Unfortunately, he did need stiches & got a cut that caused a black eye, there is a small dent on my son's cheek left from this bite, which is very sad. I was mad & scared, but thought that it was an accident from playing too rough. I told my husband & oldest child to help me with supervising the play from now on, which has helped some. Well, no one has been bitten. But, since then he has started just growling at me & the kids. I have no doubt that if we didn't back away we could be bitten. He acts like he may have been abused, but I don't know that for sure, he's a little jumpy. Well, he is not timid in any way or shy, just startled when he is touched & didn't initiate the contact, or didn't see it coming. This is a new problem & have just now started to look for help with it. We love the dog, but don't know what causes this behavior & how to fix the problem. I wonder if being outside & alone for 3 years has caused this. I hoped that once he realized that he was staying with us & was shown love & attention, he would feel safe & be able to adjust. To the most part he has done great. But, if he is being told to do something that he doesn't want to do, like get off the bed..he will growl if we come close to him. Another examlpe is.. he was let in the house & immediately came into our bedroom & went potty on his own bed. I tried to grab his collar to lead him back outside & he wouldn't move, he's stronger than me. When I pulled back & told him to "come on", he growled at me the same way he growled at my son just before he bit him, so I let go & backed off, but he kept growling. Usually it's just a quiet broken up growl, but this is a very loud, solid, aggressive sounding, teeth showing, dogfight kind of growl. I know if my husband hadn't jumped on top of him, he was about to attack me. I have mixed feelings about Samson now, I love him but am afraid he will hurt someone. I don't know if this behavior can be corrected without going to a specialist, but I will try anything. I may not have the solution, but I do have all the time in the world to work with him. I am home 24/7. As of right now, getting rid of him is not going to be an option until we have done all we can. Any & all advice or comments are very appreciated. Thanks

Discuss this situation with your pediatrician and your veterinarian immediately. This matter is urgent. In the meantime, do not allow the dog to have any contact with your children. The next bite may be unspeakably horrible. Don't take any more chances.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

Thank you for your advice. I have spoken with our Vet & was referred to an animal behaviorist. They both agree that neutering will not work because of his age. They said he is pretty much set in his behaviors. The behaviorist asked about the circumstances involving the bite & thought because they were running and chasing each other, that he was in "prey mode". I'm not positive why that is a bad thing if it is just play. But along with the circumstances around the growling, she has decided that he is showing dominance aggression. All of this put together, her opinion is to have him euthanized. Which was very hard for me to hear, I really hoped there was a way to make him better. I did call another behaviorist & got the exact same answer. Samson has been kept away from my children safely while I figured this out. But, sadly I guess it is time for me to do something I never thought I'd have to do. I appreciate your help.

While there are ways to work through dominance issues and ways to deal with a biter, with your having children in the household complicates matters much much more than someone that just lives by themselves and is able to have control over the situations 100% as they arise. Having children throws in a variable of uncertanty at all times... add into that a dog with what sounds like a very high prey drive and dominance issues, and you have a recipie for disaster.

You certainly cannot give the dog away, as you would only be passing on the problems you are experiencing to another person, plus that opens you up to a liability lawsuit if the dog should bite or maul someone. You can see about handing him over to a rescue that is capable of working through his issues (and despite what your vet and behaviorists say, neutering will help at least some, it will NOT be a magic pill cure, but the dog has a good possibility of calming down a little bit). Many rescues will not want to take on the responsibility of a potential biter (and I cannot say I blame them).

Difficult situation for you and I wish you the best. I would highly suggest finding a behaviorist that is willing to actually physically look over the dog and do some tests.. and also take the dog to your vet and have a full blood panel run (to check for thyroid problems) and have a complete physical done to rule out any medical issues that may be causing this behavior, especially if this behavior just started "out of the blue".

Caroline Smith
FarView Great Danes

Thank you for your response. I really can't say if this behavior is a new thing or not since Samson lived outside alone for 2 1/2 years in his previous home. But, my husband's uncle was very surprised to hear of this behavior. He said that Samson was his son's basketball team's mascot & was at every game with kids & parents all over him & never had the slightest problem. And we have only had him for 4 months now. I wish I could just figure out what makes him change. I am curious to know if a possible vision and/or hearing problem could be causing some of this. But, I really don't know. I just can't understand how he could be so loving & sweet & growl at the same people he obviously loves. I am not allowing him around any of my kids without myself & my husband keeping constant control. I will never assume that it would be okay to leave them unsupervised. I do plan to take him to see his vet to have a total exam to see if she can find any medical problem. If that comes up with no answers or solutions, I will be asking a behaviorist to see him. I just can't give up on him yet. It really is no problem at all to change my life a little to try & help him. I assure you, I would never allow my kids to be in danger. I fully realize that at any time he could become dangerous. I will ask the vet & behaviorist to look at him, then if nothing can be done, I will try dane rescue groups. Then, when I know I have done all I can, I will accept the sad end. I really appreciate your response, thank you very much.

Hi! It sounds like your dog has dominance issues. Dogs have pack mentality and it sounds like he thinks his place in the pack is above everyone but your hubby. You might be able to turn him around with Nothing In Life Is Free training which helps with a lot of dominance issues (you can search on Google for that and find a lot of info). However, seeing as your child has already been attacked, I personally think it might be best for you to turn the dog over to a rescue with the understanding that he is not to be placed in a home with small children. Your family obviously is not a good fit for this dog and unless you are willing to make major changes he may never be. Good luck!