Dogs, Cats, and Other People by Matthew Margolis

Sometimes it's hard to see the writing on the wall. We're too close to a situation to prioritize, make decisions and set boundaries. The following letters are from readers who stare at the writing on their wall and see only hieroglyphics.

Sammo:

“My girlfriend and I recently adopted Sammo, her parents' 9-year-old Shar-Pei. He had become too much for them to handle and her father was ready to put Sammo down after he bit his wife — twice. We decided to adopt him since we did not see signs of aggression toward people during our time with him.

“At a recent checkup, Sammo snapped at the vet. Sammo has already snapped at me twice. Last night, we were on the back porch and he was enjoying a treat. It was getting dark and my girlfriend got up to get Sammo some water. He growled and charged at her. He has not had any real training outside of housebreaking and learning how to sit. What should we do?”

The writing on the wall: Sammo had bitten twice before they adopted him, and they knew this. He's an aggressive dog that requires professional training and firm boundaries. They will have to make concessions to keep Sammo safely in their lives and in their house.

Rex:

“Our 2-year-old Australian shepherd, Rex, has shown signs of aggression toward strangers and my daughter's friends — never toward family members. He won't let anyone touch my daughter. If someone is on our yard, he will snarl and try to bite. Some mothers won't let their girls come over anymore because Rex bit them. He has even broken skin. We tried to socialize him, but it didn't get any better, so we want to do something about it.”

The writing on the wall: Rex is a dangerous dog, and it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured. This family stands to lose a lot — friendships, homeowners insurance, the home itself or even lives.

Rex should be securely confined whenever anyone visits their home, and he must be kept away from small children.

Maddy:

“Some months back, my daughter rescued an abandoned dog. We have rescued animals in the past, but I was hesitant to take in a new animal because I'd just lost my job and money was — and still is — an issue. Nevertheless, I let “Maddy” stay.

“In no time, I realized this little dog has some serious issues. She is afraid to be alone and is food aggressive. She is also afraid of any kind of noise. She will aggressively bark and snarl at me if I raise my voice in the slightest to discipline my three kids, and she goes ballistic if the kids start to argue. Maddy has bitten every member of the family at one point or another.

“I've had a rotten time trying to find a new job, so I have been making strides to open an in-home day care. Yet, I am afraid that Maddy will freak out at the sound of a baby rattle and bite one of the children. After watching her random attack on my daughter today, I realize I am out of my league when it comes to attending to her psychological needs. Any advice?”

The writing on the wall: A dog driven berserk by arguments and noise and that has already bitten at least three children is not a candidate for “day care dog.” Maddy is dangerous and can't be around children. With Maddy running around a day care facility, this woman will lose her license and her shirt within a week — not to mention the very real danger to other people's children, as well as her own.

Woof!

Dog trainer Matthew "Uncle Matty" Margolis is co-author of 18 books about dogs, a behaviorist, a popular radio and television guest, and host of the PBS series "WOOF! It's a Dog's Life!" Read all of Uncle Matty's columns at the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com, and visit him at www.unclematty.com. Send your questions to dearuncle.gazette@unclematty.com or by mail to Uncle Matty at P.O. Box 3300, Diamond Springs, CA 95619.

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