Should I take my dog back to the shelter??

Question

My boyfriend and I adopted a dog in the beginning of December. To me he's sweet as can be, loves belly rubs, knows how to fetch, walks on a leash, is potty training. But with my boyfriend it's the complete opposite. He growls as soon as he sees him. My boyfriend can't make a move in his own house without the dog growling and barking, walking on eggshells isn't fair to my boyfriend. And being terrified isn't fair to the dog. I just don't know what to do. I feel like a failure if I take him back, but he deserves to be in a home where he can be happy and not scared of my boyfriends every move. Any advice or how to make this decision easier? I'm so confused and sad.

Answer

Do not take that dog back to the shelter. That is worse and you’ll break the dog’s heart by putting him back there. That dog responds like that to your boyfriend because of trauma. He was probably mistreated by men. Take patience and have your boyfriend try some bonding exercises. Take him to the vet and talk about it with your vet so you can devise a process so he loses fear for your boyfriend. Do not give up on a poor dog who you took from the shelter

Answer

Why did you adopt a dog without testing him with bf? I’m seriously asking. Did he never like him? Did you test it? Did it suddenly develop ?

Answer

Get with a reputable trainer

Answer

I have worked with dogs before. And some dogs just hate the males or females. Most the time its because of past issues like abuse etc. 
id get with a trainer.

Answer

Did you both meet the dog before you adopted him? Has anything changed in the house that would suddenly make the dog uneasy? Slightly different situation but it took my adopted kitty a year and a half to settle in, and he still didn’t like my husband lol. She’s always just stayed bonded to me, but obviously a cat doesn’t pose the risk an aggressive dog does.
I would certainly raise your concerns with the shelter to see if they can offer an recommendations! Otherwise there’s no shame in speaking to them about returning the dog, but please use this as a last resort. A dog that’s shown aggression is less likely to be adopted again and more likely to be put down. 
Wishing you the best outcome for all involved! x

Answer

So when I met my now husband I had 3 dogs. One large 110lb Shepard mix and 2 smaller ones. My large dog loved my husband. But one of my smaller ones 40lbs wasn't to happy as he was protective over me. I had my husband start working with him. My dog would growl but never show teeth. I would put the leash on my dog then hand it to my husband and we would go on walks. I would give him a few treats along the way. I also had my husband feed that dog every day. Little by little he started to like my husband. It took a few months but it got to where my dog would go to my husband to get pet and to go on walks and not me. Now they are best buds and have been for the past 10 years. One thing that I should mention is a dog from a shelter has a past you don't know about. My dog I had from birth so I knew his past. Your dog might have been beaten by a man and that's why it doesn't like your boyfriend. 
My shelter dog I've had for a year now was beaten badly by a man and it shows in her behaviors. But she loves my husband and son. She is just fearful of certain men, balls, brooms, toys, water and among other things but we are working on it.

Answer

Maybe he should work on building a relationship with the dog. Like giving him his favorite treats when he's around, feeding him, slowly working his way to petting him and letting the dog know he's non threatening. and as the owner that the dog likes and listens to more you can help by trying to calm the dog when he's doing so. The dog may have a bad experience with men, but needs to understand not all men are scary. I don't think you need to give up on the dog and take it back to the shelter. 
Or if you have the means get some training for the dog, maybe they can teach you all ways to deal with the situation.

Answer

If you take that dog back to the shelter it’s going to be traumatized and heartbroken. You now own it, so it’s your responsibility to pay for the trainer/training appropriate to rehab the dogs response to men. It’s probably going to cost a big but you signed up for it. I think we both know you saying its not fair to the dog is an excuse to take it back and it’s a bad one. Do the work.

Answer

It’s going to take some time but get the dog into training and it will help. Don’t give up so easily

Answer

Some dogs have a fear of men. Some are protective of their owners (in his mind you)
Do some research. Reach out to a trainer. Watch YouTube videos that show you how to break this behavior. 
One of my dogs had a fear of men when he was young. He still does but he warms up to them a lot easier. 
If you take him back to the shelter and say he was aggressive towards your bf they’ll have to put in his chart that he’s aggressive towards men. 
Try the training. If that doesn’t work then try to rehome him with just a woman. Or find a rescue that’ll take him in. 
If it comes to it then take him back to the shelter but I’d try my best not too!

Should I take my dog back to the shelter??

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