Aggressive dog, not mine, but I need to do something.?

My housemate has a half-chow dog, around 3 years old, and this dog has serious aggression and behavioral issues. No matter what the dog does, my housemate finds excuses for him, and despite the suggestions from me and other housemates, he has yet do do anything to correct the issue.



He eats food off the kitchen counter. My housemate argues we shouldn't leave food on the counter, but I'll be damned if bread is banned from the kitchen counter (that's what the dog keep eating)!



He bites (drawing blood) visitors to our house that he does not know. Sometimes he bites people that he does know, randomly, but mostly as they are LEAVING our house. He has bitten several of my friends, and a Chinese delivery woman.



He poops in the house, and when we try to discipline him for it (no physical contact), he immediately arches his back, runs off snarling. If you follow him, he WILL bite you.



The only command he knows is "sit", and you have to tell him to do it like 12 times before he will, and he gets back up and walks off less than 10 seconds later, ignoring any further commands.



He also show random acts of territorial aggression, chasing people away from certain parts of the house. This usually happens when there is only 1 person at home.



My housemate practically NEVER takes him anywhere, not even on walks. The only outdoor time he gets is when we put him in the back yard. He poops, and then barks and bangs his head against the back door until someone lets him in (even if that takes hours).



He isn't my dog, and I cannot trust my housemate to do anything about it. He has been telling us that he is going to get him neutered for nearly a year, sometimes giving us promises of "this week", but months have passed and the dog is still fertile as ever. He doesn't take him on walks and he puts little effort into training him, so the dog has pretty much become the household menace.



I am not good with dogs, and I have little to no idea what to do with a dog that is already this aggressive, and who sees himself as my alpha.



My housemate is now promising to take him to a shelter (which I think is unfair, because I don't think the dog can't be helped. Neutering, while not a magic-bullet for aggression, might at least help a little; he does also tend to run off and roam). Given my housemate's lack of action in getting him neutered, I can only assume that I will be dealing with this dog for a while longer.



What can I do to try to alleviate some of this dog's aggression? If it gets any worse I am seriously considering taking his dog to a shelter myself, and feigning ignorance and play it off as a runaway. I don't hate the dog, and I don't want to hurt my housemate, but I have been officially told by my housemate that he "doesn't want to hear any more complaints" and that he "knows what the problem is". I feel like I am out of options, and the majority of the household recognizes this dog as a menace.Aggressive dog, not mine, but I need to do something.?
You're right that this dog needs serious training! It doesn't sound like he's a bad dog at all, just a dog who was never trained properly (all dogs who have behavior problems REALLY is a problem with the person who raised them not training them properly). So I commend you on knowing it's not the dog, but his owner that has the real problem.

Neutering should definitely be done asap! You're right that it won't fix the problem, but it will help at least a little. Not to mention this dog won't possibly impregnate a female dog and create more dogs in the world, which we don't need.

Since it sounds like your housemate knows there's a problem, but won't do anything about it, you might have to take drastic measure. I'd try again to speak with your housemate and be VERY clear. Say that this dog's aggression is NOT ok and will NOT be tolerated (it shouldn't be tolerated at any level!). If your housemate won't agree to hire a dog trainer, or train him himself (which it doesn't sound like he's qualified), I would call Animal Control. It's tough because you live with this person, so it's more like a domestic dispute it seems to me. But since this dog has bitten people, that gives you the right to file a report with Animal Control and/or the police.

It's sad, but this dog will not get any better without major intervention and training by someone who knows what they're doing. Positive training methods are always best....IF you do try to work with a trainer, please don't use someone who uses physically rough methods (hitting, pulling, jerking).

If your housemate refuses to do anything, and for whatever reason, your complaints to the police or Animal Control don't make anything happen, then it may be best to take the dog in yourself. But I'm sure you know that won't be easy, since this dog clearly doesn't like being handled or told what to do. Be VERY careful, especially since you're not good with dogs. He can sense your fear and will attack you even more. Hopefully a trained person from Animal Control will come to your house. Or, best case scenario, your housemate will get serious and DO something with this dog who is out of control.
promises, promises, promises.



If he "doesn't want to hear any more complaints" then call someone who does. Animal Control comes to mind.Aggressive dog, not mine, but I need to do something.?
Call Animal Control. A dog that has bitten needs to be reported. Your housemate will not ever do anything about this animal. It is up to you.
I think your an a$$Aggressive dog, not mine, but I need to do something.?
well chow's are known to be agressive dogs, he needs to know whose the boss, you say ya give him discipline but how? it seems hes not listening very well, also you should put him in a cage when people come over or whenever he does something bad so he knows what he did was wrong. and he destroys the house and stuff is because he is bored you/the owner needs to pay attention to him and give him all the care he needs.

even though he might be the pain in the butt, i have a husky whose EXACTLY like that, he never listens i felt like giving him away and just give up on him but i wanted to prove people wrong he can be a better dog, so my dog is slowly progressing now. the owner sounds irresponsible, if giving him up to the shelter is the only solution, than do whats best
Give your house mate an ultimatum. The dog needs to be properly trained and the behavioral issues addressed or he must leave. A dog such as this can get everyone on the lease in trouble should he bite the wrong person. So this is a majority rules type of thing since it sounds like there are more then just the two of you in the house hold.