The suggestion is always the same. Give her up, why bother keeping her, get rid of her etc. etc. etc. WEll, my response to this is, "would you get rid of your child because she was emot. disturbed or autistic?" I suppose some would, but I am not some. No one would keep
[COLOR=green ! important][COLOR=green ! important]this [COLOR=green ! important]dog[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR], this I know. She would be euthanized or worse...abused terribly. It wouldn't take her two seconds to bite a kid in the face if a family, swayed by her cuteness, adopted her. Nope, she stays with me because I couldn't live with myself if I gave her to a shelter or family (who would not keep ker after the first bite) and well, I can barely live with her either. This is sickening and I am close to being emotionally destroyed over this gorgeous, once show dog. She is a mess and I am lost for any remedies to EVEN JUST CALM DOWN THE SITUATION. I have no life at night because she won't stop barking at ME, attacking the boys (even tethered) and 'killing' the leash she is tied with. She is hurting her throat now because she is violent with her leash now that she has damaged her trachea and is now coughing. I am without hope.
It's important to remember that this is a dog you're talking about and not a human child...there's a big difference. If you want to compare dogs to children would you tether your child until it was choking?
Like a human child, Dixie Cup needs to know there are consequences for her behavior, but she may not have that capacity possibly for no other reason that she is NOT a human child. She is endangering herself, you, your other dogs, and any person she may come in contact with. This being allowed to continue is not for any good for her, it is because you don't want to give her up...which is for you. I love my dogs, couldn't imagine giving one of them up --- but if one of mine were living like this to keep them (in this situation) would only be a selfish act on my part, at no point would it be for the dog's sake. Dixie Cup needs either, as others have suggested extreme training (both you and Dixie Cup) or another home with someone who can provide to her needs. I do understand that initially it would be heartbreaking but try to put Dixie Cup's needs in front of your own: what would be best for Dixie Cup? I think you know it isn't living tethered and isolated until she's harmed herself (and others) beyond repair.