After owning a Flat Coat Retreiver for 12 years, my parents old dog sadly had to be put down 2 years ago after developing a tumour. My folks then decided to get another dog, and managed to find a near identical Flat Coat Retreiver from a rescue charity, and picked up Mack, aged 18months, in October last year:
The new dog was collected from the old owners house, where he was one of 5 large dogs living in a small terraced house with only a small back yard. The owner was getting rid of Mack, as Macks dad fought with him on several occasions.
Mack quickly settled in to my parents house, and enjoys having free run of their garden, 3 decent walks a day, plenty of friendly interaction with lots of other local dogs on his walks etc.
We have all noticed that the new dogs eyesight is quite poor - to the extent that he can barely chase a tennis ball in the air, and is hopeless at finding his toys when hidden in the garden etc.
On Sunday my dad was walking him on the local field and he was playing with 4 other dogs who he meets most days, when all of a sudden he savaged a small terrier, grabbed it by the neck and was shaking it from side to side (as gun dogs do when they catch birds / prey etc) (my dad described the dog as only being about 10cm high by 15cm long). The other dog survived but needed surgery at the vets. My parents felt really bad, and are obviously paying for the vets bills, and are now seriously worried about what to do with the dog, as we have a very young baby and the consequences of the dog doing something to our baby when we visit dont bare thinking about.
I think that my parents dog may have mistaken the terrier for a rabbit, and thought it was fair game, but theres no way of telling why it happended.
It looks like Mack is going to be given up to a rescue centre, but as a last resort my parents are meeting an ex-police dog trainer for some advice, but its not looking good for Mack.
Does anybody else have any experience of anything similar happening, or any sensible advice to offer?
Speak to the charities who know the breed before making any decisions though.
