What Happened When A Colorful Dog Ended Up On My Farm?

Cody, a 10-year-old foster pit bull, is a love bug with humans. He's friendly, affectionate with people, and adores hugs, but he was challenging to retrain for a peaceful farm life. Had I taken on more than I could handle?

Words of Wisdom from Coach Carole: Allow others to figure things out. It's the best way to learn.

Cody, the pitbull, was found cut up and emaciated at a dump in St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. When his rescuer, Katie, found the 9-year-old dog, he crawled into her lap, snuggling and bumping her with his muzzle. His recovery took a year.

Katie warned me that he had bitten other dogs, but after fostering and re-homing two other dogs, I was ready for a challenge, and on May 7, Cody arrived at Miles Smith Farm. At first, he barked and leaped at my giant Scottish Highland steers, lunged at my horses, and pulled on the leash to get the goats. How would I keep this bundle of aggression and anxiety from killing a goat or a calf?

After I put the horses away, Cody wiggled over to me, wagging his tail and worming his way between my legs. As I scratched his head, Flora, my 3-year-old St. Croix rescue, walked over, looking for affection. Cody growled and snapped as if to say, "This is my human. Stay away."

Yes, Cody was the difficult dog I'd asked for. What was I thinking? He was great with people, but this 60-pound dog did not get along with my farm animals, including my dogs Flora and Joy.

Cody may have spent the first eight years of his life as a "bait dog," goading other dogs to fight. His street smarts didn't include dog conversations like, "I'll sniff you, you sniff me, and we'll play." His learned aggression wouldn't help him on the farm.

I bought a muzzle and a harness with a handle to save my farm animals and give me time to retrain Cody. Then, I started training.

According to dog-whisperer Cesar Milan, if Cody walked in front of me, he was the leader. To be his leader, I had to be in front. Then there was the problem of Cody pulling on the leash when he lunged at a cow, horse, or moving vehicles; yes, he attacked tires. Every time I expected a lunge, I'd wave a treat in front of his nose and get him to sit and look at me before I gave it to him. Each time, he found me and my food treats way more interesting than farm animals or tires...at least while he was on the leash.

During one morning walk, I made a mistake and let him off leash. He chased the calves, who crashed into the barn wall and paddock fence. One calf, Simba, escaped the paddock with Cody in pursuit. With his muzzle on, he couldn't bite, but he did corner the terrorized calf. I caught up to them, grabbed Cody's harness, and pulled him to the ground, where we lay for 10 minutes. As I lay there restraining Cody and covered in mud, I cursed myself for letting him loose. After that, around the calves, he was never off-leash.

Weeks later, without his muzzle in the house, Cody's vice-like teeth dug into Flora's neck. I tried unsuccessfully to pry open his jaws with my hands. Later, I learned that choking him would break his hold, but in the moment, I was clueless as Flora whined and whimpered. I grabbed his right hind leg and yelled to husband Bruce to grab the other.

Together, we lifted Cody, and he let go of Flora, and we shoved him into his crate. Flora was OK, but I wasn't. I couldn't go through this again.

The woman who had placed him with me agreed that it was time to put him down, and the date was set for Tuesday night.

Then I got a call from Lisa, a potential calf buyer, who happened to be the director of Free Rein Rescue & Rehab and co-owner of Dark Dynasty K-9. I shared my Cody woes, and Lisa was willing to help.

Check out my next column for a twist you'll never guess.

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Carole Soule is the co-owner of Miles Smith Farm () in Loudon, N.H. She raises and sells beef, pork, lamb, eggs, and other local products. She can be reached at