Advice Please - Harsh decision time....

aidybex

aidybex

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I need some help making a decision about my jack russell bitch I got last year. She's 3 yrs old and I got her as a rehoming case. I knew she was a bit grumpy but the situation has gone from bad to awful. She bit me just before Christmas, nearly went all the way through my thumb. She is much keener on my hubby than me so I put it down to clash of personalities. She then came into season and was the sweetest thing I ever knew. She's now well out of season and this morning my 7 yr old daughter let her out for a wee, then went to find her to bring her in. My daughter went up to her and the dog turned on her, jumped at her and bit her thumb (seems to have a thing for thumbs....) My daughter said she had a run to get her to let go? Poor daughter is really upset as poorly and off school anyway so totally traumatised.

Decision time: Do you class her as a dangerous dog and should I have her put to sleep? My hubby is really upset and would like to just muzzle her but I don't think this is fair to make her live her life in a muzzle. She does have a few other issues too, but obviously this is by far the worst.

Please don't think I don't love this dog - I adore her as I've always wanted a jacky and jumped at the chance to have her. I'm just in turmoil as I don't know what to do and don't want a repeat of this morning.

Sorry has turned into a rather longer post than thought....Tea and sympathies if got this far.
 
Sorry but it might not be just a thumb - which is bad enough - next time. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate. It's no life for a dog being shut out all of the time because you can't trust it, what about if your daughter's friends come to play, could you trust them not to want to touch it? I wouldn't want to risk the chance again which could happen even if you rehomed it as some people will suggest as I wouldn't want anything bad on my conscience as after all, you know that the dog will do it, it will just be a question of when. Sorry, it's horrid but the safest I think.
 
Where did you get her? Is it a rescue you can (or have promised to) return her to if you can no longer keep her? If so - I'd return her ASAP.

Honestly, if she has bitten a 7yo child, I don't think you should keep her in your home, muzzle or no muzzle. She might be rehabilitable in a different environment but it doesn't sound like you can make that possible.

It doesn't make you bad dog owners, just you have the wrong dog for your situation.

If I am honest, I think there are so many dogs out there in need of a good home that I'd prefer to pts one with a dodgy temperament. I know I'm going to be shot down in flames for saying that and I do agree that a bad start in life is most likely the cause, so it is not the dogs fault. But because so many dogs need rehoming, keeping a dog with serious issues always means another dog will not get a chance at a home.
 
I think when there is a child involved you have to think very long and hard about it.
As mentioned on another thread we had a GSD who was PTS before he bit anyone, but his defensive tendencies were extreme and my mum did not want to take any chances and have the guilt of him eventually really hurting someone.

Her relationship with your daughter and you may never recover - dogs can sense vibes and emotions and if she knows you feel fear or distrust of her this could make her aggression worse.

If you don't mind me asking and please don't take this as a critiscism, plenty of people do it - as she was a rescue, with 'issues', would you have been a bit easier on her or less quick to impose boundaries or discipline?

I know someone on here has managed to rehome a grumpy terrier to a working home?

Personally speaking, once is too many times, twice would make the decision for me, especially with a child involved. Just my opinion, I know this must be hard.
 
I would take her back to the rescue place, I wouldn't have her PTS because she may be suitable for someone else, I've known lots of snappy dogs and you can work around it in some situations
 
Hutchie, so if she was rehomed and went on to bite someone else, badly, how would you feel?

Sorry, to me, that is just passing on the problem to someone else.
Rescues have enough to deal with at this time of year than difficult dogs being bumped back to them.
 
She didn't come from a rescue - she belonged to an electrician in a local village who's partner didn't get on with her. Basically she'd snapped at her, and she was going to be PTS if he didn't find her a home. I took her on - and have been very strict with her. She's had some comeback when shes growled at me etc. I've never let her get away with it - needless to say my hubby has so she adores him.

Maybe there was more to the story why the other guy wanted rid - either way I can't face the possiblity of rehoming her and her biting someone else. I've had dogs all my life and she is by far one of the most mixed up little dogs I've ever met. She just seems to switch which makes me wonder if she is mentally unbalanced. I'm going to be speaking to my vets about her soon so hopefully we can work out a way forward.
 
Sorry, but if there is no rescue involved and you have already taken her from a home where being 'irritable' was the reason they rehomed her, I am afraid you have no option but to have her PTS. You cannot keep her - how unfair to a child to grow up with a dog that might bite her, no fun in that. You will end up with a child that is scared of dogs instead of enjoying them.

And passing her on? What if she bites someone in her new home and does a real injury? How would you feel then. Honestly, I don't think you have a real choice to make
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What a horrible decision to have to make, but I have to agree that the best (and kindest) thing would be to pts. She came to you because of her tendency to snap, it seems you have done your best for her but the aggression is still there. If any of my dogs bit a child they wouldn't get a second chance.
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What a horrible situation for you. The only thing I would add to what has been said is that it does appear that there has been some inconsistency in her handling ( between you and hubby ) and before you consider PTS is it worth making sure you both treat her the same so she has every opportunity to understand what is acceptable and what isn't.

Failing that I would offer her to someone, farmer possibly, or someone without children to see if she fares better with adults or on a one to one basis. It doesn't sound like in her short life she has settled anywhere and is prob insecure.
 
Ok - have spoke to the vets and with a lot of persusion from husband and daughter??!! we are being refered to an animal behaviourist to see if anything can be done. Until then she is not going to be aloud near with daughter without supervision and/or a muzzle.

With regard to hubby's attitude with her, I've told him until I'm blue in the face that he has got to have a bit more of a backbone when dealing with her - but unfortunately he's the same with out daughter!

Watch this space - I have the same attitude that a dog that has bit a child does not get a 2nd chance. Unfortunately lump of a husband seems to think he knows different - he even had the cheek to ask our daughter 'what had she done' to make the dog bite her. He nearly got shoved down the stirs for that remark - but maybe it shows what I'm up against.......:-(
 
Am sorry to hear about your situation. Your dog clearly has issues with females in particular. What is she like with dogs, male or female? Personally, try the behaviourist and see what they suggest but if after going down that route there is no improvement I would recommend PingTS. I agree with a previous post - there are lots of wonderful dogs that need a home and quite frankly if your dog is giving you nothing but worry and anxiety because of her aggressive nature there is no point in keeping her. Good Luck.
 
Well, to be perfectly honest no I wouldn't have her PTS after this incident. I would go for the '2nd chance' option.

Firstly, I would have her spayed - you don't want to breed from her so have it done, remove the hormone element. Secondly I would have some SERIOUS words with your husband about his discipline of the dog. This is her last chance saloon - he has to be consistent with her as well, she needs to know her place in the household.

Seek professional help if needs be but this dog sounds like all those ones you see on those dog problem type programmes - a little dog with a big attitude and I think your husband's making it worse.

Sadly if she still does not improve then you have two options - you either rehome her to someone you know who knows her and is experience with dogs - and who does not have any children (many dogs are not suited to homes where there are kids) or you have to have her PTS. I hate the second option but a dog you can't trust is no fun for you or the dog.
 
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