Help - aggressive dog

Clarkie

Clarkie

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My dog has just escaped out of the back door and really bitten the next door neighbour. He has gone for people before but thought I had it under control after seeing a proffessional. He has always been fear aggressive but 5 years down the line I am now considering having him pts. What would you do?
 
Have him PTS
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If you cannot control him (i.e. stop him escaping) then you need to be a responsible owner - it could have been a young child who was bitten
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I'm afraid I agree ....if he's 5 he's not going to change his ways and you simply can't keep a dog that bites.....
 
It's hard to say with such limited info, but based on what you say it sounds like he has escaped and attacked unprovokedly as opposed to feeling threatened by being cornered etc? I'm afraid that in these circumstances I would also be heading down the PTS route. I'm so sorry
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I really have tried everything and nothing has happened for such a long time, mostly due to him being kept away from peolpe which is a vicious circle. I really didn't see this coming and I totally understand that it's not acceptable but it's a hard decision to make when he's otherwise healthy. Do I give him one more chance? Think I know the answer.
 
It's a horrible situation - I would think very long and hard - my mother put down her best dog because he was so overprotective of her and little baby me - he never bit anybody but had got to the stage where he was cornering people and knocked one man down and stood over him - she could have moved him on but said she wouldn't have forgiven herself if she really ever went for someone or if he ever fell into the wrong hands.

TBH you're lucky that your neighbour isn't insisting on it/calling the police.

I really feel for you, and well done for trying to rehab him, but some dogs cannot be helped
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Sorry but no, not IMHO
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I know it is very hard when he is physically well, but mentally he is obviously not right, and he cannot be enjoying life much when he has to be kept away from people in case he bites them, then as soon as he has contact with one he bites them
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I am not a 'PTS for any reason' person I promise you, I just have clear parameters in my mind what I would accept and what I wouldnt, and in this case I wouldnt
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You have obviously tried very hard with him, which must make it even more awful for you
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He used to attack when people tried to stroke him but this time and once or twice before he has actively gone towards the other person. My neighbour is an alcoholic and Sam hates him anyway but I know that this is no excuse. My other dog loves everybody and i thought she might have helped him feel more confident but obviously not. Will I regret it though if I do have him pts?
 
Not as much as you will regret it if he really hurts someone and is the basis of a court case.
Well done for doing your best for him and trying to help him, but he obviously has huge insecurities and issues and you cannot isolate problem dogs 100% from anyone and everyone.
 
What a horrible situation for you to be in - I really feel for you
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Yes, you might regret it if you have him pts but he can go with you there, feeling safe and loved, in his own home. If he attacks someone properly you will have the guilt of that in itself, and he will still be pts, perhaps in a strange place.

I'm sorry
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The other problem then, is what to do about my bitch, she's been with him 24/7 since she was 8 weeks old. How will she cope?
 
Now I've calmed down a bit I'm starting to doubt if I can actually go through with it. Do you really think that's my only option?
 
I know you won't this confirmed, but I think you should have the dog PTS. Who knows whats going on in his head, it could be a tumour or just a personality disorder. Whatever the case, you cannot allow a dog with that mindset to carry on. I am so sorry for this. I will tolerate many things but escaping and deliberately attacking someone is beyond any reasoning. There are lovely dogs out there that need loving homes and I would suggest that if you decide to PTS and the deed is done, go to rescue and search for a new playmate for your bitch.
 
You have to think about what is the responsible thing to do?

Have the dog pts in the comfort of his home or keep him and have him seriously hurt someone then have him taken into kennels and kept until the courts decide to kill him?

Your other dog will be fine.
Let her see his body and then get her another playmate who is not a risk to people.

I think you know what the kindest thing is.
 
Katie has just made the point I was going to. If he bites again and the victim contacts the police your dog may be taken away, kennelled and then pts. Hard as it is it is far kinder to him to have him pts now when you can be with him, rather than risk that happening, and of course there is the fear that the next person he bites could be a child. So sorry,a horrible decision to have to make.
 
{{{Hugs}}}, this must be very difficult and upsetting for you.


There will most likely be times when you regret euthanizing him, times when you wonder if there was not something more you could have done/tried etc, but when/if you do, remember that you've done what you could for 5 years and you can't do more than try your best. Sometimes it still sadly just isn't enough, everything isn't solvable, no matter how much we want it.


About your bitch, I have mainly one advice, let her see him afterwards. I always take my dead dogs or cats with me home, so that those at home gets a chance to see what has happened. If you need to leave his body at the vets, take your bitch with you and let her see him there. She might still feel a little lost and sad but I believe it really does help.


E.g. I know of a Greyhound (whose owner doesn't do like me) that still, many months after that he last saw his friend being driven away to the vets, was still looking for his friend. And he didn't accept being left alone but the owner got a retired Greyhound to keep his dog company and the dog was happy with this but he still looked for the his first friend.


I suggest you see what happens, some dogs misses their friend but thrives on being in the focus of their owners attention and doesn't need a new friend. Some are content with getting a cat friend and some needs a new dog in the home, it is different.
 
Thank you all for your advice although obviously it's not what I wanted to hear. Spoken to friends/family and they say give him another chance because they know I'll be gutted. What about muzzling him when out and being extra extra careful at all times.
I know the worst case is him injuring a child, but that might never happen if I stick to the muzzle.
Not trying to defend him or keep a dangerous dog but I won't be able to live with myself afterwards.
Sorry for being pathetic.
 
I know you havent been responding to anything I have posted but I shall say it anyway - he managed to get out today, to bite the neighbour, so who is to say he wont do it again? Muzzling him when he is out is an option, but he cannot stay muzzled 24 hours a day
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I know how hard it is, but you must be a responsible dog owner and think of the possible consquences
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Hmm, tricky and must be awful for you. Years ago when i was a kid we had an aggressive dog that my parents ended up with as found him as a stray. He;d fight with every other dog, he went for binmen (one binman had him pinned under a bin lid at one stage until my dad rescued him - the man, not the dog!).

Before I was born he also went through a glass pain of a door to attack the health visitor when she cam to visit my older sister (then a baby), it was only because he got stuck on the glass he didn't go for her! Now this was back in the days before dogs got PTS. He never attacked us and we had him til he was PTS aged 15 due to old age.

It was about very careful management.

Nowadays it's more difficult as dangerous are not (quite rightly) tolerated.

However, i can understand, you have had this dog for that long, you probably just see him as a normal but timid dog. I guess you could give him one final chance but that would mean hard work and help from a professional to see if there is a way to get to the route of the problem and prevent and stop it.

I would ensure your garden is 100% secure and this dog cannot get out of the garden/yard even if it does escape from the house.

If however the professionals cannot help the I think your only option will be to have PTS as horrible as it is. I do feel though from what you say it may be your neighbour is scaring this dog or even maybe tormenting it in some way to encourage him?

Have him assessed properly but be prepared to be told that maybe PTS is the only option.

Sorry you are in this situation.
 
Sorry, I have read all of your posts but just responded generally to the last person who posted. I agree with everything and would tell anyone else to do the same, but it's different when it's happening to yourself if that makes sense.
I can't even look at him knowing what I'm thinking.
Thank you for your input.
 
the neighbour has done nothing specific to Sam, I think it's just because he moves erratically - being sozzled 24/7.
He did see a behaviourist and went to classes and was fine with other people there but certain people he just hates for no reason, and I never know what type of person as he's inconsistent about it.
 
Honestly my heart does go out to you, I know I am coming across as being so hard and unfeeling in my replies, but I could not imagine being in your position
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The worst case I ever had was when my old lurcher bit me twice in a week, luckily I realised that it was my stress making him stressed and as soon as I changed my ways he was better too.

It must be horrible for you
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Ultimately, only you can decide what is best for your dog. Unfortunately you are also the only one who can decide what is the right route to take. Imagine, even though you have taken every possible precaution, your dog attacks and disfigures a human being, child or adult. Can you live with that on your conscience, I know I would have great difficulty to.

You love him and ending his life is something you feel unable to be responsible for. You value his life dearly, but he is a danger to others and whilst I value my dogs lives, I value other peoples more.
 
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Now I've calmed down a bit I'm starting to doubt if I can actually go through with it. Do you really think that's my only option?

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According to yourself he has always been fear aggressive, you've trained with him and you thought you had it under control but as today shows, you don't! Below all your training with him, after 5 years, your dog still is fear aggressive and personally I would never trust him.

Honestly the only options I can think of, would be if you could consider having a muzzle on him indoors at <u>all</u> times except when feeding him, in case he escapes again? Have him in a crate or on a lead even indoors, at all times, so that he can't escape?

Would that be a dignified life for him? I don't think so.


I am truly sorry for your situation but this is not about what you think you can go through with, this is about doing what is best for him.
And e.g. living with either an owner, that needs to constantly worry about that next time it could be a child that he attacks or wearing a muzzle at <u>all</u> times, except when eating, isn't a worthy dog life to me.

As the others have said, next time, it might not be your choice any more.
 
Agree with above.

The only way he would be safe would be muzzled 24/7 or in a cage all the time.
Is that really fair on a dog??

I'm sorry and this is a terrible situation but it sounds like you have already made you mind up that you are willing to take what i think is an incredibly irresponsible risk and keep him alive for you sake.
 
No brainer..... PTS - sounds callous, but you've done right by the dog and tried your best.
I adore my dog, but biting or attacking is a no brainer - I could not live with myself if a child (or anyone else) was badly injured or worse.
As others have said, you need to consider the consequences of a serious injury, plus the risk of prosecution by knowingly keeping a dog who has bitten and attacked more than once.
As heart breaking as it must be, you really need to think about you and stop putting the dog first - and I don't mean emotionally in the short term, but the bigger picture and the stress you must be under whenever you have to take the dog out.
Horrible decision, only you can make it, and I genuinely feel sorry for you.
 
Clarkie, go to the tribute thread up there ^^^ and look at the picture of the dog I posted, sitting beside the pram. He was a good dog, on paper, he was the best dog.
But you can't take the chance. You just can't.
 
Clarkie, I have just read your other posts re your dogs running off in front of you and not coming back. Please see that this is a disaster waiting to happen with your male, and the alternative to keep him always on a short lead would be cruel if he has been used to freedom. Reading through that thread you say your dogs are like children to you so I do understand how hard this must be, but as above, it honestly would seem to be the best for the dog if he was pts. I'm sorry.
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Do I give him one more chance? Think I know the answer.

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I'm so sorry to read your post, it must be a terribly hard decision to make
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On a practical level you need to realise that at 5yrs old and with behavioural training undertaken, your dog is unlikely to change
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I guess you either need to commit yourself to spending the next ten years(ish) keeping him away from people and mitigating against this sort of thing ever happening again, (through continuous further training, reinforcement of escape routes etc) or you come to terms with the fact that you've tried everything you can and take responsibility NOW by having him put down.

Please don't procrastinate on the decision by taking the "give him one more chance" route, the whole mentality behind that decision means another attack is almost inevitable
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... imagine how you would feel if a member of your family got attacked by a "known biter", and the owners only defence was "the dog was on it's last chance" ... I suspect it would offer absolutely nothing to you or your Family to know it- infact it could even make it worse
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