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I think my dog has ruined his last chance :(

112 replies

riseshine · 06/12/2016 09:34

I'm in a horrible situation. I've been in hospital for nearly 2 weeks recovering from pneumonia and sepsis.

3 days ago our dog, a westie, bit my daughter badly enough on her hand that she has had to have treatment at hospital.

It's been so awful when I'm stuck in hospital and I can't be with her to comfort her or make rational decision about what to do.

Unfortunately this isn't the first time, 6 months ago he bit my youngest daughters hand. And has snapped at us all on a few occasions.

He is a lovely dog, but on his terms, he is getting progressively more grumpy and often growls if you get too close if he's not in the mood etc

Although I'm devastated I feel like it would be irresponsible to not find a new home for him - my husband has dealt with the whole situation badly, blaming my daughter and saying that we just have to stay out of his way.

Please help me make sense of what to do :(

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JimmyChoosChimichanga · 06/12/2016 09:44

Get him neutered if you haven't already. Start putting him in his place. Dogs don't necessarily want to be top dog, just to know where they stand and they get comfort from that. Feed him after you have eaten. Make sure you go through doorways first. Never let him on the furniture so he is level with you, that sort of thing. If he doesn't have a crate, get him a crate and cover it so it's his own domain. Don't put him in there in disgrace ever as it's his safe place. A lot of bad behaviour from dogs stems from them not knowing where they stand in the pack. Getting them neutered makes them care a bit less about this. The entire family has to be on the same page over this or it will lead to further confusion for him. Terriers can be little buggers though!

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riseshine · 06/12/2016 09:45

He is 8, he was neutered as a pup. He's always had a crate too.

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averylongtimeago · 06/12/2016 09:46

For now, keep the dog and children desperate. Can your DH put up baby gates so the dog is penned in one area? Your first priority is to keep your children safe.
Much as I am dotty about my dogs, biting hard enough to need hospital treatment is very serious. However, you and your family are going through a lot at the moment so the decision to pts will be difficult.
If you want to give him a chance, get DH to take him to the vets to rule out any underlying issues, for example toothache makes everyone grumpy! Also ask him (or you could while laid up) look for a dog behaviourist who will work with you all when you get home. I don't think there will be an easy fix though.

If you don't want to go down that route, and it would take work and training g from all of you, then don't just take him to a "'re-homing" centre. They are pretty much all full, and older dogs with a history of biting are very difficult to place. You could be sending him to a very miserable life.

Sometimes, having a dog pts is the best option.

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Snowflake65 · 06/12/2016 09:49

I wonder if with all that is going on the dog has been a bit overlooked and not properly walked etc - could you pay for a dog walker if that is the case? Or pay for him to go to kennels until you are out so that you are alleviating some of the stress and buying yourself a bit of time to make a decision when things are calmer.

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Wolfiefan · 06/12/2016 09:49

Has he seen a vet? He could be in pain?

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riseshine · 06/12/2016 09:51

He saw a vet last time and was fine, I will get him checked over again regardless of what we decide to do.

DH and I aren't communicating well about it at all, were all under such strain

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AnchorDownDeepBreath · 06/12/2016 09:52

I'm not sure he will be rehomed; if I'm honest. He's 8, frequently grumpy and has bitten twice, once bad enough to require medical treatment. I can't see many rescues taking a chance on him.

Has he had a vet check? You need to see if his grumpiness and biting is because of a medical problem. If it's not; it'll be a training program - a behaviourist with history in dogs that have started biting would be perfect.

If that's not the path that you want to take; I suspect that it'll be the end of his days. It'd be very risky to place him with a new family and not many people would want to adopt a bite-y; grumpy dog anyway. You may be better to prepare to take him to be PtS then, rather then trying to rehome him and putting him through the stress of a rescue first. The outcome is likely to be the same.

Did your DH see what happened?

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WellErrr · 06/12/2016 09:52

It would be incredibly irresponsible to FIND a new home for him.

You either need to attempt to tackle the issue, or put to sleep. You cannot pass on a vicious dog.

I hope you're all recovering ok. But please don't think of rehoming this dog. What if it were a baby next time?

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ohtheholidays · 06/12/2016 09:56

I love animals and especially Dogs we have 3 but there is no way I'd be keeping the Dog!

Your DC need to come first,what if he does it again and this time it's God forbid they're throats or faces!?and I wouldn't be re homing him,if he's growled at all of you he won't be any safer to be around if he goes to a household with no children in it!

I'm sorry your ill and as harsh as it may sound it's very lucky that the school haven't reported the Dog bites on your DC,just look at the news reports there has been lately where Dogs have managed to scar children for life or even worse have caused the death of the children they've attacked,he needs to be PTS,if it happens again you could well end up with Social Services on your doorstep and that's the truth I used to work with SS and this is something we'd take very seriously.

I'd be asking your husband if he'd rather keep his children and keep them safe or the aggressive Dog!

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WatchingFromTheWings · 06/12/2016 09:56

I can't see many rescues taking a chance on him.

You'd be surprised. It could just be that he doesn't like kids, grown intoletant to them with age. Maybe a childless home with a retired couple would suit him better. It's worth looking into if you decide keeping him is no longer an option.

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WannaBe · 06/12/2016 09:56

Given that this isn't behaviour which has surfaced while you've been away and has a history it's clearly the dog and not the circumstances.

It is IMO irresponsible to pass on a dog which has bitten to the extent medical treatment is required. I would have him put to sleep.

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Wolfiefan · 06/12/2016 09:57

Have you spoken to a behaviourist? I would be amazed if the behaviour didn't have some reason and maybe therefore some solution.

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riseshine · 06/12/2016 09:57

I would never rehome him to a house with kids and without being fully upfront and honest.

I'm just wondering if he would fare better in a quieter house without kids and to be just left alone to snooze and potter around.

He gets stressed when the door goes , when postman comes etc . He shreds every item mail we get if he gets to it.

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MoonfaceAndSilky · 06/12/2016 10:00

You either need to attempt to tackle the issue, or put to sleep

Or give him another chance and rehome him with someone experienced, without kids, who knows he's a biter.

JimmyChoos has some great advice.

He sounds very stressed.

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GinIsIn · 06/12/2016 10:08

How old are your daughters and what were they doing when they were bitten?

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WellErrr · 06/12/2016 10:10

If you pass him on, you run the risk of him being passed on again. And unless you shave him and tattoo 'I BITE KIDS AND PUT THEM IN HOSPITAL' on his back there's every chance of him ending up with children again.

Rehoming this dog would be incredibly irresponsible.

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riseshine · 06/12/2016 10:11

My daughters are 17 and 8.

It was the 17 year old this week, she answered the door to the postman and dog ran out - (he runs out a lot and usually needs tempting back in with a treat) she was calling him back in/went to get his collar to put lead on and bring him in and he attacked her. She said it was like when he normally is grumpy and snaps but was aggressive.

The previous time with my 8 year old, she opened the back door for him to come in from having a wee outside and he walked passed her and bit her hand unprovoked.

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AnchorDownDeepBreath · 06/12/2016 10:12

It doesn't sound like it's the children that are upsetting him; he sounds highly stressed.

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Phoebebe · 06/12/2016 10:17

Unprovoked biting - i think you need a dog behaviorist & make a decision from there.

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riseshine · 06/12/2016 10:20

He does other things like if I'm on sofa and my husband comes near me to give me a cuddle he growls and barks at him.

When I think of PTS it makes me so sad but I'm accepting that might need to be the case - he is so lovely when he's not awful but I have to be honest , we all step on eggshells around him

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LilCamper · 06/12/2016 10:20

He needs a vet check, he could be sore in that area and scared of his collar being grabbed.

Ignore everything JimmyChoos has said. It is all outdated and disproven nonsense.

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LilCamper · 06/12/2016 10:22

You would get better advice if you get this moved into the Doghouse.

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Megainstant · 06/12/2016 10:22

Oh dear poor you this isn't what you need right now.

The biting you describe actually sounds really nasty.

Our terrier bit our 8 year old once but she had him pinned in a corner and was putting her face right up to his. He's never done it since.

Dh was a bit like yours about it - totally blamed dd and wouldn't hear a word about the dog.

But his biting was very much provoked poor thing.

I think I would definitely have to think seriously about Re homing or pts.

Your dh needs to be sensible about this. Sounds like both dds were behaving sensibly, he sounds massively stressed. I'm afraid I couldn't live with a dog like that.

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Megainstant · 06/12/2016 10:24

just read the bit about barking on the sofa. That's not normal behaviour. Honestly? I would have him PTS and I love my dogs so that isnt a knee jerk reaction. I couldnt be bothered with dog behaviourists I am afraid I think it is all twaddle.

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LilCamper · 06/12/2016 10:25

Cuddling is a primate behaviour and can seem threatening and confrontational to a dog. This is a behavioural issue that CAN be overcome.

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