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The doghouse

My mastiff has mauled a small dog, I have a baby, my family want her to be pts. wwyd?

113 replies

bittenipples · 24/08/2013 19:06

I will try and keep this short whilst not drip feeding. Needless to say I am devastated.

Bull Mastiff rescue bitch - very dog aggresive, never shown any human aggresion. I got her when she was 6 from rescue, she had a bad fight when I slipped on ice and lost grip of the lead and since then she is not off the lead due to her bad dog aggression. I have worked with her intensly and trained her to be okay to walk past other dogs without too much tension, took 4 years but we got there!

We live in a flat, so as a holiday every 6 weeks or so she goes to my parents house in the country with huge garden so she can relax and wander off lead in a gated and fenced area. She must be about 9 now, no problems since I have been on top of her training and walks. She has bad hips and Cushings disease which we medicate but she still hates the stairs in the flat.

We have been at my parents for a week and having coffee outside when we hear the gate latch. The church warden has visited unannounced and walked in with her miniture breed. We did what we could but obviously my mastiff gets there first and mauled the dog. The dog is fine, thank god, after surgery but it was a close call - I am gutted. My family wont have her here again and think that she is a risk to my 10 mo son.

Yes she is a risk, but no more than she was 2 days ago. she has never shown human aggression, when we pinned her down to let go of the dog we really hurt her hips but she just howled but didnt harm us at all. I dont know what to do. Every one is saying to put her down, but I think this is unfair because a the dog walked into her territory. I know she is dog aggresive and i manage it. but do you thinbk she is a risk to my son in the flat? I keep them apart at all times, I will teach him to respect her space.

Sorry for the typos, very upset.

WWYD/

her quality of life will be diminished now she is not allowed back to my parents lovely garden and stuck going up and down the stairsand I can understand and respect thier desicon on that, but pts is a step too far or is it?

Help!

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bittenipples · 24/08/2013 19:19

Not gutted the other dog made it obviously!! Gutted about the situation,

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Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 24/08/2013 19:20

I'm sorry, I can't really offer any definite advice but didn't want to read and run. What an awful situation to be in. I'm sure someone will be along in a minute with a bit more help.

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Yorkieaddict · 24/08/2013 19:25

I am really not sure what is the right answer. I think it comes down to whether you are 100% sure of her in relation to your son. Do you keep her muzzled when you are out? If not I certainly would do from now on!

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bittenipples · 24/08/2013 19:25

Sorry to drip feed.

She is REALLY dog aggresive, in the early days before I sorted it out, she would pull me over and drag me to fight, but thats totally under control now, she now usually sits and waits for a treat or is 'alert'

She wears a yellow ribbon.

She only gets to be off lead at my parents garden which she is now not allowed back to, so to be honest I worry about her quality of life just at the flat?

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80sMum · 24/08/2013 19:29

Oh dear, I'm afraid my advice would be to have your dog re-homed. Just the fact that you have posted your question shows that you're aware of the possibility of the dog being a danger to your baby.

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bittenipples · 24/08/2013 19:30

Thanks for the replies. Its such a difficult situation. She has NEVER been aggresive to any person, but she is SO aggresive to other dogs - BUT ive had controll of that and this was an 'freak' accident!

Thanks for your replies though - I just am so gutted she has screwed up her 'holiday' home .

Interested in anyone knowing about differences between dog-dog aggresion and whether it over spills into dog-human (baby) aggresion

sorry for typos - keyboad is shit!

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bittenipples · 24/08/2013 19:32

Thanks 80Mum She has been rehomed lots of times (dod-dog aggresion) - Im not sure she would be again. Sad

she is a lovely dog around us.

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cocolepew · 24/08/2013 19:33

What does for a yellow ribbon mean?
Do you think your son will be save when the starts to move around, ie into three dogs 'territory'?

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cocolepew · 24/08/2013 19:35

The dogs

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Dontwanttobeyourmonkeywrench · 24/08/2013 19:36

My JA male killed a small dog while out on a walk with my DS. He was on leash and the other was off leash running towards them. As far as the JA was concerned he was protecting DS and dropped the dog immediately after he shook it. We really thought long and hard about what to do because while DS it a strapping 6footer, he couldn't stop him on time and we have a younger DD (5 at the time). We now muzzle him for walks and he has never shown any other signs of dog aggression although he's always very alert when walking and only DH or I walk him because we have total control of him. He loves DD and will let her walk him around the house etc but we have also created a separate pen for him to go into if it gets too much. You know your dog and the circumstances that led to her biting. My PIL can't understand why I didn't PTS but as far as I'm concerned (and my vet and dog warden agreed with me) he was protecting his "pack". If the dog is in a lot of pain and views the garden as their space, it's hardly surprising that she reacted.

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cleoowen · 24/08/2013 19:37

I would have to agree with your family I am afraid. To me it would just not be worth the risk with your ds. What happens if one day your ds gets in the way of a dog your dog is trying to fight? I have a ds 8 months old and although I love our dog to bits I would get rid of her in a heartbeat if I thought she might be a risk to my ds.

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MrsMinkBernardLundy · 24/08/2013 19:37

I think either re home or pts unless you are going to keep her muzzle all the time and remove your child from area when she is eating and that would imo be cruel.

It is really sad but you did nithya think she would maul a dog.
She may only be dog dog aggressive now but some dogs view small children as more like other dogs and there may be hierarchy issues with a child.

I would not risk it.
It really is not a risk worth taking.

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Thesebootsweremadeforwalking · 24/08/2013 19:40

FWIW I agree with your family, to be honest.

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Dontwanttobeyourmonkeywrench · 24/08/2013 19:41

Btw dog/dog aggression is different to dog/human aggression and if she is fine with your family (ie your small unit) then I would hold fire and monitor as well as checking that her pain levels are well controlled.

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PartyFops · 24/08/2013 19:41

Is it also very kind to keep a big dog like that in a flat?

I'm sorry, I'm a massive dog lover and suggest you get him re homed. To somewhere with a big garden where he can run.

It's not worth the risk to a child I'm afraid.

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SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 24/08/2013 19:44

Could you talk to a dog behaviourist about this latest incident, and take their advice?

A very sad situation for you to be in - having to weigh up a potential threat to your child versus a real threat to your dog (being reformed, possibly not coping with that, more upset and trauma, and so on).

I wish I had more useful advice.

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Toughasoldboots · 24/08/2013 19:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 24/08/2013 19:47

The flat is another issue - I am not at all sure it is fair to keep a big dog in a flat, with no regular access to an open space. Our second dog, a rescue dog, is a Labrador pointer cross, so big and needing space to run, and went to the Dogs Trust when her previous owner couldn't cope with her and two small children in a flat. She is now a neurotic dog with attachment issues.

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bittenipples · 24/08/2013 19:47

I need to think for a few days.

I am so gutted, I always sore I would never rehome - she is so old too.

I also swore I never pts before the time was right

I also swore I would protect my ds from danger.

just dont know what to do now

Thanks for the replies I will update

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Shlurpbop · 24/08/2013 19:51

Oooh tough one but so not worth the risk.

This isn't another dog we're talking about by your child. A child who will be into everything in a few months. And a dog who may not appreciate this behaviour.

Your OP actually states that she is a risk. That has to give you your answer surely?

You must put your child first.

X

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Shlurpbop · 24/08/2013 19:51

*but not by

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Toughasoldboots · 24/08/2013 19:53

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HollaAtMeBaby · 24/08/2013 19:53

It's unkind to have brought a dog that big to live in a flat in the first place, really. Please don't take the risk with your baby.

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TheSecondComing · 24/08/2013 19:56

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toboldlygo · 24/08/2013 19:58

Those saying 'rehome' - the chances of suitably rehoming a 9 year old severely dog aggressive giant breed dog with health issues is very, very slim.

I don't believe that dog/dog aggression usually develops into dog/human aggression. My concern would be pain issues in the future - a more mobile toddler blundering into the dog, losing her ability to manage the stairs without pain, any of these things could lower her tolerance. This specific incident won't necessarily have changed anything but I can see the need for constant monitoring of risk going forwards.

A muzzle is a lot more effective than a yellow ribbon!

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