How would I go about rehoming an aggressive dog? Or am I kidding myself?

[JustBeingJuliet]

This is breaking my heart, but I genuinely think we've come to a point with pup where I just can't risk keeping him anymore :( I've posted about his behaviour a few times and had some good advice, and I've been working with a behaviourist who has stated she isn't sure anything is going to work.

He's an 11 month old JRT. He's terrified of everything; attacks every dog he meets, dislikes children, dislikes strangers, attacks his own reflection in the tv, petrifies of cars, bikes, buses, kids ride on toys, bangs, the vacuum cleaner, the noise deodorant cans make etc etc. I've had him from 8 weeks old, he was bred by a friend who has mum, dad and his sister - all lovely, sweet, well balanced dogs. I've done everything right re socialisation, he's never had a bad experience rtc. I've been bitten several times when he's been lunging at someone else or at his own reflection, and, although he's not actually gone for me or 9yo d's in the house, I feel it's only a matter of time. When anyone visits, I have to crate him and he spends the whole time snarling and getting into a state as he hates anyone in the house. This morning, he's just flown at his reflection in the tv and narrowly missed ds's face. I've just about come to the end of my tether :(

It's a matter of time before he bites someone, regardless of how careful I am with him, it feels like I have a ticking time bomb. I'm really not enjoying dog ownership anymore, and I feel my other dog is being punished as we can't socialise as much etc.

Am I kidding myself to think he could be rehomed? Who would take on a people/dog aggressive dog? One that even a vet recommended behaviourist has basically written off? It's breaking my heart but I can't risk ds bring bitten and I've tried my hardest :(

[RandomMess]

Bumping for you.

How is he with your other dog?

[JustBeingJuliet]

He's great with her, and with a select few dogs that he met as a tiny puppy, but he hates every other dog. It's not all noise with him either, he full on attacks. It's horrible :( He just seems so scared and unhappy. He's a lovely, sweet little thing when it's just me and the dogs in the house, but I'm on edge with him around ds and I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him with strange kids.

[MothershipG]

You poor, poor thing .

It sounds like you've done everything you can to help this poor pup. Ask your behaviourist if she honestly thinks he could do better in another home, if the answer is no then I think the only responsible thing to do is the hardest thing.

If she thinks he might do better as an only dog in a quieter home then you could try to find him one, but realistically, why would someone take on a dog with so many issues when there are so many to choose from?

[CandyAppleFudge]

Try breed rescue, they'll put him in a dog free foster and then make a judgement

[Boomf]

You post about this all the time! You've had loads of advice .

[RandomMess]

I agree tbh. I would talk to some decent rescue centres as well see if they have the resources to see how he is in a different environment. Perhaps living with a much larger group of dogs where he will be taught manners could be the key.

My dog is very scared of many things but not at all aggressive and good with other friendly dogs when out and about. I get concerned as to whether my dog has a good life with her nervousness tbh.

I couldn't cope with the risk of my dog attacking a child in my home or outside.

[JustBeingJuliet]

I know, that's what worries me. I wouldn't take him on. He'd be great in a home where he never had to go out or socialise with anyone! I've stopped inviting people round because the whole experience is just too stressful for me and him. My other dog just wants to be everyone's friend but if I let her come and say hello to people whilst he's crated, he screams the place down constantly, so I end up picking them both in the kitchen which isn't fair on big dog.

[JustBeingJuliet]

Yes Boomf loads of advice about either using a behaviourist or rehoming. I've tried the former and it isn't working so I'm now asking for advice on trying the other option. Thanks for your input.

[Hakluyt]

Talk to the vet,but I think it would br irresponsible to rehome him. and the chances are he would spend a long time unhappily in kennels anyway. Being PTS is not the worst thing that can happen to an animal.

[RandomMess]

If there isn't a way of your JRT being rehomed that he'll be happy & it will work and he'll be less stressed and frightened then tbh PTS is the best option. It doesn't sound like the JRT is actually a happy dog IYSWIM.

[tabulahrasa]

Being brutally honest.

Unless a behaviourist or someone like that is willing to take him on, you can't rehome him.

For starters he's stressed now, in a familiar home and his family...removing him from that will not be better for him.

Then you have to trust that whoever takes him in will not only treat him right, but will manage him so that he doesn't injure somebody.

If you can't cope anymore (I've been on a couple of your threads and I don't blame you if you're at that point) then I think you need to think about having him PTS.

I know that having a physically healthy dog PTS is a horrible thing to contemplate, but mental health matters too...and passing on a dog with a severe behavioural issue is not responsible and not necessarily the kindest thing to do for the dog either.

My dog is dog aggressive and human aggressive with strangers and it was discussed early on with his behavioural specialist and decided that if I became unable to handle him anymore, he'll be PTS. If that ever happens it will break my heart, but, anything just isn't a good outcome either.

[JustBeingJuliet]

He isn't happy and neither am I. I've spent a fortune on a behaviourist, adaptil products, thundershirts etc and there comes a point where you have to say enough is enough. Never given up on a dog in my life but this one has beaten me.

I'll ring the vet tomorrow and see what they suggest.

[JustBeingJuliet]

Thank you. I've been prepared to try anything and have really tried, believe me the last thing I want is to have him PTS, but I can't live like this.

[PacificDogwood]

Oh gosh, that sounds really awful for everybody concerned.

I'd speak to a breed-specific rescue or consider an alternative behaviourist?

Either way, you have difficult decisions to make
I agree that worse things can happen to an animal than being PTS.

[tabulahrasa]

Again being really really honest - my dog is only still here because he's been lucky, my DC are older, so can be relied on to shut doors and keep the dog in rooms, they don't have friends too young to be trusted to be in other parts of the house while the dog us shut away, the layout of my house and garden lends itself to containing him, if things were different I'd have to have given up on him already.

If I tried to rehome him, no-one would want him, so more than likely he'd spend the rest of his life in kennels and given that he can't mix with other dogs, alone and stressed. If someone did take him on, it only takes one slip up for something horrible to happen and he'd be PTS anyway...so I decided that being PTS by his vet, who is the only one he likes, with me there, would be the best thing.

I'm not at the point where I'm having to seriously think about it, but, that is mostly just luck as I said.

It does go completely against the grain to consider it the best option, but as other people have said, being PTS isn't the worst thing that can happen to a dog and it's not very likely that a dog that's had the input yours has had is suddenly going to have a happy ending by finding a magical right owner...what could they try that you haven't?

[Buttholelane]

I would put this dog down.

Rescues are full, almost all of them have extensive waiting lists.
Most won't take on a dog that has bitten, even if they did, is it really fair to take up a space that could have been taken by a dog with no issues.

Realistically, who is going to take this dog on?
Someone with no kids, no grandkids who virtually never comes in contact with kids, with no dogs, who virtually never comes into contact with other dogs, who has time to spare working extensively to try and solve his issues.

He is stressed at everything at home, put him in an unfamiliar environment and he's going to be a thousand times worse!

Sorry to be blunt, perhaps insensitive, but to me the answer is obvious.

[sanquhar]

my Bil and Sil are in a similar situation, they have their dog on some sort of happy pills, it seems to be working as it de-stresses the dog.

have you tried medicating the dog yet? don't see it as a bad thing, after all, people take tablets for all sorts of reasons.

if tablets don't help then i agree with others, no one will want a dog with sooo many issues.

[pigsDOfly]

Not a helpful post Boomf when OP is at the end of her tether and clearly trying to do her best in a horrible situation.

Sounds like this poor little chap will not be able to cope where ever he is. As someone said up thread what could anyone else do that you haven't already tried.

Quality of life is everything imo and it sounds like this little chap doesn't have any quality of life because he's so stressed and unhappy all the time.

Agree with others pts is not the worst things you could do for him.

A heartbreaking decision to have to make, but it really doesn't sound like there's any other option.

Wish you well.

[Ephedra]

OP I have pts a dog that was aggressive before. It was really hard but it was the right thing to do.

The poor dog had no life, I had no life. Every minute of every day was spent managing his behaviour and he was just so scared of everything. I still have the scars from his bites.

We tried everything, training, a behaviourist, drugs, everything and nothing worked. We only had him for 9 months and would have tried to help him for longer but he went for someone and I think he would have really hurt her if he'd had the chance (it was pure luck that she remained totally unharmed).

The dog was pts because he was dangerous. There was no other choice.

I'm so sorry you have to make such a decision.

[needastrongone]

OP - Remind me, did you explore a medical explanation for your dogs behaviour? If he is insured, it may be worth having a chat and seeing if this would be funded via insurance. If there is no earthly reason why he behaves as he does, medical seems to strike me as something worth exploring.

Good luck, your situation must be extremely stressful for your family.

[DunelmDoris]

OP, speaking as a vet and as someone who has recently had to have my own DDog PTS as a result of an aggression issue, it's OK to do this. It's horrible painful, distressing and emotionally exhausting to arrive at that decision, but it's OK.

And I'm not a quitter. I send away client after client to alter management, get behavioural support, medication etc before making the final decision. But if that's your only option, it's OK.

[JustBeingJuliet]

needastrongone yes, he's been thoroughly checked out at the vets and we've been referred to a behaviourist whose advice I've followed to the letter, yet nothing has made even the slightest bit of difference; if anything, his aggressions is getting worse not better :(

[TheoriginalLEM]

I would have him put to sleep :( He is not going to improve with anyone else and you can't in all honesty expect anyone else to take him on. He sounds desperately unhappy. Its not your fault.

[RandomMess]

He really could have something wrong with him hence his behaviour getting worse. I think PTS is the best option, is the big thing stopping you guilt? Dogs live in the moment they don't have human emotions in the same way he's unhappy and he's not going to get fixed.

[muttynutty]

What concerns me is your vet recommended behaviourist has basically written off No qualified behaviourist will write off a dog.

If you have seen an APBC member they will be with you right to the end which ever decision you make be that rehoming, management or other rare options. All will have contacts and help with the rehoming.

You need to talk to a qualified behaviourist and the vet - they are the professionals and they will help you make the correct decision for you and the dog.

No one on this forum can advise you we have not seen the dog in rl - so please do check with the professionals APBC members and make an informed and correct decision for all of you.