To consider putting a 'healthy' dog down?

[monkeyfacegrace]

Im trying to make one of the hardest decisions of my life.

I own 3 Pugs, two of which are 12 & 13 and have been together their whole lives.

The 13yr old bitch is literally making our lives hell.

She used to bounce with energy, and be fun and lovely.

Now, from the minute she wakes up to the minute she sleeps, she yaps. She pulls over the bin numerous times a day. She wees and poos everywhere. She will always get the kids food at mealtimes. I have to lock her in the kitchen while we eat, which results in more fucking yapping. She bullies my 5yr old pug, causes fights, and is generally total hell to live with

Im a SAHM with 6 & 4yr olds, and she drives them mad too.

Ive battled this for the last year, but now Im at my wits end.

I cant bear the thought of rehoming. She is 13 and has never been an only dog. She is a pug so would rehome easily, but it would shatter me.
It would also kill me to put her down.

What the actual fuck do I do?

[MrsMiniversCharlady]

Probably a stupid question, but have you taken her to the vets?

[Sirzy]

Are you sure she is healthy?

[LaVitaBellissima]

I think this is the wrong place to put this because you will get flamed.

Could you get a dog behaviorist in? Have you spoken to your vet, could it be a health issue? I think there are lots of avenues to explore before putting this dog down

[gordyslovesheep]

yes - what has the vet advised

I am sorry rehoming would 'shatter' you but putting her down wouldn't?

[DeltaUniformDeltaEcho]

Before you PTS a healthy dog you should at least make sure it's not a medical issue and also you should look into some training.

There must be some reason for this change in her.

[spanky2]

Has she gone senile ?

[loopylou6]

You need to take her to the vet for a check up. This could be the onset on doggy dementia maybe?

Of course you can't get her pts, that would be cruel. If very declares her healthy, then get a trainer.

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

I think she may not actually be healthy. Sometimes sudden changes in behaviour (including aggression and soiling indoors) can be an indicator of ill health. It may not always be easily diagnosable - one person I know had a dog which suddenly went for her, and he turned out to have a brain tumour.

Have you taken her to the vet and explained about the change in behaviour?

[WelshMaenad]

Of course she can't be rehomed. YOU don't want her, why would someone who doesn't have 13 years of faithful love and dogginess want her.

How are you with the idea that your children could choose to put you to death when you get old and a bit dotty and annoying?

[loopylou6]

If VET

[LauriesFairyonthetreeeatsCake]

I think it's remarkable that you have put up with that behaviour for a year without doing anything - I think you've lost the wood for the trees

if the vet says she's healthy then get a behaviourist. If her behaviour has changed then something for her is different.

[monkeyfacegrace]

Not bothered about being flamed.

Pugs life expectancy is 10, Ive got her to 13, Im doing good. I know the breed well, Im not new to dogs.

Im eyeing up my sons nappies, considering cutting a tail hole and nappying her.

Vets tomorrow. Previously it was a case of just watch her and see, no physical reasons. Senile is a possibility due to age.
My 12yr old dog is blind and deaf now too, but still manageable.

[boomting]

I'd suggest taking her to a vet - she may have undiagnosed health issues. After that, take her to a dog behaviourist for some retraining.

I find it strange that this seems to have changed quite suddenly though - has there been an event in your dogs life, or a change in your home / family?

[PoppyPrincess]

YABU. Would you put a child down if they were being naughty?
When you get a dog you take it on for life, the same way as you do with a child.
I'd see the vet, see a dog behaviour specialist, fix the dog rather than bin it!

[squeakytoy]

you need to take her to the vet for a start if this behaviour has only just started to happen, the incontinence and constant barking would make me think that there is a health problem.

secondly, your children should be eating at the table then the dog cannot get near to their food, because if the dog's behaviour is now unpredictable there is every chance she could snap at them to get to the food..

[WorraLorraTurkey]

She won't be easy to rehome at all at her age and with her problems.

[monkeyfacegrace]

Welsh at me not wanting her.

Ive been cleaning up after the daft bat 5-10 times daily for years.

If I didnt want her she'd have gone a long time ago

Just fed up of hearing my 4yr old yell that he has stood in dog shit again.

[SantaIAmSoFuckingRock]

ok vet first.

move the bin, put it in a cupboard or get a counter top bin. you have to adapt your habits sometimes. a bin isn't a big compromise.

feed her while you and the dcs are eating.

try a stairgate to separate her from you while you eat so that she can see you but isn't restricted to one room alone.

keep her from the 5 year old pug with stair gates, separate walks and garden time.

is she getting enough stimulation?

[monkeyfacegrace]

Squeaky, dogs do eat at the table. Unfortunatley, these are pugs we are talking about. They only think with their stomachs, and think nothing of bulldozing onto the kids laps to grab at plates!

Behavourist was stumped with her. She doesnt respond to praise.

[StuntGirl]

YABVU not to consider other bloody options

Have you even tried to find out why she's suddenly started behaving like this? I'd be concerned, not angry about such a sudden change in behaviour. I doubt she's as healthy as you think.

[SantaIAmSoFuckingRock]

stairgate will also help to keep the pees and poos in one area so dcs aren't walking in it. and get them to wear slippers indoors.

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

BTW I do sympathise. Easy to take the moral high ground when you're not up to your neck in pug shit. I know how that can wear you down. Well, same shit, different breed

[monkeyfacegrace]

Got stairgates, she will literally sit and yap at the gate. All. Fucking. Day.

Bin has been moved to downstairs bathroom but kids leave the door open sometimes. Will work on that.

No, not enough stimulation, but she cant walk more than 10 mins without her legs/breathing going (prev collapsed trachia and ESP)

[PoppyPrincess]

Just out of interest when did this behaviour start?

[WorraLorraTurkey]

The dogs eat at the table?