Hi I have two Australian kelpies. Beautiful loving dogs. The eldest is a male and is 7 years old. He has always been anxious and on occasion will growl and lunge at other dogs to warm them offand we have spent s lot of time (and money) with dog psychologists, behaviourists and trainers to get to the bottom of it and train him out of it, particularly as it alarmsother people. He has a yellow scarf to signify issues, has spent time with muzzles and also on long leads, short leads, all leads. We take him to isolated places because if he doesn’t get to run he is miserable and then is a right pain. He will not poo or wee on the lead and sulks. We go to fields and country paths and avoid other people as much as we can. He never behaves badly with DH.
Things seem to be escalating. He growled at and snapped at my teenage son for the first time last week and then a few days later ran at a retriever in the woods, and bit its ear, drawing blood. I am at my wits end and horribly afraid of what might happen next as it feels like this is getting worse but after 7 years he is such a part of the family ...
Do I need to accept he can’t be trusted and needs to be put down? Is rehoming an option still? I don’t know what to do for the best. I have a horrible feeling I know the answer but I am so distraught about the idea (he is my first dog and we have had him since he was 8weeks old) that I’m hoping more experienced dog owners here might help.
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The doghouse
Please don’t flame me I’m devastated
30 replies
latestarteronthis · 10/01/2019 21:22
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