URGENT - DOG ATTACKED PARTNER **Please read OP's latest updates** [edited by MNHQ]

[FlangeBoil]

Hi all, my 6yo JRT has attacked my partner twice this morning. He has recently developed some territorial aggression, and we have to 'coax' him away from his bed each morning. This morning was as normal, but he wouldn't come so we just left him. My partner went to get milk, about 2m away from him, and the dog lunged and has bitten his hand fairly badly. We managed to lock him away whilst we sorted things, and have since boarded a section of the kitchen away so he can get outside but also can't get to us.
Anytime we enter the kitchen he viciously barks. I have a 4yo at home, so this isn't something I can risk.
He has since bitten my partner again when we went to open the back door for him (by leaning over the barrier we've created) and it's really bad - blood everywhere and he is now in a&e.
I cannnot get near the dog. How do I get him to a point where I can get him checked out - or as I'm probably denying to myself, put to sleep..?
I'm in absolute bits - I just need advice please urgently.

To note - I can't get a vet to come to him, I have already called around

• [Note from MNHQ: We've already edited the title to ask people to read the OP's updates before responding (just click on the See All tab). As that doesn't seem to have worked, we feel the need to explain here in the opening post that the OP's dog has been put to sleep by now as he was found to be suffering from a brain tumour. The OP is obviously in pieces about this so please be sensitive when responding.]

Exactly! Who is he going to charge? I doubt the dog will get arrested!

OP was responding to someone who asked if he was going to press charges.

OP could very well be in trouble if he wanted to press charges, It is an offence to have a dog dangerously out of control in a private residence (or anywhere), and it's not his dog or his house, so yes he could press charges if he wanted to.

There was absolutely nothing in OPs posts that indicated this would even cross her partners mind though, he seemed nothing but concerned, so not sure why people are even asking about it?

This could well be a neurological issue and if so, you really do need to be talking to your vet to eliminate this as a possibility. I'm afraid that, if it is, there may be nothing that can be done and if he is getting progressively worse, it may be that euthanasia is the only option, which is awful, I know.

Equally, it could be pain and easily solved but again, you need a vet's advice. Don't let them fob you off.

no one can “press charges” in the UK.

he can’t “press charges” because it isn’t his decision.

if the police think there is enough evidence to charge o/p with a crime under the dangerous dogs act, she will be charged with that offence. Regardless of what the boyfriend thinks or wants.

it is so victims can’t be pressured to withdraw charges, and for example in cases of domestic abuse so the abuser can be charged without the victim having to “press charges”.

How terribly sad, I do hope the vet can at least give you a tranquilizer to put in his favourite food? I've seen a dog handler catching a dog with the loop, quite terrifying for all. Best wishes for a good outcome.

I’m so sorry this has happened OP.

Late to this but I work at a vets and in this situation the vet prescribed some sedative drugs that the owner threw into the room they’d locked the dog in while they waited for him to eat them and take effect so they could get in an get a muzzle on/get him to us. Worth asking if no one has been able to come out

What a bloody awful thing to go through @Thebigfriendlymoth.

I hope OP that the handler has been out by now and your DP isn't it too much pain. What an awful day for you all

I’m really sorry this has happened. I’ve been where you are, except it was my children that got hurt by my crazy jrt boy, and luckily nowhere near as bad as what happened to your DP.

My lovely old boy was 13 when he nipped my daughter, and bit my son drawing blood. He was fine with me, so I took him to the vets expecting to be told he was poorly and in pain and to be given some medicine, but he sadly had advanced doggy dementia and he was pts that same day. The guilt I felt still feel is intense, but I couldn’t risk my children being seriously hurt. He might’ve been a ‘small’ dog, but he had serious strength and massive determination plus the attitude to get what he wanted (typical Jack!) and I just couldn’t risk my babies even though it meant losing my first furry baby.

I’m so so sorry for everything, and please remember you’re making the right decision whatever you have to do.

I had a very similar issue, my dog terrier started to get aggressive over 6 - 12 months culminating in a couple of attacks on me which required a visit to A&E. I was shocked and confused and spent the next few months keeping him apart from my kids. It the transpired that he had Lymphoma. It was obviously affecting his brain but in random bursts… this became more apparent over time… I had him put to sleep eventually. A very difficult time.

i had a dog start doing thios out of now where, it turned out it had cancer pushing on the brain causing problems, had to be put to sleep,you cant risk it keep biting,please contact your vet

A JRT attacked and killed a newborn baby near me a few years ago.

@FlangeBoil, you did the right thing reporting it to the police.

Sounds like the dog is in pain or very ill. Our dog started violently snapping at the groomer and had to be muzzled, it was very out of the blue, we took him to the vets and after lots of tests we found out he had cancer.

You have to put to sleep - I am shocked at the PPs saying get him checked as he could be in pain. So if he is in pain again will be attack a child?

No one else can take him after what he has done. Sorry OP

id get him checked for pain

but never trust this dog again around your child - sorry

if no pain and no rehome option - i would pts

I'm sorry @Twilight7777. That must have been a shock

Hope you can get help to get the situation stabilised. But please don’t consider rehoming.

Will your dog eat a tablet mixed in with wet dog food? Benadryl is a good sedative: 2-4 milligrams of medication per kilogram of weight. Should help with getting him to the vets!

You must be heartbroken, and the guilt but doing a number on you. Old friend of my parents had a JRT and he turned on them. They were told that he must have been interbred and his brain was too big for his head and he just switched. Unfortunately, he had to be put down.

Not read the whole thread but just to share this happened to a family friend. Except the dog was a great Dane...... He just turned, all of a sudden, no idea why. He had her cornered in a room and any time she moved he lunged at her. She was terrified and trapped in the room for well over an hour. She was only a petite small woman herself - size 6 - 5'2. She well understood this dog could kill her.

Her DH came home and was able to restrain/distract the dog enough for the woman to get out the room. They locked him in and called a vet and the dog was immediately put down. I think they actually had to shoot him with a dart sedative but I'm going back a really long time so don't quote me on that.

Anyway they were so confused because this had always been a loved family dog. They genuinely spoilt and loved their dogs. He lived on acres of land. They were the type to cook their dogs steak....the dog were their 'babies' sort of thing. This was not a 'treated badly and the dog turned' case. So the vet suggested an autopsy to see if anything could explain it. Turns out he had a brain tumour.

At least that meant they were able to hold onto the good memories of him and could tell themselves they did the right thing putting him to sleep then and there. It was all very traumatic.

Is this a completely new thing ? Years ago my dog who was the friendliest dog ever bite me out of nowhere . I knew straight away something was wrong so ended up being brain cancer and unfortunately he had to be pts .
I don’t think having young children you can do much if the aggression is not due to illness , you really need to find a vet who will go see him or get the dog warden to help you transport him to a vet , to rule out any health issues . If it’s just aggression then you need to decide if it’s worthy to rehome him or not . Personally I couldn’t rehome an aggressive dog as the risk would always be on my coincidence .
Im so sorry for all of this , I was devastated when it happened to us

So they've told you your options. Do them

I'm don't want to suggest whether this dog should be PTS or not but it it is pretty well accepted that like it or not any animal (or person) who is ill or in pain can act out of character. A dog that becomes reactive due to pain or illness isn't inherently aggressive. They are animals after all and every dog owner has to accept a level of risk. It's like saying that a dog that reacts to being poked in the eye or startled whilst asleep should be PTS....

I'm not saying that is the case here. However, having worked as a dog warden as far as I'm aware a behaviouralist, or vet will always want to assess a dog for pain or illness before assessing whether they are dangerous. I have seen the most bombproof, easygoing dogs become reactive when they have a hidden issue such as tooth pain, abscess, inhaled grass seeds etc..

I'm not surprised she threw herself at the bars of the crate. Crate training is just cruel. Would you like to be kept in a crate?

Hope you’re looking after yourself in all this