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.]

I have heard of a case like yours, the dog had an undetected brain tumour. I am sorry the vets are unhelpful.

I’m sorry OP, what a horrible situation. I’m afraid you have to be realistic- a dog who snaps is one thing.
A dog who no one can get near hours later and who requires the services of the police to be brought under control, with a long history of aggression and recourse guarding of ‘space’ which is an incredibly difficult trigger to manage, poor bite inhibition and a history of several months where this behaviour is slowly getting more serious is quite another.
I would be contacting a behaviourist for an emergency telephone consultation today but in my professional experience (based purely on snippets here of course, which is why I suggest a proper talk with a professional - I clearly don’t have the full picture) whether this behaviour is rooted in mental or physical issues, it will be an incredibly difficult situation to manage safely moving forwards and not one I’d subject other members of my family to I’m afraid
I hope you get some help quickly

You're doing the right thing; you can no longer keep that dog in your home or around children.

Good luck. I hope someone appears soon to help remove the dog safely.

Edited because when I took the trouble to read all of your posts (which I should have done from the start) I saw that you had taken he matter in hand and are dealing with it in the only way you can.

I'm so sorry - it is heartbreaking, but you are doing the right thing. Please don't blame yourself. you are NOT a bad person, or a bad dog owner - sometimes it's just the way things work out.

You are not a bad person. This is a dangerous situation and the bites sound pretty bad. I hope you dp is doing better. I know it's heartbreaking but I don't think there is any other option. Sending hugs.

Well up to a point.

I had an encounter with an aggressive twonk who objected to his van being in pictures I took of utterly egregious parking near my home. Technically and assault as he jabbed me in the shoulder with his finger. I reported it via police 101 and was interviewed over the phone by a warranted Constable.

If I'd pushed it they would have asked the van's keeper for his details and gone to his home.

I asked them not to which, in a sense, means I chose not to press charges.

Can you not grab him whilst wearing a thick coat and a pair of gardening gloves and then you can take him to the vet and pts , if the police take him they won’t let you have him back

You're not a terrible human. You're doing right by your family, and by the dog. It's a crap situation but you're doing the right things. Hang in there, I hope everything works out for the best (and that your partner is doing ok after his bite!)

I wouldn't try this - he may snap at your face. This is a dreadfully sad situation to be in.

Do you have a dog carrier/ indoor kennel that you could entice him in to? (peanut butter, cheese - whatever high value treat he likes)

From the way you describe it, the dog is ill rather than just "nasty", but if he is in so much pain that he is attacking people, PTS is kindest.

Dogs can bite through bone, gardening gloves and a thick jumper wouldn’t be any protection whatsoever if the dog was genuinely determined to do harm.

Sure if it was just snappy but in no way would I suggest that given none of us has actually SEEN the dog!

Shame the vets are so unhelpful.

I registered an account to be able to reply.

Jack Russell’s are prone to brain tumours. If your dog has never attacked your partner and your partner has never mistreated your dog (or your child) then it’s time to put your dog down.

I had a Jack Russell growing up. He was territorial and fiercely protective- but he never really once attacked anyone in the family. He once bit the next door neighbours child because this kid jumped the fence and thought it was hilarious to taunt the dog and run away. The dog bit him and everyone agreed (including the parents of the kid) that the kid deserved it.

That Jack Russell lived to be about 9 years old. Before the end he turned mad. He would attack wheels on cars and bikes if they were turning. He barked constantly.

As an adult I bought a chihuahua that very clearly had Jack Russell in him. He was a bad dog and had been since he was a puppy. He attacked me twice. He bit my ear which lacerated the cartilage and took months to heal. He bit my face and I now have a small scar on my face - 13 years later.

When he bit my ear he was on the end of my ex boyfriend’s bed as I was saying goodbye as I left for work. He attacked without warning and wouldn’t let go of my ear.

The second time he bit my face after suddenly attacking his brother (I had two dogs who were brothers from different litters). There was no warning. He attacked his brother and then attacked me as I was sitting on the couch.

I gave up the dogs as I was moving and couldn’t take them with me. I later heard he attacked my ex boyfriend’s friend quite badly. That dog should have been put down. He was well cared, loved and was exercised. He still attacked me.

I hate Jack Russells now and I never ever want to own another Jack Russell again. They are one of the worst dog breeds to own.

I would never have a Jack Russell if it had a young baby.

If your partner has never mistreated your child or your dog - it’s time to put the dog down.

I fully get that you're having a distressing day, OP, and I sympathise for that - but how on earth can police be required to be doing things like this for a Jack Russell.

Have you tried just you going in with no-one else in the house, sitting quietly and seeing if you can just get a slip lead on him and calm him, then put a muzzle on?

Have you tried asking vet to give you a sedative that you can chuck him in some food?

Apart from anything else, either of the above would be far kinder to your dog than being grappled at the end of a dog catcher. Fair enough if it really comes to that, but you need to try the other options first.

The police are not (not even their dog handlers) dog experts, they are just people with hefty clothing and a catch pole.

Your dog is almost certainly in pain, so many aggression cases are, and has been for some time. There may be a neurological factor too.

If your vets were not willing to see him or prescribe sedatives so you can bring him in they are unlikely to be willing to see him brought in on a catch pole (likely to cause him more pain and distress so more aggressive behaviour as a result).

Police have two options - 1 you sign the dog over, they take to whatever vet they use and he is PTS - 2 you don't sign over but they believe the dog is dangerous and they have cause to seize him and he would then be kept in police kennels until a court case determines whether he is dangerous or not..

I would ring the vet back or ring around the local vets and find one who will help, ask for sedatives to get him to a safer state and then ask if they will come out and PTS at home.

That is the kindest thing to do for your dog at this point - whatever it is that is causing him pain or is the underlying cause of his behaviour issues is not something you can fix or you would have done so already.

If you have a four year old in the house I'm afraid there's only one thing you can do and that is to have the dog PTS. I think you already know this in your heart of hearts. You might even need to call the police to remove him as you have proof of how aggressive he is being due to the injuries your partner has suffered. I do sympathise with you being in this predicament but he's also a risk to others as well as your family

You vastly underestimate the damage a JR can do.

It’s easy to look back and say you would have done differently in hindsight. Ultimately, your dog will need to be PTS for his own benefit and for your safety. I know it’s hard and it sounds like you undertand that. I hope the police can assist and help ease this to make it less traumatic - as much as is feasible.

This is seriously risky, the dog could go for the face.

Nothing useful to add, just to say sorry for your situation. It's heartbreaking 🐾

Sorry, my wording is incorrect you’re right. I was trying to make the point that as the police are now involved the OP may no longer be the decision maker about the dog’s future. The police will follow a process now.

So sorry for all of you, your dog included. It must be horrendous. I hope you manage to get him safely to a vet and find out what's at the root of it.

Having a loved pet PTS is always a difficult decision - but it's one that you need to take. Even if it turned out to be cause by pain you cant risk them becoming ill again and savaging another person. They've attacked twice, one moving about 2 metres to do so. That's not being defensive when in pain, it's an unprovoked attack.

Indeed.

Never think that because they are a small dog they are a weak dog.

They have very sharp teeth, and being terriers they can be aggressive (they're bred to deal with rats - usually vermin, or occasionally other dogs, are where they channel any aggression) and are very, very fast! Their reactions are a lot faster than any human response would be - I wouldn't risk it, myself.

What an awful situation you are in. I hope you can get it sorted.

I’m really sorry oP but you have your answer then. Your family needs to be a safe place. He won’t know what’s happening.