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

780 replies

FlangeBoil · 22/05/2024 10:37

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.]
OP posts:
Thread gallery
16
HateMyRubbishBoss · 22/05/2024 17:22

As a teen I was attacked by the neighbours German shepherd … that’s the crappy reason I can never get a dog although I love them sooooo much!!!

You’re doing the right thing @FlangeBoil prioritising DC….

Trixiefirecracker · 22/05/2024 17:24

Just came here to say my mums dog did this, slowly went downhill behaviour wise and then one day really snapped. Turned out she also had a brain tumour so could be an illness or in pain. So sorry you are going through this.

Floralnomad · 22/05/2024 17:25

I’d personally risk it rather than let the police take the dog and I have been involved in a dog fight with a JRTX BORDER terrier where I separated them so I know what they are capable of . I agree it is risky , but if it were my dog I’d rather be the one having it pts not sending it off with the police .

Soubriquet · 22/05/2024 17:28

I used to have a jack Russel and he was the stupidest dog I have ever met. Honestly he was so dumb. I did eventually have to PTS because he had a high chance of having cancer. He had lost a lot of weight but had swollen kidneys and other organs. Even the vet suggested being PTS was kinder.

Im really sorry your little dog is doing this. It does sound like something is medically wrong but I guess you won’t really know. It also does sound like he is going to be PTS. Whilst it’s horrible, you do need to put your child first. I’m really really sorry

Onedaystronger · 22/05/2024 17:32

I'm sorry this has happened OP, it is a really tricky situation.

I'm glad the police have offered to assist. Bear in mind though, that they are not dog experts. Their dog handlers are experienced dog handlers but they aren't behaviouralists. They will more likely send people with training in handling partially dangerous dogs and who have equipment to do so without putting themselves at risk.

The equipment will likely be pretty brutal and the priority will be to reduce any bite risk rather than not to antagonise or upset your dog. This is of course understandable, but even a non aggressive dog may become reactive when handled with this type of kit.

This is incredibly hard but the dog is your responsibility and you need to decide what you want to do (unless police take matters into their own hands but that can be a long protracted process where the dog is retained for a long while).

No one can reliably say what the issue is until he's had a full vet check. A behaviouralist with experience in potentially aggressive dogs would also be really helpful- but a reputable one would insist on a vet check first.

It's obviously important to keep yourselves safe. He's clearly taken issue with your partner and so he needs to stay well out of the way, as do the children. Any bite is very worrying, and terriers tend to be quicker to react than most other breed groups- but bear in mind the fact that there is loads of blood wasn't a calculated result by your dog- he just went in for a bite for whatever reason.

I appreciate it's hard to know what to to do, but your partner leaning over the dog was likely to have really worried him. Imagine you're in a state and a person who is much much bigger than you looms overhead. For this reason it's never a good idea to loom or lean over any dog and something that should definitely be avoided around d a reactive or stressed dog. I also understand why you've segregated him but this too might have upset him.

You may be able to gather some clues by observing your dog. Is he eating and drinking, is he moving freely, is he looking at his tummy, is he licking or nibbling any part of his body, does he seem restless or agitated.....

Good luck OP. This is really hard but you need to decide what is best for your dog, you are his owner and he deserves a grown up, compassionate decision rather than months in police kennel limbo, even if that is ending his life humanely.

Chewinggumwall · 22/05/2024 17:36

If the police ever takes a dog, they will just get it put to sleep. They won't get the vet to carry out tests to see if they're are any underlying illnesses. They won't care. Especially as your partner has been to a&e with a bite, they'll just put him down without a question.

Chewinggumwall · 22/05/2024 17:38

They also won't let you say goodbye to the dog once they take it away.

goodfeeling · 22/05/2024 17:39

Similar thing happened with a friend’s dog - it turned out (through blood tests) that she had a virus that is more usually seen in cats and it caused an incredible surge of aggression. She recovered with treatment.

ReggaetonLente · 22/05/2024 17:42

My parents’ JRT started behaving like this, like yours ramping up over time and eventually attacking my grandad and my mum. Turned out it was a massive brain tumour. The kindest and only option was PTS.

CountingDownTheLongDays · 22/05/2024 17:45

Chewinggumwall · 22/05/2024 17:36

If the police ever takes a dog, they will just get it put to sleep. They won't get the vet to carry out tests to see if they're are any underlying illnesses. They won't care. Especially as your partner has been to a&e with a bite, they'll just put him down without a question.

I agree.

The police won't allow you a goodbye visit, or to be there for the dog when PTS, they will simply destroy and return the ashes to you.

Signing the dog over to the police is signing for the dog to be PTS.

I suggest that OP reads this recent MN thread from a cockapoo owner who signed their dog over to the police https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/the_doghouse/5065328-our-hearts-our-broken

Chewinggumwall · 22/05/2024 17:46

If it was me I would try to get the dog myself and take to the vets. Use a muzzle, wear protection. Others have said, the dog is ill and in some cases can be treatable. If you let the police take your dog, as I said earlier they will just put the dog to sleep.

Twiglets1 · 22/05/2024 17:46

FlangeBoil · 22/05/2024 10:42

Not a new partner, aggression has been getting more prominent in the last few weeks. Sorry for short replies, I'm just at a loss.

Will he need to be put down?!

yes of course he will.

CountingDownTheLongDays · 22/05/2024 17:51

Twiglets1 · 22/05/2024 17:46

yes of course he will.

Do tell us about your qualifications in veterinary medicine and dog behaviour.

Ivereallyhadenoughnow · 22/05/2024 17:53

We had a similar issue with our JRT x, OP. Turned out to be epilepsy. He got very aggressive but didn’t bite, then had a huge fit. He was five when that happened. We’ve managed it with medication since and although he’s still growly when he’s coming into a fit, we know how to manage it now. I’m really sorry the vets were unhelpful. I don’t know what the outcome will be for you but sending you huge hugs as it’s a horrible situation all round.

SlightlyJaded · 22/05/2024 17:59

I'm so sorry OP

You are in a horrible situation but you are handling it well. Don't be hard on yourself. Hoping against hope that there is an underlying medical reason that can be rectified, but it does sounds as though this is a personality trait that has gradually ramped up :(

MontezumasPuma · 22/05/2024 18:03

KreedKafer · 22/05/2024 15:27

A Jack Russell absolutely could do damage through gardening gloves and thick sleeves. They're terriers. They're bred for a strong bite. Their bite can support more than their own bodyweight and their teeth are large in proportion to their jaw. We're talking about a dog that can kill a badger.

Our JRT once got DS’s foot instead of the ball when he kicked it for DDog on a walk. That was accidental, no aggression and not by any means full bite. DS’s foot was black for about six weeks. Their strength is massive proportionate to their size. It didn’t break the skin because DS was wearing sturdy shoes but the pain was shocking. We took him to A&E to be checked and the incident wasn’t reported because it was an accident but we’ve never let them play together since.

sonjadog · 22/05/2024 18:03

Sorry you are in this awful situation, OP. As I think you realise, putting him to sleep is really the only option here. You can't have him in your house again. It does sound like there might be something seriously wrong with him medically. Remember that putting to sleep is not painful for the dog, they just go to sleep and are gone. It is much harder on us than on them. Your little dog is not happy now or he wouldn't be behaving like this, for him the kindest thing is for him to go to sleep and not wake up again.

Damnedidont · 22/05/2024 18:04

Be kind to yourself, OP. You're doing your best in an awful situation

justasking111 · 22/05/2024 18:05

My mums dog turned like this within a couple of months, vet said it was a brain tumour, he was young and healthy. Heartbreaking but the kindest thing was to PTS.

TheShellBeach · 22/05/2024 18:12

I'm very sorry that you're in this awful situation, @FlangeBoil

fizzandchips · 22/05/2024 18:15

I had to have my beloved JRT put to sleep aged 12. He bit my husband for no reason that we were aware of. I made the call. He was my best friend, but there was obviously something causing him pain and distress so I had him PTS that day. It was only once he was asleep in my arms as I said to goodbye to him that I realised he was at peace and relaxed. He had obviously become very stressed and was displaying symptoms of cognitive decline, but I hadn’t appreciated how much. The kindest thing to do is have him PTS, in the knowledge you loved him and cared for him and wouldn’t want him to be in so much distress. It’s heartbreakingly awful, but its the right thing to do.

RatATatTatty · 22/05/2024 18:16

Respurce guarding is so hard to break and you would never be able to trust the dog again. When I was a teen, my border collie attacked me - I needed hospital treatment. My mum took him straight to be to be put to sleep, no ifs or buts. I was distraught as he was my dog but 100% she did the right thing. Have him pts, there are enough dogs in rescue and facing unhappy futures.

FluffyJellyCat · 22/05/2024 18:17

Really sorry to hear this OP. Your in a no win situation it seems.

Bearpawk · 22/05/2024 18:19

@norfolkbroadd no I dont 'vastly underestimate the damage a JR can do', I used to breed them. And train them for ratting etc, from a young age which basically involves fighting with them. Controversial I know but that's the family I was brought up in 🙃
I'm just saying I'd rather go in there with sturdy gloves boots and sleeves and retrieve it myself to take it to the vets than let the police come and take it without any investigation of the cause.
But if op/ DP isn't comfortable with that then of course they shouldn't.

Hope this gets resolved soon op, how distressing for you all.

Mrsredlipstick · 22/05/2024 18:25

I had my JRT for 12 years. He developed cancer, I had him put down. He was a snappy thing, that breed is, it was difficult to live with. For me he never showed a tooth. He knew instantly who didn't like dogs. I could never trust him. Don't do the same as me. As others have said he could have a brain tumour.
For what it's worth we had ex police dogs as kids. I have the scars to prove it.
It's sad but you have absolutely no choice.