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Original poster

Should I get my dog put down?

176 replies

andypandy30 · 20/08/2012 20:05

Really don't know what to do for the best. Had our dog nine years, she is a mixed breed, nor really sure what she is a bit Spanial, she has always been lively jumping up etc.
We took her to training a few years back, it didn't really work to be honest. I have 2 ds one who is five and one 2.10.
A few years back the dog bit the next door neighbour, we were at work she got out in the rain so he tried to put her back in. The nice next door neighbour played it down but had a plaster on.
We let it go and watched her closely. She has growled at the kids a few times and nipped the eldest once when he was a toddler but the child stood on his tail accidentally. Both ds know not to be cruel to the dog and never are. Today ds tried to take a bean off the dogs plate, it was left over from his dinner and given to the dog. I heard ds scream I was washing up he was crying hard his arm was very red and swollen and has teeth marks but it didn't bleed.
Not sure what to do, everyone telling me we have had enough warnings now and next time it could be the eye.
Dog is walked everyday has massive back garden and I only work part time so it's rarely alone.
Please give me some advice sorry it's so long didn't want to drip feed

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 20/08/2012 20:08

What do you mean the training 'didn't really work'? Training does work if you stick at it.

It's a tough one because I think many dogs would go for someone who takes food off their plate...that's always a complete no-no.

BonkeyMollocks · 20/08/2012 20:09

I'm not a current dog owner, but pretty much every incident you have described has been the child bothering the dog.

Do you have a area where the dog can just have some space that is compleatly child free?

I'm sure someone more experienced will give you some better advice but to me having the dog pts seems rather extreme :(

Softlysoftly · 20/08/2012 20:09

I would have had it rehomefsd with no kids of possible via an agency the second it bit the neighbour and growled at the kid. It bit you'd toddler and you still leave them near it are you insane?

thisisyesterday · 20/08/2012 20:10

putting it down seems a massive over-reaction to me

why did DS try and take the food from the dogs plate?

i think that you could probably train your dog, although it may take lots of time and effort. but if you can't/won't do that you should probably rehome it

BonkeyMollocks · 20/08/2012 20:10

worra has a good point. Did you stick with the training? It does work, btu you don't do it and then stop, you have always got to be doing it!

DozyDuck · 20/08/2012 20:11

Rehome ASAP. If the dog can't cope with the kids the dog wouldn't be near the kids! Not in my house!

You need to say that the dog cannot be rehomed in a house with children

Softlysoftly · 20/08/2012 20:11

I disagree Worra dogs can/should be trained to be non food aggressive it's key.

I wouldn't have it PTS but rehomed or never near the kids.

Champneys · 20/08/2012 20:12

No, I dont think you should have him pts.

He reacted to his food being taken from him.

It was not an out of the blue attack. Poor dog.

Softlysoftly · 20/08/2012 20:13

Wow even my typing has sleep deprivation

AdoraBell · 20/08/2012 20:13

When you say you took her for training, what exactly was that?

What you've described sounds like food aggression and needs specific work to change the behaviour. It's one of the things I believe rescuers look for when assessing dogs for rehoming. I can't tell you whether to put the dog down, but I wouldn't feel safe with it around my children while it's being aggressive with food. Have you though about rehoming the dog?

flatpackhamster · 20/08/2012 20:14

It's not the dog's fault that it behaves that way. It considers the children to be below it in the pack, which is why it does that.

It's your fault, as the owner, and the idea that you would kill an animal because of your own inability to train it is vile beyond belief.

SarahStratton · 20/08/2012 20:15

More exercise - one walk a day is probably not enough for a spaniel type dog.

More training - training works provided you stick at it, and everyone is consistent all of the time.

And you need to train your DC too. The eldest is perfectly old enough to understand that he needs to respect your dog, the youngest is ready to be trained.

Plus consider getting your dog a decent crate and turning into it's 'safe place'. Put it's bed in there, and it's toys, and make it very, very clear to your DC that the dog is to be left alone if it is in there.

Personally, I think you should be able to take food from a dog and give it back, I've always trained our dogs to do so. But if you know your dog is defensive with it's food, it's better to not let that situation happen. Feed the dog in the crate, or put a stairgate across somewhere so it can eat in peace.

Emmielu · 20/08/2012 20:17

You should have stuck to the training. But that aside, rehome it. Take it to a rescue center though DO NOT rehome yourself.

AhsataN · 20/08/2012 20:18

first of all never put your children in a position where the dog could turn. never allow your kids around when your dog is eating make sure there are strict rules in places i would find another home for your dog where is would be more suited it clearly has a tendancy to snap and and i wouldnt trust it around my child. training does work my son and i lived with a rottwieler for 4 months, the dog was his best mate slept next to his bed completely adored him. he was trained and knew he was bottom of the pack. i wouldnt have the dog destroyed but i wouldnt have it near my child again. by the way a reaction to food being take a dog lives in a pack you are top dog and so are kids, your dog is the bottom and anyone should be able to take food from him as he is below them. its no excuse.

Original poster
andypandy30 · 20/08/2012 20:18

I would love to rehome we live in NI and it's not possible here for a nine year old dog especially one who has bitten.
The child just bent down to take a bean because he is 2.10 no other reason didn't think he was doing harm just thought he was sharing with the dog, it was his dinner first after all.
Have rang the vet who told me its too late to train the dog she is too old.
I have no place I can keep her away from the kids I have a biggish garden but the kids play in it, already can't bring friends to play for fear of her biting them and don't want to keep her chained up, she would get aggressive if a child approached while chained up.
Also forgot to say I walked her to the oak a year ago and she growled badly at a young child who came to pet her, I had to pull her away

OP posts:
coffeeinbed · 20/08/2012 20:19

You have posted about the dog before?
It seems you have made up your mind.
A massive back garden does not exercise mean.
What kind of training has the dog had?

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 20/08/2012 20:19

And take your dog to the vet for a check-up.
9 yo is getting on a bit and the majority of elderly spaniels I've seen (I know yours is a mixed breed but you mentioned spaniel type) have had very cloudy,bluey looking eyes (? cataracts?)

He might have 'seen' something in his peripheral vision and reacted to that not realising it was your DC.

BTW flatpack someone will come along from "Doghouse" and tell you the pack theory is twaddle and only applies to wolves and Cesear Milan git Grin. Wait for it...

AhsataN · 20/08/2012 20:20

call spaniel rescue we contacted german shepard rescue when we were having trouble with our GS they helped us with training instead of taking her away.

flatpackhamster · 20/08/2012 20:23

70isaLimitNotaTarget

BTW flatpack someone will come along from "Doghouse" and tell you the pack theory is twaddle and only applies to wolves and Cesear Milan git. Wait for it...

Yes, and I'm sure they'll tell me that humans aren't apes, too.

BonkeyMollocks · 20/08/2012 20:24

Ever heard that saying OP ...you can't teach a old dog new tricks?

Its bollocks!!

I don't think whatever anyone says on here will make any difference, you will have her pts and that will be that :(

I feel minds already made!

coffeeinbed · 20/08/2012 20:24

Why would you not train a 9 year old dog?
Your vet's a bit of an idiot, tbh.

WithoutCaution · 20/08/2012 20:25

Train the dog (find a decent trainer/behaviourist to help) - the food bowl is not his property it is yours and you will take things from it as and when you please. Only give the dog food in its food bowl

Train your DCs - They do not take things from the dog. End of. You can teach your DC and the dog the drop it/leave it commands etc if they really need to get something from the dog

I wouldn't PTS or rehome, I've had several dogs like yours who have all been fine after consistent training and careful management.

Mama1980 · 20/08/2012 20:25

What happened with the training? Would you consider going back? I would not pts but give the dog more exercise, a safe place and make sure you feed very separately.
Food aggression is not inevitable my children can (and unfortunately have Confused) literally removed food from my dogs mouth they had previously given and she just let's them-she has been trained to.
I would of course obviously not leave the dog and children alone.
Long term I would suggest training or rehoming.

Original poster
andypandy30 · 20/08/2012 20:26

Flapjack that is very harsh, how can you call me vile? I'm asking for advice here. Really hope you never find yourself in a situation like this.
I have never posted about the dog before.
This is northern Ireland there are no schemes here that rehome dogs, you need to find someone yourself. I would love to, but the dog has bitten 3 times now once to the man next door when she had NO food around her, so it's not a food problem at all. I would feel bad giving her to simine in case she hurt someone

OP posts:
AhsataN · 20/08/2012 20:29

google spaniel rescue or find someone who can give the dog what it needs. it needs to work and have training. my family bred and worked spaniels as gun dogs. amazing animals very loyal and loving but can be spiteful fuckers as well. my ex mils spaniel bite my sons face because he stroked her. could you find a farmer or land owner maybe who could take it to work it?

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