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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think we need to have our dog PTS

155 replies

HastyPasty · 31/01/2021 07:55

Our dog has just attacked his sixth dog in the last two years and I am so distraught but I don't think we can carry on like this!

For background we adopted our dog when an elderly family member passed away two years ago. She was a complete recluse and the dog had never left her house/ garden or been trained. Despite that he loved our kids and they him and although dog was elderly (12 at the time) we thought we could give him a good home.

During the first week with us he attacked my brothers dog very badly (at this point we hadn't taken him out for a walk as we were getting him used to things). It was awful, there was no warning, he saw my brothers dog and just went for her. We did a lot of reading and spoke to a dog charity for some advise and then started taking him out for short walks. Then we realised how aggressive he is to other dogs. He seems to want to kill them all, the second he sees one he will try to attack. So far he has attacked -

  • My brothers dog
  • A drunk strangers dog who decided to bring his dog over despite me screaming at him not to
  • A small dog when he managed somehow to slip his harness and he nearly knocked the elderly owner over
  • A neighbours dog when he got out of a window, how he managed that I don't know but neighbour is utterly traumatised
  • Next doors dog when he actually dug a small tunnel under the fence to get to it (he had been doing this under a bush so neither of us noticed)

Then lastly, yesterday my adult child took the dog out and the dog managed to yank his lead out of his hand, escape and attack yet another dog.

It's honestly heartbreaking because my dog seems like the loveliest dog and we spend all our time together, but he is dangerous and so fast for an old boy.

Oh also since lock down he guards me. I think he got used to it being me and him during the day and hates the kids and DH being around and will growl and bark at them if they get too close to me when I am relaxing. He actually nearly went for DH the other day. This isn't constant, if I am up and about he's fine but if I'm laying on the sofa wathhing TV he starts.

Anyway I'm at a loss. DH is doing he usual let's wait and see (brilliant husband generally but does not do decisions like this and won't really discuss it) and I just would really appreciate other people's thoughts!

Oh PS I have tried a number of different muzzles and dog has managed to slip them all off in record time.

YANBU sadly dog is dangerous and needs to be PTS
YABU don't do it, try...

OP posts:
Radio4Rocks · 31/01/2021 07:56

I don't think you have a choice. It has to be PTS.

Veterinari · 31/01/2021 08:02

I think if you have a 14 year old unsocialised dog reactive dog, the chances of 'fixing' this behaviour are tiny.

He also likely has a level of underlying cognitive decline and chronic pain.

Flatcokeisnojoke · 31/01/2021 08:05

Don’t think there is a choice

Poor dogs that were attacked

If you can’t keep him muzzled and in harness/lead for whatever reason he needs to go (PTS or to people who can actually manage him and keep other dogs safe)

Notimeforaname · 31/01/2021 08:07

If you fit a muzzle and harness properly they cant slip out of them.

Original poster
HastyPasty · 31/01/2021 08:08

Thank you, its making me tearful even thinking about it, but these are my thoughts and I have tried so many things because I really love my dog. But he is so set in his ways.

@Veterinari I definitely have noticed his legs are going and he's grumpier although the vet said he is fine for his age. But he grumped at me (dog not vet) the other day when I stroked him and he has never done that before.

OP posts:
shouldistop · 31/01/2021 08:08

Aw I'm so sorry op. If the dog was younger I'd suggest a behaviourist but I'm not sure it would work at this age.
Possibly try a last ditch vet appointment to see if there's a physical reason for his aggression( although it doesn't sound like it)

It's very worrying that he went for your dh, imagine he pulled off the lead and it was someone's small child he went for?
You just can't risk it Sad

You've done your best by him Thanks

MrsMonkeyBear · 31/01/2021 08:08

Unfortunately, I would opt for PTS. I think there's no amount of training that would fix the issue. Had it been a younger dog, there may be potential to do so but at 14, I think it would be a better option all round.

Mishna · 31/01/2021 08:09

This is so sad. The dog has had no life. Very sad.

Feetupteashot · 31/01/2021 08:11

I can't help but think he could cause serious injury to an innocent child or adult next

Veterinari · 31/01/2021 08:11

@HastyPasty

Thank you, its making me tearful even thinking about it, but these are my thoughts and I have tried so many things because I really love my dog. But he is so set in his ways.

@Veterinari I definitely have noticed his legs are going and he's grumpier although the vet said he is fine for his age. But he grumped at me (dog not vet) the other day when I stroked him and he has never done that before.

He's probably normal for his age. Normal would be chronically painful due to underlying arthritis, dental pain and increased anxiety due to cognitive decline.

None of those things are good for his health or wellbeing though. There are therapies that can help with pain and cognitive decline.

But with the additional aggression issues you probably need to consider overall quality of life

Gobbycop · 31/01/2021 08:12

You don't mention at any point any sort of training? Hasn't it had any if not why?

Hopefully at no point will it rip some kids throat out.

wetotter · 31/01/2021 08:12

This dog has been badly failed - neither the relative nor you sound cut out to be owners.

There doesn't seem much other option left for this poor dog, who it seems has never had proper exercise in its life (no wonder it became delinquent)

oscarandelliesdad · 31/01/2021 08:13

Hard decision op but @Veterinari is talking sense. They are pretty determined attacks, not just a bad tempered snap. I would wonder too about underlying chronic pain. We have an eleven year old terrier, who growls constantly if not on her gabapentin. Does your vet have any insight?

Original poster
HastyPasty · 31/01/2021 08:13

I had the vet fit one of the muzzles and he still got out of it. I have had dogs before and never met one quite like this one. A friend is a vetinary nurse and has tried too with a different type and same result so I felt it was better not to muzzle him as people might feel safer when he is not safe!

I don't think anyone else would take my little houdini (and he is little really, only weighs 9kg). Also it would distress him, he suffers from anxiety and is nearly always with me.

OP posts:
Veterinari · 31/01/2021 08:13

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Notimeforaname · 31/01/2021 08:15

I'm just going to come off this thread as I'm starting to cry.
So sorry op. Hope you can make the right decision for you. Flowers

Original poster
HastyPasty · 31/01/2021 08:16

@oscarandelliesdad vet thinks the dog is healthy for his age although I will ask him to check him again. It's a real problem to take him to the vets though, we wait outside but dog will constantly try to get to other dogs when he sees them. And there is no warning, he goes straight to attack.

OP posts:
ShesMadeATwatOfMePam · 31/01/2021 08:18

He's 14 years old. He's dangerous. What's the sense of keeping him going to keep attacking other dogs? If he were mine he wouldn't have got a third chance to be honest.

Original poster
HastyPasty · 31/01/2021 08:18

@Misha it is sad, he has had a lovely time since he came to us but I am so sorry for him that he was basically a shut it. He's pretty spoilt here, has lovely food and we have a big garden and he sleeps on the sofa. He is very loved. Honestly I can't imagine our house without him

OP posts:
sleepyhead1980 · 31/01/2021 08:19

I would be worried that he could attack a toddler next time. I think you are right to be taking action BEFORE something happens unlike your husband who seems to want to wait until it does. Unfortunately you will never know what the do would have done but you will be able to rest easy knowing that no children were harmed either way.

Original poster
HastyPasty · 31/01/2021 08:21

@Gobbycop no, I don't think so. Relative was an absolute recluse and no contact with anyone so we have no real knowledge there. I have spoken to trainers and taken him to see one who wasn't able to help him. We take him to a private field (for anti social dogs) sometimes so he can have a good charge about, and we do have a big garden, but he wants to go out and about. Maybe we have failed him but I genuinely don't think so, we have tried everything we can afford.

OP posts:
AStudyinPink · 31/01/2021 08:21

Poor old guy. Does he need to go for walks? He’s old and was never used to it anyway, so maybe this habit of attacking other dogs is more to do with feeling exposed/scared than actual aggression. If he wasn’t taken out, he might be calmer.

AStudyinPink · 31/01/2021 08:22

Ah you just answered that. He does want to go out.

TheoriginalLEM · 31/01/2021 08:23

Im a vet nurse - poor old dog sounds miserable. I honestly think you have no choice . Flowers

And yes, a huge fuck off to jusgemental poster. So very easy to judge . The OP gave this dog a chance and now she will have to do whats best for the dog. Give yer head a wobble and have some empathy.

Original poster
HastyPasty · 31/01/2021 08:23

@sleepyhead1980 I think so too, as I write this he has gone to bark at my youngest who made the mistake of coming in the room. He has never attacked him but the warnings are increasing. Honestly it is making me cry because I love my dog.

OP posts: