AIBU to think we need to have our dog PTS

[HastyPasty]

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...

From all you're saying you've done all you can. I would PTS, and I would do it swiftly. Your description of his changing behaviour towards humans suggests to me that he may horrificly overreact to a human anytime. Better to act soon and prevent the distress of an injured person and you having the ordeal of having to make that vets trip immediately afterwards. xx

Don't let your child walk him if has issues . He can't slip out of a properly fitted harness, which gives you more strength to control him. Those reinforced canvas & velcro muzzles are nigh on impossible to slip out of ( why vets use them) . I'd strongly suggest binge watching Victoria Stilwell's , It's me or the Dog , on You Tube, before the PTS option. Victoria has sorted this in every breed , old dogs, young dogs, etc.Then at least you've explored every option before PTS. If you remain calm & walk around 15steps, every time he sees another dog, ( instantly , you can't hover, it ramps up his fear based aggression) , then praise when he's calmed down , then resume the walk, he will get better. You need to do this consistently. And keep him on a lead at all times with family member dogs.

*walk away, approx 10-15 steps

I would have him pts if he attacks one of your children they will be scarred for life and you will never forgive yourself for not doing it sooner.

Having him pts is the right decision. You are quite lucky no one has reported you to the police so far for the previous attacks so you really won't be making the wrong choice. You've loved and cared for him the best yiu can and sometimes that means making the difficult decision to let him go rather than risk further incidents/injuries.

I know it is heartbreaking but I think you have to. If it were just dog aggression I'd say keep him muzzled every time he isn't locked in and try a behaviourist but the fact that he doesn't even give a warning and its largely unprovoked makes me think that it can't be trained out of him, it is literally his default response and now its escalating towards human aggression even within the family...

A dog that will go for members of its own family cant be managed, OP. I'm so sorry that you are in this position, it sounds like you've done your best and given him all the chances and he clearly isn't short on love but in some cases it just isn't enough.

The damage was done before he ever met you and he won't have much of a life if he can't ever be trusted even in his own home. Your kids, who should be his best friends and partners in crime will never be able to even pet him in case he goes for them. Spoil him rotten for a few days before the appointment, stay with him at the vets and let him go.

My mum had her very similar dog pts when she was pregnant with me. Although he only showed aggression to other dogs she couldn't take the risk with a child.

Sounds like mine. Utterly gorgeous, cuddly,, affectionate, loves people. He was attacked as a youngster and from then, hated all other dogs and tries to kill them, despite spending thousands on trainers. We have had 3 incidents to my memory, one where a bouncy dog bounded up, they scrapped, the other owner blamed his dog for running up. One where a young dog ran over and mine thought he was being attacked.

However, mine is trained to stay near us, never approaches other dogs, is kept strictly away from others, has a sliplead he can’t wriggle out of and obeys instructions. Also, shoving a ball in his gob keeps him occupied. I think if yours is older and untrained, it will be hard to keep him, other dogs and your family safe. It can be done, but it depends on how much work you can put in.

As the mother of a child that was bitten on the face by a dog, I would agree with everyone else that the kindest thing for all involved is to PTS. I have every sympathy for you as a family having to make such a decision, it’s heartbreaking, but if he turns his aggression on a child you would never forgive yourself.

You gave him the best life you could and now it's time to give him the best possible ending.
Get another dog when you have finished grieving for him.

@biddybird

You gave him the best life you could and now it's time to give him the best possible ending. Get another dog when you have finished grieving for him.

This. I'd think he was maybe in some sort of pain too given his escalation. I think for your own piece of mind you need to speak to your vet, get a health check done and decide from there.

I don't think you have a choice, next time it could be a person.

I agree, you've gave her love and everything since her owner died.

You've tried everything, now it's time to give her peace.

sorry OP.

I'm deeply concerned this has happened six different times. Before putting any dog to sleep, you need to keep an eye on him. He doesn't like dogs so keep them away from him.
My latest Foster is reactive with severe dog aggression. That means his harness fits, his muzzle fits, he never has the change to escape and we walk him in the middle of the night or early morning to ensure there are no other dogs around. The idea it's easier to kill the dog then properly supervise it, is quite frankly insane to me. By all means pts if it's being advised by your vet and he has no quality of life, but that's a decision to be made between you and your vet.

He’s an older dog, if you have a large garden could you allow him to potter in there and stop the walks altogether.
I have a little rescue terrier who is exactly the same. I walk my other little dogs together and he goes separately. We have had ours years and he’s never got better but I love him so much and he is loved by the family and has a wonderful life with us but we are careful when we take him out, always on a lead and wears a warning harness. To be honest he’s a lap dog anyway and not bothered for walks .
Hope things work out for you and your dog.

I am so sorry to read this, and you have done your best- more than others might have.

The poor animal needs to be PTS, as it is a danger to you, your family and as proved many times, others and their dogs.

It will be hard but you must act quickly.

Hate to say it, but you really need to PTS.

You've tried muzzles and been unsuccessful with them. Even though you keep him leashed, other dogs will approach and he attacks them. Sooner or later he may injure or even kill another dog, or someone may get badly bitten trying to protect their pet.

You have done your very best for him, but his early life as an unsocialised dog has made him reactive-aggressive. I don't think he is a happy dog, either. It would be kind to him, and a relief to you to let him go. You've tried your best- at 14 he's had the greatest part of his life anyway - he isn't a young dog with years ahead of him.

You have a responsibility to others as well as him. I would have him PTS - with a heavy heart, but I would do it.

My brother had a rescue like this and it went for my son and bit his leg. He re homed it to someone in the country before he had kids of his own. I personally think PTS before anything serious happens as there is stuff out with your control like if the dog escapes doesn't bare thinking about.

@Sansasnark (great name!) he really is so wiley. I couldn't believe he managed to dig a hole under our fence to get to next doora dog who was a sweet old thing with only one eye. It was horrible.
@Drinkarsefeck he may be insecure, he definitely gets anxious. He was found with his previous owners body and then my elderly grandparent lived with us and doted on dog and also died. Perhaps that's why I can't go anywhere without him behind me and he doesn't want anyone near me.

@heartinacage thank you, we really have tried and will keep trying (in case of miracle) until the last minute

@Frenchdressing thanks I might do that, weirdly I did not realise there was one til just after I posted this and then an in the dog kennel thread popped up in my active threads!

@mummyoflittledragons I have tried a variety of things but all that's happening is it is escalating. I really don't think he would attack them but I could be wrong. And it's sad really because it means I hug the kids less as I won't do it much when the dog is around just in case

@KRW95 thank you so much for that comment, and I would feel awful I feel constantly bad for the neighbour down the road who was utterly traumatised. She even came back and knocked at my house to talk to me as she said she was scared to walk down the road now and she cried. Honestly I couldn't feel worse already. Then yesterday I was almost waiting for a call from the police, but the owners daughter called and was so lovely and that almost made it worse. But she said her dad was in absolute bits and his dog was on antibiotics for a bite

@Awaanbileyerheid I could see that happening, I have been involved in trying to break dogs up and been bitten in the past by my parents dog. He didn't mean to bite me but it flipping hurt. I would hate to be responsible for that!

@HTH1 thank you and yes we do have a big garden, it's a tip but the dog likes it. The problem is that he has escaped before from the house and will try and get out every time the door in open. When lock down first happened last year we stopped walking him because there are so many dogs where we are and every one was walking them all the time and dog was so sad. He likes the garden after a walk but tends towards mopey if not walked. I think after 12 years walks are still something very special to him (tearful again, this is so awful)

@Thisisworsethananticipated that is how I'm trying to think of it, he hates being stuck in, and he is so anxious and grumpy. As @Veterinari said, he is probably suffering from a lot of age related issues too- although if he wasn't a danger I would still keep him for his forever because I just love him.

@FFSallthegoodonesarealreadytaken I do agree and I'm so glad DH has pulled his head out of the sand in absolutely record time for him!

@Thisgirlcanrun thank you for your post, I will definitely look at all those links. We do have a bright orange no dogs lead but no one seems to pay any attention to it and quite often they will yell 'don't worry my dogs fine' as their off lead dog comes bolting towards us and I try and pick up my struggling dog. I kept telling DH we should get bright orange tshirts printed with No Dogs and a few expletives so people might look! As for breed he's some sort of a terrier, possibly lake land (which is what he was listed as) but more likely a mix. He's incredibly fast and skinny even though he has constant access to food. It's brilliant you've had success with your dog, and thank you again for sharing the links! We do usually take him out for about 40 mins but he never wants to come home so I always thought it wasn't enough!

I've met a few Lakeland terriers, and I have to say they have all been quite aggressive small dogs. Many years ago, I used to work at a boarding kennels, and was bitten by a Lakeland Terrier which absolutely refused to let go.

Given his start in life, I imagine he may be even more neurotic and reactive than the average Lakeland Terrier too.

As he is small, it's easy to assume that he could never seriously injure someone, but if he is as aggressive as you describe and a person gets in the way, there is the possibility they could get badly hurt.

I know it is really, really hard, but given his age and upbringing, I am not sure there is much you can do for him- you have to consider the safety of other dogs, and their owners.

@shouldistop thank-you for your lovely comment and flowers!

@fedupteashot this is exactly what DH said earlier too

@shesmadeatwatofmepam I keep thinking that I have given him too many chances. Its just every time I thought okay well we can try this, or this muzzle or I'll ask this person and would convince myself things would improve

@AStudyinPink maybe he is scared of the outside so while he wants to go out is overwhelmed. He does nag to go out. We moved his walk to this evening today so DH could do it, and even though we played with dog in the garden he still wasn't happy with me about not taking him out.

@SunAwaits thank you so much I will definitely look at that. I just keep welling up, hence why waiting until I was in the bath to check this thread again! I think it will really help, because it feels so awful!

@Sansasnark (great name!) he really is so wiley. I couldn't believe he managed to dig a hole under our fence to get to next doora dog who was a sweet old thing with only one eye. It was horrible

I think you've tried many different methods to help this dog op and they've not worked.

If it was me in this position, I would absolutely pts.

We have a dog aggressive dog and he is muzzled, harnessed and walked separately to my other dogs so I can focus solely on him. If he showed me the behaviours your dog has I would have him pts.

@sansasnark I did read a lot about lake land terriers and read that they are aggressive to other dogs. He really does seem thoroughly pleased with himself every time he's managed to attack another dog, I really think he thinks that's what he's supposed to do. He ignores horses entirely and once he saw a cat and just seemed a bit confused! I think other dog owners don't see him as dangerous because of his size and he does (and I know I'm biased) have the cutest, most friendly looking face. And they never notice the orange lead or seem that bothered that his is visibly trying everything he can to get at their dogs

@seepingweeping thank you for your comment. I really do appreciate it and it's also nice to know that I'm not alone, although obviously I hope your dog improves (although it seems like you have yours under control which is brilliant!)

He is dangerous. You can't keep a dangerous talk if you cannot guarantee it won't be able to access other dogs or people.