To be considering rehoming my dog?

[GuiltRiddenDilema]

Don’t want to go into too much detail but she’s a 3 year old Dobermann. Had her since 8 weeks old. Was conned by the breeder (the adult dobies I met were not her parents, her parents it turns out … were too aggressive to meet). I did everything by the book, obedience classes, socialisation classes … she just got more and more aggressive. I got a 1-1 trainer … didn’t help. Tried a different 1-1 trainer - helped in the short term but soon went backwards, tried behaviourist who said the dog was fear aggressive and would never be able to be around other dogs or children. I travelled across the country with her for a Dobermann expert who said she’s bright as a button but will always be unpredictable and temperamental.
The area we live in is the worst possible area for her temperament. Lots of offlead dogs running around, lots of small children - I’m terrified she will escape the garden or something. I can’t walk her without being constantly on edge that she’ll hurt someone/something.
I’ve tried for 2.5 years to get her through this but she’s just the same as she always was. We have good days and bad days. I train her daily, I’ve put so much time and money into her training and see nothing for it.

Problem is I love the dog dearly and she’s obsessed with me. The guilt is eating away at me. In the meantime I’m terrified and alienating all the human relationships I have as nobody will come to my house anymore. I can’t even have my grandchild over.
She needs an experienced owner, one that can actually give her some kind of a life.
I’d contact a breed specific rescue and keep her until they could find a suitable experienced owner. I don’t want her going into kennels and I’m not interested in money. I just want to save her 😢

I just don’t know what to do anymore. My own adult children will no longer visit 😔

Rehome her through a breed specific rescue. You'll both be a lot happier. They may be able to find her a foster instead of kennels

I think you are kidding yourself if you think an aggressive adult dog will be rehomed.

You poor thing. You sound like a very responsible and loving owner who wants the best for your dog. Sounds like a very difficult decision but if you’ve done everything you can and sought professional advice I’m not sure what else you can do.

Do you think you are likely to be able to rehome her? Would anyone want her? I’m not being funny and I hope you do find a suitable home for her but there are plenty of non aggressive dogs which people are more likely to choose. Maybe with her being a Doberman you could find a working home for her as a security type dog but if she’s fear aggressive not sure that would be good for her?

It certainly doesn’t sound like you can go on keeping her at your home. But you also need to not just push the problem onto someone else unless they’re 100% aware of what she’s like and confident they can cope with her.

If she is fear aggressive and you cannot keep up with the very strict regime that would be neeed then yes, rehome her. But do it to a specialist dog centre, one that specialises in both breed and temperament isues. Then she will have the best chance of having any life at all.

Do it today/tomorrow morning and remember this is what is best for her. The people you bought her from need to be reported, maybe the breed rescue can help with that.

And I do sympathise. I adopted a young adult dog from a breeder and was totally scammed. She knew it was aggressive. I’m sure she did. Within 5 mins of being home the dog bit dh. The dog attacked dh and me daily for the next two years as well as trying to bite others in the house and when out on walks. We tried every trainer going. Travelled to see one of the country’s top dog psychologists. All sorts. Made no difference. We had him pts in the end.

@Stompythedinosaur

I think you are kidding yourself if you think an aggressive adult dog will be rehomed.

Many breed rescues take in such dogs and take time and care to try and overcome such issues. If they cannot manage the issues, or find someone who can, then the dog will be put to sleep. But they will be given the chance of a home they can live in without fear, which OP cannot offer.

Hopefully some knowledgeable people from the Doghouse board will come along soon OP. It sounds awful.

FWIW I’d be prioritising seeing my kids and grandkid, and doing whatever was necessary to do so even if that meant humanely euthanising this poor creature if she couldn’t be rehomed. And I say that as an animal lover and dog owner. Your family may be feeling that you’re prioritising her over them.

You’d need to be VERY honest with any potential breed specific rescues. It would need a very experienced foster or new owner to take in a dog like this. You’ve tried every option open to you and done everything you can to give the dog the best chance possible but owning this dog is ruining your relationships with other people. The only other solution is having her pts and I know that may be an unwelcome comment on here but I couldn’t live with myself if I found out later down the line the dog had attacked someone.

I’m sorry OP I’d either have rehomed with a reputable rescue or PTS before now. My children and grandchildren come before any of my animals and I own 3 dogs.

These people are great and have taken in aggressive dogs no one else wants:
www.canineandequinetherapy.co.uk/index.html

Yes I’d re home her but take your time and make sure it’s someone like the above that will genuinely love and care for her

I think speaking to a specific breed rescue is your best bet. But I agree she doesn't sound safe to keep long-term. We had a dog on dog fear aggressive dog who didn't improve despite lots in behaviourist input but she was fine around people and children, and would never initiate an attack on a dog just if she was hassled. Even then it was miserable. I never enjoyed taking her out anywhere and we were really limited in our outings. We live rurally with a bit of land so we were OK. I couldn't have coped in your situation. It sounds like you are really conscientious and will do the right thing by your dog.

Poor dog and poor you. What irresponsible bastards the breeders are, I hope you reported them. It sounds like an untenable situation.

I think you’ve done a lot for her and assume you’ve taken her to the vet to check there’s nothing going on health wise that could be triggering her (neurological or pain)? I’d be very uncomfortable with rehoming a dog with that level of aggression and honestly think I’d be having a conversation with my vet re euthanasia. I know that won’t be a popular opinion and it’s not a post I make lightly, I love dogs. However, this sounds like a high risk situation for all concerned and no one can say you haven’t tried to change things and improve life for her. It’s such a difficult situation. Good luck with whatever your decision

When i was having issues someone from the dog board said to me that being put to sleep is not the worst thing which can happen to a dog. I didn’t understand at first and thought of course it is. But the more I thought about it the more I realised they were right. Being so afraid of life /everything is worse for the dog, they must be miserable and uptight to act like this. Rehoming a fearful dog might not be nice for it in the short term though I accept if somehow the fear can be resolved in a new home then long term it might be better. But that’s a gamble. Personally one I wasn’t prepared to take as I knew we’d tried everything. I thought that being rehomed, being scared by new people and then being pts anyway with strangers holding him would be worse than me taking him to the vet. Worst decision I’ve ever had to make and six years on I’m crying as I type this.

Please reach out to the Dobe specific rescue groups. I’ve worked with a few of the regional ones and they are incredibly helpful and hardworking and have worked with dogs with complex needs like yours.

I would talk to the breed specific rescue to see what they say but prepare yourself that you may need to consider euthanasia. Really sorry you’re in this position after trying so hard to do the right thing. Irresponsible breeders have a lot to answer for.

((hug)) @CovidCorvid

I travelled across the country with her for a Dobermann expert who said she’s bright as a button but will always be unpredictable and temperamental

She is not a pet. Unless you find her a home as a working guard dog, the kindest thing you can do is pts.
Otherwise she is facing a life of missey being passed around from one home to the next due to her unpredictability.
unpopular opinion I know. But having met a few people who kindly rescued such a dog and given up again due to biting adult family members, it really is the kindest, most responsible thing to do

@BalladOfBarryAndFreda

((hug)) *@CovidCorvid*

Thank you. I get nervous of admitting what happened as never sure if I will get roasted but I think it’s important to talk about all options.

Sometimes euthanasia is the kindest thing for the dog.

It’s a shitty decision to have to make, @CovidCorvid but sometimes it is the kindest option.

Personally I'd have her put to sleep. Living a life so stressed isn't be good for her, and I couldn't personally ever rehome a dog and not know what happens. Yoube tried several interventions and unfortunately, some dogs just aren't wired right. I had one like this although the only reason he was manageable was because he was small (under 10kg). There are many fates far worse than a humane death

Is this the dog you've posted about several times before?

You have a dog from aggressive parents and sadly these things are often genetic and no amount of training, conditioning etc. is going to make the slightest bit of difference to her temperament. It's going to be a case of management not cure.

I don't think you can, in good conscience, re-home this dog. You know she's aggressive and comes from aggressive parents - her genetics aren't going to change just because she lives elsewhere. Passing her on isn't going to solve anything, it's just going to pass the problem on to someone else.

I think you need to think long and hard about having her PTS.

Thank you for the responses. I have reported the breeders and last I heard they had sold up and moved house and are no longer advertising on Champ Dogs.

I couldn’t have her PTS, I just wouldn’t be able to do it. The guilt would be too much but @CovidCorvid I do understand your decision and I’m so sorry you had to go through that.

With me she’s the most loving sweetheart. Affectionate and loyal. I KNOW she has good in her.

Anyone know if I could set up an agreement with the rescue that if things didn’t work out with new owners she’d come back to me?

I’m sorry you’re in this situation. I would look into rehoming to a specialist rescue and be very honest about the issues. However I think there is a good chance they will advise you to have her put to sleep, and this may well best be the outcome for her and for the safety of others.

If you were my mother and I couldn't visit or bring my DC to see their grandmother because of your dog, I would be desperately hurt and consider going NC. I think you need to prioritise your family.