I think my dog has ruined his last chance :(

[riseshine]

I'm in a horrible situation. I've been in hospital for nearly 2 weeks recovering from pneumonia and sepsis.

3 days ago our dog, a westie, bit my daughter badly enough on her hand that she has had to have treatment at hospital.

It's been so awful when I'm stuck in hospital and I can't be with her to comfort her or make rational decision about what to do.

Unfortunately this isn't the first time, 6 months ago he bit my youngest daughters hand. And has snapped at us all on a few occasions.

He is a lovely dog, but on his terms, he is getting progressively more grumpy and often growls if you get too close if he's not in the mood etc

Although I'm devastated I feel like it would be irresponsible to not find a new home for him - my husband has dealt with the whole situation badly, blaming my daughter and saying that we just have to stay out of his way.

Please help me make sense of what to do :(

[MoonfaceAndSilky]

It was the right thing to do for your kids and for the dog.
Glad it all worked out for you.

[riseshine]

Well, my lovely pooch moved out at 3pm this afternoon

I hope he is happy in his new home despite leaving a house of broken hearts in this one.

Thank you for all of your responses x

[WaitrosePigeon]

I'm glad it's worked out for you. It will be hard but sounds like he has a lovely home to go to.

[Branleuse]

Thats great news. Hope he doesnt bite her.

[WaitrosePigeon]

I'm glad it's worked out for you. It will be hard but sounds like he has a lovely home to go to.

[riseshine]

I feel so blessed that I've been able to find a happy ending in all of this.

I took him to meet her today, she is madly in love with him already.

He goes to her permanently tomorrow very emotional :(

[amethyst74]

That is FANTASTIC NEWS! I am so happy for you and your dog. Well done for reaching out to someone for help. There are some wonderful people in the dog rescue world. Wishing you the best for a full recovery from your illness...

[MoonfaceAndSilky]

Oh that's such good news and a big relief for you.
Hopefully it goes well, I'll be keeping everything crossed

[riseshine]

Update !

I got in touch with a westie rescue woman today and within an hour of talking to her she called me with news of a lady that has been looking to rehome a westie after losing hers in September at Age 17 - she's on her own, dedicates her life to walking , petting , feeding her dog and apparently is overjoyed at the prospect of rehoming our dog

Knows exactly what he's done and is happy to take him, very experienced with dogs and westies with their "westitude" and grumpiness.

I spoke to her for ages on the phone and came off the phone feeling so relieved that even tho it's going to be hard I really feel
He's going to a better home , even though we love him to bits. She will have so much time for him.

I'm taking him to meet her tomorrow - cross your fingers it goes well!!!

[riseshine]

No they are friends of a friend who have rescued dogs before - i don't think they'll take him - I was very honest about his bad behaviour - why would anyone take a dog that has bitten when there's so many TK rescue that haven't ?
They did love him and I explained he is thjs lovely dog 99% of the time but there is that over side and I couldn't ever fully trust him

I have the number for a westie rescue to try as well

I want to give him a reasonable chance of a new home as long as no one is at risk (kids etc)

But failing that it will have to be time to think about PTS

[MoonfaceAndSilky]

Hope you're feeling better riseshine
Are they people you know? Have you come to a decision?

[VivienneWestwoodsKnickers]

Does that mean you've made any decisions on the best course of action?

[riseshine]

Vet didn't find anything obvious wrong with him

[riseshine]

A family have just been to see him that had heard of his plight

I was very honest about his bad behaviour and they took him for a walk

They are going to have a good think and get back to me

[Branleuse]

I always think in threads like this, why do so many people not want to accept that some dogs can just be arseholes

If a man hospitalised a woman on a couple of occasions, would you just think he needed a better home and less stress? Maybe a different woman?


Some dogs are just wankers, and with a heavy heart you just have to make a tough decision

[MoonfaceAndSilky]

This might be worth a shot? They believe that before a Westie is deemed to be beyond rehabilitation, all possible avenues and remedies should be explored.

www.westierehoming.me.uk/contact-us

[Hillbilly71]

Found this on the internet for you. Like someone else said, Westies can be like this:

Based on the analysis of all data, Westies were placed in a cluster of “very high aggression, high reactivity, and medium trainability”. Other dog breeds in this cluster were Cairn Terriers, Scottish Terriers, Airedales, Miniature Schnauzers, Dachshunds and Fox Terriers. By contrast, German Shepherd Dogs, Akitas, Doberman Pinschers, and Rottweilers formed a cluster characterized by “very high aggression, very high trainability, and very low reactivity”. We have to remember that this is an artificial system of data classification, based on interviews with ‘authorities’ and their subjective experiences and opinions with these breeds.

[riseshine]

Thank you for all of the input it's given me a lot to think about.

First things first going to have him well looked over at the vet.

Emotionally it's going to be so so hard :(

[ImYourMama]

PTS

Every Westie I've known had gotten like this in older years

[Veterinari]

Megainstant I've had a vagina for 36 years - it doesn't make me a gynaecologist and if I experienced a problem I'd seek professional medical advice. I'd assume that parents of children with behavioural difficulties also seek specific professional medical/educational/behavioural advice as needed rather than diagnosing their kids via MN

your arrogance is both dangerous and inappropriate

[LilCamper]

Megain, you just sound deranged.

There are people at doctorate levels in canine behaviour. It is an actual science.

I know many brilliant behaviourists.

You may have owned dogs for 40 years. I have had a vagina for 40 odd years, doesn't qualify me as a gynaecologist.

[Megainstant]

Dog behaviourists are guff. You sound like a good loving owner. There doesn't sound like any reason for your dog to be particularly stressed. Who will rehome him? Someone who never has visitors? Oh and don't forget they have to have an inner door before their front door.

[Megainstant]

I always find it astonishing when folks with clearly no actual knowledge or training in a situation feel that they are qualified to give 'expert ' advice - especially when the consequences are potentially severe

I have 45 years training as an owner of many happy, well behaved dogs

I hate this idea that only 'trained professionals' can give advice on anything.

It's like saying let's not bother listening to mums about child rearing. We should only listen to the hv. She's a trained professional after all

[mudandmayhem01]

Plumbers, do not set their own standards they are tightly regulated by organisations such as a Gas Safe register and building regs, which are all externally regulated by hse. You can go to jail if you do unregulated work on a boiler. Plumber isn't actually a chartered profession, but it illegal for unregistered people to do certain aspects of plumbing.

[mudandmayhem01]

I will agree to differ , there is still no regulation of this industry, no HCPC, no GMC equivalent. No professional charters. I am sure some of these associations are well meaning, but it is not a regulated industry.