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Pets

I think my dog has ruined his last chance :(

112 replies

riseshine · 06/12/2016 09:34

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 :(

OP posts:

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Megainstant · 06/12/2016 10:27

I've had lots of dogs in my lifetime and I've NEVER had a dog that didn't like people cuddling. I wouldn't put up with a dog that wanted a say in how the humans in the house behaved themselves - unless that behaviour was somehow stressful or cruel in which case fair enough.

SleepFreeZone · 06/12/2016 10:27

Personally I would PTS. I can imagine the stress in the household of walking on eggshells around the dog! If he's next bite caused an infection that killed one of you, or he damaged one of you kids faces I'm not sure how you would forgive yourself.

Megainstant · 06/12/2016 10:28

I'd be interested in how your dh thought your dds were behaving badly in the circumstance you describe.

LilCamper · 06/12/2016 10:28

Just because you have never had one doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

Purplebluebird · 06/12/2016 10:28

What a nightmare situation :( He sounds very stressed. I could not live with a dog like that, and I would feel guilty forever if I rehomed him and he injured someone else seriously enough to need hospital treatment. So sorry to say it, but I would put him to sleep. And I don't say that lightly, I know how much loved dogs and cats can be.

tabulahrasa · 06/12/2016 10:29

" I couldnt be bothered with dog behaviourists I am afraid I think it is all twaddle."

A behaviourist isn't twaddle, they don't psychically communicate with pets or anything, they come in and tell you how to train them.

Megainstant · 06/12/2016 10:29

Of course not, but it isn't normal and I would consider rehoming or pts before spending a fortune on some ridiculous smoke and mirrors bollocks. Dogs are not half as complicated as people who want to make money out of you will make out!

StefCWS · 06/12/2016 10:30

I have a spaniel who always had nasty streak, he went to live with my mum when my DD started crawling. It was more for the dogs sake than my DD's, the poor dog was always being shooed away from the baby and he could feel the tension. He is much happier there. I know how hard it is to have a dog with a nasty streak when you love them :-(

Megainstant · 06/12/2016 10:31

I would say it would be almost impossible to train a dog not to bite like this once he was 8 and it was part of the way he was. Like saying you can train a 'kicky' horse to stop kicking. You can't.

Branleuse · 06/12/2016 10:34

you need to get him PTS before he goes for someones face.

CheesyWeez · 06/12/2016 10:36

You could discuss it with the vet. Our vet was very practical when we had this problem. Our rescue dog bit anyone who came near. She started growling at her own food. There was no pleasure left in having her as a pet, we couldn't take her out without fear of her biting someone else. As a PP said, the end will be the same for your dog if she is rehomed, even if you could find someone to take her. She would bite that person too surely. Think about the kindest way to go, that would probably be with you in charge of the second visit to the vet. (the first being to check for pain/illness).
Our dog's problem was likely a brain tumour, according to the vet.
My dad removed the dog's things from the house, had a good tidy and clean, rearranged the sitting room, and we started a new life of being able to invite people in and go in the kitchen at night for a drink without a huge fuss.

riseshine · 06/12/2016 10:40

Cheesy that sounds even worse than what we're dealing with but in a way, easier to make the decision. Because he is generally lovely and the kids love him etc it feels heart wrenching. Especially when I've been in hospital for two weeks and it's nearly Christmas :(

Megan - DH said that it's up to us to make sure that the inner door is always shut before opening the front door to prevent him trying to get out and to stay out of his way and not doing anything that makes him growl. This is all well and good but with a busy household and three kids, it's Just not always possible

OP posts:

LilCamper · 06/12/2016 10:43

If you get him checked over by a vet (including bloods) and he gets a clean bill of health, a lot of insurance policies will cover a vet referral to a behaviourist.

FlouncedBack · 06/12/2016 10:45

Can I suggest you put any drastic decisions like its off for a few months to give yourself some time to heal from what must be a really big stress on your health and physical well being atm. Another major shock to the system on top of serious illness and Christmas coming up would be the last thing you need.
Knowing what I know now of the toll on my health from my own experiences of piling stress on stress I'd take less stressful options for now and defer anything else until you're some months into your health recovery. Good luck

FlouncedBack · 06/12/2016 10:46

*'like PTS'

Imnotaslimjim · 06/12/2016 10:46

It sounds like your household is too busy for him to cope. Nobodies fault really, it's just his temperament.

I had my dog PTS this time last year for a similar thing. Sadly, he was a much bigger dog and could have done a lot more damage than he did. When we explained the circumstances of the biting to the vet she completely agreed that while sad to destroy such a young dog (he was only 4) it was the best thing all round as he was so unpredictable. I was devastated and still miss him but I know we did the right thing by him.

Temporaryname137 · 06/12/2016 10:54

Apologies if this is a really really stupid question, as I love dogs, but have never had one.

Would it be possible to have his teeth taken out? My friend's dog had this done (she was a rescue dog, and they were decayed), and so couldn't bite anyone even if she wanted to. As a Westie is not big or particularly muscular otherwise, would that help whilst you look into the behavioural issues?

Again, sorry if that is a stupid suggestion!

LilCamper · 06/12/2016 10:55

Really?!

Wolfiefan · 06/12/2016 10:59

Teeth taken out? WTF?
OP I really think it is unfair to PTS without at least trying a behaviourist.

Patriciathestripper1 · 06/12/2016 11:13

I'm not going to be popular now but I think you should have him put down.
a little nip early on can be forgiven but twice now and he snaps and growls at all of you? The trust is gone for me. How would you feel if he had bit your daughters face? 0r god forbid another child or adult?
He has an aggressive side and not afraid to show it.

Patriciathestripper1 · 06/12/2016 11:16

And I wouldn't put it off for months as suggested... that just gives him more opportunity to bite someone.

froglou · 06/12/2016 11:23

Why on earth are people telling you not to try rehome and to pts him straight away.
If you rehome through a rescue either locally ones, dogs protection or battersea etc they can rehome to someone with no children in a quiet environment etc. If you rehome through a rescue like this you'll know he'll be well suited to the environment he's going into and that the people taking him are legit.

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Branleuse · 06/12/2016 11:26

because hes bitten two children froglou ffs, aggressively and unprovoked, requiring hospital treatment. You dont just pass the problem on to someone else

BumOfMoys · 06/12/2016 11:28

Does he get enough off lead exercise?

He doesn't sound very socialised tbh.

17 and 8 are a reasonable age in the sense that they're not 2 and 3 and trying to put baby clothes on your dog or poking his eye with a carrot stick.

BumOfMoys · 06/12/2016 11:30

He sounds like a dog who doesn't have boundaries and does what the hell he likes.

You shouldn't have to worry about where the dog is when you go to open the front door. You should be able to open it and dog either doesn't bother at all or maybe comes and says 'hello' to who ever is at the door

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