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Original poster

Troubled doggy - should he stay or should he go? please offer me advice!

77 replies

Nixz · 14/05/2008 13:08

To cut a long story short.
We got a patterdale terrier x from a rehoming centre about 5 months ago.
In the house, he is brilliant. Very obediant, housetrained, loving - infact, everything you could ask for in a family pet.
Outside, he is a completely different dog.
There is no interaction or companionship with him, he is frantic.
He fights vey very viciously with other dogs, so has to be muzzled. In the first 2 or 3 weeks, he bit me twice, dp once and whilst he was trying to get to another dog, DD's friend ran over to him (we had him on a lead but it was before we muzzled him) and stood infront of him whilst he was trying to lunge at the other dog and he bit her.
He escapes constantly and fights with other dogs, even when we walk him and he see's another dog (Muzzled) he goes mad! He throws his body round and leaps up at me. He even tries to attack dogs when he is muzzled.
We have tried all different kinds of leads, we have had advice from RSPCA and DOGSTRUST and also had some sessions with a 1-1 dog trainer, he is on a low protein diet, muzzled etc. I cant practise the training the dog training as he is too strong or too out of control.
Its breaking my heart but I dont know what else to do, Im worried that if I rehome him he will just end up in another home, which I dont want but i cant see how he could be a family pet.
Has anyone had experience of a similar situation and are there any success stories?
Or do I have to face facts that I made a wrong decision when I rescued him

OP posts:
lucyellensmum · 15/05/2008 12:57

I have to say, you sound like you have more patience than i do - its almost comical what you describe, but i knowit is definately not funny. He does sound like he has a screw loose. Ive run out of suggestions, apart from sedation . I just don't know what to suggest, apart from a home in he outer hebrides where he wont be a danger to himself or others. Maybe he could be rehomed as a working dog - he sounds like he would be a shit hot ratter, and maybe that is what he was before? So that sort of behaviour would have been actively encouraged.

In all honesty though, if he were mine, i would have to rehome him - he is not bringing any pleasure to your family, just heartache. Someone used to say to me when we had yazz, there are plenty of nice dogs out ther needing a home, we got lucky with yazz as he settled of his own accord really.

I just don't want this experience to put you off having a dog in future, even a terrier. But maybe have one from a puppy who you can socialise from a young age as this is of paramount importance with terriers.

I love them, i never used to, in fact i always swore i would never own one - says she with a patterdale cross But when i worked as a vet nurse i got to see their fantastic little personalities. Another but, if i was helping the vet, my heart would always sink when i looked in the waiting room to see a terrier sitting there as it to say "come on then, bring it on" I would always think, bugger, there goes my fingers again! They are so quick too, they would always bloody well get me. They are great because they can do all the rough and tumble and still come back for more, but their tenacity does make them a bugger to train, im not sure i would be brave enough to take a rescue terrier on.

Fair play to you - you have given it 100%, i think you need to look to the future with regards to rehoming the lad.

Original poster
Nixz · 15/05/2008 13:04

After that little display this morning where he tried to get the stuffed dog, I have to admit, I am thinking about rehoming him.
He has a fantastic personality, he is very very funny - as i keep saying, thats why its so hard! I know he has so much to give, just not in every environment.

My trainer suggested that he may have been a working dog and used for fighting aswell as he responds to certain commands.
Im still going to wait and see what she says to me, hopefully, someone she spoke with today may have some ideas aswell.

I really appreciate your posts, it has given me hope listening to some of the success stories

OP posts:
flossiefumble · 15/05/2008 14:07

Message withdrawn

SubRosa · 15/05/2008 16:08

Just echoing what Flossie's written, I think he would be better off in a rural environment. We took on a rescue patterdale 3 months ago and while she's lovely in the house, she goes absolutely mad outside. I can't let her off the lead, as she bolts at the slightest thing, but she's on an extra long lead, with a long piece of rope, so at least she can run.

I don't know if this would work, but could Dogs' Trust or similar maybe rehome her as a working dog? That's probably not much help, I know

pinkyminky · 15/05/2008 16:08

I agree, I used to walk my JRT for at least 2 hours a day, it was the only way to keep him in check. He had excellent recall, ball fetching, sit, lie, stay etc.and you have to keep up with obedience training with all terriers, but I couldn't trust him with my child.(I think it was more to do with his experiences with previous owner TBH, I am a very experienced dog owner).
If Patterdales are more aggressive than that, I would get him out of the house, I'm afraid, before he really hurt someone and takes the choice out of your hands. Dogs are too near to small children's faces for my liking. We are waiting until our children are bigger before we get another dog.
I think he would probably like a job, ratting or whatever.He doesn't sound like a family pet to me.
If you want a rescue dog in future, go to a breed rescue where they assess the dog thoroughly before rehoming.
Good luck. You sound like a lovely, caring dog owner, and I am really sorry this is happening to you.

lucyellensmum · 15/05/2008 16:18

Thats a really good post flossie, i am still quite to read about the patterdales, i honestly thought they had good temprements and have honestly heard people say they have better temprements than JRTs. Mine is a patterdale X border terrier (and i do think there are some JRT genes in there somewhere) so maybe the border calms him down. He is a lovely dog and very gentle with my daughter (who does give him a hard time). Interestingly i took him out with my mums dog the other day, and another dog got close to my mums dog (a 40kg crossbreed wuss) and my little terrier told the other dog off - that was the first bit of dog aggression i have seen in him. He is just coming up for a year old, i will definately be keeping a very close eye on his dog behaviour from now on. This thread might even be the clincher for whether he keeps his balls or not..........Bob is looking at me with big puppy eyes "who me mum?" Butter wouldnt melt!!

I found this link for you Nyx: They might be able to help, you might have to cut and paste as i dont know how to link www.terrierrescue.co.uk/

Good luck

pinkyminky · 15/05/2008 16:26

No dog should ever be trusted 100%. Even the softest dog can react aggressively if they feel threatened, but that doesn't mean they are a 'no good' dog, IYKWIM.

Original poster
Nixz · 15/05/2008 16:31

Thank you all xxxxxxxxx

OP posts:
Original poster
Nixz · 15/05/2008 16:35

I am going to email the terrier escue place and ask for there advice - thanks for that

OP posts:
arthursmum · 15/05/2008 17:38

Just a suggestion if you do decide to go ahead with rehoming, which sounds like it might be the best course of action, but I saw a display by police and customs dogs at Crufts this year and they said that they were always looking for new dogs to retrain. Maybe your local force has a scheme taking on 'problem dogs' and giving them a new working life?

lucyellensmum · 15/05/2008 18:26

pmsl at the thought of a terrier as a police/customs dog - but actually, that might be worth a try

Original poster
Nixz · 15/05/2008 18:51

Robodog!

OP posts:
arthursmum · 15/05/2008 19:26

Apologies, didn't mean to sound stupid, I know they tend to use German Shepherds and similar for the crowd control and dangerous stuff, just thought there might be a chance in the Customs, Search and Rescue line of work. I will leave with my tail between my legs...

pinkyminky · 15/05/2008 19:33

Terriers would be bloody good at search and rescue- so long as the victim was holding a tennis ball!

flossiefumble · 15/05/2008 19:59

Message withdrawn

pinkyminky · 15/05/2008 20:05

The JRT lady was lovely, perhaps she would take him? DH would not have left him with her if he didn't like the set up.

lucyellensmum · 15/05/2008 20:23

good to know flossie. There are some nutters out there - we used to get people like that in the vets. Rescue centres? the animals needed rescuing from them. Maybe try through your vets or something.

lucyellensmum · 15/05/2008 20:25

ive just stumbled across a site that specialises in patterdales and pitbulls LEM looks at Bob and thinks, nah!!

Original poster
Nixz · 19/05/2008 16:14

Ok - the time has come.
Trainer,rspca, dogs trust, dog behaviuor therapy association thing has all said they cant do anythign with him and he should be put to sleep
Im so upset. There is no way in the world that I can put him down.
I know I cant return him or rehome him like a normal dog because of the risks involved.

I have contacted a few hunting/working dogs forums, i have been 100% honest about him and stressed the importance that he must not be with children under 14 and explained about his dog aggression.

There a few people interested.
HAve I done the right thing?

OP posts:
Chequers · 19/05/2008 16:16

Message withdrawn

brimfull · 19/05/2008 16:17

well done nixz-you are doing the right thing,I hope someone who can cope with hima can take him for you.

Original poster
Nixz · 19/05/2008 18:00

Anyone any ideas on places I can ask for a new home for him?
I have been on The Hunting Life, other suggestions???

OP posts:
SalVolatile · 19/05/2008 18:32

Nixx - I feel so sorry for you - you are in exactly the same position I was in with Daisy . If so may people think that he is un-rehomable then I would think very carefully about what might happen to him when out of your hands. He could be used for dog fighting, cat fighting (as daisy had been) or anything where his aggression can be stimulated in the name of sport. He is no use to a real terrier man or sporting dog owner as he would have to mix with other dogs - they very rarely work a dog alone. I can only say what I said before - that I saw it as the last thing I could do for Daisy - to make sure that when she passed, which was inevitable that it was knowing that I loved her and that she was in a calm and happy place. It was the only thing I could do for a dog that had been so abused by humans. Please please think very carefully about your next step. I feel so sorry for you.

CountryGirl2007 · 31/05/2008 15:15

Have you had him assessed by a behaviourist?

northernrefugee39 · 31/05/2008 16:52

Oh you poor thing; I really fel for you. but I also tend to agree with SalVolatile...he could get into the wrong hands if passed on to people who work dogs, and better a short loved life. I know the guilt must be horrendous though. God, what an awful thing to decide, I'm so sorry for you.