Dog I don’t want and never asked for that I’m scared of

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Basicallly I don’t know what to do with a dog that I’m scared of and don’t want in my house.
My partner got the dog without asking because his friends dog had puppies. I’ve never owned a dog in my life and first as it was young it was fine.

then the dog got older and it’s a large dog, I don’t want to say the breed, but it’s big. I’m more of a cat person although I don’t have cats atm.
anyway my partner works away. Often I’m alone with the dog and my 3 youngest kids.

My eldest boys don’t live away but they’re often out wirh friends especially at the weekend.
They do come home in the evening obviously as they’re only 14 and 12. But then home they do the dog care because I am scared of the dog. They do the feed and walk etc. but weekends from around 11am to 11pm it’s all on me.

The dog isn’t super aggressive but he’s had his moments. I’m rambling I’m so sorry I’m just not sure what to do and where I can go. Partner doesn’t listen, my eldest kids like the dogs, youngest 3 are scared but may be because they’ve picked it up from me.
i don’t want the dog to be put to spew he’s only bitten twice within the family. No where will take him when I ask and say theyre full.
please can someone give advice and options I asked on FB groups and got bad things said and even mocking of my account photos and children which were just day to day photos and really unjustified thabjs

They do the feed and walk etc. but weekends from around 11am to 11pm it’s all on me.

So where is this prince of a man that he's out all weekend every weekend?

Insist that your husband makes the dog walking arrangements from right now. I think it will come down to him having to walk the dog because no dog walker will want to take this liability on. So he'll have to curtail his working away and accept that one of the consequences of him having a pet is the loss of the freedom to just come & go that he had previously.

It's concerning that a 12 year old is walking a dog with a history of biting. What would happen if it broke free from your son and bit a stranger.

Yupp. That. Exactly that. Get a muzzle on it.

Where are your partner and your 14 and 12 year olds until 11pm at weekends?

He hasn't 'turned evil' - he is an adolescent dog that YOU have failed to train properly. Most dogs who are surrendered are surrendered between 12 months and 2 years because once they are no longer a puppy, you have missed the window of opportunity to teach certain behaviours. You have also likely locked in dangerous behaviours. Dogs, like humans, start to act out in adolescence, and, like humans, if they haven't been raised properly, it is the period when the shit really comes home to roost. Do not blame the dog. You and your DP are utterly at fault here and risking your own children's lives because you are too selfish to admit you've messed up. I don't really have much sympathy for a couple who would neglect a dog they have brought into their family, and then neglect their own children's safety by failing to act sensibly and remove the dog from a home when it became a risk. It's a failure of responsibility on all fronts.

Too.many dog attacks at the.moment. It's already bitten family members?? What are you waiting for, it to kill a family member?

It's the height of selfishness to get a puppy, neglect it, foist it's care almost entirely upon children, and clearly, not train it properly at all. And now it will probably end up destroyed. Poor dog.

Why don’t you adopt it for op? You can have the aggressive dog and hope it doesn’t kill you or your kids.

jawdroppingly selfish and irresponsible. Then, to put your own kids at risk of being killed by the dog on top ! If something happens to one of the children, the others may well end up in care; the lack of risk assessment is egregious. How on earth people with this level of passivity can be allowed to care for children is beyond me.

Ok I accept your views and you are obviously more knowledgeable than me. Just trying to be helpful. Had a situation where the dog had to be taken to a doggy trainer psychiatrist type person and got a letter to take to vet before he agreed to put down.

This is how we end up with children dying in caravans or pubs with nans lovely dog.

For context I have had dogs alllll of my life, all rescues, my previous dog of 16 years was pts when my eldest was 6 months old. I love having dogs, I am a dog person and respect other dogs and have taught my children to be respectful, to ask an owner before approaching a dog, I’ve had a break because I have 2 children and wanted to be sure I could be responsible for everyone safety and happiness I thought we/ I was ready to take another rescue dog in very recently, beautiful dog, assured entirely she was great with kids and she was, however after 72hrs of an excited 5 year old, the dog nipped without warning (to an adult) I immediately called the rescue and returned the dog.
Any danger to dog or danger to child. They’re gone I’m afraid. They have to go.
her reaction was stress, but still, I’m not risking it.
its completely unsafe for your Children, their future relationship around animals, unfair and unsafe on you aswell.
the dog need a trained handler in the correct environment with adequate stimulation.
i wouldn’t be allowing my children to walk/feed it or leave it roaming around. As much as I love dogs, they are dogs, even the most placid ca turn without warning.
with respect you’re not an experienced dog ‘person’ and doesn’t seem that you had any say or choice in this but are left in this untenable situation.
you will feel destroyed if anything more or worse happens.
where in the uk are you? There is a handler called Dunromin in the Midlands/staff, find him on fb and seek support for removal

That dog needs to go you have young children in the house. Anything can trigger that dog once they have bitten. Please don’t leave your 12 and 14 year olds to walk him. They will struggle to control him if he goes for someone or another dog.

Not at the pub. He works offshore a lot of weekends.
so those weekends are entirely down to me to take care of the dog as my two oldest boys are also out with friends/activies until late
weekdays I don’t have to deal with the dog but obviously his presence around my youngest kids is still there being a risk

Every vet I've worked for would PTS a dog that has bitten. I've seen some terrible injuries from dog bites.

It's difficult because he's only 17 months so pubescent and a mess of hormones in what sounds like a chaotic home. This animal is being let down.

Seventeen month old male and 'recently turned evil'? I'm betting it's unneutered as well as untrained, and this is the adult male aggression kicking in.

It's only a matter of time - and probably not much time - before this goes very badly wrong indeed.

Yes this. The “teenage years” are very trying with dogs and they need consistent, repetitive training often going right back to basics again and again to produce a well rounded, trained and happy adult dog. But also proper socialisation and initial training done as a pup too.

I actually feel sorry for this dog - it has had no proper training, sounds like nowhere near enough exercise and mental stimulation and very likely picks up on OP’s negative fearful emotions.

@Soontobesinglesis right - both adults OP and her DH have hugely failed this dog and it’s going to be PTS because they’ve been crap owners.

... he’s only bitten twice within the family. - twice too many - he'd be out on his ear if it were me.

Personally I think he needs PTS. YOu can't live in your own home in fear - that is ludicrous.

Just take the damn dog to the vets and get it put to sleep while your partner is away with work.

Your OH, who introduced this dog without consulting you, needs to step up and deal with the situation. It's not your job.

If you sign the dog over to the police they will have it put down, pretty much immediately, thats if they will even take it. You'd have to say you suspect the dog is either pit bull or xl bully type.

They will probably want some sort of proof that you are the owner - it is not remotely uncommon for abusive partners to get rid of or have euthanised, a partners pet, as part of the abuse.

I don't really think this is the way forward, what do you THINK will be the response from this man when you come home and tell him his dog is dead?

You could just take the dog to a vet and ask for the dog to be euthanised due to the bite history, it would be less stressful for the dog and likely for you.

I fully agree, you and the kids need the dog out of the house or to leave the house - you have a large breed dog, a breed bred to grab and hold, who has already used aggressive behaviour repeatedly and bitten twice, who none of you clearly understand the behaviour of or why the dog is behaving the way he is and so none of you is capable (and some are not willing to anyway) of addressing the problem and appropriately training/behaviour modifying the dog to be safe.

So this is a serious bite injury or fatality in the making.

Tell your partner, either the dog goes or you go, and mean it.

No, this isn't good.
You don't want the dog.
The dog has bitten, twice.
The dog will be unsettled by your fear.
The children are not to be around a dog that bites.
Your hubby works away so not even there to look after the dog.
The dog also will not be happy with the set up and needs better care.

Please get the dog on a rehoming waiting list. Don't just give it to anyone, get it rehomed with a charity. Don't take any nonsense from your hubby, I wouldn't even tell him until the dog is gone as he won't be there.

And I am an animal lover, had dogs all my life until 10 years ago (now have cats).

Ffs !!!!

It has bitten 2 if your children. Its big. You’re scared. Get rid of the dog .

Extraordinary that you’re putting your partners feelings above your children’s safety

I disagree with this. It is her job to protect her children from an animal that could easily kill them. If her DH won't do it, she has to step in. It is her responsibility; she is the adult and the parent!