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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Bloody dog just bit dh on the face.

336 replies

VivaLeBeaver · 23/08/2013 16:37

I'm in bits, I really thought things were getting better.

We've done everything, behaviourist, etc. only had the dog since May and he's been aggressive since we got him home. Initially with me and dh, now he's fine with me but still nips dh. Though its always been on the back of the leg before. Dog has always been fine with dd, always.

Dh bent down to pick a Pringles tube up off the floor and says the dog just launched himself at dh. I didn't see it happen, dh is dripping blood.

My head tells me this is the end of the road for the dog.

OP posts:
HaveToWearHeels · 30/08/2013 11:14

xfilefan with all due respect to re homing centers they are stretched to their limits, how much time will they have to spend with this dog ?
Just the stress of being in kennels may well make this dog worse, there are just to many unknowns here.
As I said up thread I have be involved in dog rescue both here and abroad and you have to decide pretty early on which animals you save and which you don't. Very very sad I agree but that is the reality, I have cried many a tear into as dog fur as they have been PTS.

mrslaughan · 30/08/2013 11:14

I would not re-home - but I would respect viva's decision, if she can find a reputable rescue that will do all the things you say.

HoleyGhost · 30/08/2013 11:17

Life is not like a disney movie where everything gets nicely tied up in the end with the difficult decisions avoided.

Methe · 30/08/2013 11:18

You'd respect her decision if I'd were your son or husband it mauled would you?

If you have a pet you have to face up to being responsible for its behaviour, both while you own it and after was if you give it away because you haven't got the guts do the right thing and put it to sleep.

Some of you can't see the wood for the trees.

HoleyGhost · 30/08/2013 11:19

I wonder if the breeder used similar wishful thinking to xfilefan in choosing to rehome this dog.

xfilefan · 30/08/2013 11:23

Just an example of a dog looking for a home that is very large, has aggression issues, cant live with children, is a breed of which there are thousands looking for a home, is old......yet the rescue centre has not given up on him but is actively looking for the right home and confident enough of finding one that they havent euthanaised him.

This is where i got mine from so would recommend it if you can get in there as they have excellent staff, an on site behaviouralist, and a lot of people wanting to adopt the right dog.

www.bathcatsanddogshome.org.uk/rehoming/dogs/ollie/3238/

Just want the OP to not feel that she would be doing the wrong thing by the dog by looking in to rehoming. Your really not, OP. Of course a direct rehome is the best option and hope that this might work from the ones youve tried.

BoreOfWhabylon · 30/08/2013 11:29

Viva I have just spoken to someone from the Northern Portuguese Podengo Association (that I posted a link to yesterday). He is extremely knowledgeable about the breed and various breeders .

He sounded lovely and is v concerned for you, your dog and your family. He is happy for you to call him and will be able to give you expert advice and, if necessary, put you in contact with their Association Welfare Officer (NOT the Podengo Rescue that is not replying to you)

I will PM you his telephone number.

HoleyGhost · 30/08/2013 11:29

Xilefan - the dog you have linked to has 'food aggression issues'

There is a world of difference between that and random unprovoked aggression.

tabulahrasa · 30/08/2013 11:30

Food aggression is fairly manageable though - that is not the same as a dog which will bite randomly and is so keen to attack someone that it is literally chasing him round the house...

lottieandmia · 30/08/2013 11:47

Viva - I've been mostly lurking on this thread but wanted to say you are definitely doing the right thing imo. I think it's very unfair that you've been put in this position by the breeder. But you have done everything in your power to help the dog and you and your family will have no quality of life, constantly walking on eggshells like you have to at the moment. And the dog sounds very maladjusted and unhappy, and damaged beyond rehabilitation tbh - it's the kindest thing to do in this situation.

VivaLeBeaver · 30/08/2013 12:30

I've just spoken to someone on the committee in the northern Podengo association. They say that podengos aren't normally like this at all, all the ones their committee members have and have bred have lovely temperaments.

He does say that he thinks it sounds like my dog has a screw loose and the kindest thing would be to have it put to sleep. He's going to get their welfare person to ring me as well but he thinks she'll think the same.

OP posts:
BoreOfWhabylon · 30/08/2013 12:37

I'm glad you are now in contact with people who have breed-specific knowledge and expertise, Viva.

mrslaughan · 30/08/2013 12:46

I hope viva, that you are able to let everyone in the podengo community know how dis-reputable the breeder is, you got your dog from.

VivaLeBeaver · 30/08/2013 12:57

The bloke I spoke to said he got his first two dogs from her. One of them turned out to be a different type of coat from what he'd been told it would be and when he told her she shrugged and walked off.

She's just such a horrible person and I'm mad with myself that I never realised.

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 30/08/2013 12:58

I think everyone in the Podengo community knows by the sound of it.

OP posts:
georgedawes · 30/08/2013 12:58

I think you're making the right decision, the dog sounds so unhappy.

GrimmaTheNome · 30/08/2013 13:02

Would that there was a way to strictly control who was allowed to breed dogs.

LesserSpottedNeckSnake · 30/08/2013 13:07

Indeed, Grimma.

BoreOfWhabylon · 30/08/2013 13:09

You've got nothing to reproach yourself for Viva. Google 'podengo' and this woman's name comes up everywhere. She is heavily involved in the bloody 'Breed Rescue' that has been ignoring you, ffs!

The group I put you in contact with have been importing dogs from Portugal to add some variety to the gene pool in the UK.

BoreOfWhabylon · 30/08/2013 13:13

Should probably add a disclaimer here: I am nothing to do with any breeders/organisations for any dog breed. It's just that I love dogs and felt so sad for Viva's situation that I did a bit of online research.

needastrongone · 30/08/2013 13:15

Did you feel that the gentleman fully understood the situation Viva and did the conversation put you at ease?

Don't be annoyed with yourself, it happens. She seemed to have all the credentials.

We once went to see a vizsla breeder who had similar credentials, amazing website, huge questionnaire to fill out etc etc. we went to visit her home, the bitch to be bred snapped at myself and DH. The other dogs were locked in a shed barking continuously. We didnt proceed!

GrimmaTheNome · 30/08/2013 13:15

Just as well they didn't get back to Viva - if they'd taken the dog somehow seems unlikely it would all go according to xfile's ideal of how rescues treat difficult dogs.

BoreOfWhabylon · 30/08/2013 13:17

Yes, Grimma - and since the dog was six months old when Viva got it from the breeder, makes you wonder whether she had already sold it and had it returned to her previously.

CinnabarRed · 30/08/2013 13:20

I know very little about dogs, which is why I haven't posted before, but I wanted to let you know that you're not the only one to have been screwed over by disreputable breeders - just that in our case it was a cat.

My mum bought our kitten from an apparently reputable breeder, and in hindsight it was obvious from the get-go that he wasn't a normal kitten. I was 5 at the time, and he would spend hours curled up in my lap or in my arms. We thought it was so cute at the time, that our Button wanted to spend all his time with me, his little friend. But it was wrong that this scrap of a kitten wasn't playing and pouncing and climbing sometimes too.

When we picked him up, we asked for his pedigree and were told that that it was off with the breed association being registered - we found out afterwards that there's no such process and the breeder was clearly just fobbing us off.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, Button died in my arms three months later, in agony, his tiny body unable to suck down the air it needed because his lungs were saturated with fluid. It was my first taste of grief, I will never forget it, and I still cry now, aged 38, thinking about it. Button didn't deserve to live or die like that.

When the vet took a look he found my Button was riddled with internal congenital defects.

My mum contacted the breeder, who offered us another kitten. We said no, but demanded and demanded and demanded Button's pedigree. When it eventually came, there were only 4 different cats on the whole sodding thing - all were champions, all were related to each other. Poor Button was so interbred that he never stood a chance.

We've since had many, many delightful and healthy pedigree cats. Please don't let this awful, awful experience put you off other dogs in the future.

((((((OP))))))

mrslaughan · 30/08/2013 13:24

Bore - that is probably why viva is being ignored on the breed rescue.

Viva - don't beat yourself up. We could have been in a similar situation as you.... We fell in love with a certain breed of dog oversea's, that is rare here.
The first breeder I got in touch with seemed lovely - but then started talking about paying her to lift breeding restriction ..... I was very clear that we just wanted a pet. She also wanted us to pay a deposit without meeting her..... It just didn't seem right. We couldn't have a dog straight away so , did more research, found another breeder. We now have the most adorable dog. But now we have a dog (who our breeder shows - not our bag at all - but was something we agreed too) and go to doggie things, we have found out that the other breeder has a number of "defects" in there line - epilsey, bleeding dis-order and temperament. But they keep on breeding from these dogs and they are kennel club registered, win shows etc ..... So as a pet owner going into a new breed, it really is fraught.