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

How would I go about rehoming an aggressive dog? Or am I kidding myself?

72 replies

JustBeingJuliet · 15/03/2015 10:53

This is breaking my heart, but I genuinely think we've come to a point with pup where I just can't risk keeping him anymore :( I've posted about his behaviour a few times and had some good advice, and I've been working with a behaviourist who has stated she isn't sure anything is going to work.

He's an 11 month old JRT. He's terrified of everything; attacks every dog he meets, dislikes children, dislikes strangers, attacks his own reflection in the tv, petrifies of cars, bikes, buses, kids ride on toys, bangs, the vacuum cleaner, the noise deodorant cans make etc etc. I've had him from 8 weeks old, he was bred by a friend who has mum, dad and his sister - all lovely, sweet, well balanced dogs. I've done everything right re socialisation, he's never had a bad experience rtc. I've been bitten several times when he's been lunging at someone else or at his own reflection, and, although he's not actually gone for me or 9yo d's in the house, I feel it's only a matter of time. When anyone visits, I have to crate him and he spends the whole time snarling and getting into a state as he hates anyone in the house. This morning, he's just flown at his reflection in the tv and narrowly missed ds's face. I've just about come to the end of my tether :(

It's a matter of time before he bites someone, regardless of how careful I am with him, it feels like I have a ticking time bomb. I'm really not enjoying dog ownership anymore, and I feel my other dog is being punished as we can't socialise as much etc.

Am I kidding myself to think he could be rehomed? Who would take on a people/dog aggressive dog? One that even a vet recommended behaviourist has basically written off? It's breaking my heart but I can't risk ds bring bitten and I've tried my hardest :(

OP posts:
Molecule · 17/03/2015 10:34

As I think I said on your previous thread we were given an aggressive little dog at 10 months old (having only been told that he chased sheep, not that he was very quick with his teeth). I would never do it again and we live on that idyllic farm with an enclosed garden, and are experienced dog/animal people. His saving grace is that he is quite happy in his crate, and this is where he spends his time when we have visitors. Three years on he can still bite unexpectedly, though 80% of the time he does now give a warning growl, and we have learnt what some of his triggers are.

I really don't think our little dog should have been rehomed, much that we (now) love him, and I'm sure the kindest, albeit heartbreaking thing for you to do is PTS. Remember a companion animal is meant to enhance your life not leave you totally stressed out. I do really feel for you though.

GobblersKnob · 17/03/2015 12:27

I think you need a second opinion from another behaviourist.

I think you need to contact the breeder.

I think you need to contact a breed rescue, breed not general for advice.

The amount of dogs in rescue that were deemed atrocious in a former home then are suddenly as good as gold with an experienced, knowledgeable fostered, is ridiculous.

The dog curled next to me went though an astonishing amount of homes in a short space of time as she was deemed to be very difficult in the home. She improved immensely with her fosterer and is very little trouble now.

It is clear you have exhausted your patience and I don't think for a second you should feel guilty about that, especially with a child in the house, but for so many to condemn such a very young dog without trying all avenues seems madness to me :(

GoofyIsACow · 19/03/2015 19:42

Hey OP, i have been thinking about you and your dog, hope all is ok and you have made a decision and got the help you need :) Flowers

catsdogsandbabies · 19/03/2015 19:47

I have read your other threads. You have really tried. Re homing would be very stressful for him. You could ask the JRT rescue groups but I think kinder to pts. Sometimes well meaning rescues etc take on such dogs but they end up so unhappy. Remember he is unhappy and stressed not just you.

catsdogsandbabies · 19/03/2015 19:49

Do you think in a home with adults and no kids, experienced dog owners, he would be better? Agree breed rescue only route if not pts. Breeder may insist on return to her.

JustBeingJuliet · 19/03/2015 22:26

I think, given time, he would be fine in a quiet adult home where he didn't have to see other dogs, traffic or children, he would be fine. He's a little sweetheart with me, and has never shown any aggression to me, although I've been bitten more times than I can count when he's been lunging at something else. Sadly, in a house with a 9 year old, and two yappy dogs next door, he's never going to have that quiet, peaceful environment that he needs, as I cant expect ds to never run, squeal, or make a sudden movement, and can't forbid him from having friends around forever because of the dog.

I've been in touch with the vets and I'm waiting on an appointment with another behaviourist who I'm hoping will work miracles else I've got a horrible decision to make. I've rang a few rescues today - one breed specific and a couple of generic ones - and all have said they wouldn't be willing to take him on. His breeder is reluctant as she has other dogs, cats and small grandchildren that visit regularly, so would not be a good environment for him to say the least.

Unfortunately, he showed aggression to my son last night; dog was asleep, ds came through the door into the room quite loudly snc dog woke up and flew at him. He didn't actually bite him, but it's put the wind up me :(

OP posts:
Ephedra · 20/03/2015 10:10

I'm sorry he went for your ds Sad

I really hope you get your miracle.

PacificDogwood · 20/03/2015 10:15

Oh yes, I'm hoping for a miracle worker behaviourist for you too.

The frustrating thing is that that quiet, adult only home for him IS out there somewhere, but where??
Some mad dog person may just want to take a 'project' on like a little trouble chap like him

Best of luck x.

AnyFucker · 20/03/2015 10:29

get the dog put out of its misery before something really bad happens

JoffreyBaratheon · 20/03/2015 10:56

He does sound like he is very unhappy and you have done everything 'right'. The stress of constantly worrying whether a child is going to get bitten must be incredible - and even if he was rehomed, would he be any happier, and would you ever be able to stop wondering if he had bitten someone?

Years ago, we had a dog like this, too. We have brought a number of dogs up from being pups and I've had dogs my entire life, and had never had a problem. We kept one of my own dog's pups - she was the best natured, sweetest, loveliest dog I have ever owned. Absolutely bombproof. And the person who bred her said she bred for temperament (as all breeders do - I have grown cynical about that claim after what happened).

Pup was unusually aggressive from the start. He was stunning and beautiful and his mum was Crufts qualified - he could be a top show dog, but I was allowed to have the pick of the litter, so chose him kept him as a pet. As he got to a few months old, it seemed clear something was wrong. No-one ever shouted at him or mistreated him in any way but like your JRT, there were things that scared him. I felt like I'd 'ruined' him somehow and yet, realistically, I have always had lovely dogs and he was brought up identically to them. He was especially terrified of going in cars - despite us doing, as we always do with our dogs, everything right - taking him in the car from 8 weeks old at every opportunity, etc. One day taking him to the vet's, he bit my son and the bite was really vicious - not a nip but it would have been a sustained attack if I hadn't been able to pull over and deal with him, literally prizing him off my son. We still kept him for a while after that but he was only happy in his crate, attacked my other dogs and made their lives hell and the kids obviously wouldn't go near him. He hated everything and the aggression seemed like fear aggression.

Finally, had enough and rang the breeder to see what she'd say, hoping she'd have him back, if I'm honest (in retrospect I regret not having him PTS). And when I told her about his constant terror of everything, and aggression she literally just laughed and said "Oh he's just like So-and-so" (big show winner so bred from extensively) "That was his grandad - he was just like that!"

So much for "breeding for temperament". I realised it was a fluke my own dog was such a sweet natured thing. She had the genes for something else entirely. Anyway breeder said she'd take him back and implied it was probably my fault - he needed more training etc. She told me later he tried to kill her neighbour's cat, one day. I had a cat all the time we had this dog and she avoided him but that could have been her...

Next thing I knew, she had an American breeder/trainer staying with her who had fallen in love with this dog and she told me the dog would do anything for him. So he now had him. (I suspect she sold the dog, too). This dog went to America, won loads of shows and that was the last I heard. Then a couple of years ago, someone told me that the dog's career was spectacular but short as... he bit a judge in the show ring. He was PTS.

Years have gone by and I now know I should have had that dog PTS there and then - because he was probably bred from, even though they knew his temperament issues. And they would no doubt have had him PTS themselves if he hadn't been so stunning to look at.

I know those circs were unusual as this was a show-dog. But the personality you're describing is exactly what we were contending with - a fearful, aggressive, unhappy dog. My own dog, his mum, was the best dog I have ever owned - and he was a nightmare. They say meet the mother and preferably father too when you buy a dog but that doesn't really tell you much if, like happened to you and us, those dogs are perfectly normal and fine you can't guarantee what grandad was like, or great grandma, or whose genes are dominant...

In other words, some dogs are born that way. You can't blame yourself in fact you have tried everything.

I felt very guilty but when that dog went back my other dogs were instantly happy again and the positive dynamic restored - and if he'd been my kids' only dog it might have put them off dogs for life but luckily, like us, you have another nice dog.

I regret not having that dog PTS. I took the coward's way out letting the breeder deal with it but in retrospect, she wasn't qualified to deal with it as she had made the problem in the first place. You must be kind to yourself and let this dog go now, if the vet has already eben consulted and there is nothing physical. From what you describe - sounds awfully familiar. I just concluded there was nothing we could ever have done and within a year or so, he was PTS anyway.

Adarajames · 20/03/2015 11:13

Rescue I work with have taken on aggressive dogs in the past, as have others I've know , but everywhere is so full at moment, and all fosterers have either dogs / kids / both so most places are having to say they can't take any more at moment. Where about in country are you? So can maybe suggest rescues to contact if I know the area?

Something very basic, but that can make huge differences to behaviour, is what you feed him on? Are you feeding a dry food? Which make? Not bakers is it? May be worth changing to a grain free, or even better, raw feed, could make big difference. I know it sounds like wishful thinking, but do know number for whom this has made just such a difference dogs could then stay in their homes

ineedsomeinspiration · 20/03/2015 11:36

What tabul said is very true, I don't think from the way you've described him your dog could be re homed.

My mother recently had her 11 year old dog out to sleep. He had bitten everyone in the family bar me and had become increasing unhappy in his life. It was ruling my mums life completely. They were making each other miserable and it was the right thing to do.

We were both there with him at the end and it was calm and peaceful.

FernGullysWoollyPully · 20/03/2015 11:51

Op, I'm genuinely sorry for what you've gone through with your dog. I know exactly how you feel. We had a shar pei for 10 months. Everything going well and then at about 5/6months the dog took a massive downturn. He started to develop characteristics not within his breed. He was bigger. Didn't look like a shar pei. His temperament was bad. He flick like a switch. In the end, he'd bitten twice drawing blood the second time, and we were all too terrified to go anywhere near him. I couldn't risk him around the kids or anyone else for that matter. We'd been in touch with the breeder who was unhelpful. We were in contact with the vet through it all. The final solution was inevitable. He had to be put down. The vet tested him positive as a dangerous dog. The breeder was reported. It took four people to restrain him when he was put down because he was so dangerous, it broke my heart. I so badly wanted to believe that he would be a nice family pet but we had to do the right thing in the end.

JustBeingJuliet · 20/03/2015 15:11

Thanks everybody.

He's currently fed on Marcus Mühle cold pressed dry plus half a tray of Nature Diet a day. He was on Autarky dry until a few weeks ago, but both dogs seemed to go off it so I changed to a better quality food. As a small pup, he was on Fish4Dogs puppy food. Both dogs get raw bones/chicken necks as an spplement.

I'm in the Midlands if you can recommend anywhere to try? I need to make a decision sooner rather than later as my 9yo son is distraught at the thought of the dog going and I'd rather not drag it out any longer than necessary :(

OP posts:
Lilcamper · 20/03/2015 16:52

You need to try here APBC or here [[http://www.capbt.org/ CAPBT.

Lilcamper · 20/03/2015 16:53

Link fail.....www.capbt.org/CAPBT

Lilcamper · 20/03/2015 16:54

Link fail.........CAPBT

Adarajames · 21/03/2015 00:52

I'd try a totally raw diet, - no grains, no sugar beet (also an issue with many dogs amongst other things) it might make a difference, and if you're going to try a behaviourist, which I also agree to try, it's worth changing the diet whilst working with them for a last chance

LividofLondinium · 21/03/2015 08:40

Personally I think rehoming him while he's like this is out of the question. He is horribly stressed living in your familiar home so god only knows how he'll deteriorate in a new (stressful) environment. Plus there are so many dogs already in shelters that realistically he could be in a kennel long term (which would be the last thing he needs).

If you are determined to keep trying, what I would try is a completely natural raw meat and veg diet. Rule out a nutrition or food intolerance issue. If that doesn't work then try another vet for a second opinion; maybe it's a physiological or mental health problem that your vet has missed. And maybe try a different behaviourist (one registered with the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors). Perhaps a fresh pair of eyes could suss the problem.

But to be honest where do you draw the line and, sad as it is, I have to agree with those suggesting PTS is probably the kindest thing for the poor little fella. Sorry.

Lyinginwait888 · 21/03/2015 17:55

Wow. You've done so much already. Please give yourself permission to pts. I can completely understand your dilemma but honestly? Who is happy here?

Good luck whatever you decide.

JustBeingJuliet · 22/03/2015 10:05

Well a bit of good news - I seem to have found that elusive farm type home for him :) A friend of a friend is after a yard dog (she has a horsey business and spends up to 12 hours a day at the yard) to accompany her to work. There's loads of land for him to run around on, no other dogs to contend with and no small children to annoy him. He can go in the house at night to sleep and it sounds like it would be perfect for him!

She's taking him later this week, as I'm going on holiday first week of Easter hols, so he was going in kennels anyway, and we're going to see how he goes. He took an instant liking to her (not so much to her husband however, but he won't be around during the day anyway) and she's had JRT's in the past so has experience of the breed. Fingers crossed it works out, as would mean I could still see him sometimes and I think he'd have a happier, less stressful life.

OP posts:
PacificDogwood · 22/03/2015 10:08

Oh wow, I really hope that works out for him.
Last Chance Saloon…

I hope you'll all be happier and you'd be spared the worst decision any pet owner has to make Thanks

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