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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

My dog just attacked me and DH

120 replies

inlectorecumbit · 03/05/2016 21:17

We have a 4 1/2 year old cocker spaniel. Tonight he grabbed a balloon and started guarding it. DH took it off him and he attacked him and has severely bruised his arm and leg. This was after he drew blood from my hand.
This is so unlike him he wasn't threatened and we didn't take it off him- he did snarl at me last week when he had finished his dental stick as l walked past
I have a 3 year old grandchild and l am scared. I think he has to go.
Any advice l need handholding

OP posts:

tabulahrasa · 04/05/2016 00:36

Because they can't do a whole load of things with a muzzle on, play with most toys, lick themselves, chew their nails/nibble between their toes/whatever that is they do with their feet, lol - loads of little behaviours like that that would have a huge impact on their quality of life.

MuttonCadet · 04/05/2016 00:40

Ah okay, yes, I hadn't thought that through. We have a dog that growls at people he doesn't know (scared rescue), and I can't trust him, so he's muzzled whenever we have guests, but he's fine when it's just us, so it's probably less than 10% of the time.

tabulahrasa · 04/05/2016 00:44

Mine is muzzled when he's out, but not in the house (he's crated in another room for visitors he doesn't know.)

But yeah, mine is - well a bit thick, so I've watched him try to clean his bits while muzzled it's amusing when you know it's about to come off, but it'd be awful for him if he always had it on and after 2 years he still hasn't worked out that he can't take his tennis ball out while he's wearing the muzzle.

MaitlandGirl · 04/05/2016 00:49

OP - Personally, I'd have the dog PTS.

A one off bite, in a highly stressful situation, is one thing but a sustained attack is completely different. Your dog will bite again, he has a history of biting.

You and your husband should be THE most important people in your dogs life but he's telling you he can't be trusted.

You need a dog that's completely bomb proof around a toddler, and sadly it doesn't appear as if your cocker is like that.

I'm so sorry for the situation you're now in and hope that both yourself and your husband recover quickly.

wallywobbles · 04/05/2016 05:50

I have a cocker and he does bite and guard, but not in the way you are describing. Ours is very predictable. We've had him since kids were 2 & 3 and i dont trust small kids with him and visa versa.

I'll never get another cocker lovely though he is most of the time.

WellErrr · 04/05/2016 06:59

Imagine how upset you would be if your injuries (and worse) were on your DGC?

It IS sad but it's not your fault.

Greyhorses · 04/05/2016 07:17

I have a dog who would bite a stranger. Never would so much as look at one of us badly though. I think being in a fearful situation and panicking is one thing but attacking family is another entirely.

I would not keep or rehome a dog like this and I am someone who has spent hundreds on behaviour consults recently.

AtSea1979 · 04/05/2016 07:41

If you only see your DGD once a fortnight it seems a bit drastic to be saying rehome/pts as its around children. You don't have children living there, you could use a dog sitter for when you go to look after DGD and see vets and behaviourist. I get it depends how much you are willing to put in to it.

minesapintofwine · 04/05/2016 10:08

How are you today op?

TealLove · 04/05/2016 10:11

I would PTS absolutely

Littlelondoner · 04/05/2016 10:19

Have you heard of Cocker rage? It could be that. It is a disease that cockers are some times predispositioned for.

It is a type of dog eppilepsy or seisures tjat bring on sudden rage.

www.doglistener.co.uk/aggression/cocker_rage.shtml

Poor dog could be in pain or unaware what he is doing. Vet is best call first.

LumelaMme · 04/05/2016 10:19

If he goes for your feet unprovoked when out walking, something is very wrong. My first thought when I read your OP was cocker rage syndrome (and it's not your fault, nothing you could have done) but I'm not an expert and would consult a vet or a dog behaviourist who really knew their stuff.

I've known of two cockers who've had it - one just lunged at a couple of teenagers who were sitting on a sofa with him, both known to the dog, neither annoying the dog. Both these cockers were pts.

You must feel terrible.

Whisky2014 · 04/05/2016 12:06

Hi OP. Well, my parents moved to France and took the dog with them. She continued to be very aggressive, jealous if anyone went near mum. Growling and showing teeth and I think in the end she went to bite a baby
They put her to sleep. :(
She used to attack me a lot when I was younger, I found it difficult to get past her on the stairs etc

fortuneandglory · 04/05/2016 12:11

I feel so sorry for you both.

I think I would have to have my dog PTS and I do not say that lightly as I adore all my dogs

pigsDOfly · 04/05/2016 12:17

Awful position to be in but I'm not sure visiting DGC is the main issue here. This was, from the sound of it, a nasty sustained attack on the two humans closest to the dog, the humans he knows and trusts.

If he can't be trusted around his immediate family then how can you live with him.

I'm trying to imagine how I would feel if my gentle, sweet natured dog suddenly attacked me like this. I'd be fearful of her, I'd be afraid to pet her, afraid to walk past her or groom her. All the every day things I do with my dog would become fraught with the fear of her turning on me and seriously hurting me. I really don't see how anyone can live like that.

My first call would be to have the dog looked at by my vet but sadly, I really can't see any alternative, I would have the dog pts.

MargotLovedTom · 04/05/2016 12:30

Exactly. You would always be worried it would happen again. Plus tbh, if you were my parents and you were attacked by your dog there's no way my dd (your granddaughter) would be allowed in the same house as the dog, separated or not. You have to tell your son/daughter what has happened.

I'm really sorry, I know this is an awful time for you especially after just losing your mother, but I think putting him to sleep is the most humane thing to do under the circumstances.

MargotLovedTom · 04/05/2016 12:31

I'm speaking as a dog owner just to add.

Hoppinggreen · 04/05/2016 14:55

I'm so sorry OP, we have a 6 month old pup who occasionally resource guards but he has never actually bitten - although the techniques we use means he doesn't get chance to.
Being pts isn't the worst thing that can happen to a dog, he won't know what's happening, he will just fall asleep and that's all. Being put in a rescue centre would be much worse, he will have no idea what's happening.

SistersOfPercy · 04/05/2016 15:27

My Mum has a resource guarding Shih Tzu. Fortunately she lives alone and my children are adults because I don't trust him at all. She's 80 and he's her companion.
He's had me several times for something as simple as picking up a sweet wrapper I've dropped on the floor. She has done some training with him and he has improved slightly, but still deems anything on the floor as his.

He's a loving dog with her, a real lap dog, but I don't trust him one iota and if Mum were to pass before him I think my only choice would be PTS.

I feel for you OP, and it's a horrible decision. I think you need a chat with your vet.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 04/05/2016 21:05

So sorry Op, what a horrible shock. Only you know if you trust him or not and if you don't, well you'll know the answer.

We had a working cocker who used to have seizures. He wasn't aggressive but he did have several seizures when he was younger. Reading that article above www very interesting.

Please talk to your vet. You say he's had some behavioural training lately, could you talk to your trainer too? People that know him.

Original poster

inlectorecumbit · 04/05/2016 21:41

Thanks everyone, it's been a traumatic day for everyone. DH and l have spoken to the breeder and also the cocker spaniel rescue club of scotland and both were really kind and helpful, After explaining what happened they advised it sounded like cocker rage and the only thing to do was to put to sleep. (there have been a very other incidents we had thought insignificant but now apparently not). They have reassured us that it has not been our failure when training but a genetic "mental illness" which will probably get worse.
It's awful, we have had to tell DS and DD2 out intentions, DD2 is distraught,
We have an appointment tomorrow with the vet at 4.45pm to discuss things, he knows the situation.
So that's where we are at. Another sleepless night tonight,
We have returned home from visiting DD and family and were rear ended on the motorway DH's car a bit of a mess -all in all a horrible day

OP posts:

minesapintofwine · 04/05/2016 22:02

op I am so sorry.

EasyToEatTiger · 04/05/2016 22:09

{flowers]. I hope you have some time to consider the situation. The shock of the dianosis is hard to bear.Big ((((((((hugs)))))))) to you and your family. and maybe

mrslaughan · 04/05/2016 22:24

I love my dog, and actually I don't think I have meet a dog I don't like - but in your situation I would PTS - I don't say that lightly, I would be distraught, but he can't be be trusted not to harm you of your husband.... And is a very real threat to any person he comes into contact with,
It's just so sad, but he will have no idea what is happening- he will be just having a snooze......

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 04/05/2016 22:32

Oh lord, you're having a really bad day.

Don't worry about the car, it's a nuisance but it can be fixed.

for tomorrow.

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