Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

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

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Dog has gone for my daughter

75 replies

Lovemusic33 · 22/08/2019 19:57

I'm sat here crying. Some of you may recognise me as I have posted about ddog (rescue dog) a lot.

We are currently camping, only been here a few hours. My dd2 is 13 and has severe ASD, she flaps and makes random noises, the dog has growlled at her a few times at home. We were in the tent and we walked past the dog and he growlled and lunged at her, luckily he was on a line and I grabbed him but of I hadn't have been quick enough he would have had her. He has since lunged several times and keeps growling every time we moved, I have him tied to me so.he can't get her but it's making things difficult. I have contacted the rescue and they have offered to put me in touch with a behaviourest but I can't risk it can I? We is often alone with the dog as is my other dd.

I am totally gutted. I'm trying to get hold of my mum to see of she can come and collect the dog so we can continue with our holiday, either that of the rescue will have to come and get him 😭

OP posts:

RRJR · 22/08/2019 23:18

@Sickoffamilydrama

argh I missed the sentence if the dogs home won't take it back then the kindest thing may be PTS

Wtf?
Why should this dog be PTS just because it isn’t a good match for the daughter? Are you saying all dogs that aren’t great with kids should be PTS? Plenty of people offering homes without kids btw

Use your common sense

DogInATent · 22/08/2019 23:31

Which rescue organisation is involved?

Bookworm4 · 22/08/2019 23:39

@PollyRoe16
You can’t hand the dog to another rescue he has to go back to the rescue he came from, the rescue will be trying to get an emergency foster they probably mean they can’t pick the dog up right this minute.
I’d also be concerned that a thorough homecheck wasn’t carried out or OP minimised DD behaviours as this would give pause for thought for me on a hc.

Original poster

Lovemusic33 · 23/08/2019 07:26

The dog will not be put to sleep. He will be rehomed with someone who doesn't have kids and will probably be fine. He only has a issue with my dd2 and hasn't shown any aggression towards anyone else. He's a lovely dog, he just needs the right home with obviously isn't with us.

Some of the posts here have upset me more. People don't know me yet feel they can judge. I didn't jump into getting him, I am an expereanced dog owner and we had our last dog for 12 years, my kids have always been around dogs and cats. We had been training the new dog and the issues he had were improving. I post a lot on here for advice as I like talking to other dog owners (I'm a single mum and mumsnet is where I come to talk to other adults as I don't have many people in the real world).

I am devastated with what has happened. Any one who does know me will know how much I loved ddog and how much o had done with him during the 2 months I had him.

The rescue is going to arrange an emergancy foster placement before I get home. My step dad has contacted them for me and demanded they take him back as my daughter can not be near him.

I'm trying hard to make the next 2 days ok for my dd's, my eldest is very upset as am I.
The dog will not be PTS but the rescue say it will take a long time to find him the right home.

OP posts:

Original poster

Lovemusic33 · 23/08/2019 07:29

I did have a home check but not from someone who knew the dog well and my dd2 was not at home at the time, I did tell th about dd2 and that she has severe autism (I never play it down). Dd should have met the dog before we got it but I was not given this option, i know this is probably my fault too.

OP posts:

LeysaV · 23/08/2019 08:24

I done it OP . It was hard, yes , I mourned my Dog though she was living
I got a big dog , to big for me to handle but I saw she was not happy and nor was I . Rehomed her with family and she is now having the wonderful life I couldn't offer her , down at the seaside with two other dogs for company .

LeysaV · 23/08/2019 08:27

What breed of dog is DDog OP ?
Just being nosy really .

MarySibleysFamiliar · 23/08/2019 08:35

I'm sorry but any dog that lunges at children (or anyone) to attack unprovoked should be dropped into the local vets and PTS. It is attacking a child and has to be physically restrained? It. Is. A . Dangerous. Dog.

Rehoming it will simply allow it to lunge at another child in the future. It's unlikely that it will never be near kids again just because it gets rehomed to a house without kids.

SockMachine · 23/08/2019 08:42

I visit many camping boards and so many well socialised, stable and mature dogs get spooked by camping.

And given the other ‘bad fit’ factors....

I hope your Dd and cat recover their confidence.

Bookworm4 · 23/08/2019 09:07

@MarySibleysFamiliar
Do shut up, your ignorance is showing. It wasn’t unprovoked the OP DD is severely autistic and her behaviours scared the dog.
Perfectly understandable that the dog was overwhelmed by the OPs daughter, a lot of dogs would be.
The rescue should have requested that everyone in the home was present for the hc and then would have probably realised the dog wasn’t a fit for your family.

Zakana · 23/08/2019 09:14

It’s a shame we don’t have the option to have vicious humans PTS there are far more of them in the world than vicious dogs! Good luck OP and good luck to your dog 🐶 also, I’m sure he’ll be found a better fit family soon, hugs to you and yours.

Branleuse · 23/08/2019 09:15

I agree the dog should be pts. An autistic child is not provoking a dog. That implies intent. The dog has decided that its ok to lunge to try and attack at a person it takes a dislike to, even though they have not hurt it. It will attack someone that behaves in a way it doesnt like. Thats not self defence.
If it will attack someone for stimming, would it attack someone for dancing? For arguing?

Not safe

Bookworm4 · 23/08/2019 09:26

@branleuse
Why do you always comment on dog threads when you are clearly lacking in knowledge regards animal behaviour?
I can assure you many dogs would be frightened by these behaviours it doesn’t then deserve to die! Why is it you expect a dog to tolerate anything and never be scared? I think even a lot of people wouldn’t know what to do.

Wolfiefan · 23/08/2019 09:31

Branleuse your post shows a complete lack of understanding. This dog is scared by the behaviour of the child. It has given warnings and those haven’t been heeded. This is not a dog that is aggressive but rather one that’s scared and overwhelmed.

Floralnomad · 23/08/2019 09:36

This particular dog should definitely not be pts , because he has been horribly failed by the ‘rescue’ that let the OP have him in the first place . They should have met the children and seen them interacting with the dog etc . The OP says she is an experienced dog owner , but she’s not she’s someone who has owned a previous dog for 12 yrs , that does not make you an expert . She had another rescue dog within the last few years that she got as a puppy that also had multiple issues and ended up being rehomed . I assume that the OP had told this rescue place about that dog and the outcome - again a failure on their part to place this dog with this family . I hope this dog finds the right family for him .

Branleuse · 23/08/2019 09:42

I comment on a lot of threads.
I think when a dog is lunging to attack people then its a dangerous dog.

If a kid comes and pokes a dog and it nips, that's one thing.

If a dog is straining at the lead to attack a girl just leading her life several times, Not even a stranger, but a family member that it has lived with for months and never hurt the dog, then maybe, just maybe its a dangerous bloody dog, and its really concerning that so many people think that the problem should be offloaded onto someone else.

Im hardly giving an uncontroversial opinion surely.
Fear aggression can be worked with. Its bad enough when its other dogs They go for, but when its humans, then you then have a responsibility and a duty, even if it breaks your heart. If it was a person, theyd be imprisoned or sedated.

We have a weird thing with dogs, infantalised, venerated, and now victim blame anyone that gets attacked. A small child. Yeah it probably asked for it. Autistic family member stimming. Provoking dog to attack.

I honestly love dogs, but dogs that are human-aggressive should not be kept as pets. Too dangerous

Fucksandflowers · 23/08/2019 09:45

Rehoming it will simply allow it to lunge at another child in the future. It's unlikely that it will never be near kids again just because it gets rehomed to a house without kids.

I'm afraid this is my view also.

Although I think it was really silly to get a rescue dog in the first place for a child with severe ASD and I think the rescue behaved appallingly entertaining the idea.

Many dogs find children with no disability at all unnerving and unpredictable.
The rescue should have said no.

Fucksandflowers · 23/08/2019 09:57

This is not a dog that is aggressive but rather one that’s scared and overwhelmed

And as for this, the vast, vast majority of aggressive dogs; both those who are all threat and no bite and those who actually do have every intention of causing harm are scared and overwhelmed!
Happy confident dogs don't go for others...

The fact they feel so anxious and upset that they feel they need to get aggressive is sad but if they are actively dangerous, and I do think that a dog that lunges at someone walking past is definately dangerous you should do the responsible thing to keep others safe.

Bookworm4 · 23/08/2019 10:17

Why are pp ignoring what op said, her DD flaps and makes random noises, obviously this has frightened the dog and now he is intolerant of her as he’s clearly now in fear aggression mode; this is not a reason for pts, it can be overcome with training.
The rescue should never have placed the dog in this home and clearly the homecheck was inadequate. It takes a very tolerant balanced dog to live with a severely autistic person hence why there are specially trained assistance dogs.

missbattenburg · 23/08/2019 10:20

I think any animal deserves the benefit of an expert opinion from someone who is there in real life to see the behaviour, before deciding death is the best and most responsible option.

Having your bell tolled by someone over the internet who has never seen you, is wrong, imo.

Madasahattersteaparty1749 · 23/08/2019 10:30

Our friends went through here for a dog for their severely autistic son www.supportdogs.org.uk. Would that be a better idea then another rescue

Scorpiovenus · 23/08/2019 10:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Jouska · 23/08/2019 13:07

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but the issue that stands out to me and should never have happened is that the dog was rehomed without the rescue checkers meeting all the family. Children always need to meet the dog in advance of any rehoming.

Most/all rescues will insist on meeting all family members

ThinkGlow · 23/08/2019 14:31

It's very easy to judge from afar but I think taking him back to the rescue is the best way forward, OP. I really feel for you.

Sometimes a dog just isn't a good fit! It's not a failure that it hasn't worked out, it's just unfortunate.

You'll feel far better and relieved when the dog is re-homed.

I would have been judgemental and saying 'try this, do that' not long ago, but then I had to return a rescue dog myself.

It's heartbreaking to return a rescue but it doesn't mean it's the wrong thing to do - it's right for the dog who evidently isn't happy and it's definitely right for you!

Fucksandflowers · 23/08/2019 15:21

obviously this has frightened the dog and now he is intolerant of her as he’s clearly now in fear aggression mode; this is not a reason for pts, it can be overcome with training.

Except that it can't always be overcome with training.

Some dogs are not fixable.

I have a fear aggressive dog (other dogs), believe me she has had masses of training.
Years and years worth.

Flip

1 2 3