Should I rehome my dog.

[mrsb00]

Please be gentle, this is a message I never thought I would write. My 6 year old female french bulldog is wonderful, she is timid and shy but so friendly around humans until the last 12 months or so. Since my son was born 18 months ago she’s become more snappy. She’ll frequently attack things smaller than her (in the past 10 days she’s killed a wild rabbit and my neighbours cat) and I’m terrified that if I don’t rehome her now, she’ll attack my son and it’ll be too late to do anything about it. It’s impossible and unfair for me to keep my son away from her at all times unless she’s shut in a different room or in the garden which isn’t nice for her. I’m also pregnant so the thought of her around a tiny baby is very unsettling given her change of mood. I’m going to take her to the vets to see if they can see any reason she may be acting up, but is re-homing her to a child free, quiet home the kindest thing for her? I’m so torn as I love her so much.

I think speaking to your vet maybe a behaviourist first see what they say just re homing might be passing on a problem

I think you should contact a dog behaviourist if the vet can't find anything. It may not necessarily be jealousy of your son - could be something less than obvious, like toothache. A good dog behaviourist will hopefully sort her out though.

Killing cats and rabbits it's quite a turn if she had previously been an ok dog

Of course you must keep her away from the toddler

Some dogs just aren't suited to being around children and rehoming is sometimes the best option. I know here on mn people recoil in horror at the suggestion of rehoming dogs but horses frequently move from home to home, some get very upset, they settle in time, some aren't bothered at all.

Is there anyone on your family who could adopt the dog?
I have two retired working dogs who settled in within days

I think I would. Your neighbours must be devastated about the cat.
You can't risk that around a baby.
Very sad but so unfair on dog, cat owners and baby.

She killed your neighbours cat?! Jesus Christ. How the hell did that happen?! I wouldn't immediately think of rehoming but definitely a behaviourist and training needed. And never under any circumstances, leave her alone with your son. Even if it's literally one second.

If it’s possible for you, I would try to see a vet and behaviourist just to rule out anything wrong. In the meantime I would keep her on a leash so she isn’t able to chase and catch rabbits/cats. If you do rehome I would make the reason very clear because the dog should probably be rehomed alone (without children or other small pets.)

Definitely vet check. A friend of mine’s dog went similar... very docile then personality change almost overnight... went for her daughter’s face completely unprovoked.. turned out the dog had a brain tumour which was affecting his behaviour

I'm so sorry what's happened OP, it must have been a horrible shock to see a nice dog who you loved start behaving like that. In your position with a young child, I wouldn't be prepared to keep the dog at all. It's too much of a risk. It's very sad but as the dog has already shown aggressive behaviour and attacked/killed 2 animals, I don't think you can allow her to be around a child. It's far too much of a big risk to take. Dogs do attack children and babies and your own child must come first. I absolutely love dogs and would not encourage anyone to part with one easily but I think it's the right thing to do here.

Killing the cat feels like something out of the ordinary. Maybe (see below).

Otherwise, many dogs (not all) would kill a wild rabbit given the chance - most wouldn't catch one.

Reacting to children being born is really common, too. From the dog's pov life just changed, got a lot worse, a lot more boring and frustrating and (often, but again not always) every time they express their discomfort, they get told off. That makes the baby BAD NEWS in their mind.

It can be so stressful for some dogs that the other behaviours may be a side effect of this one. i.e. a very bored dog, not used to the lower levels of attention and stimulation, may attack a cat out of sheer boredom- as an outlet for instinct that they are no longer getting elsewhere.

A vet check and a behaviourist seem the best options. In reality, the only way for anyone to undersand what is happening is to actually see and meet the dog and spend time understanding their typical day and environment.

That is expensive (a behaviourist will cost £200-400) and time consuming. Dog behaviour change is rarely quick; it is achieved very slowly, through repetition and by degrees. The reality is that you may not have the time or energy or money for that.

In which case, rehoming is your next best option.

I doubt you have done anything really wrong here - but this scenario is as old as time and it highlights how having babies can impact (some) dogs and why so many people suggest waiting until children are here and older before getting a dog. That's not meant as a lecture to you, OP. That' meant as a call out for anyone thinking about entering a similar situation, e.g. getting a dog because they are a young couple not yet ready for a baby.

Sorry, just to clarify. The vet check is mandatory (imo) regardless of the option you pick. You owe it to the dog to rule out medical causes for the behaviour.

Thank you all for your replies. I’m so torn as 99% of the time she’s the most wonderful family pet, I just can’t relax knowing what she’s been like lately.

Your poor neighbour must be devastated.

Definitely get your dog checked at the vet.

They are and I feel devastated and so responsible.

I’m a bit confused.

Has she become snappy towards your son OR Is it that you are scared she will snap at your son because she’s killed a rabbit and a cat?

Has she actually shown any aggression towards people?

Because while distressing, there is absolutely no link whatsoever between killing rabbits and going for children.
Killing rabbits is prey behaviour, biting children is usually fear.
The two are entirely different.

Being worried a dog may kill a child because it killed a rabbit is akin to worrying that a cat may kill a baby because it killed a bird.
The two are entirely separate!

If the desire to hunt is a very sudden change though, at 6 years old I would take her to the vet incase she has a tumour or similar as a dog wouldn’t (at least I wouldn’t have thought) suddenly get a taste for hunting at 6 years old.

Yes she’ll snap if my son goes near her which makes me think she is either poorly/in pain or just hates him. Whilst I agree killing rabbits is different to killing children (🙄), she shook a cat to death yesterday so I would be negligent not to pay attention.

Yes she’ll snap if my son goes near her which makes me think she is either poorly/in pain or just hates him
In that case then yes I 100% would rehome personally

Whilst I agree killing rabbits is different to killing children (🙄), she shook a cat to death yesterday so I would be negligent not to pay attention
I completely disagree.
Cats kill by biting, dogs kill by shaking.
Predatory behaviour is an entirely different issue.
It’s unpleasant granted but a dog that kills cats is no more likely to go after a child than a cat is to go after a baby.
Dogs are predators.
Cats are prey.

But I do think a vet check is essential before considering rehome.

I think you are very right to be worried. Specially because you are going to have a little baby too.
Maybe there are people that run clubs for her breed that may want to take her.
The only thing I'll say is that if something has changed in her behaviour she may not be a candidate for rehoming.
See what the vet say but may feeling is that she may have to be put to sleep. What a shame.

She is going to the vets on Wednesday. I don’t know what outcome I’m hoping for really as none of them are going to be what we want. It’s just going to be devastating to lose her one way or another.

Yes I would rehome.
Poor cat 😔

I've had to rehome a dog op. It was the hardest decision of our life but the best for the dog my other pets and my family. Sometimes these things need to be done and in your position the outcome could be devastating. I'm sorry you're facing this.

Is she getting enough exercise and stimulation? A french bulldog needs at least an hour of exercise a day? When a dog doesn't get enough exercise / work they suffer and this often manifests itself in anti social behaviour. Killing small furry things is part of the canine psyche for some breeds. I'm sorry you've had this horrible situation, not judging at all x

LST so sorry you’ve had to rehome a pet. It really is the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.

Miranda15110
Yes we have a large breed dog too and they both get the same amount of exercise (2x 30/40 minute walks a day) so I’m confidently ruling out anything exercise related.