To the poster who advised me to euthanize my puppy last year....

[Badgershy]

OK so not directly to them as I doubt they'll read this and I can't even remember who it was but this has been on my mind so I just wanted to put it down here.

Around this time last year our 7 month old pup had an awful fright. A child screamed in his face. Following on from that he then redirected his fear towards our 12 year old DS by snapping and growling at him on a few occasions. I came straight onto here for advice whilst waiting to speak to a behaviourist.

A couple of posters told me, in no uncertain terms that I should have the dog put to sleep, that I was putting my DC at risk and that this dog was not suitable to live with a family and that it would be unfair to rehome him knowing that he was a bite risk.

Thankfully I also got great advice off other posters who didn't think death was the only option for this pup.

Fast forward to now and we have the most loving, values member of our little family. Hes an absolute joy. We worked through his issues, he came out the other side of his fear stage and we wouldn't be without him. It makes me so sad to think what could have happened if I'd followed that shit advice.

I hope they do read this and will think twice before being so outspoken about a topic they don't understand, we could have killed a beautiful dog with his whole life ahead of him, a permanent solution to a very temporary problem.

Well she's being pretty unkind to the OP @sherrystrull

I don't think she is. She's pointing out realistic potential issues.

And still doesn't make it right to personally suggest she wants to kill animals for being frightened.

Good point Saucery.

The OP has essentially done a complex risk assessment based on all the information available to her which is something parents do constantly about all different situations. There was not no risk to the child in rehoming the dog in fact the emotional impact could be high. Someone on another thread said they are still traumatised about a pet being rehomed 40 years later. So as with every decision the risks need to be weighed. OP has clearly done everything in her power to inform her decision and without actually being there in the OPs house it's impossible for anyone else to know.

I haven’t been at all unkind to the OP.

I resent that. Give me a specific example. Saying something someone doesn’t want to hear isn’t being unkind. If I’d said ‘what a shit parent’ that would be fair but I haven’t said that or alluded to it. In response, the OP has been decidedly waspish and rude to me though!

I think the OP knows in her heart of hearts this dog isn’t really a suitable family pet which is why she’s still angry about the posts advising her to PTS a year on. She’s come on here with ‘proof’ that they’ve worked through the dogs issues but when I was trying to find the original post from last year I found a post where the dog bit the OPs husband. I fully accept that was because the dog was in pain but the problem is when you put these different things together a very different picture from the one painted by the OP starts to come together.

Love naturally blinds you to that, and I am lost as to why the OP thinks that’s a horrible thing to say. I just think it’s a bit unfair to act as if posters here are inherently cruel and nasty in wanting to PTS a much loved family pet. I think the dog should absolutely not be PTS, I’m just not convinced he’s best suited to a house with a child. But ultimately I am neither the dogs owner or the child’s parent and it’s not my call. It doesn’t mean I can’t have a view though

I agree with @bunniesanddaisies. I also feel given it was another breed of dog the replies would have been completely different.

You shouldn't have to lock away a dog which is well trained it's almost like a ticking time bomb. I don't think he should be PTS but wouldn't have him in a house with a child. I'd be on edge all the time.

Oh God yeah sea - OP posted a photo of the dog and there were all these giggles about the ‘rabid hound’ because it’s a fairly small dog and looks cute but TBH small dogs can be pretty intimidating! Mind you all the issues I’ve had with dogs have been with little ones - the giant breeds tend to be complete wimps

@bunniesanddaisies

Oh God yeah sea - OP posted a photo of the dog and there were all these giggles about the ‘rabid hound’ because it’s a fairly small dog and looks cute but TBH small dogs can be pretty intimidating! Mind you all the issues I’ve had with dogs have been with little ones - the giant breeds tend to be complete wimps

Yes exactly. We had a German Sheperd and she was massive. Absolute gentle giant but everyone backed away from her .

This post just highlights the "fun" of internet forums!

None of us can comment in accuracy on the OP. In the same way that none of could comment in accuracy on the original thread. So offering the advice to pts is balmy when we do not know the situation it's the same on the old dog threads when to pts how on earth can we say all we can advise is to speak to the vets - we just can not know the true situation.

I thought the OP was asking for support and offloading rather than specific advice in the original thread. She was directed to professional help which of course is needed, they did this and have acted on professional advice to an outcome that suits her family.

We dont know her life style, her set up or the dogs situation.

Lets be happy that there is a postive outcome for this family.

This thread does show the ignorance of basic dog behaviour by many posters though!

On a daily basis I am offered dogs that have a bite history to rehabilitate. Most of them will never ever bite whilst with me. If the trigger is removed the need to bite stops.

Dogs that have bitten do not automatically need to be pts. (Some do but that needs to assessed by a professional not a layman) but many need the environment to change and then the behaviour will change.

@Badgershy well done for not taking the advice of an idiot. The dog was only a pup. My rescue was the same. He was not socialised. Its a long process and even harder due to lockdown. He's a wonderful dog just some people need to realise all dogs are not the same.

Aww he's beautiful OP. Glad it all worked out

we could have killed a beautiful dog with his whole life ahead of him, a permanent solution to a very temporary problem.

In reality, I think most vets would suggest re-homing with an adult but who knows.

What a beautiful picture

I have also seen similar advice on here to a poster who was had got trouble with a puppy . I was quite upset to read it .

He’s a lovely dog. Well done to you and your family.