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The doghouse

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

Original poster

Deciding to have dog pts

51 replies

joystir59 · 10/05/2021 21:26

My JRT bit me this evening because I was packing some of his food up ready for a journey tomorrow. Last week he bit my friend because she pointed her finger near him when he was excited. He has bitten everyone in the family including me several times. Some of the bites have been serious aggressive deliberate bite requiring medical attention. I love him dearly but I cannot continue with a dog when the only way I can keep him and everyone safe is to muzzle him for his whole waking life.

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whenwillthemadnessend · 10/05/2021 21:28

Very difficult. I feel for you. . How old is he. How long as he been displaying the behaviour

What are your family circumstances?

AlmostSummer21 · 10/05/2021 21:29

Have you seen 'Dogs behaving (very) badly?
I know it's 'made for TV' & not quite that simple, but watch as many episodes as you can. I really think yo can solve it more quickly than you think you can.

Good luck

Original poster
joystir59 · 10/05/2021 21:32

Posted too soon. Has anyone else had to take this decision? Talk to me about it please. Am I going to want to kill myself afterwards? For further context he's just turned 8 and we got him four years ago from Battersea. We are his third family, he'd been revoked twice before. He came with a list of issues and I didn't really want him but my wife desperately did. He's a gorgeous little boy but very very anxious and hyper, very worried about- cars, trucks, bin men, post men, children, people arriving to visit, people leaving after a visit. Most of these issues haven't been major and I've been prepared to work with him through thick and thin. My wife died in July and this little dog has been my loving a loyal companion through the darkest of times. But here I am with a deep slash at the base of my finger with flesh protruding through it because I was packing up some food.

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Original poster
joystir59 · 10/05/2021 21:33

He had been revoked not revoked

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Original poster
joystir59 · 10/05/2021 21:34

Rehomed ffs!!!

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knightinshiningwhatever · 10/05/2021 21:34

At 8 he could be developing a bit of arthritis? Could he be in pain?

Original poster
joystir59 · 10/05/2021 21:35

He gives scant warning before biting and I'm on tenterhooks in so many situations.

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Original poster
joystir59 · 10/05/2021 21:35

I don't want to live like this.

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Terminallysleepdeprived · 10/05/2021 21:37

Not a JRT but I had to make a similar decision with my Patterdale. She attacked our other dog and I couldn't risk it happening again to one of the kids.

I am sorry OP but you have been irresponsible to allow it to happen more than once. You need to have it pts

Original poster
joystir59 · 10/05/2021 21:37

I'd like to hear from others who have had dogs PTS for behavioural issues.

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SIHastingsLiketheBattle · 10/05/2021 21:38

Oh gosh @joystir59 I am sorry for your loss Flowers I would expect Battersea to be able to provide you with some support regarding the dogs behaviour, have you been in touch with them?

We rehomed a dog from Dogs Trust many years ago and had an incident where he bit a member of the family. We contacted DT and had several appointments with their behaviourist and resolved the issue and identified the cause of the behaviour. We had the dog for 7 more happy years until he passed away last year from old age.

I have a lot of experience with different types of dogs and whilst terriers can be snappy, this behaviour really needs some insight from a behaviourist whether via Battersea or a referral from your vet. Once you have a full picture from someone qualified to assess your dog you can make a decision on a way forward and what that will look like.

whenwillthemadnessend · 10/05/2021 21:40

So sorry for your loss
Has it been worse sines July. Dogs do suffer stress through Mourning as well. Just a thought.

Original poster
joystir59 · 10/05/2021 21:40

The vet said after a previous incident she didn't know who to refer him to because his behaviour was so extreme

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Original poster
joystir59 · 10/05/2021 21:41

He really misses my wife. But he's always bitten unpredictably since we got him.

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LEMtheoriginal · 10/05/2021 21:41

I really feel for you. No easy solution as it sounds like this behaviour is ingrained. You could try working a dog trainer but as a vet nurse i can understand to pts if you are his third home. He doesn't sound happy poor thing, not your fault

Original poster
joystir59 · 10/05/2021 21:43

@Terminallysleepdeprived
I'm sure you are right but I don't know how to deal with the guilt- my wife loved him and this decision would have broken her heart and it's going to break mine. But- I cannot risk anyone else being bitten.

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Original poster
joystir59 · 10/05/2021 21:45

@LEMtheoriginal I don't think he is happy and I don't know how to make him happy. I feel such a failure. He's a link with my wife. This is so awful.

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Original poster
joystir59 · 10/05/2021 21:46

He hates the vet. Has to be muzzled every visit.

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Original poster
joystir59 · 10/05/2021 21:48

My friend who has looked after him a lot says he is wired wrong

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Floralnomad · 10/05/2021 21:52

I assume the vet has tried prescribing him some sort of tranquilliser / diazepam to see if it makes him less stressed ? My dsis has a dog that bites , she’s always been unpredictable and has bitten a few of us , she is 18/19 and we just steer well clear of her unless we need to do something with her . ( in which case it’s best to wear gardening gloves ) . My sister won’t have her pts because as long as she can do her own thing she seems perfectly happy . Only you know if you can live with the guilt , nobody else’s experience will help with that because your situation is unique to you . Sorry about your wife 💐

Terminallysleepdeprived · 10/05/2021 21:53

Imagine the guilt at letting him bite and cause permanent damage or worse to someone. JRT'S are ratters, they will shake things to death. If he gets the urge he will donthat to the cat or worse a baby.

If you surrender him to a rescue they will pts anyway as most will not rehome a dog with a bite history. Pupcakes in Lincolnshire is the only one I know of. wouldnt you prefer to know that he was being pts in an environment he is familiar with,being held by someone who.loces him than by a stranger in a cage?

I am genuinely not saying it like this to be mean, but this was my thought process when I had to make the decision with my Patterdale. She was my shadow, it absolutely broke my heart to make the call. She had sat at my side and under me as I had my head down the loo when pregnant and had HG, she laid under my newborn dd and supported her weight when my disability meant I could barely hold her whilst feeding her. So believe me I know how much this decision will kill you. But I am afraid it is the only viable decision now

fruitpastille · 10/05/2021 21:55

This is so sad. I remember you posting with such affection for your dog before (I also have a rescue JRT so remembered). It sounds like contacting Battersea might be a good first step. He probably can't be rehomed though. Does he seem happy when he's not behaving like this? You shouldn't have to endure you and your family being bitten.

Floralnomad · 10/05/2021 21:56

Ours always has to be muzzled at the vets as well , although she is fine at the groomers . With ours it’s definitely nature not nurture as we also had her brother ( he died a couple of years ago) and he was the complete opposite and an absolute softy .

tabulahrasa · 10/05/2021 21:57

I’d get a qualified behaviourist in first - just to see what they think is going on, what would be involved to work with him, if he is actually giving off signals you’re not seeing... stuff like that.

Then go from there.

I haven’t had a dog PTS for behavioural issues, but we considered it with my last dog and set some hard lines that if he did certain things that was going to be that.

But if you do decide that’s the best thing, remember that it’s not actually a bad thing for a dog - it’s way better than being passed from pillar to post for instance and a dog with severe behavioural issues isn’t healthy, it’s just a different kind of unhealthy than a physical issue is.

KaleSlayer · 10/05/2021 22:02

My friend who has looked after him a lot says he is wired wrong

That’s not very helpful really.

You say you’ve been prepared to work with him. What sorts of things have you done? Have you tried behaviourists?