Putting potentially dangerous dog down

[SadPost]

This is a horrible post to write and we're not there yet but I think it may come to this. Does anyone have any experience of what happens when a dog is put to sleep for behavioural issues? Although he hasn't done serious damage yet, his behaviour has gone steadily downhill over the last month. He's always been v nervous/reactive and we've done what training we can to deal with that but recently he's been nippy and growly. We've ruled out most medical things as far as we can and are trying to ensure that he not put into stressful environments but he's now nipping at my DH just for being in the same room and he snapped at a dog he's been friendly with for ages. He's just about to turn 5 - we've had him since a pup.

I am going to continue with the behavioural training but the general consensus seems to be that he's just LIKE this. I can't see a rescue or his breeder taking him back. I would happily keep him and just not see anyone else if it weren't for the fact that he's going for my husband (only in the mornings when we get up and are going in and out of the kitchen - no other time).

If anyone is able to suggest any wonderful cures please do. Otherwise, if someone could talk me through the process I would be grateful if you could tell me what to expect.

A pain trial literally consists of putting them on pain meds for a period of time (2-3 weeks) and seeing if they improve. It isn't very diagnostic beyond the fact that they are in pain though.

My 9 year old lab could be quite grumpy in the mornings. She directed her frustration at telling her sister off. She has been diagnosed with arthritis in her hips and is now on antinol and having hydrotherapy. She also sleeps on a good quality cot bed mattress. Since then she's rarely grumpy first thing.

Please see a qualified behaviourist and get a vet check asap. You need a full blood check rather than just look for physical pain.

A qualified behaviourist and vet will be the ones to help you make the right decision for your dog. They will guide you through the situation and be able to discuss all the options. Unfortunately however well meaning posters are we can not advise on a situation from posts.

A qualified behaviourist will have a level 5 qualification in animal behaviour so an MSC as a minimum qualification. Anyone else is just a trainer calling themselves a behaviourist. A qualified behaviourist will never ever say behaviour "is part of a dogs personality". Behaviour is always in response to a situation not part of a personality. I may seem a grump bugger but it is triggers that make me grumpy.

Gabriel Dog Psychology mentioned above is not a qualified behaviourist in fact has no qualifications at all

Poor you, that sounds really hard :(

I'm not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, but is your DH in good health? Has he had a check up recently? This is an outside chance but I'm mentioning it as my dog was a little sod for 2 months and unbeknown to everyone, I had a horrible indolent infection. Once treated she was so much nicer again. Another rough period happened when she contracted fox lungworm, and again she was right as rain after treatment. Yet another friend had a dog who had unbeknownst to them, had a stick penetrate the oral cavity and make its way somehwere it really should not have been, and the dog was withdrawn and snappy. Stick poked out, allowing removal and the dog reverted to being much easier again.

I appreciate these might be clutching at straws things, but it really does underline the importance of thorough medical checks.

If, ultimately, the pup is just not fixable, then there is no shame in having them PTS. Really, it's the responsible thing to do as you might end up with a very unhappy household or an injured guest. As sad as it is, pets just cannot come before people, unfortunately. That way madness lies.

The other thing to consider maybe is his eyes. I'd imagine that failing eyesight could make a watchdog very stressed. They know something is there but can't identify what, so bark and stress out at absolutely everything...

I really admire all the work you have already done with your boy, your love and commitment shines through in your posts.
It could be a mixture of both his personality and maybe an unknown illness. Ours was diagnosed with arthritis at 6.
We have an 11 year bc that we rescued at a year old. He is still a work in progress. He is totally unpredictable. He cannot be left with anyone else or in kennels. It has been a really hard 10 years, he is now deaf, completely arthritic and l sleep downstairs with him as he suffers with anxiety.
I worry about him most days, so l totally understand how you are feeling.
Good luck and l hope you find an answer.

@SadPost doo ok you kind me asking what has happened since your post?

I know it's an old thread... but I have just come across this.
If you have rehomed/ euthanized the dog, then please ignore me.

If anyone is thinking about getting a Tibetan, please read my advice below.

But firstly I have had Tibetans for over 15 years and have never met a truly aggressive one...
But, most are very much a one person dog - something nobody seems to tell you.

Also, they are "guard dogs" but I would rather describe them as a door bell.
Basically they would sit on the rooftops of monasteries in Tibet. If they spot someone they would bark / allert their humans and cousins the Tibetan Mastiff.

So sitting up high on a window sill is natural to him.

The behaviour could be the result of 2 things really...
One big question is are his parents fully health tested? 4x DNA, eye test certificate and hip scores. There are genetic problems with eyes and brain in the breed. So this needs to be ruled out.

Either could be a reason for the behaviour.

Secondly, he sounds a bit bored. Tibetans are clever, active dogs that need a lot of stimulating. However they don't respond well to harsh treatment or "classic" training methods. They are stubborn and the treat / reward needs to be just right!
Could you look into some more training? Teaching him some tricks or new skills would take the focus away from hid guard duty and tire him out. Hence making him more content. If you do this little and often, you will have a different dog. I am thinking about anything from giving paw to riding a skateboard (I am in the process of teaching one of mine!)

Apologies also for posting on an older thread, but I didn't want to read and run... I adopted a rescue from one of the big UK charities last year. I'm an experienced dog owner who has had dogs with issues in the past. He had suffered a traumatic car accident in his previous home which had left some lasting psychological effects, but nothing that the charity and I thought would be unmanageable. All went well for a couple of months, apart from one minor incident when he had hurt himself and was trying to mask his pain.

Sadly, one night just as we were off to bed he lunged without provocation or warning and injured me very badly - my hand was torn open. I had to dial 999 and had several police at the door and was blue-lighted by ambulance to A&E. The poor dog had no understanding of what he had done or how bad it was. I was very lucky in that an artery and tendons were missed and I have regained the use of my hand. The rescue charity took him back and I continued to support him financially.

After another couple of months, however, they rang me to say that after in-depth investigations and work with their behaviourists and vets they had sadly concluded that the kindest option was to have him PTS. He could never really have been rehomed after what happened and it transpired that his psychological issues were beginning to manifest themselves in actual physical pain. I was in utter torment - he had many good qualities and what had happened was not his fault.

As wretched as the whole thing was, I wanted to share my story with you because although a devastating ultimate outcome, it was certainly in the dog's best interests and, once he had passed away, it did bring a definite sense of peace and closure that whatever torments he was suffering under were finally at an end. His actual physical end was relaxed, dignified and peaceful.

I hope that you have been able to find a happier outcome for your dog @SadPost, and that a vet or behaviourist has been able to help. Sometimes these things can be easily explained by treatable pain - I used to dogsit a very large dog with huge behavioural issues; she regularly had rampant ear infections which her owners left untreated. It was no wonder the poor thing was irritable and frustrated. After a few days of gentle cleaning and eardrops she was as good as gold.

Best wishes to you. x