How to get an aggressive dog put to sleep?

[Jazz91]

Hello everyone,
I need some advice from anyone who knows anything about this.
My dog is almost 2 years old and I’ve had him since he was 8 weeks old. Recently we’ve had to move away just the dog and I, and he has become more and more aggressive ever since. A few weeks ago he even was kicked out of his doggy daycare for showing aggression towards the staff.

This has resulted in him having to be home alone for 10 hours a day while I’m at work, because I don’t trust him to be cared for by anyone else.

I took the dog with me to stay with my mum over Christmas, and on Christmas Eve he attacked my mum and then bit me badly for trying to remove him. Tonight he has gone for her again, pinned her down and badly bitten her.

His attacks are without warning, he doesn’t even growl before hand, he just lunges. I do have a dog behaviourist appointment in January, but I think this is beyond help. I am fearful for myself, my family and for strangers. I am devastated that this has happened, I adore my dog and have only ever given him so much love and tried to be the best owner I could be. His switch is sudden and other than this aggression he has been the sweetest and most loving dog, but I know he is dangerous and as much as it will break my heart, I think he needs to be put to sleep. Rehoming is obviously not an option.

Does anyone with knowledge or experience have any advice on where to go from here? Do I call vets first thing in the morning? Do I call an animal charity?

Please don’t judge me, I can hand on heart say that I have tried to do my best for my dog.

Thank you xxx

I would speak to a breed-specific rescue before jumping to PTS.

His behaviour is obviously distressing, but in all honesty, so is your treatment of him by leaving him home alone for 10 hours at a time with no company or stimulation.

Reread the original post! No need to be so judgemental.

@thelobsterquadrille is right. I'll happily
Judge you OP because you caused this and now just want to dispose of him. Shameful.

Agree with this.

Also, he could be in pain due to a medical issue.

A strong, unstoppable dog has pinned someone down and badly bitten her and the owner and there are people actually suggesting behaviourists and rescues? The dog is dangerous and out of control. There are far worse things than being put to sleep in the presence of a loving owner. I cannot imagine how terrifying and traumatic a Christmas the OP's mother has had - this is a horrifying and utterly shocking incident and of course the dog has to be PTS before it seriously maims or kills someone next time. It can't be gicen tge chance to do so - it could kill a child or injure an innocent stranfee.

Do people not read the OP?

Sorry - phone glitched mid post. It was supposed to say this animal can't be given the chance to maim or kill someone next time.

Have you had the vet check him for any injuries/problems that could be causing him pain?

You didn’t even read my post properly - he has always been in doggy daycare but he got kicked out due to him showing aggression and thus has now been left alone while I’m at work for the last couple of weeks. He has always been socialised and until recently he was never left alone for more than 2 hours. He has to be left alone with no dog Walker now for the safety of others. His issue started before I had no choice but to have him left alone. At least read my post properly if you would like to judge

Honestly I’d have him pts, not worth the risk with a dog of that breed. You can’t risk faffing about with a behaviourist, it’s not an instant fix.

This is an incredibly large powerful dog of the type that has recently been linked to several dog bite fatality cases. This dog has bitten the daycare staff, the OP and the OP’s mum.
he is likely poorly bred by someone inexperienced or interested only in status, and should never have been placed in a home with small children.

@Jazz91 why did you choose this breed? Where did you get him from?

honestly from a public safety point of view, a dog of this breed with this history needs to be kept muzzled until he is pts. He is unsafe, he’s likely poorly bred and emotionally disregulated, and he’s strong enough to kill an adult human.

this is not the type of dog that is suitable to take a behavioural gamble on.

This ⬆️. Op, you cannot take the risk of such a strong aggressive dog attacking someone else. Please do the right thing and have the dog PTS.

Have you had him checked over at the vet before jumping to have him PTS?

I don’t judge you at all. I had an aggressive dog pts, we spent a lot of time and money (2 years) working with behaviourists. Made no difference. It was a small dog so we felt safe enough but he bit a lot of people and could draw blood 7nless you were wearing jeans. Then one day dh picked some tissue up off the floor and the dog charged across the room and bit his face badly. That was it.

It sounds as though something could have happened at daycare that has caused this sudden change in temperament.
I'm sorry you're in his difficult situation.

It's not 'jumping' to PTS a large, powerful, aggressive dog that has badly bitten people already.

I agree.

But, in the vast majority of cases, a sudden change in behaviour is a result of pain or neurological issues. It won't do any harm to have it checked over by a vet beforehand.

It certainly can be, but even if it is, the difficulty here is that h the e fog has learned to ‘manage’ any potential pain himself by biting.
he knows biting is a successful approach to getting what he needs.

that is incredibly dangerous and is difficult to unlearn even if treated

Until there's been a vet check, it absolutely is.

Most sudden behavioural changes are caused by pain. Why on earth would you not get your dog checked over first?

The dog has caused too much damage - whatever the cause, look at what it's done. This isn't a dog to take risks on. These dogs have killed their adult owners. This one sounds like it's just a matter of time.

The vet won't judge you, they've seen this plenty of times before. We often say that there are plenty of owners with aggressive dogs that aren't willing to do the right thing (i.e. PTS). It's a horrible, heartbreaking situation to be in but the dog sounds dangerous and things can go drastically wrong very quickly. Having felt the power of aggressive large breed dogs, I wouldn't want to keep one in my home either. I've had lovely rottweilers in the past, but if either of them had become aggressive to this extent I would have PTS too.

You sound like you have done what you can. Aggressive dogs rarely 'turn nice' despite training and are hard to trust once they have bitten before. As others have said, the vet will provide sedatives to give at home beforehand. Horrible place to be in, I hope you're ok.

You and your Mum are lucky to be alive, frankly.

Why the fuck would you get this breed of dog? Who actually needs or wants a dog that size? 10 stone plus? What is the appeal? Explain it to me like I’m stupid.

Given the breed, the power and potential for him fatally wounding someone I think sadly PTS is your only option.

Yes there could be a medical reason, or a experience that has caused this at day care. But ultimately you have been left with a large powerful dog that has attacked on more than once occasion. He is unpredictable and a lethal weapon now.

Ring a vet, explain you have come to the tough decision to PTS and they will tell you what to do next. Could be they advise bringing him in muzzled and ask you to partially sedate with medication at home before. Think doggy gallium, that you can collect the day before and administer before.

I feel for you OP it's a tough decision. I have a mastiff and I am blessed he is kind, obedient, well socialised and well breed, but if he ever displayed aggression and attacked I would also make the same choice to PTS because the stature/power of the dog.

I'm sorry OP.

Because it likely won’t change anything in terms of risk-managing a dog with this history and of this type.

the dog has already behaved in a way that is prosecutable under the DDA and is of an extremely dangerous type.
he’s likely not a candidate for rehabilitation

PLEASE get your dog checked by a vet, or multiple vets, in case they are in pain, as others have said, as this can cause personality changes . It's not normal for a dog to switch personality like this without a cause!

Don't just give up on them and end their life without checking what he caused them to change like this.