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Original poster

How to get an aggressive dog put to sleep?

146 replies

Jazz91 · 26/12/2022 19:02

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

OP posts:
CoffeeBoy · 26/12/2022 20:43

Yes I do think as owners we have a responsibility to our dogs which includes tough decisions, not palming them off to someone else to sort out. Being with your dog when they’re pts is the last thing we can do for them.

Original poster
Jazz91 · 26/12/2022 20:43

Hi everyone, I’m reading everyone’s comments and refreshing this every few minutes. Thank you to everyone who has been kind and understanding. I haven’t stopped crying and I don’t know how I will deal with the guilt of having him put to sleep, but as much as it hurts, and regardless of what others say, I know it is the best option. I am going to call the vet in the morning, and if they agree to PTS I will of course be with him. I am devastated, but I can’t deal with the risk of harm to others or myself

OP posts:
PritiPatelsMaker · 26/12/2022 20:48

I've read all of your posts now. I can see why you are choosing to do this.

I the the PP who suggested ringing the vet first to see if you can give him anything before he goes there is sensible.

This must be heartbreaking for you and I hope DM recovers quickly Flowers

CoffeeBoy · 26/12/2022 20:54

Jazz91 · 26/12/2022 20:43

Hi everyone, I’m reading everyone’s comments and refreshing this every few minutes. Thank you to everyone who has been kind and understanding. I haven’t stopped crying and I don’t know how I will deal with the guilt of having him put to sleep, but as much as it hurts, and regardless of what others say, I know it is the best option. I am going to call the vet in the morning, and if they agree to PTS I will of course be with him. I am devastated, but I can’t deal with the risk of harm to others or myself

All the best for tomorrow. I’m sure they will agree to it once you explain what’s happened. I’m sorry.

Namechangedforthisonetoday · 26/12/2022 21:36

You are absolutely doing the right thing OP. The responsible thing as a responsible person. It’s a dog. I love my dogs, they are wonderful, but they’re dogs. If one displayed this sort of behaviour they’d be PTS without a second thought.

Original poster
Jazz91 · 26/12/2022 22:40

When I call the vets will they be willing to put them down due to his behaviour? I know I am stressing too much and so upset and just need to see what they say, but I am so worried that they won’t and I’ll just be left to try and manage his behaviour when I am scared of him. I don’t want him to be put to sleep, I love him so much. But I know there isn’t another option and the risk is too high, and I would rather be there with him while he leaves peacefully and then deal with the pain and guilt afterwards, than live in fear of him and of what he could do to others, and him having an awful quality of life

OP posts:
FurAndFeathers · 26/12/2022 22:53

Jazz91 · 26/12/2022 22:40

When I call the vets will they be willing to put them down due to his behaviour? I know I am stressing too much and so upset and just need to see what they say, but I am so worried that they won’t and I’ll just be left to try and manage his behaviour when I am scared of him. I don’t want him to be put to sleep, I love him so much. But I know there isn’t another option and the risk is too high, and I would rather be there with him while he leaves peacefully and then deal with the pain and guilt afterwards, than live in fear of him and of what he could do to others, and him having an awful quality of life

Yes they will. Tell him he’s bitten the daycare, your mum and yourself and you are concerned about the safety of your family

take care @Jazz91 Flowers

Original poster
Jazz91 · 27/12/2022 00:07

FurAndFeathers · 26/12/2022 22:53

Yes they will. Tell him he’s bitten the daycare, your mum and yourself and you are concerned about the safety of your family

take care @Jazz91 Flowers

Show quote history

Thank you,
I will update tomorrow incase anyone is checking, and also maybe it will help or advise others searching the internet for advice like I have been doing. Even though he has done what he has done, I am giving him so much love tonight because maybe this will be the last night, and I really do love him so much, and so does my mum

OP posts:
Thingiemajig · 27/12/2022 03:57

Poor you. Poor mum too, it could have been so much worse. You are doing the safest and most sensible thing making that phonecall tomorrow. Putting to sleep will safeguard the people you love and random strangers. The risk of someone being seriously maimed is too great.

BiteyShark · 27/12/2022 06:14

Yes they will PTS for bite history but obviously they will be guided by you. What I mean by that is a relative took their dog to the vets after a bite for advice and they said they would PTS if that is what the owner wanted (and did).

Namechangedforthisonetoday · 27/12/2022 06:28

Jazz91 · 26/12/2022 22:40

When I call the vets will they be willing to put them down due to his behaviour? I know I am stressing too much and so upset and just need to see what they say, but I am so worried that they won’t and I’ll just be left to try and manage his behaviour when I am scared of him. I don’t want him to be put to sleep, I love him so much. But I know there isn’t another option and the risk is too high, and I would rather be there with him while he leaves peacefully and then deal with the pain and guilt afterwards, than live in fear of him and of what he could do to others, and him having an awful quality of life

Believe me, your vet will not hesitate to put a dog of that breed to sleep given what he has already done. I have two friends that are vets. They would both like to see this breed banned. You are doing the right thing x

hattie43 · 27/12/2022 07:45

I am just so bloody conflicted about this . It's absolutely right that a consistently dangerous dog is PTS but this dog is not 2 yrs old and something in his breeding / upbringing has gone badly wrong . OP talks of a switch and I'm wondering brain tumour or something causing inconsistent behaviour . I've only met one of these dogs before on a horse yard and he was a big boisterous clown of a dog but in no way aggressive .
Horrible situation and as a dog lover I'd explore every avenue before PTS a young dog .

PlinkPlonkFizz · 27/12/2022 07:52

@Jazz91 it's a heartbreaking situation but you are doing the right thing. As a dog owner I wouldn't hesitate to PTS a volatile and aggressive dog. I know how heartbreaking it is as I was in the same situation 7 years ago except I messed up. I rehomed rather than PTS after my beloved rescue tried to bite DD when she was young. We had exhausted every option by then; private behavioural training, vet opinions, constant positive training with us. It was a disaster as dog escaped the rehoming, was picked up, and a vet rang me as the rehomers hadn't change the chip details. The vet's asked if there was a history of aggression and I knew he was going to be PTS. I wish that I'd just brought him to our vet, with lots of love for his final journey. You are 100% doing the right thing, but it is so hard on you. Xxxx

tabulahrasa · 27/12/2022 08:56

If you can - if it’s practical to I mean, I’d give yourself a few days to make sure you’re making the right decision.

It does sound like it’s a possibility that it could be a pain or medical issue causing it - which does mean there’s the possibility it’s resolvable, but, you’d have to be happy trusting him, you might not be and that’s ok. Don’t know if it’s useful or not, but biting you very probably wasn’t intentional, it’s very common for dogs to redirect if they’re interrupted mid reaction.

If you definitely want him PTS, yes the vets will do it, it is just a case of saying what’s happened and that you want him PTS, they’ll go from there.

And re guilt... you really only have 2 options, keeping him to see if you can resolve his issues or having him PTS, passing him on isn’t fair to anyone, including him. But he’s not a healthy dog, there’s something wrong with him either physically or mentally - what he’s displaying isn’t normal dog behaviour and a dog behaving like that isn’t happy, it’s massively stressed.

PritiPatelsMaker · 27/12/2022 09:11

Thank you,
I will update tomorrow incase anyone is checking, and also maybe it will help or advise others searching the internet for advice like I have been doing. Even though he has done what he has done, I am giving him so much love tonight because maybe this will be the last night, and I really do love him so much, and so does my mum

Will be thinking of you this morning Flowers

EdithStourton · 27/12/2022 09:14

Almostwelsh · 26/12/2022 19:49

The sudden change in a dog of this age is possibly more a result of it reaching maturity than a medical issue.

But even if it is a medical issue, you can't keep an animal of this size that will behave like this every time it has a medical issue.

This. Dogs reach social maturity at around this age, and their adult characters come out.

OP, you have no need to feel guilty. Your dog began to show aggression before his life changed - part of that change was obviously due to his behaviour.

As others have said, a dog so large and which has displayed such serious aggression is just not safe.

Burnamer · 27/12/2022 12:04

Hey OP - how are you? I posted upthread re my aggressive large breed. He hasn’t bitten anyone yet but it is a worry. And if he does it will be me as he doesn’t really see other people (for obvious reasons). If he does bite then that will be my line in the sand. His vet would be on board with my decision at that point. We have discussed it.
Fwiw I think you’re doing the right thing.

PugInTheHouse · 27/12/2022 12:07

You sound like a lovely owner, it feels like posters have purposely misread your posts once you mentioned the breed. It's so so sad but it sounds like the dog is either unwell or something has changed mentally for them and they are struggling so being PTS isn't an awful option for them.

Original poster
Jazz91 · 27/12/2022 12:40

Burnamer · 27/12/2022 12:04

Hey OP - how are you? I posted upthread re my aggressive large breed. He hasn’t bitten anyone yet but it is a worry. And if he does it will be me as he doesn’t really see other people (for obvious reasons). If he does bite then that will be my line in the sand. His vet would be on board with my decision at that point. We have discussed it.
Fwiw I think you’re doing the right thing.

Hi,
I’m not doing great. He is being put to sleep in 1 hour. Haven’t stopped crying and I don’t know how I will cope with this. I know I have to do it, as it is only a matter of time before he attacks again.

Thank you everyone for your kind words and reassurance x

OP posts:
FlirtyMelons · 27/12/2022 13:15

Sending lots of love OP

Newbestmate · 27/12/2022 13:18

massive hug from me. As hard as it is, I believe you are absolutely doing the right thing. X

Bemyclementine · 27/12/2022 13:28

Bless you @Jazz91 it's always hard whatever the circumstances. You are doing the most responsible thing, he won't know anything about it.

LBF2020 · 27/12/2022 13:35

Sending hugs OP. You are making the right decision.

EdithStourton · 27/12/2022 14:05

Oh OP.
I hope it all went smoothly

RobertsRadio · 27/12/2022 14:28

Just want to say I admire you for making this most difficult decision, it's so hard having to do this, but you are putting the well-being and safety of everyone that comes, or may come into contact with your dog, first and for that I thank you. If only there were more responsible dog owners like you there wouldn't be so many terrible injuries and deaths from aggressive dogs.

Be kind to yourself.