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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

Urgent Advice Needed

27 replies

CreakyKnees01 · 01/02/2023 21:00

My Dd took on a 5 month old lurcher type dog about 2yrs ago. The dog means everything to her and she has poured her heart, soul and finances into this dog.
However, there have been problems with behaviour since day 1.
It's not good with other dogs, it still messes in the house, it's very destructive.
Dd has really tried hard with training, it gets lots of exercise, attention and has every toy you could think of.
Whilst she was living with me , the dog bit my younger Dd and went to bite me when I was trying to stop her digging up my lawn.
It's now got to the point where the dog is making Dds life miserable and she has enquired about rehoming.
Tonight she has phoned me very upset because the dog has bitten her again.
I'm I right in thinking the dog is not going to be rehomed with a bite history and it would be safer and kinder to get the dog PTS.
This is breaking Dds heart but I don't know what else to do.
Any suggestions gratefully received

OP posts:
Lastqueenofscotland2 · 01/02/2023 21:01

I think battersea will take on dogs with a bite history? Might be worth talking to them.

Floralnomad · 01/02/2023 21:04

What behaviourists has she tried to address the problems and why is it still not house trained has it got medical issues ?

Flaunch · 01/02/2023 21:05

How much exercise is “lots”?

Ilovechintz · 01/02/2023 21:08

What's happening when the dog bites? I mean the exact situation?

Original poster
CreakyKnees01 · 01/02/2023 21:22

Thanks for the replies.
No medical issues, dog is fit and healthy.
Can't afford a behaviourist but she has read/youtubed lots on training and behaviour. Nothing seems to help.
Exercise: out first thing for a "toilet" walk.
A longer walk (at least an hr) during the day with a couple more smaller "toilet" walks. A couple of times a week she will go to a secure dog field so it can have a really good run about off lead.
It has bitten when we have tried to stop it doing something. This is after trying to distracted it with a toy/food . Younger Dd was trying to put the lead on as it wouldn't come inside. I went to pull it away from the hole it was digging.

OP posts:
Original poster
CreakyKnees01 · 01/02/2023 21:25

I should add, we've had dogs before. Just not one like this😥

OP posts:
LastOfTheChristmasWine · 01/02/2023 21:31

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 01/02/2023 21:01

I think battersea will take on dogs with a bite history? Might be worth talking to them.

Battersea are open intake, but put down a significant proportion of the dogs that come in. Dogs Trust wouldn't touch this dog.

Is the dog insured? If so a behaviourist may be covered by that.

OldTinHat · 01/02/2023 21:38

Not what you want to hear, but my XH took on a young lurcher a couple of years before I fell pregnant. He took it to work with him every day (outside job, think farmer type).

One day he brought the dog home from work as usual, dog was about 5yrs old by now, I was in the lounge with my 15 month old DC sat next to me. The lurcher literally walked in, didn't run, and had my DCs face between its jaws in seconds.

That dog was gone immediately, locked in the car by XH whilst I sought medical help. Dog was PTS. Luckily my DC wasn't badly injured.

Floralnomad · 01/02/2023 21:38

If it’s got no medical issues I can’t see how it’s not toilet trained , I think your daughter needs to go back to basics with it as if it was a puppy . It sounds like she needs the help of an actual person not you tube - could you pay for a behaviourist for her or as a pp said insurance may pay for a some sessions .

FogAftertheRain · 01/02/2023 21:49

@LastOfTheChristmasWine Battersea are also the only of the big rescues with a whole team of vet behaviourist who do a long assessment before any dog is put down.

Breed rescues are less likely to PTS but when they have a difficult case, they beg Battersea to take the dog and make the decision they refuse to.

FogAftertheRain · 01/02/2023 21:51

@CreakyKnees01 did your DD get the dog from a reputable rescue? If so, they should take the dog back. If not, then she should make the responsible choice and have the dog PTS.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 01/02/2023 21:53

It?

UrsulaPandress · 01/02/2023 22:04

The kindest thing would be for your DD to be with him whilst he is pts. Rescues are overflowing. We don’t take any with a severe bite history as we know we won’t find homes for them. We do take back but in most cases end up being pts so kinder to do it now.

OllytheCollie · 01/02/2023 22:49

It might help your DD to talk through the reasons for the behaviour with a behaviourist or at least a breed specialist trainers. If the original rescue can't help try another lurcher rescue.

Sadly I suspect the advice will be that the dog has frustration aggression which has lead to biting (that sounds like the two incidents you describe BUT I am not a behaviourist). It's really hard to avoid/reduce this and it certainly would not be responsible to rehome.

If she decided to PTS at least that way she has peace of mind that she understood why the behaviour occurred and she had done what she could to address it. It's really sad but as others said it may be the kindest thing to do if returning to rescue just means deferring the same outcome and he gets distressed in the meantime.

Tellmeimcrazy · 01/02/2023 23:01

Youtubing is not the same as support from a qualified behaviourist. I'm a degree level qualified dog trainer and behaviourist; and honestly, the intense support many owners and dogs need to see a difference in behaviour is waaaaay beyond Internet searches and YouTube. Behaviour and training has lots of layers and facets. It sounds like your DD wasn't qualified to deal with this poor dog and maybe tried lots of different things, which may have caused inconsistency in training and possibly affected behaviour, making things worse. In addition, using the incorrect methods of training, doing things in the wrong manner and/or with incorrect timing can exacerbate unwanted behaviours.

There are rescues that take dogs with bite history, but they are often full to the brim with little funding. I'd be surprised if you found one.

If she even has it I would check with pet insurance if behaviour is covered as a PP said.

Very sad situation all round.

Also, calling the dog "it" isn't great.

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 02/02/2023 06:36

I assume the dog isn't from a rescue centre otherwise she could re-home it there.

Do you know what mix of breeds it is? "Lurcher" can cover a huge variety of mixes with a huge number of different breed traits and needs.

Has it been to the vet for a full health check; including to check for things like a thyroid disorder and hormone problems?

Is it neutered? Is the toilet training issue both poo and pee or is it a marking problem?

Does DD work? Is the dog left for long periods - if it is, that could explain the destruction.

To me it sounds like she's taken on a cute puppy and hasn't really considered the reality of dog ownership - which includes having the money to pay for training and/or a behaviourist where necessary (though insurance should cover this).

You can't train a dog with behavioural issues via YouTube.

Goingforasong · 02/02/2023 06:44

I am sorry but based on my own experience with a dog that didn't improve despite usual training, I would say you need to PTS. Please do not rehome a problem dog.

Have you taken the dog to the vet. My vet explained that dogs, like humans can be born with or acquire the equivalent of our mental health problems and learning disabilities. Sometimes there is just nothing you can do for them.

marmaladepop · 02/02/2023 08:18

Not what you would want to hear but I'd PTS.

ShouldIknowthisalready · 02/02/2023 08:33

Unfortunately noone on a thread can advise you. We can not see the situation in real life

You do need to get in a behaviourist (despite the money) and have a detailed report to understand the behaviour.

A dog biting when frightened or frustrated is a dog that will only bite with the triggers so if there are no triggers the dog will not bite. So trying to remove a dog causes a bite moving the dog another way no bite.

I am guessing but a dog weeing indoors and biting when being removed from a situation does sound like a stressed dog.

Take away the stress and the bites will stop.

However I could be way off.

I guess it comes down to, do you want to do everything to help the dog or do you go straight to putting to sleep without all the info

Floralnomad · 02/02/2023 10:51

I think it would be pretty unfair to put a dog to sleep that hasn’t even had an opportunity to see a behaviourist etc .

Original poster
CreakyKnees01 · 02/02/2023 11:15

Thank you for all the replies, I am taking them on board.
But how would you feel knowing your daughter was alone with an unpredictable dog?
This is breaking our hearts but the dog needs to go and I'm trying to do that as responsibly as I can.

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 02/02/2023 11:46

Where did she get the dog from ? Speak to the people at Evesham greyhound and lurcher rescue and see if they can give you some advice .

CMOTDibbler · 02/02/2023 11:53

I would talk to EGLR. Where did the dog come from?

Original poster
CreakyKnees01 · 02/02/2023 12:12

She took the dog(aged 5 months) from a friend of her then boyfriend . They'd got it during lockdown and couldn't cope with a puppy. My Dd thought she was doing the right thing. She was born and brought up with dogs so not inexperienced.
Dog is female and neutered. Not left alone for long periods.
I will try the EGLR, thank you

OP posts:
DarkForces · 02/02/2023 12:22

Did she pull the dog by its collar? In my experience this can hurt a greyhound and make them snap. I'd always use a knee and move them backwards.
He sounds very stressed. What is she doing before he snaps? What's his body language like? They don't tend to growl and are very quick so you need to learn their triggers.
Generally they're lovely dogs but they aren't like other breeds