Considering euthanising dog after bite

[Dogheartbreak]

I feel so sick with the weight of this on my mind.
5 years ago, we rescued a dog from a UK charity that brings dogs from abroad. I am an experienced dog owner and wanted to save this dog's life. I have had rescue dogs before.
This dog was/is very nervous and reactive. I have worked with a behaviourist and the vet to improve the dogs quality of life and the improvements have been vast. But he's still a nervous dog and be off lead or anything out and about. I was happy that he loved his life with me, he was well cared for and happy and I would provide a safe and control environment for him to live out his days, walking when it's quieter and using secure fields etc.
I was told when I was younger I couldn't have children. Fast forward to one year after having the dog and I was pregnant. I've since had 2 kids and every precaution and loads of training went into prepping the dog. All was fine and obviously dog and kids never alone or anything. Easier when they were babies as they'd always be in our arms or if on the playmat we would be right there and the dog wasn't interested and has never approached one of the kids. Now they are toddlers and this is becoming so much harder to manage. The dog is visibly anxious if kids are in the same room so we separate and he ends up being in another room alone for hours which is obviously awful. We teach the kids how to behave but obviously they are toddlers and unpredictable, youngest in particular just wants to get to the dog whenever he can see him.
The other day, he was running through the kitchen to go outside and my 1yo reached out from his highchair and grabbed fur on the dogs back. He turned and bit his arm. Thankfully no major damage but had teeth marks and it could have so much worse. I took baby to drs obviously. We are incredibly vigilant but I am now terrified of a gate being left open, or eventually kids being able to open the gate or whatever and something happening.
He's very scared and aggressive towards strangers and I feel that if we weren't so vigilant with gates and the muzzle that he would have bitten someone else by now and could do again.
Obviously controlling the environment to this extent with 2 toddlers around is so hard. With the kids we also have more visitors to the house etc which stress the dog. I can't have the dog on a lead in the house as my kids are always all over me so if we have visitors the dog goes in his dog house in the garden (outside office with sofa and heating etc. he seems happy in there but I don't like doing it for more than an hour).
I feel like I can't have him in the house now this has happened. The rescue offer back up but I've seen them publicly shame people on their Facebook page that have done this. I also think they'll re-home the dog without disclosing the bite history and I could never forgive myself if he bit someone else, or worse
Also the thought of him having to be put down in a strange place. Or if the biting would mean he'd end up in a kennel for the rest of his days.
Please be kind. What can do. I love him so much but can't risk my children.

They don't have to know. "Dog died peacefully and unexpectedly in their sleep"

Please stop pressuring OP.

A late afternoon appointment to PTS, with a lovely last day out doing all his favourite things, with just you, and eating all his favourite treats, and taking a few photos.

I'm so sorry. You'll be suffering to keep your children safe and ensure your dog stays happy right to the end of his life.

This is the right answer. So very very sad. We have had several difficult rescues. We have no kids or visiting littles. This is the right answer, you have to do what is best for the whole family, including your dear dog. You are never going to be able to trust him, kids will be kids & will inadvertently pull fur, next time could be a horrific outcome.
I agree with your post except for the ‘kids will be kids’ part- young children shouldn’t be around dogs and if they are an adult should be right there ready to grab hands or lift away.

Even without this bite history you know how difficult this dog is. You can’t have people round your house without locking him away because he’s aggressive. You can’t take him on walks to busy places or around other people because he’s aggressive. Do you really want to pass this problem on to someone else? Someone who won’t be as diligent as you are?

This dog is permanently stressed and terrified. He will never not be. What kind of life is that for any creature? The kindest thing for him is to PTS. Do not attempt to rehome him yourself or send him to kennels. It would be utterly unfair on him

I've had dogs for 40yrs, many rescues, 3 of them reactive. Currently have a reactive rescue who cannot be off lead. I also support a small rescue who DO rehome dogs with a bite history, if they are convinced it is manageable. This does not seem manageable to me. Even after your hard work @Dogheartbreak your dog is anxious, whoever owns him has to be hyper vigilant at all times.

In your case I personally think that the kindest thing, for the dog, is to be pts.

This! I recently saw a FB post about a very similar story and a couple of days later there was an update saying the dog had been rehomed.

I’m not a dog owner, but this makes a lot of sense to me.

PTS.

It’s tough, but a dog showing that level of fear aggression after all the work you put in is a major risk and not always happy. It may have a health issue/pain as well. I would PTS and not risk the dog be passed on bite and be abused.

I’ve had tricky rehomes.

I don’t think he needs to be PTS he needs to be rehomed without children or other animals. An experienced dog handler who knows his history can work with him.

I would give him one more chance at life personally.

You've given him a great life for the past five years and he has been very lucky to have that - its a great gift you have given him.

I would let him be PTS rather than have him go through the trauma of going back to kennels and very likely never successfully rehomed again.

Let the poor dog go out on a high.

What breed or mix is the dog ?

I think you sound fabulous and have done your absolute best, but the dog really isn’t safe to be around. I had to have a much beloved dog put to sleep years ago, the vet came to the house, she was on my lap, had the injection, she closed her eyes and that was it. It was painless and, for her, not at all traumatic. She just went to sleep. I was heartbroken of course, but she’d had a lovely life and it had to be done. Be brave.

She wasn't struggling but she couldn't let him be offlead, had to walk away from other dogs, he was stressed and unhappy around visitors and required intervention by a behaviourist. How does she guarantee that any new home will put the same measures in place?

What a very hard situation for you, @Dogheartbreak - my heart goes out to you. He’s had the best possible life with you, and I think it would very unfair to rehome such a stressed and reactive dog (both on the dog and on potential owners). I know it’s much easier said than dine, but I would give him a fabulous last week and then put him to sleep.

It doesn’t but a responsible rehome charity will be clear about his behavioural needs.

@horseyhorsey17 the problems started before the kids but we got to a manageable place. Also we contact the rescue during this stage and they were no help whatsoever. Absolutely all of the work has been done by me and it's taught me more about life than any other experience.
His life is happy because we control every of inch it to ensure that stressors are reduced or removed.

He has bitten and is scared and aggressive toward strangers. Rehoming is goping to be a nightmare and you do not want a situation where this poor dog is passed from pillar to post.

Anything other than PTS would be unkind and highly irresponsible.

I grew up in a house with an unpredictable dog... except it wasn't unpredictable. The eventual injuries when it very predictably attacked were horrific: many, many stitches, blood all over the walls and a very distressed dog who had to be PTS in an emergency. It was traumatic for everyone involved. This was an attack on an adult. If the same attack had happened to a child the child would have died.

I understand how torn you must be. Unfortunately these dogs tend to be ticking time bombs and the tone of your posts seem to indicate you know in your heart that he's just not safe.

If it eases your conscience, try to rehome privately first but prepare to be disappointed. It's hard to justify your decision when he's not yet caused severe harm, but the key word is yet. You'll never forgive yourself if he hurts your kids or someone else.

I had a similar situation, but my dog got cancer and went downhill rapidly. Awful to say, but I was so relieved the decision didn't come down to me in the end.

No one should be owning a dog with a bite history. Even with the best owners dogs can escape etc. A dog who has bitten a baby needs to be pts.

I can't believe the doggy people on here who would blame a tiny child for being bitten. The fault lies with these dodgy overseas rescues who pluck dogs off the streets and dump them in homes who have often been refused dogs by local rescues.

You have my sympathy. You've tried really hard to make it work.

Have you spoken to the Dog's Trust? Or another reputable rehoming centre? Blue Cross, maybe? Explain the problem and see what they say.

I totally get it. I have a terrier who is a right little bitch and if anything happened to me, I do worry what would happen to her because I can't see many other people putting up with her! I love her to bits and she loves me but she's not the easiest dog and requires loads of management and care. I have had her since a puppy and also had young kids at the time, and we have muddled through (they are teens now) but it's required a lot of work. She is very very territorial and so long as her 'rules' are respected, she's fine. And, like I said, I personally wouldn't be put off adopting a dog that I had to work with in the future.

Anyway, good luck with your decision.

@Dogheartbreak it sounds like you were the perfect owner for this dog until you had children. I think most people who have a childfree home that rescue dogs don't suddenly end up with two children, you would be in the minority for this happening. I'd imagine most would be older people or single people or childfree by choice couples. My dad has a dog similar to yours, family members have children and they don't go round there. Part of his decision to home this dog means he doesn't get visits he now has to come to the children instead. He has a lot of land and isn't going to suddenly have a child.

I would have thought it's responsible for the rescue to be clear about the history and I do think as others have mentioned that toddlers are particularly difficult for a dog like this, that this isn't a fleeting visit but your home will be quite a loud boisterous environment and there is nothing to suggest that if you still had your previous living arrangement that this would ever have happened. I do think it would be fair to give the dog a chance at being rehomed. Unfortunately I have seen several stories of this happening with dogs from abroad, my dad's dog was also from abroad.

I’m another in the PTS camp. As my name suggests, I’m a vet and have been for many years. If a client came and said to me what you’ve said I would have no hesitation in saying that PTS is not a cruel option. Remember the dog has no idea that is what is going to happen. I’ve seen dogs rehomed too many times that have subsequently had to be pts as no bite history was revealed. In addition to that adding a huge amount of stress to an already stressed dog.

In addition to my work experience, I also personally own a rescue dog. He was very under socialised as a youngester ( not from abroad) and has shown some fear issues with strangers coming to the house. He hasn’t bitten because I’m very very cautious with what he does. I have grown up children but if I have grandchildren eventually I don’t know how he will be. But biting is a hard line for me unless under severe provocation. Especially a child.

I had the most dozy rescue yet she was provoked to snap when a toddler grabbed her hard. I would phone local charities and re-home. We didn't even consider PTS, but if course it was a different situation to yours and the dog was generally very laid back.