Call to vet to PTS - behavioural euthanasia

[Bookcasebasketcase]

My OH and I have made the difficult decision to call the vet in the morning and ask for our 6 years old rescue lab to be put to sleep.

We got her at 1 year old, no apparent bite history although we know that people don’t always give the full story when giving up a dog. She has always been extremely anxious and if I’m being honest there’s just something about her temperament where we feel like we have a ticking time bomb in the house.

Prior to Xmas she started to display some aggression towards us, snapping and completely intolerant of being handled in anyway. We took her to the vets immediately and she has undergone all manner of tests and scans with no obvious medical cause. Her behaviour is now escalating and we have had a couple of bites towards us. To be clear we very much leave her be, no fussing or anything like that however she is constantly on high alert. If I sit next to her on the sofa I’m wary about how I might move in case that sets her off. We have muzzled her out and about but now we just don’t feel safe with her in the home. We had a visitor stay last week and it really struck me how tense we were the whole time (obviously we warned said visitor not to touch her etc). We now have a situation where she’s not entirely safe in the home, is unpredictable and we can no longer have someone safely look after her if we need to be away.

The decision was made yesterday after a bite and now we have this sickening wait to call the vet in morning when they open to start the process. It feels devastatingly
awful and I feel like I can’t look at her. We haven’t slept and have both been crying since we came to the decision.

I suppose I’m just curious to know what it will be like speaking to the vet. We know rehoming is out of the question and continuing to live like this isn’t for us either. I feel like we have failed her.

from the initial post it did not seem a behaviourist had been involved so in my opinion that would be failing the dog to put it to sleep without seeking professional help. OP later clarified a behaviourist has been involved. To what extent I don’t know and I’m just a stranger on the internet. If op can make peace that her decision is the best one then nothing anyone else says matters.

Have you contacted Dogs Trust at all? Most rescues would want to be informed if a dog they'd rehomed in good faith was about to be pts.

You think the best thing to do here is to rehome a dog with a bite history through... Facebook?

Why would you say this, just put an bitey reactive dog on Facebook!

It may be nothing to so with what happened to her before you got her.

In the 80s there was a Cocker Spaniel
Breeder who was closed down because they had been inbreeding and other diabolical breeding practices resulting in strains of dogs that were neurotic and ticking time bombs of explosive rage and aggression issues.

These dogs were bought by families who gave them living homes and the dogs would settle and then sometimes after only a few years would become very aggressive and bite and attack.

It became apparent that there was a problem and an investigation launched and the breeder shut down.

It could well be that even with a brain scam and everything looking normal, your dog has been badly bred.

At one time I would say there are sanctuaries out there who would take this dog on but the sad reality is your dog would be taking the place of another dog who doesn't have aggression or behavioural issues and could be rehomed.

Charities are full to the brim with dogs needing homes.

It's a horrible decision to have to make but looking at it from her point of view she is not a relaxed and happy dog unless she is asleep. She is constantly alert when awake and to bite the hand that feeds shows she cannot control her fear and need to protect herself.

You gave her a loving home with the best intentions and it would be kinder to alleviate her suffering and living in fear.

This is truly appalling advice.

There are no words.

Yes this.

I have a reactive rescue dog who can show aggression but has not yet bitten me. She has had behavourial support ( was useless) and is on two lots of meds- one for anxiety and one to help her sleep. I see our vet every six months and we decide at each appt if I can handle another six months. We also have an agreement- the first time she breaks my skin she will be immediately pts as soon as possible.
There are worse things for an anxious reactive dog than to go to sleep in a calm loving manner with their owners. Rehoming is not an option. Living with a dog who bites is not an option. You are doing the right thing. I say that as a dog lover who has rescued my entire life.
It will be a hard day but no one has the right to judge you.

If the dog goes back into rescue what will happen? He is likely to be massively stressed, fail the aggression tests and be pts with strangers after a distressful period of high stress. And that’s if rescue even have room.. they are bursting at the seams. I know what I would chose for my dog

You say are you making a choice but I don’t think there is any choice. You can’t have a dangerous dog.
If you had a XL bully the replies would be different, I realise an XL bully can do a lot more damage but any dog can cause damage, especially to children.
Its really the kindest thing you can do, if you rehome your dog will be distressed and possibly bite more and then end up being rehomed again or PTS anyway.
If you have a dog you owe to everyone around you to make sure it’s safe. Unfortunately you can do all the right things and that doesn’t happen. This is the responsible thing to do.
Plus if she were to bite anyone else and you know she bites you could get into a lot of trouble (and again she would be PTS)
However knowing it’s the right thing doesn’t make it easy.
Sending hugs. 💐

I know we are doing the right thing but it is still devastating. We both lost it earlier when we gave her her dinner, knowing that it might well be her last one. I hope the vet can see us quickly tomorrow as this is absolutely gut wrenching.

Come back tomorrow for some support @Bookcasebasketcase

Will be thinking of you. Try to go into ‘work mode’… think of it of something that just has to be done so you stay calm.. give her whatever favourites she likes… hold it together for her then go home and cry/scream/pull a duvet over your head ( it’s what I will do when my time to do the same comes)
The guilt will come ( it always does) but in a week or few you will know you did the right thing… in a few more weeks/months you will be able to remember the good times you had with her 💐

Where did I say that the dog should go in to rescue? I agreed that the Dogs Trust should be notified. It is something that they should be made aware of.

Wise words.

I think it must be horrible to be a dog with anxiety - bad enough for humans who can explain their fears.

You are doing a kind and lovely, selfless thing to help alleviate any suffering.

That dog is in pain. If the things had not come to this terrible point I would be suggesting trying another vet.

@Bookcasebasketcase

You're doing the right thing. It's not good for her to be in fight mode all the time.

Very often it's part of an adoption agreement that the rescue should be informed if there any problems with a dog. They certainly wouldn't want it to happen again. Please let Dogs Trust know.

Sending you love and strength today.

We’ve just taken her for a quiet walk along a country trail near us. Now she’s mooching for her breakfast. Neither of us can really keep it together. We noticed yesterday that she didn’t interact with us at all unless she wanted her walk, food or out the garden. She kept taking herself off to somewhere else in the house. I honestly think she just wants to live in a world where she’s on her own and that is so sad. Hoping for all our sakes that the vet is ok to go ahead and can see us quickly.

God bless you. You are doing the right thing.

Your poor dog, it’s not all about you.

How dare you, we are well aware of that. Whether you agree or not we believe this decision is in her best interests. We are allowed to be upset about that and to feel lost.