Struggling with idea of putting my dog down who snaps.

[Buxtonwater124]

I have a chihuahua/Jack Russell type dog that is known to snap. He's 10 and over the years, he's bitten my nieces and nephews face, my brother's face, other dogs in house. We did go to put him down after this but as he was a family dog, my dad disagreed and so did others saying "just keep him away from kids" which we did. It all came to a head last summer when my older nephew rang me (as I had moved out of my dads, but still owned him) saying he's snapping and he needs to go. So I booked him in to be put down, as hard as it was. My partner then stepped in and said no, we will take him in, we have no kids and no one in the house respects the dogs boundaries or listens to train him, which is true. People don't listen with him, and stroke him for example on his stomach which he hates. Over the years we have paid probably thousands on training, on muzzles etc. But because he wasn't in my house at the time, no one in the house implemented the training.

So we took him. Since then, we have kept a strict routine with him and the dog has settled in so well. I'm able to pick him up, walk him well etc. cuddle him and when we have visitors we keep him away. However in last few weeks, I've seen him snap at my friend, who bent down to stroke him in the area we kept him away, he's snapped at our other dog (who he grew up with) and last night I seen him bite my cat on his face.

My cat, has been having abcesseses on his face since we got the dog, and it hit me. Maybe the dog has been biting the cat. I'm heartbroken. I'm in tears writing this. I love the dog so much and he's such a good dog for me. But I know I need to put him down. It isn't safe. But my partner disagrees and says just keep him separate. Here's the hard part, I'm due to have a baby soon and my family keep saying you can't risk the dog around the baby but I just keep saying I'll keep them apart. But after seeing him bite the cat yesterday, I'm devastated it was a lightbulb moment he isn't safe. But its a hard decision to bare on my own and would like my partner to agree. As he's our dog now. He's a sweet dog and I'm looking at him now and feel heartbroken taking a healthy dog to be PTS. My partner is concerned for my mental health losing a dog I've had for years and then having a baby he is worried ill struggle a lot as he knows how precious my dogs are to me. He agrees if he was an XL Bully I would've put him down earlier but also believes that keeping him separatenwith visitors baby is best option as the dog is fine with me and him.

Any support appreciated - please be kind. Seeing it all in writing it is so obvious what I need to do. But im struggling with the mental load of it

• [Note from MNHQ: Please see the OP's update at 16.06 on 20/5 before responding]

Yes it is. Animals are sentient beings.

This is a sentient being who attacks kids though

Thank you all. As I said rehoming isn't an option - he has bitten multiple kids over years, and adults. I just thought it was for me simple keep him away and separated. But it was after him snapping at my friend, growling at my Mil and then biting cat it hit me and I knew I couldn't go on. As another poster said she was under stress for years until one dog died and it was the end. I couldn't imagine the stress I'll feel with a new born worrying. I have had numerous news articles sent to me by family too as they believe he is a risk. I have paid 1000s in different trainers socialising etc. And also he has had an MRI of his brain in last 2 years as my family said he was acting strange to be told it was just stress.

My cat went to dermatologist today and I asked about dog bites again and they said no. But I explained about seeing the dog snap and she said it will be hard to keep them separate to which I said he is being PTS. She looked at me judgementally and asked why I explained briefly which she again was a bit rude and went "ok". Which made me feel like shit.

I know it's the right thing but I just hate seeing him sitting there so innocently.

So you have been reassured again by a Veterinary professional that it is not your dog that is causing the cat to have the skin condition

so stop going on about it.

The dog is being destroyed because you are having a baby. full stop.

So what's your solution or when are you picking him up?

You're being utterly hysterical and ridiculous.

The dog needs to euthanised before he seriously injures or kills a child.

Because the dog is dangerous, has already bitten several times and would be a risk to a baby. The op would never have a moment's peace worrying about keeping the dog and her child separated.

Would you rather she posts on here in several months because the dog has killed her child?

We need to stop being so soft about dangerous dogs in this country. Euthanisa is the best route.

You offering to take the dog then?
Or should we just let it kill a newborn?

perhaps the way to look at it is that this dog is not a healthy dog.. there is clearly something mentally wrong with him for him to be so reactive/aggressive/snappish with everyone despite medical attention and training.

Not every dog has the temperament to be a pet. and that's ok.

You know that this is the only responsible choice. I mean, what’s the alternative? Rehome your cats, never have visitors, never let him out of the house without a muzzle, and put your baby up for adoption? Because that’s what it would take to remove the risk.

@Buxtonwater124
Don't let anyone guilt trip you. I speak from experience. We had a smallish dog that bit a few people, but all adults and all understanding. We had to rehome him when our little one started crawling. He had never bitten them, and we kept them separate but I was worried. We rehomed them to someone who knew the background, didn't have children, rarely had visitors. It was all good until the day a workman went to do some work and took his 8 year old son. Who got a nasty bite in the face, scarring him. The dog then had to be PTS.

Your dog has no idea about the concept of what PTS means. Give him the lovely walk, and treats, as you have described, and then let him be at peace. A dog that bites is distressed. You are freeing him of that. If it makes you feel better, if he is stressed at the vets, you could pay for the vet to come to your home. You can even give him a sedative in a treat so he (and therefore you) will be much calmer. He will have had a lovely day and will just go to sleep. He has no idea he won't wake up. Under the circumstances, you are doing him a kindness.

Are you thinking she should wait until it bites her baby before making a decision?

If your that keen to save the dog, you offer it a home and accept full liability for any injuries to other animals or humans.

BTW I think dog owners should be held criminally responsible for the damage their dog's do, actual bodily harm, GBH, murder, unlikely a small dog could kill but you never know

@IrrationallyAngry thats rotten.
But that would be my fear, that its too volatile a dog to rehome. Something out of the ordinary happens and snap.

its a horrible horrible decision to make but you know in your heart it is the right one.
it is a dog that cannot be trusted , it only takes a second and that could be life changing second for a baby. well done for making the decision and keeping your new baby safe from potential harm

I think it’s wrong to pts without even trying to rehome him. Your poor dog has had quite a bit of upheaval and should never have been put in a position where he could bite multiple people. If you really must, please go yourself as you know he doesn’t like the vets and you are the person he trusts the most. He will feel better if you are there (but please hold yourself together for him).

Trying to rehome a ddog who bites is irresponsible...

You may not have seen my post a few before yours, but that's exactly what I tried to do. We did everything right with the dog, lots of training, keeping him away from triggers etc etc. We had his sibling too who was the gentlest animal going. So we rehomed him in the hope that a change of environment, where there was no likelihood of an encounter with a child, would mean he could live out his life in peace. And now a child has a permanent scar for the rest of his life. He could have lost his eye. Had it been a younger child involved, who knows what damage could have been caused. I will never forgive myself for listening to all those that said "give him another chance with someone else", "you're a horrid person for killing an innocent animal". I am so angry I doubted myself.

When can you pick him up?

They as a wider family have already tried to rehome him, hence Op has him he's still biting people and has gone for the cat at least once.

How many more chances before someone makes the decision?

The warning ⚠️ signs are there, its not a friendly family pet, its a dangerous animal, its irresponsible to rehome it a second time.

I already have a stroppy rescue dog thanks. She has only ever bitten me but she is anxious and has a very small circle of trust. I have no visitors who have small children but I wouldn’t trust her with them even though I am 99% sure she would be fine. I don’t allow children to approach her on walks. I make sure she is not put in situations that might put her life in danger. I know people who have adopted dogs with a bite history. There are people willing to take on and work with a dog with issues. I am not saying OP will find someone but she hasn’t tried.

I appreciate your post and appreciate you telling your story. I am reading every comment made about my situation. So the dog was rehomed to us at 6 months old from my brother who didn't want him. He then was fine for first 4 years until he was attacked in a park by another dog and then began to hate other dogs. We paid for socialising etc training. We got a another dog and they got on so well. But for whatever reason he began biting kids and adults. So when I moved out I took him with me. Unfortunately, we couldn't keep him at the rented house as LL found out, so we sent him back to my dads after 4 weeks of being with us and again tried a crate training etc. But he still snapped. My uncle then had him (no kids no visitors often) but didn't implement any of the training which is when my nephew complained and luckily we had moved house and was allowed him back. He was and is so good but recently, he has bitten the cat, attacked the other dog, snapped at my Mil and bitten my friend. I wouldn't risk rehoming him as it is irresponsible to put him with someone who literally would be at risk in of being bitten as he hates strangers and also wouldn't be allowed kids to visit. I also (selfishly)would always wonder if he was ok and worry that he was being abused or something.

I am truly devastated to be making this decision me and my partner have cried this evening over it but we know it's for the best especially after reading people's stories on here. My partner's even said could he build a massive outdoor cabin for him. But we know from here that it's just not fair on the dog. Stress could make him way worse.

I really feel for you. Only you know what has been tried. It’s a horrible situation to be in. While I think I would have to contact some rescues first, I agree you can’t keep him if he is attacking your cat and you have a baby on the way.

We watched the first series of Educating Yorkshire recently and there was a girl of about 14 on there who had facial scars from being bitten by a dog when she was little. She was quite a bolshy cheerful girl so she kind of made light of it, but I felt so sorry for her.

It probably never made the news as no-one died but there must be loads of kids this happens to.

I can’t believe your partner is more concerned about the dog and the fact you might be upset rather than his own baby that will be in the house soon? How you could even imagine bringing a baby into that home I don’t know. And saying you will keep the dog away from the baby? You realise your baby will be with you 24 hours a day? So where is the dog? I would be more worried by the fact my partner is more interested in the dog than your new child to be honest!!

This Poor dog. Never get another pet.

I say this as someone who’s child was bit by a dog in a park at 1 years old. No I won’t forgive the owner because my son will forever have a bald patch thanks to them. Thankfully nothing more serious.