Posted on 07/21/2020 6:24:09 AM PDT by BubbaBasher
I've had two dogs that I rescued 8 years ago. I started off with one but his separation anxiety was so bad I got the second one to keep him company. They were very attached to each other. Two weeks ago I had put the first one to sleep due to a severe medical issue.
The second one has bitten 5 people over the last 8 years only drawing blood of a vet assistant yesterday. The others were nips. He has snipped at several young children too. I have made many attempts to socialize him to no avail. He just gets left at home now to avoid any further issues. He is 9 years old. I have looked into getting him a companion but he has rejected the two candidates I was interested in. (fights and growls)
He is very gentle and affectionate to me and has two other humans and one dog that he likes. I have no doubt that he would have been put down long ago if someone else had adopted him.
After the bite yesterday I am considering putting him to sleep but I've never put down a dog that wasn't sick and I am highly conflicted. What's everyone's opinion?
My best friend had to put her dog down last year. It had torn up the neighbors old golden retriever and bitten the landscaping guy who was his second bite. The guy was threatening to sue. She took him to her longtime vet and he was very humanely euthanized. It’s a hard thing to face but sometimes it happens.
Sounds like you picked the wrong breed or breeder.
mOVING. hAVE TO GIVE MY KITTIE TO DAUHTER.VERY PAINFUL.
My wife is a vet. She has put down at owners request dogs like this. Not worth scaring a young childs face for life and you being sued into the ground.
There are too many good dogs out there.
Do it.
Time for him to cross Rainbow Bridge imho - I’ve seen three of my dogs go and it’s peaceful if you are committed to it.
Mutts often are healthier. AKC breeders put too much emphasis on looks over performance. My Border Collie is purebred but NOT AKC...his registry is performance oriented.
There are good breeders out there but they are hard to find. I'm fond of German Shepherds but would not think of buying one from an AKC breeder.
No thank you! That is just WEIRD.
A son had to do it,the dog was 5 years old and couldn’t be trusted.
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Whenever I find a dilemma like this i find it easier to get an answer when I ask myself...
“What is the RIGHT thing to do”
Not, what I WANT, NEED, HOPE, DESIRE...
Do the RIGHT thing. I’d also pray and hope for God’s answer, which often comes to me in the night.
I’m so sorry you’re going though this. We’ve been there.... we had an English Mastiff (gentle giant?) who was “picture perfect” and wonderful with us, but extremely protective. Thankfully he never bit anyone, but he would have had he not been restrained, which was no easy feat since he weighed about 215 lbs. We knew he couldn’t be rehomed, that would have just passed the problem on, no amount of Prozac calmed him enough, and we couldn’t take him anywhere, so we had no option but to have him euthanized at 4 years old. It was so painful for us, but he wasn’t worth the risk.
I will probably be a minority of one for this suggestion, but if I was really attached to the dog and he/she to me, I would take whatever measures are necessary to be CERTAIN that it NEVER again has access to other people or other pets. That can be done, but it will take your full commitment. HINT: Use cages, and leashes, and if necessary, obedience training. If your dog will not obey your commands, is that your fault or the dog’s?
Any dog that bites a child is useless.
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Is it less useless if it bites an adult? Dogs require training, often their owners do as well.
There’s no reason to kill this dog, muzzle her when she’s in public.
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Excellent post. I didn’t think about muzzles when I posted because I’ve never had the need to use one. Anyhow, appears we’re in the minority on this thread for suggesting alternatives to euthanization.
>He is very gentle and affectionate to me and has two other humans and one dog that he likes.
Unless you feel he is going to hurt you or a family member you can’t separate from, I am not sure what the problem is?
Does he have to interact with other people?
The other option would be to adopt him out to a professional trainer. I had two alpha dogs who fought mercilessly, and I was sure one would eventually kill the other. Nothing would stop them, so I separated them. Got Sport-Dog extra-strength electric shock collars for both, and in two minutes, both tolerated each other for the rest of their lives. When there was the occasional growl that didn’t stop, I would get the control and shake the lanyard clamp, and both would immediately ignore each other, because they didn’t want the shock.
The point being, they can be made to be nice. But you have to have a position where you can nip them as an alpha, and they know you cannot be bargained with or ignored.
Do you know why he is aggressive, or what happened?
There are so many friendly, good dogs being euthanized every day that it makes no sense to keep a dog that might hurt someone. I understand how much it hurts to lose a pet, but just think how you will feel if the dog bites a child in the face. Time for the dog to go, I’m sorry.
That German Shepard Dog in your picture will be screened for hip dysplasia problems. The person who owns that dog in the picture will not breed their bitch IF it has hip problems. That is what you are paying for.
Thanks for everyone’s opinion. I put him to sleep Tuesday evening. It’s still very raw.
Painful choice... but a part of you knows the current situation might be sad for your dog - being left alone... and dangerous for children.
You sense it's hard for him to be left alone... and you're probably right. How likely it is that a child could be hurt is also a concern. You're a kind person Basher... These are things sensitive people care about.
My grandmother felt dogs went to heaven... and that we'll see our pets again. If she's right this dog will be back with his friend... and you'll see them both again at some point in the future. Rough choice... You're in my prayers Bubba...
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