Should I have my dog put down?

[MichaelM]

I'd say no, you shouldn't have him put down.

You know that he gets anxious - starts barking, growling and running around when you have visitors... so if you can't control him, you should manage him effectively. One option would be to put him somewhere safe and out of harms way before allowing visitors to enter.

Your wife opened the door before you had him under control and he kicked off - and now due to a lack of communication and because of your own failings you want to kill him.

We have been looking to rehome him ourselves but had no luck. He is lovely dog outside of his anxieties, which I had lovingly entitled 'bozo dog', but we have to be honest and say we can't handle it and are not prepared to put the time and money into it. I don't like the picture it paints of me in truth.

There's your problem right there - you and your wife.

 

[yello]

I don't believe that there is such a thing as a bad dog, sometimes they are just not in the ideal situation for them.

I agree entirely and we recognised some months ago that we are not the ideal place for him. The garden's not big enough for a start, he simply can't run as he'd like to. So we have been looking to rehome him, for his own benefit. Things simply came to a head today - my head!

Realistically, the prospect of us finding a home for him are slim; what with his age and the general attitude to dogs around here. Dogs are not pets, they're working or, most usually, hunting dogs. The local SPA (RSPCA) are putting dogs of his age down to clear kennel space.

Equally, we're not blessed with having a dog behaviourist locally. My wife looked into this and the closest one is around 300km away. We're - rightly or wrongly - just not prepared to make that sort of commitment. It's more than we bargained for.

I welcome your 2p worth btw.

 

[yello]

There's your problem right there - you and your wife.

Thank you for your empathy.

Your wife opened the door before you had him under control and he kicked off - and now due to a lack of communication and because of your own failings you want to kill him.

Actually, he kicked off when the door was knocked on. My wife acknowledges that, in hindsight, we should have had him under control before she opened the door, but we didn't.

 

[MichaelM]

Thank you for your empathy.

Equally, we're not blessed with having a dog behaviourist locally. My wife looked into this and the closest one is around 300km away. We're - rightly or wrongly - just not prepared to make that sort of commitment. It's more than we bargained for.

He paces around like a schizophrenic when bored! And has worn paths in the lawn pacing his usual routes. He loves to herd, it's there as an instinct even if he's never done it for real. We have to watch him around children because he'll round them up. He actually nipped a friend's daughter once, not good at all, fortunately it surprised her more than upset her.

My last tetanus jab was around 3 years ago.

We don't really know his background, other than his previous owner had him from a pup before he had to go into a retirement home. So we think Sam wasn't a working dog and had been with the same one person for his entire life. He was such a anxious wreck in the rescue home when we saw him, terrified by pretty much everything around him. He's happy in his surroundings here but gets very upset when something disrupts his world.He has stacks of energy and gets bored very easily, needing a lot of attention. I feel for him, because he clearly loves to go out and run freely but it's not possible to take him out for a run everyday when they weather's been as it has.... the poor old boy is going stir crazy!

You know what he needs, but you can't be bothered - and you expect empathy!

 

[Cycling Dan]

Thank you for your empathy.



Actually, he kicked off when the door was knocked on. My wife acknowledges that, in hindsight, we should have had him under control before she opened the door, but we didn't.

Have you tried putting him in his own room?
I would try this and give it a week or so. Then try and reintroduce him.
Although it seems you have identified the problems but after a year have done nothing to address these problems.
Realistic view. it seems to be you and your wife's failings rather than the dogs. You know what needs to be done. From reading the others posts.
Some people are not cut out to do it and your busy life seems to support this. A bit like a Jeremy Kyle episode. Expect its harder to through away a kid because it wont stop crying.

 

[Lisa21]

A dog that has already nipped(a euphemism for bite) a child, attacked its owner and is generally out of control. Without wanting to sound callous, why is the dog still alive posing further risks? Sorry, just being realistic, if your dog bites anyone else you could be in a world of trouble.

It is posts and opinions like this, and they seem to be becoming more + more frequent, that is the reason I dont come on here very much these days

And dont bother quoting or replying to this, bromptonfb..I am fully aware that your thoughts on the life of an animal is the polar opposite to mine.

 

[yello]

You know what he needs, but you can't be bothered - and you expect empathy!

Were it that we all had the time and money to be perfect.

We offered a rescue dog a home. We have tried and failed to make it work. I accept that entirely. First dog in 4 rescue dogs that we've called time on. I reckon that gives us a pretty good success rate. In all likelihood, Sam would have put down by now if it wasn't for us.

So, no, I don't "expect" empathy but neither will I accept your criticism.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

It is posts and opinions like this, and they seem to be becoming more + more frequent, that is the reason I dont come on here very much these days

And dont bother quoting or replying to this, bromptonfb..I am fully aware that your thoughts on the life of an animal is the polar opposite to mine.

Well you'd better not read other people's replies then, and since when am I not allowed to have an opinion? You do seem to have a different thought process to me on quite a few threads. I'm starting to think you don't like me....

 

[MacB]

yes in answer to the question posed in the thread title and Yello, ignore the crazies

 

[Cycling Dan]

Were it that we all had the time and money to be perfect.

We offered a rescue dog a home. We have tried and failed to make it work. I accept that entirely. First dog in 4 rescue dogs that we've called time on. I reckon that gives us a pretty good success rate. In all likelihood, Sam would have put down by now if it wasn't for us.

So, no, I don't "expect" empathy but neither will I accept your criticism.

Im not trying to make it out to be a witch hunt but..
Your first failing was expecting the dogs to be the same, clearly this one is different from the rest by the fact it demands more from you than the rest. The results of this are showing. Some people are not cut out and from the sounds of your life you have other things to do which come first, which is fine in a limited sense.
"Sam would have put down by now if it wasn't for us." very naive thing to say.
For all you know a person looking for a dog had all the spec to look after this dog and you denied him the right for X Y Z reasons.
It seems the other 3 success stories got the better of you. Similar to Germany in the war. We got France and eastern Europe lets take on the rest.

It could have become clear if you couldn't give the time to the dog and follow up with what it needs. But to put the dog down becuase of this.... well is shocking to say the least. True the dog has bite you but i would argue this is his neglect.
Anyhow rant over.

 

[Cycling Dan]

Well you'd better not read other people's replies then, and since when am I not allowed to have an opinion? You do seem to have a different thought process to me on quite a few threads. I'm starting to think you don't like me....

Its like black racism for example. People think its fine and will indulge in it. Does that make it right since its their opinion.
You are entitled to your opinion but your opinion can be wrong.
edit: In this case putting a dog down because its actions were a result of its neglect is dishonourable.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Its like black racism for example. People think its fine and will indulge in it. Does that make it right since its their opinion.
You are entitled to your opinion but your opinion can be wrong.

You sir, talk bollocks.

 

[MichaelM]

Were it that we all had the time and money to be perfect.

We offered a rescue dog a home. We have tried and failed to make it work. I accept that entirely. First dog in 4 rescue dogs that we've called time on. I reckon that gives us a pretty good success rate. In all likelihood, Sam would have put down by now if it wasn't for us.

So, no, I don't "expect" empathy but neither will I accept your criticism.

Then you are in denial.

You've said yourself that you are not prepared to make the necessary commitment, that the dog is bored, he walks the same route, and that he has stacks of energy.

How about taking him somewhere different. Take him for a run/jog now and again or take him swimming. How about some agility, or simply spending some time teaching him a few tricks. These things don't cost a fortune. If you're really strapped for time, what about employing a dog walker.

As I said earlier - you know what he needs, but you're demonstrating a remarkable lack of commitment to the dog.

 

[User6179]

If you ask me all the dog needs is a good walk!
The saying " No such thing as a bad dog"

OOPS , just read you rescued it, how was that not on your first post ?

 

[User6179]

THIS IS DEFINATELY A TROLL THREAD!