Thoughts on putting a dog down for biting?

**Mandos*Bella** · 10-13-2005, 10:20 AM

I was on LJ and belong to a group for JR Terriers. A woman posted on there about her problem. Please read it here:

This is a last ditch effort.

Douglas bit me. This is his fourth bite. I am afraid of him and no longer desire to try to work with him. We talked to a few behaviorists and we were told that we should keep him on a gentle leader, muzzles, a dragline pretty much all the time. My boyfriend and I came to the conclusion that we just can't do it anymore. It is ripping our relationship apart. He doesn't agree with muzzling and constant gentle leaders. I am just plain and simply terrified. I can't do it. And I feel like it's our faults. It's not, though. His previous owners didn't do what was necessary to stop his aggression as a puppy.

We are going to take him to the humane society to be boarded. If we can't find an answer within two days, he will be surrendered. If anyone would like to take him(NO KIDS IN THE FAMILY PLEASE) let me know. I am in the Minneapolis area.

Don't make me feel evil. I have done everything in my power to help. He wasn't allowed on furniture, he was hand fed...any advice I recieved on how to handle him--I took it.

This dog is wonderful with men. Single men with no other pets. He just can't get enough of men. But women on the other hand. Women and children he just has no respect for. So, if you are a single guy....

After many urges by other posters to try other things, the woman put the dog to sleep that same day. I can't help but feel she did this because she didn't like the dog; it sounded as she gave her bf an ultimatum.

Please read and post your comments. I can't help but be sickened by her actions.

Here is the link to the post and the comments (she got a lot):http://www.livejournal.com/community...rs/296282.html

**Kristen78** · 10-13-2005, 10:25 AM

I could never put my dog down for biting, but at the same time neither of my dogs have ever bitten a person. This woman says she has done everything she can, but she also admits that she isn't willing to try the trainer's advice of using a muzzle or gentle leader or whatever it is because her "boyfriend doesn't agree with it". I think if you are ready to put a dog down so easily then you probably shouldn't own a dog.

I do think there might be times when you have to put an aggressive dog down though, but it seems like there might always be an alternative.

**Lanapoo** · 10-13-2005, 10:31 AM

I think it's awful. Pretty much every breed has a rescue society and they will foster animals until they can be placed in a suitable home. The people who foster the animals will know how to help with the aggression problem. I think I would try that option before putting the dog down. There are certainly dogs who are not placeable, but I think that the one fostering the dog would be more qualified to make that decision.

**Mandos*Bella** · 10-13-2005, 10:35 AM

ITA, this woman didn't do much of anything but whine about her own problems. A poster told her never to get another dog or have kids, to which the woman replied she had 3 other dogs.

Scorpion woman.

**Freckles** · 10-13-2005, 10:35 AM

How heartbreaking. The poor dog was probably confused about his role in the pack---the boyfriend should have determined his role as the alpha dog. They obviously didn't do everything that they could, because this statement:
He doesn't agree with muzzling and constant gentle leaders. says that they skipped some very reasonable measures to correct things.

And they should have surrendered to a Russell Rescue that would place the dog in the right home. A behaviorist could have helped greatly as well. Sounds like they didn't want to train properly. Yes, it is tiring, but not everyone should just be a dog parent. I feel so bad for the dog.

It seems like they gave up instead of seeking out actual solutions. Yes, a biting/aggressive dog is scary, but someone could have taught them how to correct the situation, or they could have re-homed the dog to a family that could committ the time.

**Sue** · 10-13-2005, 10:40 AM

And being a JRT - a very high active dog - I would bet that the dog wasn't getting enough exercise and mental stimulation that probably manifested itself. Some people shouldn't even own a stuffed dog.

**Mandos*Bella** · 10-13-2005, 10:42 AM

I know. I feel so bad for him. He had no idea what was going on, probably.

She said this later on :
Yup. I told my boyfriend, since this was the second bite to me, that if he takes the dog into his home that I will not move in with him later. And I wouldn't have. I shouldn't have to put up with a dog that hurts me. No one should.

He is gone now. He went to sleep in our arms. With a smile on his face.

Ugh. I so shouldn't have read that-I have an interview in an hour and I am all teary-eyed. Poor, poor little guy.

Sue- ITA, she just wanted instant satisfaction. Idiot.

**villanelle75** · 10-13-2005, 10:52 AM

It's disgusting. If she didn't want to keep the dog, I can understand that. My parent's recently resuced a dog who is large (abotu 100 lbs.) and capable of doign far more damage than a JRT. He's got a lot of issues because he clearl yhad a very veru rough life previous to ending up in a rescue foster hoem adn then at my parents' house. He's caused her to get 8 stiches and her arms are covered in small tooth-shaped scabs. She calls them her "Barley holes'. (The dog's name is Barley.) She's thought about giving him up several times, including after an incident two weekends ago where he went after Dh when we were visiting and DH startled him. Dh has several tooth holes on his chest and a lovely yellow bruise. However, she feels it is her resonsibility to exhaust every last possibility and to give this dog every chance that his previsou owners took from him. I see the struggle though and the anguish she goes through in being a little afrid of the dog she is quickly growing to love, and in being afriad every time she has people over.

I say all this to show that I really understand this woman's plight and if she felt she couldn't handle the dog, I woudl have understood that. But to have him killed simply because she didnt' want to try anymore is sickening. Any JRT rescue group would have taken that dog in without hesitation. I hope when this woman is older that her children, or whomever takes care of her, treat he with the same "compassion".

**Kristen78** · 10-13-2005, 10:54 AM

It really bothers me that a veterinarian would euthanize a dog that could have a chance for a better life in a different home. Do they really just euthanize any dog that the owner doesn't want anymore?? I would think that vets would have to have morals and what not. Although I'm sure some will do anything for money.