Putting down a dog?

dub_dan

Hi all,

Just looking for people's opinions on this, more so what you do sorta thing, (hence pi not the animals forum)

My family has had a ****zu for about 4 or 5 years now, from a pup,, he's always been a bit touchy, if he's sleeping and you had to move him he'd give you a little growl, harmless though.

Yesterday he hurt his paw, my mam was trying to get a closer look when he bit her, it didnt break the skin but left a nice bruise and indentation on her hand. She was very shaken by this as he is very well looked after (especially by my mam, walks etc) and thought there was a certain amount of respect there.

She brought him to the vet and he basically said the dog should never do that even if you try to touch his injured paw, he told her to watch his behaviour and said if he got anybody outside my family like that they would have grounds to get him put down. Something we would never ever consider at the time.

Then today everyone ignored him (because he bit my mam), didnt get the same level of attention he normally gets, wasn't allowed wander the house like normal.

This afternoon he bit my dad as he went to pet him (felt sorry for the dog being ignored with the bandaged foot and all)

This bite was pretty serious, dad had to go to hospital get anti-biotics and tetnis etc.....

We were talking afterwards saying how lucky if was my dad he got and not some little child or similar. (silver lining?)
Now my parents are getting the dog put down I think, I can see their point but they're both very emotionally attached to him.

What would you do in this situation?

Advice please!

speaktofrank

I think the dog shouldn't be put down, I think his bites may stem from a fear of getting his paw hurt. (much the same way you would slap anyone who looked like there were going to touch you if you had bad sunburn. (hope I am making sense here)
Anyway wait until the wound clears up then see what his reaction is, preferably with a kitchen glove or something similar

milkerman

Dogs are social pack animals. In each pack there is a pecking order. Your dog considers your family as it's pack. Problem is he might think he is at the top end of the pecking order, particularly if he has been spoilt.
If you want to keep him you will have to teach him his place. The old fashioned way was to give him a hiding when he misbehaves - snapping at someone would result in the pack leader turning on him.
I dont like this way myself but dont know any other. It is not easy.
One-way trip to the vet is probably easiest.:(

LegacyUser

No, I dont think the dog needs to be put down, yes he has bitten, which isnt right but if you honestly in your heart of hearts feel that he has a chance then dont put him down. Id suggest teaching your dog that he isnt head honcho in your house and you are the pack leader deserve respect. Look into getting a book called the Dog Listener by jan fennell, its a good book on how to train dogs without hitting or abuse. Sounds like mumbo jumbo but its not. this does work.

Esel

dub_dan wrote:

Then today everyone ignored him (because he bit my mam), didnt get the same level of attention he normally gets, wasn't allowed wander the house like normal.

Is the dog supposed to understand why this is happening? Because he won't.

As an outsider to the situation, I'd say put him down........

But, given the injured paw (enough for a bandage so probably painful), I'd maybe give it him one last chance. Keep him from public places till it heals up. Show him his place though, as milkerman said. Why does he need to be moved while sleeping? Because he's on an armchair/couch? If so, allowing the dog to be up on chair etc. makes him think he is the boss. Change this behaviour! He should know his place in your 'pack', which is lower than all the people in it. Feed him after you have eaten; ignore him when leaving him home alone; when you return ignore him also - acknowledge him later.

If he is snappy after paw is healed - he goes.

However, if you ever have children in the house, he should go to doggie heaven pronto. Having a child scarred physically and/or mentally is not worth the risk.

Kitchen glove may not be a good idea, as it may provoke a reaction.

biko

I think this really is a animals forum issue as the dog can be trained to be obedient, even if it has bitten your parents.

He may have quite a pain in the paw and this would cause him lashing out. Even small dogs can be fierce.

Ask around for Puppy Obedience classes that you can take him to when the paw is healed.

TerrorFirmer

Whoah, I can't believe how easily people can say that it should be put down. I mean seriously, you say you've had him 4 or 5 years in the family - so obviously from the way you're talking, the biting is a recent development. Dogs are prone to moods like the best of us, my own dog, a beautiful one that usually loves company and goes crazy for attention, once bit a child when she was, like what you've described, in pain and just wanting her own space.

Give the dog a chance for gods sake, maybe if there was a history of negativity on its part you'd have to really think about it but for something thats clearly so out of character I can't believe the first port of call is 'Have him put down'.

As for children, it's your responsibility to keep an eye on him, to make sure there is no interaction with children in the next while.

mateo

I agree with Havok.

Putting him down is such an easy way out. Do you really think it's worth killing him over biting incidents when you've had him for about 4 years?

The dog is in pain, so it's understandable that he is touchy about people going near his paw.

My dog was like this once. His paw was extrememly painful and he got angry if you touched it. But NEVER did I consider putting him down! :eek: He's fine now, and doesn't bite or get angry, simply because he is no longer in pain

Beruthiel

Dan
You have posted this in the Pets forum already, the place it should be in.
B