Agression

Our dog, Pete, bit my mother in law this weekend. For years we have been on tiptoes around Pete, he's grouchy, and the list of things he doesn't like is long. You can pet him, but he doesn't like it when you stop, and never fall for the pet my tummy trick; don't touch his feet (even though we did this a lot when he was a puppy); don't hold a treat in your fingers, put it on the floor or in the palm of your hand; stand in between him and Jax while they eat or it could get nasty; don't wake him up suddenly, he'll snap at you; don't mess with his ears; don't meet him in a doorway - and the list goes on.

We have pretty much taught Hudson not to mess with Pete, making sure he doesn't disturb him or get in a bad situation. When Pete decides to attack Jax it makes Hudson cry. Hudson has still gotten bitten a few times nothing too serious, but still very painful. Jax will also bite you, but his little 12 pound toy schnauzer self can barely chomp up a Cheeto, let alone leave a mark, and Eleanor only likes to chomp on leftover fast food napkins and socks. It's Pete that's the problem. Before, when it was just Tim and I, we made concessions and excuses. Pete even bit Tim once across the eyebrow and nose and Tim had to wear a bandaid and has a scar on his eyebrow. I've been bitten numerous times, especially in the bed because Pete likes to sleep by my feet and me moving around might wake him up and he attacks my feet. His bite can leave a bruise through the covers.

Saturday night when he bit my mother in law, who was not seriously injured, thank God, she was petting him and stopped and he turned around and bit her forearm. Not really breaking the skin but hurting a lot. I'm not sure she will ever come back to our house because of it. Later that night, I told Tim that if Pete does not have some kind of serious attitude adjustment in the next month, we are not bringing him to the new house. He is going to have to find another home or be put to sleep. I can not risk my children, family or my kid's friends anymore. What am I going to say when I am in the emergency room with a child who has bite marks all over their face or is missing a finger or a toe? That I'm sorry, Pete's ears were bothering him and he was grouchy? We wouldn't let Hudson go over to someone's house that had a pit bull. We wouldn't let a snake roam around our house just waiting to strike. But we are housing a dog who we KNOW will bite and that the bite is very painful and destructive and are allowing my kid (soon to be kids) and my sister's boys to be around with no warning other than, "Stay away from Pete."

I think this is reckless and that he is eventually going to really injure someone. What if that someone is a friend Hudson has over? What then? What if it's a new baby? Tim's solution is that we are just going to have to "be more careful" and "keep Pete separated." Well, I can't watch Hudson every second of every day. He's almost 2 ½, he's going to be playing in his toy room by himself, and he goes outside by himself some. He's also able to get out of his bed own his own. What are we going to do when he comes in our room in the middle of the night and tries to get into bed with us and startles Pete and Pete attacks him? And then you have a new baby to add to the list of distractions that would keep us from being super diligent about watching Pete, and I don't know what we'll do. The new house doesn't lend itself to blocking off areas with gates like we do now, so Pete will have free range. I don't want my kids to live behind a bunch of gates either. Tim offered to put one in front of the toy room. That means that anytime Hudson or one of the boys wants to get in or out of there, we have to take the gate down or lift them over it. And that is just ridiculous to me.

I'm torn, Pete was our first dog, and most of what is wrong with him is not his fault, it's bad breeding. I truly believe that if another family had gone home with him, with all the heath problems he has had, he would not still be around. Someone else would have given up long ago. What will happen if someone takes him and he bites them seriously? We knew it could happen and gave him away anyway. Last night I really thought about it and it made me cry to think about actually taking him to the vet to be put to sleep. But I don't know what else to do. Please, if you have any suggestions, let me in on them. Because putting him to sleep is looking like the only option we have and it breaks my heart.

Comments

[CPA Mom]

Sweetheart, I am so sorry you are going through this. You are right, you have to put him down or give him away and with an agressive history, it's doubtful anyone would take him. You cannot, cannot, CANNOT risk him biting again. And until he is gone, your kids cannot have play dates. Your babies, your family are too important. And remind Tim of the litigious society we live in - Pete bites someone else and you will be sued. You WILL. (((HUGS)))

[Kellie]

Ugh. This SUCKS!! My former sister-in-law had a beautiful shepard mix, but he was a handful from the beginning. He bit all of us and it was the same as with you--stay away from him, keep him gated elsewhere, etc. But, in the end, he bit one of my nieces on the face. The SIL HAD to put him down. She felt horrible for it, but she knew it'd be tough to place him with another family.

It's hard. It really sucks. I agree with CPA Mom...people are sue happy these days. Is that another chance you want to take?

Wish I had a magical answer for you. Unfortunately, my answer is the sad one. It would kill me to have to do it, though.

Good luck with your decision--keep us posted.

[Erin]

Oh, I am so sorry that you're going through all this.

My dog also has aggression issues and we've been there. Oh, have we been there. We've pretty much decided that the first time that Domino lays teeth on ANYONE, he's history. Like you, I don't want to have someone else's children bitten because my dog's a butt-head.

That said, I trust my dog (for the most part) with my kids. He has been fairly patient with them and when he's done being loved on by them, he gets up and walks away. When I have friends over, the dog goes downstairs and hangs out in his crate.

I spoke with my vet about Domino's aggression and his specific issues and broached the subject of trying to give him to a more appropriate family and she said that giving a dog away with known aggression issues just doesn't work. If you take him to a shelter, he will be put down.

It might be the kindest thing you can do for Pete to take him to the vet and lovingly end his grumpiness. If you look at it from his perspective, with the gating and the separation and your nervousness, he's going to wonder why his "pack" doesn't like him any more.

Good luck to you. These are hard days and hard decisions to make.

[Rachel]

I wish I had some words of advice for you, but I totally agree with you that Pete has to go. You just cannot take that chance that he could hurt someone. Like you said, it's not his fault, but, unfortunately, that's just how he is. To be honest, if it were me, as hard as it may be, I would probably have him put down. I don't think that I would want him to go to someone else only to bite more or bite the wrong person and get himself hurt.

Good luck with this. I know it's hard.

[cagey]

Yikes. Not sure if I should be giving advice, considering I am the one who bought a TARANTULA last week. But. I would never leave Sofia out of her cage with the kids alone. And it will be a LONG time before the kids will be allowed to handle her.

You are right to be very worried and the decision is not an easy one. It seems the dog cannot be trusted. I am really sorry, I know how it is with pets, though.

[Queen Mommy]

It sucks. You will make the right decision, whatever you decide. It is so very hard!

[Chick]

Aww...I'm so sorry.

[katey]

email:
http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/

I would pay money to see him at your house.

[HollowSquirrel]

Oooh gosh. I'm so sorry! I hope your MIL is ok and that you guys have gotten some good advice because I have none. I just sense the stress of this situation...and don't envy your decision. GOOD LUCK. And yes, get that dog whisperer to your house (cuz it's that easy, right, just asking him? lol).

[SJ]

I think you know in your heart what needs to be done in regards to Pete - and that's why it's so tough for you.

I wish you luck.