the decision to put a dog to final rest

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Our oldest dog is 7, a pit-mix. He is used to be quite a sweetie, but in the past year or two especially his demeanor has changed. Tonight he got in a scrap with the younger dog, 4 yo yellow lab, over his muzzle. The muzzle was out of their reach, and when Max thought Whiskey was trying to get it, he freaked out. They happened to be in the opened dog pen where Whiskey spends his days while we're away. This bout put me on the edge and I called DH at work immediately telling him he has to do something with the dog.

Max wears a muzzle during the day to control his barking because we share the main house door with an apartment on the 2nd floor. He barks everytime they come in and out and they've been here since November. He's always barked, but it's more frequently in this place (his 4th home with us), of course these old plaster walls and ceilings do nothing to absorb the sound, but echo and make it seem louder. Max will search for his muzzle when he's not wearing it, trying with all his might to reach it (on a high shelf out of his reach) and if it's left where he can get it he licks it all up and growls if you try to take it.

Max is in good health and we love him, but these fights that the dogs get into are scary. We do what we can to prevent them when we see behavior indicating one's about to start. But my nerves are a complete wreck for the first couple of hours when I get home, about the same time as the folks upstairs. By about 7 in the evening he calms down, but always has an ear to the door. He worst when DD and I are home alone and DH is working. He is being the protector he was brought home to be.

So my question is, how do you come to the decision to put a dog down?

 

[Spinning]

Oh I feel for you! I can't even imagine the thought of putting a healthy young dog down But I truly feel if a dog could possible turn or bit then it is not safe to have around. Our friends had a beautiful shepard they had to put down. The vet felt it was mentally unbalanced. Almost skitzo. It was one of the sweetest dogs and then it turned on the owner growling and biting. then she said you could see a transformation come over his face and he was back to a wonderful sweet dog. I would contact a no kill shelter first. see if they have room. I would also take him to the vets for a consultation. They or at least ours has a very good view on dogs temperment. Has the dog had 4 owners or you have moved 4 times?
Even though he is old you might want to look into a really good dog school not Petco or similar but one that trains dogs for show. They usually can provide lots of answers. We took ours and it was very informative.
Good luck.

 

[lisajl]

Unfortunately, most shelters will not take a pit mix. Too much controversy. Not to mention, if the dog is getting dog aggressive, you may have a bigger problem down the road.

I would contact your vet and see what they have to say.

About 2 months ago we had to help put a mean dog down at work. It was horrible. The dog was only about 6 and it started to turn on the other dogs at its house.
Then, the husband tried to break it up, and he ended up in the emergency room.

Please, please talk to your vet. They will be the voice of reason.

Good luck to you...it is a hard decision to make, but you need to face this problem.

Lisajl

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

We've had him since he was 8 weeks old. We've moved that many times. I think he could behave differently if we had a house with no adjoining walls (in a row home, bleh).

 

[Saffron]

Oh, I feel for you! Do you think it's a territory scrap, or do you think he may be mentally unstable? That is so sad. I know how you feel. I had to have an akita put down at 1 1/2 because of her mental instability. I didn't do my research to find out the background on her parents. It was just tragic and broke my heart. It's a very tough, personal decision, one I would base on what is best for you and your dog.

{{{{Hugs}}}}

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

they can get along and play together, it's territorial and the young one is not always innocent. He likes to throw his weight around and thinks he is the more dominant pet. We try to treat them equally.

how much of an effect does not having either one neutered have on these situations?

 

[lisajl]

Oh Boy!!!! Get them both neutered!

The dog I told you about...was not neutered.

Please....get them fixed!!

Lisajl
edit* I work for a veterinary hosp. Please don't take this the wrong way, but a lot of people do not understand why it is important to get their animals fixed.

With males they are extremely territorial. They will fight to protect what they think is theirs. Here is another plus, less chance for prostate cancer.
Females, less chance for infected uterus and or cancer.

Please call your vet and talk to them. If you don't have one, call your local humane society and they can help you.

Lisa

 

[Saffron]

What Lisa said!!!!!! It's a huge factor in territorial disputes and in over all dispostion! Maybe all is not lost yet! Sounds like there may be some hope there!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

age is not a factor? not that seven is old, but it should have been done long agao, can't answer as to why we haven't- except that Whiskey is pure-bred yellow lab and belongs to my brother.

 

[Serena]

Getting them fixed and putting them through some behavior training might make the difference and you may not have anything to worry about.

 

[lisajl]

Age...are you referring to (they are too old to get neutered) or (does age have something to do with the dogs attitude)?

Not too old to get neutered. I understand the other one is not your dog, but purebred or not, you do not have to keep the breed going. I don't mean to sound rude, forgive me if I do, but I see too many stray animals. There is no reason not to get a dog or cat fixed.

Now, as far as age is concerned, you never know. The dog might have physical problems it could be causing him to be grouchy.
ie..arthritis, etc.

Lisajl

 

[Jenzebelle]

Please do not put your dog down without first exploring every option available.

This might sound harsh - but when you get a dog, you are making a committment to it for it's life.
There are many reasons why a dog might become aggressive. Particularly if the dog had no aggression in the past.

I urge you to please take your dog to the vet and get any animals you have spayed/neutered. It will make a marked improvement in their behavior. There also might be something else physically wrong with the dog.

And sometimes all it takes is a few weeks of obedience training or work with an animal behaviorist. Dogs fight, just like humans do. I know mine "bicker" quite a bit if they think the other one is trying to steal a treat or push the other off the favorite cushion.

Please, I beg you, don't kill a dog because it doesn't get along with another one. Especially considering it isn't fixed.

 

[Bob O]

I totally agree with Jenzebelle!!!
It is inhumane to kill a animal for your mere convience!!!! When you get a animal you should take the good with the bad and just because things may not work out perfectly the answer shouldnt be to kill the dog!!!! Would you kill one of your kids if they start fighting w/each other????
Now their is a difference between humans and dogs, thats for sure but the answer shouldnt be so callous as to just get kill the dog because some arent getting along!!! This type of thought process makes it clear why so many animals are at shelters and are put to death due to the actions of their owners!!

 

[EltonJohn]

iNTeNSeBLue98,

I would <I>not</i> put this dog down. It looks like a bahvioural problem that can be fixed. My suggestion is to go to a dog trainer and explain the situation, and see if he cannot fix the problem.

Another alternative is to make sure the dogs are seperated at all times. My family had a similar problem with our dogs. Cinnamon (the Alpha) did not like our new dog Pepper (and yes, they did fight). Cinnamon died, and Pepper became the Alpha. Then we got Bo, and Pepper didn't like him, and they fought.

Simple solution, we seperated Cinnamon and Pepper, and then Pepper from Bo. Only in her later years did Pepper (who died at nearly 16) tolerate Bo (now 12).

If push comes to shove and you find that you cannot find a solution to this problem, then <B>PLEASE</B> call you local pit bull rescue group. Putting this dog down should be the <I>very last resort</i>.

diane

 

[EltonJohn]

Originally posted by iNTeNSeBLue98
they can get along and play together, it's territorial and the young one is not always innocent. He likes to throw his weight around and thinks he is the more dominant pet. We try to treat them equally.

how much of an effect does not having either one neutered have on these situations?

That might be your problem right there. It sounds that your pit-mix is the Alpha dog, yet you are treeating them as if they are equals. Dogs have a distinct heirarchy (the pack), and it is best that you adhere to this natural heirarchy. If you don't then problems like you describe will come up.

I strongly recommend that you read up on how a wolf pack operates, and that you look around the following websites:

http://www.amstaff.org/
http://clubs.akc.org/sbtci/
http://www.akc.org/

About spaying/neutering dogs. I concur with the others that dogs who are not spayed or neutered will tend to be more agressive.

diane

 

[peg2001]

1. Neuter both dogs
2. Obediance train both dogs
3. Treat the pit mix as the alpha dog: great first, feed first, etc.

Invest in dog gates/pens whatever you need to keep them separate when you are not there. Once they are trained, if you see them start to get edgy, you can order them both to lay down in different parts of the room. This would help tremendously.

Good luck. It doesn't sounds like euthanasia is needed at this point. If, after taking all these steps, the dog continues to get more aggressive, and especially if he starts to become aggressive towards you, your DH, or your child, then consider putting him down.

Peggy

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Thank you all so much for you insight. Putting him down is the last resort, something we do not want to do. We'll have to sharpen our training skills and put less emphasis treating them equally when it comes to treats and tricks. Max is the smarter of the two, learns in no time. Whiskey only learns by following Max's lead, he doesn't think for himself (hmmm, why didn't we pick up on the Alpha dog on that one). I really appreciate all of your helpfulness.