I feel like it's my fault.?

Question

My dog, in other words, my best friend, one day bit me all because I was disciplining her. I did what I was suppoosed to, I was told to discipline her when she does something bad. She had bitten all 5 of us in the family before, so my dad took her to have her put to sleep. I feel like it's my fault she's dead. If I hadn't disciplined her, she might still be here. Can you make me feel better? We got a sweet puppy, and I love her, but I still miss my old one.

Please only answer this if you are truly trying to help me.

greedneyedmommy's question: I disciplined her by telling her "NO!" because she was chewing up tissue under the table.

No one says it's my fault. They know I did the right thing by disciplining her.

Answer 1

Hun, i'm very sorry to hear about your dog being put to sleep. I know it's hard and it takes time to feel better---but your family made the right choice. It's not your fault for disciplining her---Dogs have to learn that when they do something bad it's "Bad Dog" , or "No...princess/sweety/duke." And, when dogs do something good it's "Good boy!" or "Good girl Abby." You didn't do anything wrong. She was biting the whole family and she would not stop it seems---and taking her to a shelter they would have just put her down anyways. You didn't do anything wrong---don't feel so bad for yourself--and enjoy the new pup--and look forward to new beginnings,..plus--your pup is in doggy heaven<3<3<3

Answer 2

It isn't your fault. The dog had an aggressive temperament. I think that there just wasn't anything that you could have done.
If you did not discipline the dog, as you were told to do, then maybe you would not have been bitten, but the dog surely would have been disciplined by someone else in the house, and the dog would have bitten them instead.
What I'm trying to say to you is that it would not have mattered what you could have done differently, the end result would have been the same.
Of course you miss your dog, and that's okay, it will get better with time.
I hope that you figure out how to forgive yourself, I really feel that there was just nothing that you could have done to make it any different. You're a good person.
Good luck, I hope that I helped.

Answer 3

Think about it like this.. Does your family have children or are going to have children? It could have been them.. Usually when a dog retaliates towards a family member it knows its a lot nicer then a non family member. Your dog could have gotten out and attacked a toddler then you would have had a law suit on your hands maybe even a dead toddler...my point is everything happens for a reason and maybe your dad is just trying to do the right thing. its not your fault you did what you were supposed to and that's all you can do.

Answer 4

I'm sorry to hear about your dog. You had to discipline her otherwise she would have kept on doing things she shouldn't have. Part of being a pet owner is learning how to discipline the pet. It seems that there may have been some underlying problem for your dog to react the way that she did. It's unfortunate that she had to be put down, but she may have seriously hurt someone.

Answer 5

I am so sorry that your dog was put down. You had to discipline her because that behavior is not good. If she was going to bite she would have anyway, not because of what you did. You have to be the so to say pack leader, and that was what she was trying t be. Thank God that she did not do serious damage to you, your family, or a friend. Could have really cost your then. Enjoy your new puppy, ok to miss her, but let her and your guilt go. Wagging puppy tails and wet dog kisses.

Answer 6

Not your fault, but depends on your age, If your 40 your an idiot. It was probably your parents fault. Sounds like you are a teen, maybe younger. Dogs need to be trained, but most people want to buy a dog, that "looks pretty" and that's it. Dogs grow, mature and become independent creatures that have needs and if all you did to correct the behavior of the dog was to beat her, she probably bit you and everyone else out of fear.

I've had dogs my whole life, Norwich Terriers to Hounds to Pit bulls. The number one thing to remember is you need to be the boss (all humans above dog). Contrary to some belief, I always had the fear of God in my dogs, never under any circumstance has one of my dogs ever considered biting me, they feared death. But be care full; may or may not be your case - if you hit or beat a dog, he may fear for his/her life enough to bite you.

Dogs fear attitude, this is why a teacup poodle could be the godfather in a group of great danes. You can become alpha with a little attitude. the next dog, and it sounds like you already have one, needs to go to dog school or a trainer needs to come in and work with the whole family.

Second suggestion is to buy a breed that matches your lifestyle and buy from a reputable breeder, not a pet shop. A poorly bred dog is almost certainly unstable and may not ever be trainable (contrary to some belief again)

Answer 7

I am so sorry to hear that. You have to realize it was for the best. You can not have a dog with a habitual bite history. What if one of you were babysitting and the dog snapped and the baby got hurt.

I work with an all volunteer no kill animal rescue and the one reason we may have to occasionally have a dog pts is if it is a true danger to society. We deal with aggressive issues with them, we understand each dog has its own personality that it may not be good with little children or cats or other dogs and we place them in homes that are suitable to their needs. We make all attempts to place them where the bite temptation will not exist. However; some have been so over bred and inbred that they really can not be helped. Usually purebreds from so called reputable breeders.

I had an 8 month 115 lb great dane that was only going to get bigger and stronger. He was great with me and my cats and the other dogs he loved to run and play with him. No one else could get near him I did everything I could to figure out what the problem was. He had backed me up against the wall one night in the middle of the night so I thought maybe he couldnt see. I cost the program a lot of money trying to save this stupid dog that wanted to eat everyone. We had three vets tell us we had to let him go and animal control did not want the dog adopted in their localities.

We had tried finding other women but he would not tolerate the rest of their families. Including children. He hated my daughter too. She could not come in the house. I could not risk my child or anyone elses child it had to be done. I laid in tears in his puke as he was put to sleep as if I failed him. ( I made my mom take my cat when she was to sick to live anymore - I don't know how I managed to go with him)

We have all had to deal with a dog that had to be pts. You did nothing wrong we all do our best. You do have to teach your pet to receive discipline. And its perfectly acceptable for you to miss her. remember to start you new puppy on a regimented training program to avoid such issues.

I do know a couple of people that have dogs that are out of control and should be pts. One guy has two dogs that have sent him to the hospital when they see each other. Another girl has had her whole family in the hospital bloody from a dog that she insists on keeping even though she has scares. You don't want to live that way wondering how far your dog would have gone. Wondering if one of your siblings had a friend over and they tried to tell your dog no to something and they ended up hurt. Its better that your dad do it than the local shelter taking him off while you are crying and confusing him more.

They tell me all the time - You can't save them all!! But I try my damndest.

Answer 8

My dog just bit my fiance the other day when we were trying to discipline him. It was our fault that the dog bit him because Cesar Milan The Dog Whisperer says when a dog is in that state of mind it is an unstable state of mind, and we as humans need to be calm and assertive at that moment. Watch The Dog Whisperer, it is on the National Geographic Channel.

Answer 9

It is not your fault. It was a matter of time before she bit someone again and your dad had already made up his mind that this could not be tolerated. A dog that will bite her people is a danger to the family. She could have also bit people outside you family, possibly injuring a child or worse. Your dad did what he felt he had to do. With the new puppy, ask if you and the puppy could go together to a dog training course so you can make sure that you understand the proper techniques for raising a dog to be a well-behaved member of your family. You don't have to forget your old dog, but in honor of the love you felt for her, invest yourself in raising up the new puppy to be a good dog.

Answer 10

I think that if the whole family would have disciplined the dog more and in the proper way the dog would of not biten anyone. The dog sould of been tought from an early age that it is not ok to bite people.