Can you please help me make a very difficult decision about my dog?

Question

My dog will be 9 this summer I love him dearly but he has been being very aggressive lately. It just started, last week my son was tugging at his hair and he snapped and almost bit him, I understand my son shouldn't have been tugging at his hair but he use to do it all the time and the dog never seemed to mind. Well today I was cleaning the house and the both my dogs were acting up playing I yelled at the dogs and Guss the one who snapped at my son now snapped at me. I was afraid he would have bitten me, I am sad because I have had the dog for so long and now he is starting to become aggressive. If I find him a new home who's to say he might bit that second owner? So what I need help answering is... Is it time to take into consideration that he should be euthanasia? Please no harse comments I am looking soleing for how you feel If you were in my shoes..

he was just in the vet's office last week and the vet said he was very healthy.

Answer 1

I feel for you and your family I do very much so, I also had a dog who was everything to my family, but he started to turn aggresive, I also had taken him into the vets, with a clean bill of health. But when I took him in about a couple weeks later with complaints about his behavior, the vet did a urine test, and cancer was the result, so for his sake we had to say goodbye to our family member, it was tough, but we got through it. I am not saying that this is what is happening, but if he was passive before, and now is just showing signs of aggresive behavior, I think it's time for some other tests, maybe something more is happening. I hope I'm wrong in this, but if I'm not, my prays go out to you and your family. Take care

Answer 2

First step is to take him to the vet, older dogs often have an underlying medical reason for a behaviour change, they just do not suddenly snap. So the solution is to find out what the medical problem is, treat it if possible and then is behaviour should return back to normal


one likely problem could be that is thyroid gland is not producing enough thyroid hormone which often there is a decrease in older animals,
A thyroid blood panel is needed to diagnose, treatment is an inexpensive thyroid supplement. It takes 2 or 3 weeks for the meds to help when is affects behaviour

The other possible medical issue could be arthritis pain, medication to help alleviate the pain would make the dog less irritable

Other issue could be eye sight or hearing is going and the dog became startled, and that can be worked thru with ensuring he knows you are nearby so as not to startle him
for a deaf dog you would stomp your feet before going near for a blind dog talking before approaching.

It also could be something worse like a cancer but in this case knowing what is wrong makes the decision to euthanize a lot easier to bear if untreatable because you would understand why and know that by euthanizing you are giving him freedom from pain and suffering so it becomes an act of kindness and love. I hope it is nothing this severe and is treatable and that can enjoy life with your dog again

Answer 3

Well like others have said it could be a medical problem. I would call your vet and talk to him/her about the problems you have been having with him and see what suggestions they have. Just because their heart/lungs/etc. all sound and look good on the annual exam doesnt mean there isnt an underlying condition that is causing the crankiness. Hopefully it is just an old age thing and he is trying to tell you that he isnt a puppy that can play rough anymore. However, you have to keep your family's safety the number one priority and if the dog ever bites one of your family memebers then you might consider euthanizing. We had the same kind of thing happen with our German Shepherd dog. She bit a neighborhood kid and we were going to put her down but since it was Saturday night and all the vets were closed until Monday. And the little boy said it was his fault and didnt want her put down. So instead we built a 6 foot tall fence around our yard to keep her in the yard (she could jump out of the previous fence) and posted beware of dog signs. But I promise you if she ever attacks one of our other pets or ever bites someone again I will not hesitate to put her down. She is very high strung and if she were to go to someone elses home I am sure she would have the same problems, so for her the best option would be putting her down. Not because I dont love her but because it is my responsibility as her owner to make sure that people are safe first and that she doesnt hurt anyone or anything. She is an aggressive dog but is very loyal but like I said my family's safety is much more important. Now if it was a medical reason I would understand but she is only 4 years old and in perfectly good health so I know her attitude is her dominant nature not a medical problem. Well sorry so long and I hope this helps. If you have any questions or anything feel free to email me. good luck and hope you figure things out.

Answer 4

first of all, a dog does not *almost* bite..He either bites or he does not. The snaps that miss, are warnings. Your dog is giving ample warning that he isn't feeling well enough to be messed with. An exam by the vet doesn't mean much unless the vet is looking for a specific problem, such as soreness or difference in blood values. Most dogs will get an over-all OK from the vet, but if symptoms aren't run down, it isn't a thorough exam..AND your dog definitely has symptoms..He is either not right in his body or his head..How can he tell the vet he has a headache, and doesn't feel like being played with? How can he tell the vet that when you shout, it really hurts his ears?
When a good natured dog turns crabby, there IS an underlying cause..

A dog's mouth is extremely functional..it is his hands, and he can pick a fly out of the air with it..when he bites a little, he *means* to bite just a little.. when he does harm, he *means* to do harm, and when he snaps and misses, he *means* to miss..
Take into consideration that he is an OLD man, and has aches and pains common to old age..Demand that your son be gentle with him...It will be a good lesson in respectful behavior...Just as YOU would have it if you were elderly..

Answer 5

I would follow the advice of everyone here to take your dog back to the vet. They can run other more specific tests.

If it isn't health related you may also want to consider talking to a professional trainer. Most will come out and give you a free evaluation. If you don't have/don't want to spend the money to pursue training after the evaluation the trainer may be able to recommend some solutions.

There are some foster groups that will take in, and work with, aggressive dogs to rehabilitate them. However, if your dog has bitten someone it's much harder to place them. So try to get to the vets asap and contact a trainer.

Answer 6

Did the vet run a test for Lyme disease? Lyme disease and another tick borne illness can cause symptoms of aggression like this (even if you have never seen a tick on the dog, it is a possiblity). My vet runs a three way test when he does the heartworm test that includes these tick borne illnesses.

How about hip displaysia? Pain in the joints can also lead to aggressive behavior.

If it is not one of these, he may be getting senile dementia (just like people) and forgetting himself. I don't think rehoming the dog would be an option since he would be even more confused. But before you decide, please think about your life and whether there has been any significant change recently (new baby, moved, new job, change in time schedule). These can set a dog off too and you may just need to work with him and remind him who is boss. In that case, get professional help as you don't want to be bitten by him.

Good luck.

Answer 7

You said he was at the vet's last week and given a clean bill of health, but this behavior started about the same time. I'd recommend another trip to the vet to have him checked again. There may be something that the vet missed, or that was not apparent at the time.
Your dog is getting older and it's more likely there is something bothering him rather than he is just "turning mean". It could well be something that can be dealt with through medication.

Answer 8

I had the same thing happen to me..We move to the country,I had two dogs at the time. For some reason they thought they had to protect me and started snapping at people. I did what everyone said ,,,it was just a warning and I had to be careful when people were around. For a long time I did real good keeping my dogs away from people, but what I learned was that it only takes one time..They got out the door when someone pulled in and attack my friend. A person they always knew. He went to the hospital and the hospital had to report the dog bite. Lucky there were no damage to him they just rip his jeans and a small bite. I am telling you this because of your child. It only takes one time. and you can't be around them at all times. I had to put both dogs asleep. The hardest thing I ever had to do. They said I couldn't give my dogs away because I knew they bite and it was on record. So if i should give the dog away and he bit someone I would be held responsible.

My dogs gave warnings and they were healthy dogs. I knew what my dogs did. You can't think this is a warning and keep you child away from the dog. It is not going to happen. You really need to protect your child. I found out the hard way ..it only took one time. And I am so sorry because I know what you are going through. It is the hardest thing to go through.

I now have Shih Tzu's and all they ever do is jump in people arms to be petted.

Good luck to you and please don't be hard on yourself if you need to put you dog down. You child welfare, as you know, comes first.

I still get upset for what I had to so with my dogs. I miss them dearly. But I couldn't have people getting hurt over my dogs.

Answer 9

i know its a difficult decision, but certain breeds can get aggressive when older, more than likely you have one of them, its very sad to think that he may not be a part of your life any longer, but really it is a good idea, your dog is probably getting older, maybe hurting in ways that you can't see such as arthritis, things like that. The best thing to do is to put him to sleep, i know its hard, but if hes too old to be around your children, or play with other dogs and is even snapping at you, its time, putting him into another home will only stress your dog out more and probably still do the same thing. Talk to your vet and find out what he says first though they can tell you why he may have started doing that, how you can prevent it, and also if putting him to sleep is the best choice for you and your family at this time. Good luck and Im very sorry to hear it, i know how hard it is.

Answer 10

Sounds like the dog may have a health issue, possibly in pain? I think before you euthanize, take him to the vet and explain what's been going on. My dog(St. Bernard) was getting nippy also, it can be frightening seeing those teeth coming your way, the vet prescribed Bak Flower. You just give them a couple squirts in the mouth, a few times each day, it mellows them out, and is totally safe, your son could drink the whole bottle and it wouldn't hurt him. It can be used for humans as well, know any cranky ones? Anyway, try it and see if it works, for mine it worked and she listens better now, and isn't so "I'll do it if I feel like it". I know what you are saying about the euthanasia, we had two dogs that we spoiled totally and many people wouldn't allow their dogs on the beds,furniture and in the cars, but we did. When I sold my home, I was going to be traveling for a few months before settling in a new home/state. I didn't want to haul the dogs all over and pay hotel fees or not be allowed in a hotel cuz of the dogs. One dog had super bad allergies, the other just plain spoiled, we put them down before we moved. I don't regret it, I feel it was the right thing to do for us and them. Try the Bak Flower first, if you don't see a good result, then take those steps to euthanize, it's not painful, they just go to "sleep". Good luck