I just had my Rottweiler put down?

Question

I just had my rottweiler put down at the vet because he was too vicious, and I have 2 young children... I love animals immensely, should I still be feeling guilty for what I have done?

A few answers said that I should have given some training or tried alternatives, the thing is he was a trained dog I had taken him in because he was unwanted, I even got him extra training with a dog trainer.

I had him for two years and he didnt change.

Before putting him down I tried alternatives like I even offered him to the police department for free but they said he was too old. I even offered him to other breeders, but wouldn't take him due to his viciousness.

Even though I did all of this I still have the guilt.

Answer 1

No, you should not be feeling guilty. Let me explain why I think so. My husband and I had a rottweiler. We got him when he was 6 weeks and had him for about 6 years. After having him for about 4 years, we had our first child. He had always been so gentle and had never even growled at anyone. He loved my child (or so we thought) and had always been very gentle and loving towards her. When she was 21 months old he turned on her. He attacked her, and tore her face up! I felt like a horrible parent because everyone kept telling me to get rid of him when I was pregnant. I always defended him, saying he would never do anything. Now, I have to live with the fact that I kept the dog and he destroyed me daughter's face. She had to undergo major plastic surgery and will forever have scars. It is the first thing I see when she wakes up each morning. Be glad you got rid of the dog before you ended up in a situation like me. Your children are much more important. And yes, my dog was put down. It hurt to have to put him down, but I couldn't even stand the site of him! My child will soon turn 6 and we now have an 8 pound miniature daschund. Hope you feel better soon.

Answer 2

Did your dog bite or attack you or your children? Or was he just aggressive at the fence or when strangers passed by or came to the door? I don't think you should feel guilty if your dog attacked and injured you or your children unless you were beating the dog or allowing your children to torture it. I would guess the latter was not the case.

Otherwise, you probably could have re-homed him with someone that knew how to work with the breed and would not fight the dog or abuse it. It sounds like you got a very powerful breed without the skills to train it and that may be the main thing you did wrong. You might want to consider what would be a more appropriate breed for your family. I say for YOUR family because there are families where the adults are used to training and controlling Rottweilers and those dogs are then safe around their children. Even in that case, for any breed dog, there are some that have neurological problems that cause aggression and responsible owners need to deal with those situations responsibly.

I'd have a hard time having a Rott with very young children because any dog needs to be constantly supervised when around young children and by size alone, they can easily knock down a tot not trying to be agressive.

I am sure you love animals and don't doubt the decision was fueled by all the media about dogs killing children and adults lately. Score another death for the media.
Sorry you lost your dog and know you were only trying to do what you felt was right for your family and if your Vet said the dog had a problem training couldn't correct, then you did the right thing. Next time, if a dog doesn't work out you might want to check with a rescue organization for the breed. There are breeds that are so cute as puppies but then they start growing and people don't know how to handle them. I am sure you didn't expect this to be a problem when you got your dog.

Answer 3

You should feel guilty. You acted prematurely. If you could not handle the dog yourself, then you should have contacted a Rottweiler Rescue organization. They could make a more unbiased determination as to whether the dog could be re-trained and placed in a more suitable environment. For reasons beyond the scope of a Yahoo! Answer, there are dogs that may not get along well with young children or other animals. However, dogs are not normally indiscriminately vicious unless that behavior is instilled in them.

You leave out much in terms of details so it's not possible to point to anything specific behaviorally. Suffice it to say, that the dog should have been surrendered to Rescue first. Please don't consider bringing other dogs into your home.

Answer 4

I'm so sorry to hear that.. I will have to make that choice soon enough I almost thought I would have to a while back but a trip to the vet and some pain management helped my dog immensely. I know how hard it is to lose a loved companion. It will take time but know that you gave your dog a good life and you loved her and did the right thing to ease her pain at the end. 11 years is a darn good run for a Rott, you must have taken very good care of your girl. Hang on to the good times, remember when she was young and remind yourself that it was worth it.. even through all the pain now you must know that it was worth it for all that love and companionship you had for eleven years. She loved you and she loves you still and you know she wouldn't want you to be sad. Remember the good times, look at your pictures and cry until you smile again.. think of the funny things and how you guys were together she is still there with you and you'll never forget her.. but with time it will be sweeter.. once the sadness fades. Give yourself time and let all your feelings out.. I know it's hard but all us dog lovers have been there and we keep doing it over again so as hard as it is that love of a dog and for a dog is worth it. Heres a poem I love, because it's about that.. By Rudyard Kipling THE POWER OF THE DOG There is sorrow enough in the natural way From men and women to fill our day; But when we are certain of sorrow in store, Why do we always arrange for more? Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware Of giving your heart to a dog to tear. Buy a pup and your money will buy Love unflinching that cannot lie-- Perfect passion and worship fed By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head. Nevertheless it is hardly fair To risk your heart for a dog to tear. When the fourteen years which Nature permits Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits, And the vet's unspoken prescription runs To lethal chambers or loaded guns, Then you will find--it's your own affair But . . . you've given your heart to a dog to tear. When the body that lived at your single will When the whimper of welcome is stilled (how still!) When the spirit that answered your every mood Is gone wherever it goes--for good, You will discover how much you care, And will give your heart to a dog to tear! We've sorrow enough in the natural way, When it comes to burying Christian clay. Our loves are not given, but only lent, At compound interest of cent per cent. Though it is not always the case, I believe, That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve: For, when debts are payable, right or wrong, A short-time loan is as bad as a long So why in Heaven (before we are there!) Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

Answer 5

It's hard to understand without knowing what you mean by vicious, or what you did to try to make your dog a good canine citizen. Some of the things an owner should try first are:

1) Exercise, exercise, exercise;
2) Training, including bringing a professional trainer to the house for a consultation (usually costs about $75);
3) Call the breeder and ask for help;
4) If the breeder won't help, contact your regional breed rescue program. These can be located with relative ease on the internet and are usually sponsored by the breed's "parent" club.

Assuming that your dog had genuine and severe issues with aggression and you tried most or all of the above, no, you shouldn't feel guilty. The safety of your children is of paramount importance and trusting a dangerous dog to a random person in the hopes that they can give it a fresh start is not a good idea.

Answer 6

If he was truly vicious, don't feel bad. But i know of a family that put a dog down for the stupidest reason. Their young son picked up the dog and dropped her on her back repeatedly. When the dog growled at him, obviously a warning, she didn't show her teeth or snarl, they put her down. Sometimes, as perhaps is the case with you rottie, a dog just isn't compatible with kids and can't get over the jealousy of having others in the house. Don't beat yourself up about it.

Answer 7

You did the right thing. Sometimes the right thing is just really hard. I went through the same situation with a dog I had once. It was agonizing making the decision and I felt guilty afterwards too, but you have to think about the safety of your family.

If you haven't been through this situation, you really shouldn't sit in judgment. That's all I'm going to say.

Answer 8

Seems like you are feeling guilty already. I would explore this emotion. Don't look for others to tell you if you should or shouldn't feel this way. Why do you think you feel guilty? What triggers this feeling? What do you wish you did differently? How can you learn from this for the future. At this point, what's done is done, and if you feel guilty about it, you need to learn from that feeling and grow from it. That is all you can do.

Answer 9

nah, You shouldn't feel guilty if he was trained and you've tried extra training and it still didn't' change. The safety of your family comes first and everyone else he might or could have come in contact with. My best friend's sister had to do that once with a dog she had it just had the worst attitude toward other dogs and got vicious to people to if they tried to come near her when she had toys or bones, she'd bite the other dog that was in the house too if he tried to come near stuff that was rightfully both of there's. She decided to put her down to cause she didn't want to have to think of her going to another family and hurting someone or someone hurting the dog cause of her being so vicious she also tried training it didn't work either.

Answer 10

I think you should have first exhausted all other possibilities, which your post does not say you did or did not. I personally have an Israeli Canaan that is very dog-to-dog aggressive and used to be aggressive against humans as well. I was advised several times to put him down. Instead, I ran him through a program called ‘Nothing in life is free’ (worth an extensive free search on the net - do not pay for the program). Basically, it entails a series of (simple to semi-simple) steps which place you in the role of Alpha dog, which most aggressive dogs seem to think they are. Now, although we have had a couple of very minor relapses, just a couple of days on the program, and he again is as sweet as cake again. In the end though, what is done is done. Just look forward in the future to a more docile pet, and again, I recommend this program for any pet, anywhere as soon as you first get him or if it is already a household pet with problems. Good luck.