I pulled my dogs tail really hard yesterday and he bit me. Now my dad is going to put him down today?

Question

I told him what happened and he says that any dog that bites should be put down. I keep begging him not to do it but he so set in his ways, he has always told me that if a dog ever bites it should be put down. What should I do?

Answer 1

Well, I think that it is dangerous that he would bite you, even if you are pulling his tail hard. That indicates that he could bite you for anything he doesn't like--let's say he gets an ear infection and bites you when you put medicine in his ears because it hurts--that's not okay for your pet to do. They should never, ever bite you. And these problems tend to get worse as dogs get older, *unless* the problem is corrected. What if a child is petting the dog and he bites her because he touches her in a spot he doesn't like?

That said, there are a lot of dog trainers that specialize in training dogs with aggression. I think that before putting him to sleep, your dad should consult with a trainer who specializes in this (Not just any trainer). I think that is the most responsible thing to do in this situation. It will teach you and your family how to handle those situations and teach the dog that it is not okay to act aggressively. And if you guys do what the trainer says, and follow their instructions perfectly, and your dog still acts aggressively, then you might have to put him to sleep.

PS--Bringing him to a shelter is not a good idea either. Shelters do temperament testing and they will see if he will bite. Dogs that bite get euthanized. Even if he passes the temperament test, what happens if a family adopts him? He bites their kids? That's not fair, either. Aggression is very serious and should be taken seriously.

Answer 2

I is good you are telling the truth. I know a boy that lied on the dog. The dog was put to sleep. Then one day he told me.
Yes that kid need to get help. He has been in a lot of trouble.
But because you told the truth right away. There is hope.
If you can not change his mind. It is not your fault because you told the truth. It is your fathers fault and people that over react to small bites. I have been biten many times.
Once as a child. And my dog only bite me once. I bite him back. Do not do that with gum in your mouth. Try to tell your father why the dog has gum in his hair. Oh he did learn that if he bite I would bite back.
And people this is a child and should be treated like one. When a child hurt another child. You go childern do that kind of stuff. So again you have put a animal above a child. So next time a kid hits a kid send that kid to jail. He did a dumb thing. Losing his dog is that not punishment. He losing what he does not want to lose. And I bet you his father is not going to leave him have a dog again.

Answer 3

OH MY GOSH, what the heck?!?!?! Why, I MEAN SERIOUSLY, WHY did you pull the dog's tail to begin with!?! The poor little guy was just sticking up for himself by biting you! This is horrible, like, why did you even TELL your dad he bit you? I'd be EMBARASSED to say I pulled the puppy's tail! That's awful, I mean, I don't think anyone should pick on animals. The dog does NOT deserve to get put down! He needs to go to a nice family who won't pick on him, and that will treat him with some COMMON respect! You should feel ASHAMED. I don't feel sorry for YOU one bit, but I feel VERY sorry for the poor puppy!

You are horrible!

Answer 4

If you really cared about the dog, you would have treated him with respect and never pulled his tail in the first place. It sounds like the dog is not living in a suitable environment. You are not caring for it properly and your father fails to recognize it as a wonderful living being. You should try to find a good home for it or set it up for adoption.

Answer 5

Plead your case some more. Take responsibility for being bit, and ask your dad if you hit him with a brick, would he defend himself? Then ask how the dog is not allowed to defend itself if it feels threatened, through no wrongdoing of it's own. AND NEVER do that again to an animal. If this dog dies, you killed it through causing yourself to be bit. I hope you win this argument, no dog deserves to die for defending itself against unjust attack. I believe that if a dog bites the hand that feeds it ought to be put down, but there are rare exceptions to that rule, too, all depends on the totality of the circumstances, and available options the dog had, before deciding to bite. Factors must be considered both for and against the dog's choice to bite. If justified in an animal's mind, how can you punish the animal? I've had to put down a couple animals in my day, but each time I made sure there was no justifiable excuse for the actions of the animal first, and still torture myself with doubts as to my being correct in my assumptions as to the animal's viewpoint. Knowing some things to be necessary sometimes doesn't make them easier to do. But, please, be sure of reasons when putting an animal down, you can't say sorry and fix that mistake. AND BEFORE you over-sensitive types go off about my putting down two animals, I had children who the dogs in question went after. One was a hunting dog that lost it, the other just got nasty, despite my efforts to gentle it, and I tried for 6 mos. to keep it isolated from the kids and gentle it myself. Still snapped at my kids' faces, and had to go. I couldn't pass this along to get others bitten, not in good conscience. I have owned at least 12 dogs, and numerous other pets, all of whom love me dearly, but as I rescue my pets, I never know what damage they have when I take them in....Some come beyond help, unfortunately, having been damaged before I meet them. Just to clear this up.

Answer 6

Awwwww, you shouldn't have pulled it's tail.
That hurts them. That is connected to their spine.
Tell you dad to call a local adoption center and give it up for adoption.
BETTER YET!
You obviously have knowledge of computers, place an ad in craigslist.com or OLX.com for free adoption. They are both free advertising. Look up local adoption agency in your area.
It may take several days, but I am sure you will find someone.
Make sure if you adopt out on your own, go check out the place that it will living and really see if it is suitable for you dog.
Tell you dad that it was YOUR fault that the dog bit you.

Answer 7

It's not the dogs fault. If someone pulled my hair really hard, I'd probably get mad too.

If you really have almost no other choice, tell him to only take it to the humane society, where it would have a chance at least. Has it ever bitten anyone before? If not, I doubt it will happen again.

I don't think killing it like that is right...

Answer 8

Try to explain to your dad that you are a butthole who coerced your dog into biting you. Then tell him he is a butthole too for not understanding that the dog bit you because you are a jerk that pulled its tail. Now the dog is gonna die because of your irresponsible actions.

Answer 9

Why would you pull your dog's tail?! Instead of begging not to have him put down, beg to take him to a shelter.

Answer 10

What were you doing pulling your dog's tail? How old are you, 4? Your dad should put YOU down, not the poor dog who was just trying to defend himself against his jackass owner. I should call the police... ANIMAL CRUELTY!!!