Maybe Time to Cut my Loss About This Page:

[Versafox]

I have a dog (one of six) who is a difficult child" to say the least. Clown is wonderful with humans -- he loves EVERYone -- but he is extremely aggressive to ALL other dogs.

Clown is now 6 years old; and for 6 years we have managed to work around the fact that he hates EVERYone; even his own mother! Tonight, my attention slipped just for a moment (MY fault, I admit it!) and Clown attacked my 14 year old dog, Imp.

Now, Imp is almost blind and completely deaf. And even before his physical problems, he was always the sort of dog to TRY to solve problems without getting in to a fight.

Clown attacked Imp tonight. And when I tried to break up the fight, Clown BIT me, several times. At least 3 times in the left wrist, and also in the face. Currently, my nose and lips are swollen to at least 3X the normal size. These wounds HURT!

Part of me KNOWS what I must do. Part of me wants to cut Clown some leeway, because he probably never intended to hurt me. Part of me feels that "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Clown is my DH' s dog. DH is all for putting Clown to sleep. Me, I have mixed feelings.

What do you think?

[Brant]

I don't have any dogs myself, but am close to other peoples dogs. From what you say, it sounds not only like everyone else around is in danger, but Clown can't be content living with such an emotional problem. I can't make any suggestions, because I also would only have mixed feelings if it was my pet. I do hope you feel better soon, and I bet in a day or so, you'll have stronger feelings toward a particular decision.

[Dumbo]

I can't give you any advice. I know putting a dog down is a hard to do since we had to do it twice but both times the dog was old and sick.
It does sound like you have done everything you can and then some to help this poor dog.

Good luck and some pixie dust for healing your wounds.

[GoofyMom]

More Pixie Dust on it's way to help you heal from your wounds. ~*~*~*~*~*~ I hope you got medical attention -- you don't need any nasty infections! Is Imp ok?

And here's a big sprinkle of Pixie Dust to help you with your decision about Clown. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

[katerkat]

I know how you feel... My sister in law had a very high strung dog. He was extremely protective of her, and really, a nice dog, but he just would never calm down. When we went to Ohio for a funeral, he bit Bryan -- not badly, but one the face and with a growl. Then he trapped Bryan in a corner and attacked Bry's shoes. Then he trapped their grandma in the laundry room. We wrote it off as too many people in a little house and too much stress from us about the funeral.
Flash forward almost a year, Toby viciously attacks Alisha's boyfriend. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] He doesn't seriously hurt the boy, but he received some nasty bites. And it was unprovoked. She went to an animal behaviorist who said Toby should have outgrown this attacking thing.
My SIL made the hard decision to put Toby to sleep. The poor dog just wasn't happy -- he was just too high strung -- and he really wasn't safe.

I'm sorry you have to make this decision... I would hate to have to do it.

[debe]

Liz, have you thought about talking this over with your vet? Maybe Clown could be placed in a home that has no other animals. If he is non-agressive to humans maybe a different environment might be the answer. Is there anyway you can isolate Clown from your other fur kids until you can come up with a solution?

In the past, we had always had Brittany Spaniels up until our last one named Toby... UGH! He was impossible (and I love all animals). He was DH's hunting partner but when not in the field he was... at a loss for words on this guy! Anyway, we had Toby for many years & finally I told DH he has to do something with this dog. He would bark almost 24 hrs a day inside and out, would grab your butt as soon as you turned your back (mainly DD's & Mine) not in a vicious manner but was afraid someday he may forget the play and do harm. (very high strung) DH finally agreed and a friend of his over heard him saying he had to get rid of Toby & said he would take him and give him to his FIL who had a farm. This made us VERY happy as well as Toby.

Toby lived out his life on this farm & were told he was completely the opposite of how he had been here with us. Toby was the only dog we ever had the need to re-home. Yes, it was upsetting that we had to do this but the end result was favorable for all.

Sending you healing Pixie Dust and hope that you will be on the mends soon. Will keep you in thought and prayer as this is a hard decision you have to make.

[Wendyismyname]

It is very hard to decide to put down an animal. First I would try to find him a home without other animals, but if he's bit you, he might bite some poor elderly person who just need companionship. Ultimately, if he is your DH "kid" it's his decision....
I had the unfortunate eyes to witness my dh's dog(at his folks' house) rapidly deteriorate and he was beyond help. We took him to the vet to run tests, but there was no choice..he was too far gone. I'm sorry, so so sorry.

Just remember, your DH is looking out for his number one gal!

Pixie Dust and special prayers!

[Versafox]

We still haven't made any final decision yet. My DH wants to wait until Monday, so that no matter what we decide, we know it wasn't done in the heat of the moment.

Clown IS isolated from my other dogs; they get the dining room and living room, he has the kitchen and bedroom, whith strong gates to keep everyone out of harm's way. But the problem is there is no way to get Clown outside to pee except by taking him through the other dogs' "territory" -- and that's how it happened. At the doorway where Imp, not being able to see or hear Clown, didn't realize he was on the other side of the door when I opened it to bring Clown in. My fault -- I normally put the other dogs in their crates when I have to bring Clown through to the back door.

We've thought many a time about finding Clown another home, one with no other dogs. But I just can't, in good faith, pass this dog along to someone else. Even if his new owner had no other dogs, Clown could still come in contact with other dogs -- at the vet's, at a neighbor's, or going for a walk. He explodes into violence so fast, and when he bites, he bites so hard, something terrible is bound to happen. And who would want a dog that behaves this way? We've controlled it for 6 years, but we have to watch him every single second. How many people want to live that way? I don't enjoy it, but I feel responsible because I brought this dog into the world -- I owned his mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

I was lucky -- Imp wasn't seriously hurt (just a puncture wound in the neck and a nick on the ear.) And i wasn't seriously hurt -- though I've got two black eyes, possibly a broken nose, so many bruises on my face that it looks like I got beaten up, lacerations and bruises on both hands and wrists, and my knee is swollen up like a melon, as I apparently fell on it hard while wrestling the dogs apart.

I'm really depressed over this. My dogs are my kids, and sitting here trying to make up my mind to have one of them killed -- even if it is with good reason -- is just breaking my heart. [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img]

[debe]

Liz, sending you more Pixie Dust. I am getting all teared up just reading your latest posting & know how you feel, it'n not an easy decision. Take care...

[Heidi]

Liz,

I'm so sorry to hear this. I liked Debe's point about maybe placing Clown in a house that has no other pets. That might help change his behavior. It sounds like he is one of those animals that just needs to be on his own. Is there anyone you know that could take him to try it out? Or maybe your local SPCA could help you in finding a home for him. Then you wouldn't have to put him down which I'm sure would make you happy.

Best of luck to you.

[buzzNwoodyfan]

Know exactly what you're going through. We've had to put down many animals over the years and it is always so hard. Here's to you working through this and everything turning out to be for the best.

[LilMarcieMouse]

I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier. I don't know what to tell you. I too would have trouble with this desission. I just wanted to send Pixie dust and wish you luck in your dession.~*~*~*~*~*~

[Kruggie]

OH LIZ!
I hope you are all right, you sound just awful! I hope you are not in to much physical pain. I know you are having emotional pain, and for that I send you a big cyber {{{HUG}}}!

I definatly think you should get rid of poor clown, not neccissarily put him down, your vet may know of somewhere he can fit in and not be a danger to anyone. I also wonder if there might be a doggie behavior specialist somewhere that might be able to help clown learn to behave? I dont know if there is anything one can do for an aggressive dog, but its a thought.

Sending you a ton of dust.
Kristi

[Dumbo]

Sending you more pixie dust.

[ILuvDisney]

Liz, I know it's not an easy decision to make but if Clown were my dog, I would at least give him a chance to be re-homed. Who knows? That could be exactly what he needs. This is just my opinion and as much as I love dogs, I couldn't put him down without at least trying another option.

Pixie dust and prayers to you, whatever you decide.