Continuing from the vent thread, (Reactive dog)

[Lunabear1988]

Thank you for the information. He is only a 1/4 Kelpie and Border Collie and 1/2 ACD. Obviously I know ACD’s are tough dogs too. Although I know one that’s well bred and just a wonderful dog.

This guy isn’t nippy at all though. He was as a puppy though but we worked really hard on curbing that. Same with my last Border Collie. But they both would get excited if something exciting was going on in the house for sure. I used to dog sit for three hunting bred German Short -haired Pointers and one them wouldn’t let anyone be affectionate in front of him lol! It was pretty funny.

Like I said, no puppies for a long time. But I won’t turn away a really well bred Aussie or something.

[Lunabear1988]

He’s going on his last walk then we head to the vet in an hour.

My husband is taking him and I’m staying with my daughter. I always worry that I’ll try to change my mind last minute - it’s so so tough. My husband is a bit better at this stuff than me and I’m better at comforting my daughter so this way it shall be…

Send healing thoughts for my daughter. She’s trying to be strong but she’s pretty upset. Even though he’s been a tough puppy and scared her at times, she loved him too.

[endlessclimb]

I’m actually choked up for you. Sometimes the right thing is so so hard.

There will be peace.

[JBCool]

BTDT. But you are showing her how to handle a super difficult situation with grace. It is what’s best for everyone and peace will come for all of you. Hugs and prayers.

[Alex_and_Bodie_s_Mom]

I’m so sorry. This has to be one of the hardest things we can ever do.

Big hugs to you and your daughter.

[Lunabear1988]

Thank you guys. He’s gone. He was loved right up until his departure from this world.

He wasn’t a bad dog. Not a mean dog. He was a nervous dog and a bit of a grump. He didn’t have the type of joyfulness in him that I had come to know from other dogs. But I do think he enjoyed his time with us as much as he could.

I’m seriously think I’m dealing with a bit of a shoulder injury from throwing the ball so much. And he knew lots of tricks, I think at least 15 or so different tricks and commands. He was very very smart. And last week he did come over to me and put his face on my chest and cuddled for awhile. That was unusual but welcome. He wasn’t a very cuddly guy although occasionally he enjoyed it.

He did play great with my little dog up until the last few weeks. He used to lie on his back a lot while they played. It was rough play, equally from both of them, but it was enjoyable and welcomed by both. There was always a lot of wiggly bodies, play bows and sneezes. It wasn’t until the last few weeks where I felt like the play sometime took a turn to something more serious. I could tell my little dog wanted to initiate play but you could see she was starting to be scared to do it. She is also smart and she was telling us that something was changing in him. It did feel like things were ticking time bomb.

I forgot to ask my husband if they would let us know if they’ve been examine him… I’ll have to ask if there is the possibility although it might be too late. There is a lot of crying going on at the time.

My daughter and I use to go walk dogs and play with cats at the humane society before we had gotten this dog. She really liked it and we used to always try to pick a more senior dog or a dog that had been there for a bit. We stopped because I was exhausted raising him.

But I told her we should start doing that again. In honor of him. I know there is one dog that’s been there for 3 years. So it would be nice to give some of those dogs some love and attention.

Thank you guys. This was hard. I know it’s right. But it sucks.

[Larksmom]

I am so so sorry. It is the hardest thing to do. Especially when it isn’t a fatal illness. But in its own way it was a fatal illness. Big hugs to you and your daughter.

[2DogsFarm]

I’ve been following(lurking) on your thread as I’ve not had a dog for over 40yrs.
You did the hardest thing for you, but best for this particular dog.

Wishing you & your family (including your little dog) Peace & a stress-free Holiday Season.

[ThreeWishes]

I’m so sorry. I also understand the heartache of making such a terrible decision. Years ago someone dumped a heartworm positive, female dog unspayed in my front yard. She was extremely reactive and obviously had been very abused. We tried everything we could to take her in. I actually spayed her got her heartworm negative and healthy but she wouldn’t stop going after my other dogs. Then one day she bit my young daughter. And shortly after she killed my cat. I drove her to the vet that day, sobbing. And the vet agreed she needed to be euthanized. I just wish I had done it sooner before I lost my beloved cat. You did the right thing.

[lenapesadie]

I’m sad with you. I know you made the right choice even though it was very hard

[QuestionMark]

I’m so sad for you and your family but this dog could not have had a better place in the world than with you–this decision makes that clear.

When I had to put down my dog I also felt like part of making the decision was really listening for things I could do to honor her, like you are already thinking of. Because she wasn’t old and feeble (and also just was such a powerful force in my life), it felt like she was around for a long time after. Many times, I did hard but right things or make difficult decisions with her on my mind, knowing that I had already proved I could by doing what I did for her.

[Sparrowette]

Sometimes, I think the universe arranges itself so these types of animals find their way to people who will know what to do and do it. Back to the Red Tick Coonhound, the one diagnosed with Rage Syndrome.

When I first saw the Bowie, he was featured on a tv show called Pets on Parade. It’s a long-running show put out by the Humane Society here, that features animals up for adoption at the shelter. When I saw him, I felt this incredibly urgent need to run down there and adopt him. I just was impelled to go get him. And I did.

After I had all the papers signed off, they told me that another person had run down to the shelter also, but had come in second. She was a young single mother with a small daughter.

I have often been so glad that I got there first. That young mother was saved from a dog who had serious problems. I have always shuttered to think what Bowie might have done to the little girl.

And that mother does not know what she was saved from.

[thatmoody]

I am so, so sorry. I too have been in the position to put down a very good (but still reactive) dog after he killed one of our cats. I am so glad you decided to do this before your little dog got hurt. I think sometimes as dogs age their dynamics change. What worked before may not work always, especially if one of them develops an issue. Hugs to you and know you did the right thing.

[Lunabear1988]

One of the hardest parts, other than see my daughter grieve, is my little dog did LOVE playing with him. It was getting less and less lately but I know she really enjoys a good play.

I’m hoping I can find her somebody to do play dates with once this whole dog flu thing gets better. I feel for her but I also know she seems more confident and comfortable already. Watching her tip toe around was stressful.

[Lunabear1988]

My daughter has a friend that had an Australian Shepherd. Her friend was bit in the neck at 4 years old.

To be fair these people aren’t really animal people and definitely not knowledgeable. Her friend was bit because it walked up to the dog when it was eating. Which I guess no dog should bite but obviously it toddler shouldn’t be walking up to a dog that was eating either. That dog lived the next 8 years of its life locked in a small backyard 24/7. No bones, no exercise, and very very little attention. No training. Nothing. It’s entertainment was just chasing squirrels in the small yard.

My dog would have absolutely hated an existence like that. He would have gone mad.

[Kemosabe]

This story just breaks my heart: for the dog, for the child. It would have been so simple to keep a little kid away from a dog’s food bowl.

And what pains me even more is that the owners didn’t take the time to become more knowledgable.

Some people should not be dog owners. UGH.

[Lunabear1988]

Yes I felt so sorry for the poor dog

[Dr_Doolittle]

I could not agree more with this.

The dog is always the one who winds up suffering the consequences.

[Lunabear1988]

I haven’t forgotten about my boy, although the car crash has provided a degree of distraction. I did cry the other night because he was the kind of dog that would have realized that something was off. He would have probably crawled up to me and wanted to lick my face a bunch. There’s no doubt about it he had a really sweet side although that wasn’t a complete picture.

On one hand it’s really good that he’s not here right now. Because holy moly would it be stressful trying to do with these injuries and him. Playing referee between the two dogs. I would have had to drug the heck out of him to make it through it.

Yesterday I took my little dog to My parents house with us. They have a miniature Schnauzer that she is infatuated with. He’s not a huge fan of her because she really wants to play with him and he’s not much of a playing type. But he tolerates her and he’s really non-threatening lol.

They were sharing a bully stick yesterday. My mom gave her her own but of course they wanted the same one. But they literally took turns all day eating it. No growling and no resource guarding. It was so refreshing. That would not have been happening in my house with my two dogs. They had to be completely separated for any bones.

I know my little dog misses him a little bit but she is feeling pretty confident lately and at ease around the house. I do miss my buddy. This has been really hard. I will never forget him and I did learn so much with him.

[Dr_Doolittle]