Dog Agressive Dogs - Is there hope?

[Djones]

@2tempe

may have read this all too quickly but I think the younger dog (7) is the dog-aggressive one, even though more people socialized. Ugh, this is tough for the OP. Neither dog will be easy…

ah, ok- so she has:

a 7 yo cur/maybe pittie mix, not crate trained, dog and cat aggressive. rushing the fenceline where the horses are. low socialization. Not a small dog, she has to find a bigger crate to even try this out with him.

a 12 yo, not crate trained, a better level of socialization. This little older dog went after the cat and then started to go after OP when she picked up the leash…

Both are engaging in destructive behavior in the house.

Cat is hiding in the basement ceiling in fear and the house is tiny and OP needs to go help her brother out of state.

What a sucktastic situation. Just tell him a lie that you found a farm to take them.

[SusanO]

OK I am missing something. Where is the brother’s wife? Can she not take them? I am not going to make any suggestions because I can’t deal with that level of stress. Bad enough to have two cats that hate each other but at least the picked on one is happy living inside all the time.

[Simkie]

@SusanO

OK I am missing something. Where is the brother’s wife? Can she not take them?

Not everyone out there gets married, or has a living spouse?

[SusanO]

Yes I know. But the OP mentioned that the brother’s wife did not believe in crating the dogs, therefore making it hard for the OP to crate train them. I realize the wife could be deceased but the dogs are not that old so I assumed that there was a wife still around. If she is I would think that she should have some responsibility in this situation. But maybe that is a bad assumption and it sounds like she was not in the picture when he was hospitalized.

" Neither of my brothers dogs were ever crate trained as his wife thought it was cruel…ugh."

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

Yes, I agree, OP, you have much more patience than I would. I’m so sorry about your brother but worry about your safety and the safety of the other animals in your house.

In my area, it’s not uncommon to see “one dog home” dogs advertised but it sounds like you are struggling finding viable rehoming prospects.

[altermetoday]

Hey there… sorry, have been missing in action. I’ll clarify a few things from above.

My brothers wife is deceased so he really had no one but me to take the dogs where he lives.

Neither dog is destructive. If I wrote that it was a typo.

Both dogs are not cat friendly at the moment…

I have worked with a local no kill shelter who had an adoption event today in the hopes they would get adopted. Sadly they did not get adopted. So…I do have a rescue that wants to meet them if I foster them so that may be the next route. I’m a little worried about that though as then I will be turning them over to the rescue and if I felt that I needed to put them down, I would not be able to at that point. But, thinking of putting them down is not really something I want to do though.

I will probably pick them up on Monday and return to the previous protocol of locking them in the office or the unfinished building next to my house which could be a dog area, but would not work for extended stays in hot/cold weather…

I just don’t know what to do…I can borrow a bigger crate and try that, but the hopes of allowing the dogs to have run of the backyard for any period of time alone is gone becuase of the cat situation. My only other thought might be an outdoor run/kennel area somewhere in the yard for when they need out during unsupervised times.

[Rackonteur]

@altermetoday

I’m a little worried about that though as then I will be turning them over to the rescue and if I felt that I needed to put them down, I would not be able to at that point. But, thinking of putting them down is not really something I want to do though.

I get that.
But what is the best, most permanent, long-term solution for them? You’ve said you cannot give them a home. And you have already given a “furever” home (as forever as that can be) to your own animals. What is fair to them?
Maybe the best solution for your brothers’ two dogs is a truly furever home … over The Bridge.
Yes, I hate myself for even saying this. Especially because I don’t know you, or them, or your animals or your brother.
I hope everything will work out for the best for all of you. Including your cats and horses and dogs and your brother.

[Larksmom]

would it be rotten to tell your brother you found the best home for them? (across the bridge)

[altermetoday]

@Larksmom

would it be rotten to tell your brother you found the best home for them? (across the bridge)

No it would not I guess. A

I may not want to put them in rescue. I guess I could bring them home and then try those adoptapet sites or joyful pets and see if someone will pop up… and if not, may have to do rainbow bridge…

Its’ hard, but you are right… my one indoor cat would not come out of the basement bedroom for a week until they were gone. And she is already a cat with health issues and its imperative she gets enough water and wet food to keep her from getting sick… and then there are 4 outdoor cats to contend with as well as my own dogs.

The whole situation makes me sick to my stomach.

[ShenanAnna]

I know you’re trying to do what’s best for the dogs, but you’ve got the rest of your animal family to think of. Sounds like they’re getting the short end of the stick here, so to speak.

And go ahead and let brother suffer the consequences of his behavior and decisions. How else is he going to learn? And let him decide how to mitigate those consequences himself. He’s taking advantage of you and hurting your animal family by getting you to take care of his own life. He’s a big boy.

Sounds like you’ve got more than enough on your plate; you don’t need to live someone else’s life for them.

[altermetoday]

@ShenanAnna

I know you’re trying to do what’s best for the dogs, but you’ve got the rest of your animal family to think of. Sounds like they’re getting the short end of the stick here, so to speak.

And go ahead and let brother suffer the consequences of his behavior and decisions. How else is he going to learn? And let him decide how to mitigate those consequences himself. He’s taking advantage of you and hurting your animal family by getting you to take care of his own life. He’s a big boy.

Sounds like you’ve got more than enough on your

Thanks… I actually deleted my vent because he called and at least apologized… but you are right. I do know he is tired all the time, but he should be able to make calls and stuff on his own behalf for things I can’t do because I’m in another state. Thankfully, he did just that tonight after being rude to me.

[ShenanAnna]

Glad to hear it!

[Larksmom]

I hated to mention it, but I have said here many times that I had a dog kill two of my cats. It was years ago, and I still grieve. I had that dog pts, and I cried my eyes out at the same time. I loved him but absolutely no cat killers.

[altermetoday]

@Larksmom

I hated to mention it, but I have said here many times that I had a dog kill two of my cats. It was years ago, and I still grieve. I had that dog pts, and I cried my eyes out at the same time. I loved him but absolutely no cat killers.

I’m so sorry. I would hate that to happen here too. For now I’ve set up an indoor and an outdoor kennel. Not ideal, but for unsupervised times, it will work.

[OverandOnward]

@ShenanAnna

And go ahead and let brother suffer the consequences of his behavior and decisions. How else is he going to learn? And let him decide how to mitigate those consequences himself. He’s taking advantage of you and hurting your animal family by getting you to take care of his own life. He’s a big boy.

From post 1

@altermetoday

I just inherited my brothers dogs - he is too ill to care for them and probably won’t be returning to his home after his nursing home stay.

Maybe just me, but I do not see how being vindictive and punishing is any kind of answe toward someone who is clearly very ill and doesn’t have a great prognosisr.

I doubt the brother ever intended this situation to happen. Which of us has perfect animals that could drop into any environment and function well, if we were suddenly unable to care for them?

[ShenanAnna]

I was responding to posts that convinced me that the brother was capable and being manipulative.

There was never any vindictiveness or punishment intended; just learning for the brother and protection for OP.

[altermetoday]

@ShenanAnna

I was responding to posts that convinced me that the brother was capable and being manipulative.

There was never any vindictiveness or punishment intended; just learning for the brother and protection for OP.

He was not really capable until recently although he is taking another downhill slide. When I got these dogs, he as barely able to speak on the phone, answer it or eat by himself because he was too weak. Things have improved, but apparently not for long as we are seeing evidence that he needs another procedure soon.

I’m sure there was some woe is me on his part that he wanted to not be bothered with certain things but I don’t think he was milking me for anything. I do think he genuinely needed help and his situation will only get worse with time I fear.

[ShenanAnna]

It sounds like you’re doing what you can for him, the dogs, and, lastly, for yourself. I only wish you the best.

[altermetoday]

@ShenanAnna

It sounds like you’re doing what you can for him, the dogs, and, lastly, for yourself. I only wish you the best.

thank you