Need advice about DH's dog (NBR)

Bredins wife

DH got his dog Toby when he was just a puppy, and has had him for 10 years. The dog is going on 11 in January. I have several problems with this dog...

He is an Akita (about 100 lbs) and somewhat aggressive.  He has bitten two of our friends who tried to take food from him, and has killed 3 house cats.

He barks none stop when the doorbell rings, and for about 20 minutes after the person has left. 

DH does not bathe him enough so he smells terrible. 

All these things, I have learned to deal with but now we are dealing with more...

Last month he started throwing up every time he drank, all over the house. The vet said that it might be a kidney issue, but the x-rays are coming back normal. So this past week he has peed in the house 4 times (once on our bed). And when a 100 lb dog pees it is a BIG puddle. I am completely done with this dog! DH is leaving for deployment soon and I will be left with Toby, our other dog Tessa,  and a brand new baby.

I am feeling like Toby needs to find a new home, but I can't even bring it up with DH w/o starting a fight.  Does anyone have any advice for me in how I can talk to DH about it?  What would you do?

Edit for typo

Dana86

Honestly I think thats a cheap way out to try and find a new home for a senior dog. You should contact a behavioral specialist and have them come and work with you and the dog to make everyone happier. If you guys are having issues with the dog imagine how miserable he is with owners who wont give him the time to work with him. You live with the dog as well it shouldnt just be your husbands responsibility.

So my advise, take him to a good vet and have him checked out. Then get recomendations for a good animal behaviorist in your area and have them come over to work with you, your husband and the dog. 

TripMomma

The average Akita life span is 10-12 years, so my short answer is to put up with him until he passes...it can't be much longer. I can't imagine ANYONE who would want an 11 year old dog with some health issues possibly going on...I think rehoming him would be impossible. He is your DH's dog so it really has to be up to him. I feel for you though, my DH has a 10 year old dog that I can't stand and wish I could give away. I just try not to let it get to me too much and am waiting for the day he passes...we also have 2 other large dogs so I know how much of a pain it can be.

I would do more vet care to get to the bottom of his vomiting/peeing issues, but this could just be age related and may not be anything they can do.

As far as the cat killings to me that is on you guys. Akita's are known to not do well with small animals...high prey drive, so you should not have cats around him.

As far as biting your friends food protection is pretty common in many dogs, after the first incident you should have taking any and all precautions to make sure he is not disturbed while eating or having a treat/bone. We feed our dogs after the kids go to bed, so there is no chance for any problems.

The barking at the door, it's him trying to protect you...I don't mind when my dogs bark at the door, it is a good deterrent.

Jenniferk08

I think this is stuff you should have worked on after your BFP not many weeks later. 

1- find an animal behaviorist to work on the issues, it is possible to work with an aggressive dog.  I have owned them and live with a same sex aggressive 92 lb alaskan malamute who is now buddies with my mom's crazy male lab.  He's also food aggressive when it comes to other dogs around his food and yet I feed my two dogs together, give treats side by side and have fed my mom's dog near him.

2- Throwing up after drinking/possible kidney issues etc.. i suggest find another vet for a second opinion.  also dogs can sense the change in our hormones which can throw them off.  I might up his walk schedule. 

3- what are you feeding him? Crap food can cause lots of issues.  higher quality food can help with many things.

I own two large dogs and could not imagine dumping them because of a few issues that are the owners fault not the dog's.

JoBieger05

I agree with the PP. He's a senior dog. And it would be cruel to take him out of his enviroment and put him into something else. Most pounds or shelters would just put him to sleep. I say deal with it until he passes, also.

mrsdchastain

Maybe a family member could watch him while DH is away?

Quesera

TripMomma:

The average Akita life span is 10-12 years, so my short answer is to put up with him until he passes...it can't be much longer. I can't imagine ANYONE who would want an 11 year old dog with some health issues possibly going on...I think rehoming him would be impossible. He is your DH's dog so it really has to be up to him. I feel for you though, my DH has a 10 year old dog that I can't stand and wish I could give away. I just try not to let it get to me too much and am waiting for the day he passes...we also have 2 other large dogs so I know how much of a pain it can be.

I would do more vet care to get to the bottom of his vomiting/peeing issues, but this could just be age related and may not be anything they can do.

As far as the cat killings to me that is on you guys. Akita's are known to not do well with small animals...high prey drive, so you should not have cats around him.

As far as biting your friends food protection is pretty common in many dogs, after the first incident you should have taking any and all precautions to make sure he is not disturbed while eating or having a treat/bone. We feed our dogs after the kids go to bed, so there is no chance for any problems.

The barking at the door, it's him trying to protect you...I don't mind when my dogs bark at the door, it is a good deterrent.

All of this. It would be cruel to try and rehome a senior dog, especially one with health problems not to mention irresponsible on your part b/c he has aggression issues that you clearly didn't properly address. I feel for you b/c I would be worried about bringing a baby into this situation and you have to deal with it alone but that is the bargain you made when you married DH. I feel like a lot of it is on him b/c a dog of that size and breed needs a lot of attention (they are truly a pack breed) and exercise (i.e major running) in order to be properly trained and behaved and he didn't do that obviously.  

TheQuietGrrrl

I'd agree with you, any house animal that bites aggressively or kills other house animals absolutely has no place in the house. Instant eviction.

So is your DH completely oblivious about this kind of behavior, or does he ultimately 'know' it's a problem but can't bring himself to part with the dog? Maybe kindly remind him that your LO will grow up to be a toddler, which involves a lot of fur-pulling, face grabbing, and likely food-stealing, and you won't be able to keep them separated forever.  Dog could snap and attack even if LO is instigating the problem.  Does he really want the dog to fail at his one and only chance of staying in the house at the expense of your child?

If you're trying to compromise with DH, at minimum demand that Toby be placed into some serious training classes, or talk with the vet about quelling aggressive behavior.

But there's also the really passive aggressive part of me that would have Toby accidentally, sadly, runnoft while DH was deployed.

Bredins wife

I have looked into a behaviorist, but they are VERY expensive and DH wont even talk about it b/c he does not think there is an issue..

BrittRMere

TheQuietGrrrl:

I'd agree with you, any house animal that bites aggressively or kills other house animals absolutely has no place in the house. Instant eviction.

So is your DH completely oblivious about this kind of behavior, or does he ultimately 'know' it's a problem but can't bring himself to part with the dog? Maybe kindly remind him that your LO will grow up to be a toddler, which involves a lot of fur-pulling, face grabbing, and likely food-stealing, and you won't be able to keep them separated forever.  Dog could snap and attack even if LO is instigating the problem.  Does he really want the dog to fail at his one and only chance of staying in the house at the expense of your child?

If you're trying to compromise with DH, at minimum demand that Toby be placed into some serious training classes, or talk with the vet about quelling aggressive behavior.

But there's also the really passive aggressive part of me that would have Toby accidentally, sadly, runnoft while DH was deployed.

Wow.

BalancingJane

Bredins wife:

I have looked into a behaviorist, but they are VERY expensive and DH wont even talk about it b/c he does not think there is an issue..

Having bitten two people b/c of food agression and introducing a new baby into the house (who is going to likely be around the dog and its food) should be enough to make your DH realize this is an issue. As for the cost, I feel for you because I know dog training is expensive, but it's a necessary expense if there's a problem. It's part of being a responsible dog owner.

It sounds like you and DH need to have a very serious discussion about it because he's not recognizing your (justified) concerns. I know you say this turns into a fight, but it doesn't sound like you trying to fix it on your own is going to work without his help.

deenie816

I'm not sure what to tell you. I think he needs a trip to the vet first of all. However, I'd be concerned about his high prey drive/aggression and I would definitely not allow this dog around your baby. 

pphshorty

the urination is probably age related (incontinence) but since he is also vomiting it could be a bigger problem... you should get a second opinion from another vet... i disagree so much with the previous posters on this.  if the dog is capable of killing cats and has food agression it most definitly should NOT be around a newborn or any small children.  food agression is something that is close to impossible to fix and would be especially hard at a dog his age.  you need to bring up the point to DH that if he is so protective of you and him or has so much prey drive that he kills the cats then he could severly harm or worse a baby.

Dana86

Wow is all I have to say at some of the replies. Lying and saying the dog ran away once your Dh is deployed? Really what kind of suggestion is that?  And to whoever said food aggression is close to impossible to fix is very wrong.

The behavior your dog has is due to the time and effort the owners have given him.  So if you think re homing him is a good idea then what happens if one of your other dogs starts acting up for attention when the baby comes are you going to get rid of them as well? I understand that pets cost money and can be expensive but that is one of the things you accept when you get the pet to begin with. Tell your Dh that you need to get a behaviorist because obviously neither of you are willing to put the time and effort into properly training him. His breed is not the problem its how he has been raised that is the problem. If thats because of your husbands doing before you got together then so be it. Its to late now to point fingers because you are both the owners of the dog now therefore its for BOTH of you to correct. Make the effort instead of coming up with easy ways out.

TiffanyTheMom

pphshorty:

the urination is probably age related (incontinence) but since he is also vomiting it could be a bigger problem... you should get a second opinion from another vet... i disagree so much with the previous posters on this.  if the dog is capable of killing cats and has food agression it most definitly should NOT be around a newborn or any small children.  food agression is something that is close to impossible to fix and would be especially hard at a dog his age.  you need to bring up the point to DH that if he is so protective of you and him or has so much prey drive that he kills the cats then he could severly harm or worse a baby.

THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS. For all the PP's who said Akita's have a high prey drive and 3 cats have been killed, imagine what this dog can do to their baby. This is NOT an okay situation. He needs to go to a home where he can be around older people/children and no cats. Sorry, but a baby takes precedence over ANY animal IMO. I understand he's your DH's best friend and all, but how could he possibly live with himself if this high-prey animal killed his baby?

Bredins wife

Wow. Ok I moved in with DH 9 years after he got Toby, so the behavior is very hard to fix at this point.

I am not trying to give him to a shelter (I don't know why saying "find a new home" means give him to a shelter) We have 2 friends that have said they would take him, and my mom. But I can't bring this up to DH w/o a fight..

As far as me not trying to fix these issues I HAVE TRIED. I work with Toby, but he is old and stubborn. He wont even sit when I ask him. I spent about 3 months when we first found out we were pregnant working with Toby non stop and he is just so stubborn and set in his ways (plus DH doesn't follow through with the training) 

As far as getting a second opinion for the pee/vomit we have been to 4 vets in the past 4 weeks and spent over $2000 on exams, blood work, x-rays etc...  I know that money comes with owning a pet, but there is only so much money coming in each month.

I really just was wanting tips on how to bring up this touchy subject with DH. Because I am sorry but we need a solution.

And for whoever said "what would you do if one of our other dogs starts acting up" well we only have one other dog, (who was mine before we got married) She is trained, calm, and has never shown any aggression. BUT if there was even a second that I thought that my baby was in danger or some other issue came up, I would give her to a friend, no questions ask. My kid's safety comes first.

Jenniferk08

Dana86:

Wow is all I have to say at some of the replies. Lying and saying the dog ran away once your Dh is deployed? Really what kind of suggestion is that?  And to whoever said food aggression is close to impossible to fix is very wrong.

The behavior your dog has is due to the time and effort the owners have given him.  So if you think re homing him is a good idea then what happens if one of your other dogs starts acting up for attention when the baby comes are you going to get rid of them as well? I understand that pets cost money and can be expensive but that is one of the things you accept when you get the pet to begin with. Tell your Dh that you need to get a behaviorist because obviously neither of you are willing to put the time and effort into properly training him. His breed is not the problem its how he has been raised that is the problem. If thats because of your husbands doing before you got together then so be it. Its to late now to point fingers because you are both the owners of the dog now therefore its for BOTH of you to correct. Make the effort instead of coming up with easy ways out.

this.  also cats=/= babies.  My dogs will chase and try to kill cats and any other small animal that makes it's way into my yard.  However when meeting a baby who grabbed my dog by the fur she merely licked it's hand because (surprise surprise) we WORKED to TRAIN our dog. A woman brings her 18m old son to our class.  If I tell her to "watch the baby" at our agility class she sits in front of him and the most "aggressive behavior" shown is poking him in the head with her nose until he pets her. 

Take responsibility for your pet and if H doesn't think there is an issue then step up, be a mom and sign up for a behaviorist yourself.  You said he is being deployed so if like someone suggested, you can get rid of him while H is deployed why not sign up for training?

trudyanndac

pphshorty:

the urination is probably age related (incontinence) but since he is also vomiting it could be a bigger problem... you should get a second opinion from another vet... i disagree so much with the previous posters on this.  if the dog is capable of killing cats and has food agression it most definitely should NOT be around a newborn or any small children.  food aggression is something that is close to impossible to fix and would be especially hard at a dog his age.  you need to bring up the point to DH that if he is so protective of you and him or has so much prey drive that he kills the cats then he could severely harm or worse a baby.

This!!  If your DH doesn't realize this then there is something wrong!! And he knows that he won't be any help deployed so he needs to face it and find somewhere for the dog to stay while is gone or to give him up. I would be overwhelmed with a dog with this many problems, and a newborn with no help from my SO.

Maybe check out a program like "Pet's of Patriots". Either the Humane Society or someone who is willing will "adopt" the dog while your DH is away and when your DH returns he can pick him up, that way you don't have to deal with the dog while your DH is deployed. This way your not actually giving up the dog and DH he needs to step up and do something to help train the dog before he leaves.

Bredins wife

TiffanyTheMom:

pphshorty:

the urination is probably age related (incontinence) but since he is also vomiting it could be a bigger problem... you should get a second opinion from another vet... i disagree so much with the previous posters on this.  if the dog is capable of killing cats and has food agression it most definitly should NOT be around a newborn or any small children.  food agression is something that is close to impossible to fix and would be especially hard at a dog his age.  you need to bring up the point to DH that if he is so protective of you and him or has so much prey drive that he kills the cats then he could severly harm or worse a baby.

THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS. For all the PP's who said Akita's have a high prey drive and 3 cats have been killed, imagine what this dog can do to their baby. This is NOT an okay situation. He needs to go to a home where he can be around older people/children and no cats. sorry, but a baby takes precedence over ANY animal IMO. I understand he's your DH's best friend and all, but how could he possibly live with himself if this high-prey animal killed his baby?

Thank you for understanding. A dog can bite an adult and leave a mark or a scar, but if he were to bite a baby, it could potentially kill her.  I don't think DH has any idea that this could be an issue, since he won't be here, he won't have to worry about it.

I obviously will be very mindful of where baby is/ where Toby is, but I don't want to have to constantly be on edge.

 

BrittRMere

I know that some people are against this, but would your husband be open to making him an "outside" dog?

I don't know your living situation, but when I was growing up, we had a big, smelly (though incredibly sweet) rottweiler mix. There was no way we could deal with a 130 lb. dog in our tiny house, so my dad built a HUGE pen in our backyard.

He stayed in the pen while we were gone (because he would wander), but when we were home, we would let him out and play with him/ let him roam around the house. He was always very happy and well-adjusted.

Just a suggestion... Obviously that doesn't work if you live in a city or an apartment or something...

I'm sorry you're dealing with this situation. It just kinda sucks. Hopefully, if nothing else, your husband will agree to let him live with one of your family members while he is deployed.

Bredins wife

Jenniferk08:

Dana86:

Wow is all I have to say at some of the replies. Lying and saying the dog ran away once your Dh is deployed? Really what kind of suggestion is that?  And to whoever said food aggression is close to impossible to fix is very wrong.

The behavior your dog has is due to the time and effort the owners have given him.  So if you think re homing him is a good idea then what happens if one of your other dogs starts acting up for attention when the baby comes are you going to get rid of them as well? I understand that pets cost money and can be expensive but that is one of the things you accept when you get the pet to begin with. Tell your Dh that you need to get a behaviorist because obviously neither of you are willing to put the time and effort into properly training him. His breed is not the problem its how he has been raised that is the problem. If thats because of your husbands doing before you got together then so be it. Its to late now to point fingers because you are both the owners of the dog now therefore its for BOTH of you to correct. Make the effort instead of coming up with easy ways out.

this.  also cats=/= babies.  My dogs will chase and try to kill cats and any other small animal that makes it's way into my yard.  However when meeting a baby who grabbed my dog by the fur she merely licked it's hand because (surprise surprise) we WORKED to TRAIN our dog. A woman brings her 18m old son to our class.  If I tell her to "watch the baby" at our agility class she sits in front of him and the most "aggressive behavior" shown is poking him in the head with her nose until he pets her. 

Take responsibility for your pet and if H doesn't think there is an issue then step up, be a mom and sign up for a behaviorist yourself.  You said he is being deployed so if like someone suggested, you can get rid of him while H is deployed why not sign up for training?

Ok,  I would never just get rid of him while DH was gone...that was someone else's suggestion, not mine. As far as signing up for training while DH is gone, yeah, sounds like a great idea, but going behind my husband's back with his money is not something I am comfortable doing, it would need to be discussed. 

Jinsy80

There's no way in hell I would allow my baby around a dog like that. He's bitten people and killed cats. WTF is he still doing in your house? Your DH needs a reality check. Your baby is more important than the dog. I am so sorry you're dealing with this. 

Bredins wife

BrittRMere:

I know that some people are against this, but would your husband be open to making him an "outside" dog?

I don't know your living situation, but when I was growing up, we had a big, smelly (though incredibly sweet) rottweiler mix. There was no way we could deal with a 130 lb. dog in our tiny house, so my dad built a HUGE pen in our backyard.

He stayed in the pen while we were gone (because he would wander), but when we were home, we would let him out and play with him/ let him roam around the house. He was always very happy and well-adjusted.

Just a suggestion... Obviously that doesn't work if you live in a city or an apartment or something...

I'm sorry you're dealing with this situation. It just kinda sucks. Hopefully, if nothing else, your husband will agree to let him live with one of your family members while he is deployed.

As far as being an outside dog, I would love this idea! We have a privacy fenced in back yard. The issue here is that we live on a lake and Toby will swim around the fence that goes about 4 ft into the water and get into the neighbors yard, who don't have a fence, and then he is gone for hours.  

Mama_SAS

Jinsy80:

There's no way in hell I would allow my baby around a dog like that. He's bitten people and killed cats. WTF is he still doing in your house? Your DH needs a reality check. Your baby is more important than the dog. I am so sorry you're dealing with this. 

I agree with this. I would never allow a dog who has killed anything around my baby.

In the future please teach your dogs that people can take their food from the time they are puppies. Many many children get bit because they get near a dog dish.  

rsmith1175

Behavior Specialist my Ass!!!  Your dog has bit people and killed 3 cats!!!  I don't think a freaking dog whisperer is gonna help.  I would be worried too!!!  It's up to you and hubby but I would be looking for a new home for the dog.  I would be scared it was gonna bite the baby or worse.  Good Luck!!!

ms12345

TiffanyTheMom:

pphshorty:

the urination is probably age related (incontinence) but since he is also vomiting it could be a bigger problem... you should get a second opinion from another vet... i disagree so much with the previous posters on this.  if the dog is capable of killing cats and has food agression it most definitly should NOT be around a newborn or any small children.  food agression is something that is close to impossible to fix and would be especially hard at a dog his age.  you need to bring up the point to DH that if he is so protective of you and him or has so much prey drive that he kills the cats then he could severly harm or worse a baby.

THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS. For all the PP's who said Akita's have a high prey drive and 3 cats have been killed, imagine what this dog can do to their baby. This is NOT an okay situation. He needs to go to a home where he can be around older people/children and no cats. Sorry, but a baby takes precedence over ANY animal IMO. I understand he's your DH's best friend and all, but how could he possibly live with himself if this high-prey animal killed his baby?

800% THIS. I love my family's dog, but no matter how much a part of the family she is and how much it would hurt to ever have to part with her even if she turned aggressive, humans (especially newborn ones!) take top priority!

Bredins wife

Mama_SAS:

Jinsy80:

There's no way in hell I would allow my baby around a dog like that. He's bitten people and killed cats. WTF is he still doing in your house? Your DH needs a reality check. Your baby is more important than the dog. I am so sorry you're dealing with this. 

I agree with this. I would never allow a dog who has killed anything around my baby.

In the future please teach your dogs that people can take their food from the time they are puppies. Many many children get bit because they get near a dog dish.  

As I stated before, I was not around this dog until her was 9 years old. I had nothing to do with his upbringing. Our other dog (the one I raised) backs away from food, toy, bone, whatever, when a person comes near it. And sits and waits for it to be given back to her.

pitterpatter129

I would move the fence or put up a temporary fence-inside-a-fence, get a warm dog house, and have an outdoor dog.  Maybe you could baby gate off a laundry room or garage where the dog could sleep during really cold weather. It sounds like Toby doesn't have much longer to live anyhow, so I would deal with him for now.  If you give it a chance and you just can't handle it while your husband is away, I would have one of those nice realtives take him.  Your husband has had him for so long, it's probably just really hard to accept that there is an issue. 

izzourclue

This is a tough situation for sure.  But a very clear one IMO.  You are about to have the baby so it may be too late for a behaviorist to do much before LO gets here and I would want to make sure my dog was trust worthy and safe before bringing LO home.  My dogs aren't showing any concerning behavior like this and I am still taking the initial introduction very seriously and won't assume they will be totally safe around LO.  I will not leave LO alone in the same room with my dogs for even 1 second probably ever.  Lack of supervision is the biggest cause of dog/baby incidences. 

For your case, I would start a fight with DH if I had to but this needs to be discussed.  I would start the discussion with showing him some recent articles of dogs attacking infants (happens all the time) and see if I couldn't get him to see that this is a real concern.  If he refuses to recognize the problem and discuss it.  I would move out with LO and refuse to bring the baby home until the dog issue is resolved.  I would also tell DH he needs to find someone else to take Toby while deployed.  

I am one of those people that usually takes the position of taking responsibility for your pets and his health problems or hygiene problems would never be a reason why I would get rid of him.  However, (someone mentioned the Dog Whisperer) even Cesar Milan says you don't take chances with infants and if there is even a little concern its better to re-home the dog.  Unfortunately you guys let this problem go too long and now you don't have the time to properly address it.  From what you've said, this seems like a potentially extremely dangerous situation to me. 

FWIW, food aggression is one of the easiest to fix problems in any age dog, but you have to be a strong owner to do it.  It shouldn't be tolerated or accommodated (PP mentioned feeding at night).  When I get new dogs, I hug them while they are eating, stick my hands in their food, take it away mid meal, make them wait to take it until I give the signal, just all around bother them.  Its my food even if you are in the middle of eating it and they know it. 

trinadesrosiers

TheQuietGrrrl:

I'd agree with you, any house animal that bites aggressively or kills other house animals absolutely has no place in the house. Instant eviction.

So is your DH completely oblivious about this kind of behavior, or does he ultimately 'know' it's a problem but can't bring himself to part with the dog? Maybe kindly remind him that your LO will grow up to be a toddler, which involves a lot of fur-pulling, face grabbing, and likely food-stealing, and you won't be able to keep them separated forever.  Dog could snap and attack even if LO is instigating the problem.  Does he really want the dog to fail at his one and only chance of staying in the house at the expense of your child?

This.  In my opinion on animal issues, baby comes first, all the time.  A dog that age will not be easy to rehabilitate.  It seems you live in a fairly warm climate, can you or a family member convert him into an outdoor dog, build a dog house.  My brother had to give his dog to a family friend who had a farm for him and he would go visit him and he was happy out there anyway.

Best of luck, I would feel the same way as you completely.

MandusMaximus

yeah Akita's are very a very aggressive breed and if not trained from an early age there is no changing them. I would say turn him into an outdoor doggie and make DH put some sort of barrier up that will keep him in. He has to be willing to bend a little if he is going to leave you with him.

Doggie HAS to go outside based on those previous instances and current issues. Being his age and breed living somewhere else isn't going to go over well and also when DH is gone he isn't going to do well with his master being gone. 

TripMomma

The dog is OLD, most geriatric dogs I know are not up for much. I am betting his cat killing days were in his youth, I doubt he could catch a cat now LOL. If he really only has a year or so left in him I don't see a problem with the baby. I know my babies were not on the floor when they were tiny where I had to worry about our dogs, not to mention your should NEVER leave a dog of any breed or age alone with your child EVER. We gated off our kitchen as we don't want the kids in there anyway and the dogs have that as their safe zone when they want time away from the kids. I would bet an 11 year old dog would be happy with a dog bed in a gated off kitchen once the baby is more mobile...which is a good 6 months away from now anyways, the dog could be dead by then. I don't see a need to give him away, if he was younger yeah retraining or rehoming would be options but for a dog that has maybe a year or so to live I think arrangements can be made to make sure baby is safe and dog stays with his family.

Scout05

I think the idea of rehoming an 11-year-old dog whose greatest crime, really, is getting older is beyond cruel. He has no idea what he's doing wrong, why you would give him up, why you would take him away from his entire world. A dog's people are their whole reason for being. To remove him like that would be mean, plain and simple.

It sounds like this dog needs some TLC, a better grooming schedule and a trip to the vet to determine if he has a UTI or some other physical reason for urinating in the house.

Beyond that, you knew the dog came w/ DH. You knew the dog lived w/ when you were TTC. He's your responsiblity as well, now, and you need to live up to that.

izzourclue

ambrandau2:

I think the idea of rehoming an 11-year-old dog whose greatest crime, really, is getting older is beyond cruel. He has no idea what he's doing wrong, why you would give him up, why you would take him away from his entire world. A dog's people are their whole reason for being. To remove him like that would be mean, plain and simple.

It sounds like this dog needs some TLC, a better grooming schedule and a trip to the vet to determine if he has a UTI or some other physical reason for urinating in the house.

Beyond that, you knew the dog came w/ DH. You knew the dog lived w/ when you were TTC. He's your responsiblity as well, now, and you need to live up to that.

I'm normally of this mindset too.  But I get so frackin' sick of all these "help me with my dog" posts from obviously incompetent dog owners.  These people never should have gotten a dog in the first place much less a challenging and strong-willed breed such as an Akita.  They never do their breed research and are shocked as to why they have all these behavior issues.   OP should have figured out these issues and fixed them before TTC IMO.  So now I'm just telling them all, you're right, re-home them because frankly the dog will probably be much happier living with an owner that will bathe him, walk him and provide him with some structure an security in his final years.  Rant over. 

WannaBeCrunchyMama

TiffanyTheMom:

pphshorty:

the urination is probably age related (incontinence) but since he is also vomiting it could be a bigger problem... you should get a second opinion from another vet... i disagree so much with the previous posters on this.  if the dog is capable of killing cats and has food agression it most definitly should NOT be around a newborn or any small children.  food agression is something that is close to impossible to fix and would be especially hard at a dog his age.  you need to bring up the point to DH that if he is so protective of you and him or has so much prey drive that he kills the cats then he could severly harm or worse a baby.

THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS. For all the PP's who said Akita's have a high prey drive and 3 cats have been killed, imagine what this dog can do to their baby. This is NOT an okay situation. He needs to go to a home where he can be around older people/children and no cats. Sorry, but a baby takes precedence over ANY animal IMO. I understand he's your DH's best friend and all, but how could he possibly live with himself if this high-prey animal killed his baby?

THIS! this animal needs a new home. Aggressive dogs have no place in a home with babies. 

The first time he bit someone I honestly would have had him put down. Dogs should NOT bite! Especially big dogs. 

I think you need to sit down with DH and be firm. 

You are due in x number of weeks, and Toby has aggression issues. Remind him of the biting and cat killing.  Tell him you don't feel safe having him around the baby. Tell him he needs to make a decision, Toby can go to one of your friends, your mom, or a different family but he is not welcome around your baby.

Dogs are part of the family, but not at the risk of an infants safety. PERIOD. There is no amount of training etc that would make the risk worth it. DH has a child on the way and he needs to grow up and see the truth.