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July 2016 Moms
jkernicky
member
have to euthanize 2 yr old gsd for aggression issues. extremely emotional
jkernicky
member
my husband and i have a 2 yr old female german shepherd. we have had her since she as 8 weeks old. we took her to puppy classes and hired a trainer to help us with her many behavioral issues but her aggression is getting worse. she has not drawn blood except while on walks during bouts of leash reactivity, but she has jumped on neighbor kid ripped his shirt, bit my aunt husband sister friend and me without being provoked for no reason. we had her checked at the vet and medically she is fine. she is unpredictable though and can no longer be trusted. my husband and i have tried to rehome her to save her life but no shelters will take her since she is a bite risk. we were also told by our one trainer and vet that she will get worse with new owners because she is so attached to us. we found out from the breeder that dad was really aggressive and they never provided us with paperwork on their dogs obviously probably because they were inbred and or improperly trained. we were naive and went along with takin her without paperwork as it never existed im sure. we were had for a few hundred dollars and now we will have to suffer the loss of our pet. a mistake as first time dog owners that we will never make again. the breeder refused to take her back. she is also fearful of children and has become fearful and unpredictable around strangers.
it is breaking my heart that she is so young and we have no safe way to save her so all we can do is put her down. i have been twice as emotional over this as i normally would due to the hormones. our vet told us she would never be the family pet we desire and euthanizing her would be the most humane. i so badly want to rehome her but dont want the guilt of her attacking and seriously mauling someone. my husband and i have decided with broken hearts that she definitely cannot be trusted around a baby as she is fearful of children and aggression is worsening biting for no reason. this will be our first child and we just cannot risk it. we love her she is our baby and we want to hold onto her but it just isnt safe anymore. my mother is terrified my blood pressure is rising too high due to the emotions of this and that it could harm the baby. it is just a nightmare, the entire situation. i know we have to do this and grieve but it just sucks. and my hormones arent helping.
any advice on how to cope with this better? thanks in advance.
it is breaking my heart that she is so young and we have no safe way to save her so all we can do is put her down. i have been twice as emotional over this as i normally would due to the hormones. our vet told us she would never be the family pet we desire and euthanizing her would be the most humane. i so badly want to rehome her but dont want the guilt of her attacking and seriously mauling someone. my husband and i have decided with broken hearts that she definitely cannot be trusted around a baby as she is fearful of children and aggression is worsening biting for no reason. this will be our first child and we just cannot risk it. we love her she is our baby and we want to hold onto her but it just isnt safe anymore. my mother is terrified my blood pressure is rising too high due to the emotions of this and that it could harm the baby. it is just a nightmare, the entire situation. i know we have to do this and grieve but it just sucks. and my hormones arent helping.
any advice on how to cope with this better? thanks in advance.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: have to euthanize 2 yr old gsd for aggression issues. extremely emotional
I do agree with contacting a rescue group though.
Also, some times agresive dogs are really high strung and hyper, which makes great police dogs. The police/military has the ability to turn that aggression into drive and work.
Good luck and God bless~
thank you all for your kind comments.
@jkernicky Disclaimer: I'm going to be very pro-dog because I am a dog lover. I would definitely look into a rescue group that can work with her. I understand your fear of her being with new people but you never know how she will take to them. Perhaps call some shelters and get their input before putting her down.
Eta: it doesn't sound humane if you haven't exhausted all your options including calling the listed groups other posters shared or even attempting to rehome. Dogs can be stressed in different environments for a variety of reasons and may do better in a different home not that, that is your fault but environment can be a huge thing.
A)It's rude to call people idiots after you asked for advice
B. I wasn't talking about no kill shelters I was talking about German Shepard specific rescues these are different than shelters as @RSB1982 was kind enough share a link. Here it is again in case you missed it as it is at the bottom of her post https://www.gsdrescue.org/
C) obviously it is terrible you are going through it but no one here can make the situation better but try to offer other solutions since you talked about how much you love your dog and I believe you do. However people might not agree with your choices just like we all differ on opinions all the time here.
Eta: b was making an emoji so had to change that. Again I hope you can find a better solution and if not that you have peace of mind but don't insult people who are just trying to help.
i called idiot because im such an emotional mess and i know what i need to do i know my dog and her problems she has bitten husband twice unprovoked out of the blue in the past two weeks. you are allowed to have an opinion we all do but after i explain the situation and ppl can clearly see that she has a problem based off my post it makes me angry because she is a risk. i am doing this out of my love for her not because i want to. i would die for my dog but this is best in our particular situation.
So I don't really need to hear an excuse of why it's okay to degrade a person by calling them a name. There is a respectful manner to disagree.
It's a good thing you edited to add the rest. Your post was insensitive and judgmental, at best.
She asked for advice on how to COPE, not to be told she's a shitty dog owner if she doesn't call every rescue in the country to find one to dump her at (ever been to a rescue? I'd recommend visiting the place before you ship your dog off to what is most likely an animal hoarder). I'd venture a guess that the veterinarian(s) and experienced dog trainers that have obviously seen this dog are more qualified to help OP make the final decision than we are.
The bottom line for biters, especially unpredictable ones, is that they are not safe. I'm sorry you have to do this, OP, but it sounds like you've exhausted the reasonable options trying to rehabilitate her. Don't write the entire breed off - I have a 3yo intact male that is the sweetest, kindest dog ever.
honestly i came for opinions and people can have their opinions but i dont know anyone on here personally and things can easily be misconstrued in text online because its different than talking to someone in person.
but its ok tho im already upset enough about it i really dont have anything else to explain. i explained it in detail already.
I also think you should at least contact a rescue and ask. The worst they'll tell you is no, the dog is too high risk and you're back were you started with having to euthanize her.
My mother has a GSD (Rehn) from a terrific breeder who breeds her dogs later in life (not before 3 to 5 years old) to ensure multiple things; temperament, 5+ year hip dysplasia guarantee, and work ethic. Rehn's bloodline is full of Canadian Mounted Police K-9 officers, U.S.P.D. K-9 officers, and one of the first search and rescue dogs whose services were requested at the Twin Towers. When at 8 years (old for a GSD) Rehn presented with an autoimmune disorder, she notified the breeder just as an FYI and the breeder offered an exchange for a new pup (the breeder will take her own dogs back in ANY situation if the original owner cannot/ will not keep the dog), which my mom declined. The only reason my mom has Rehn (she was slotted to receive a pup from a different litter), is because the breeder realized Rehn was not suited for work/breeding purposes (she was 'too silly'), and that she would do best as a pet. They also refuse to sell unaltered dogs unless you can show documentation on which bloodlines the new owner plans to breed with. Period end of story, a good breeder is EXTREMELY concerned about the life of each and every one of their dogs, because their intent is to improve the breed, not make bank.
ETA: No breeder worth their salt will sell an 8 week old pup. They require socialization with their own pack (littermates, parents, and other kennelmates) until 12 weeks MINIMUM. My mothers dog was not cleared for air travel until 16+weeks.
OP, has the dog been temperament tested at the shelters? Typically they do a couple of tests; one involves a bowl of food and a fake hand. Then let the dog start eating and then introduce the fake hand to pet and eventually to reach for the bowl. If the dog bites the hand, that's not a good sign. I would suggest that you have this test done and contact the breed-specific rescues. Some will have foster homes where trainers take the dog into their own homes in order to train the dogs well enough to go to a new home. If there's nothing that you can do after that, then you've truly done all that you can.
* because Siri dictation hates me.
Married: May 16th 2015
$300 for a purebred GSD is just a sure sign that was an awful breeder and I wouldn't touch her dogs.
"But ohhh the puppy is just so cute!"
Don't go out and buy another puppy after this. Next time try a fish.
Married: May 16th 2015