RIP my little boating buddy

[eastont]

Well it's finally here, the day we put down our wee dog. It's a long story but I'll try to make it as short as possible. Just over 5 years ago we had to put down our other Bichon because he had very serious kidney problems. Then one day my wife said she'd like to go look at some Bichon puppies, just to get the thought of another out of her mind. We went and looked and I said we'd let them know if we decided to take one of their dog's litter. I should have caught on when the man looked back at me rather weird. At first I thought it was a language thing as we were in Quebec, but I soon found out the dear wife had already put her deposit down on a dog. Now almost 4 years later I am taking him to the vet. He is the strangest Bichon we've ever seen, and the vet concurs with us. The dog barks constantly and seems to be afraid of every little thing that he sees, especially children when they are running or playing. He goes right off the deep end. A week ago Saturday we were out boating and stopped to visit some friends at their trailer for supper. There were quite a number of children around and the dog was barking and getting quite anxious about it all. Normally we just shorten his leash and keep him close, but because our friends have a Golden Retriever we let him off with a bit more leash. Then suddenly a couple of youngster go running past and our dog jumps up and tears off after them. Some how his leash gets untied from the chair and he bites one boy on the back of his calf......Oh Boy !!!
It was a pretty bad bite, and not the first time this has happened....we didn't tell the police that.... So after consulting with our vet, a dog trainer that had seen our dog previously for just this type of behaviour, we have decided that we have no other option. Usually he is a very friendly, affectionate and loving pet....But we can't take a chance of this happening again and maybe getting more vicious and causing more injury.
Because the public health nurse, and others are involved, we had to isolate him for 10 days. Geez, what a long 10 days it's been, my wife is having an awful time looking at him, but this is the only answer.

Sorry if this rambles, but isn't this what this forum is all about.

 

[Thad]

Re: RIP my little boating buddy

Sorry to hear about that. I had a dog that was over protective, and would not allow anyone though a door that I had enetered and left him on the other side. Yep, someone wanted through that door, and ouch. The insurance company told me if he were not euthanized, they would not pay. Toughest decision I ever made. He found a good home with an old widower and I was out a lot of $$$.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: RIP my little boating buddy

One day my wife and oldest son came home with a dog from the pound. Seemed friendly enough, but at what they guessed was two years of age, he came to us with definite issues.

We all loved him, but then he started biting. His name was Jake, but under my breath I would call him DNR ("Do NOT Resuscitate!").

One evening he collapsed in the back yard. Couldn't move back legs. Next morning my wife and I discussed it and I took him to the vet and had him put down. Heartbroken, no doubt about it.

So sorry for your loss. Completely understand your situation. All the best. -Ken

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: RIP my little boating buddy

So sad. They are part of the family. Such a difficult decision. We have never had to deal with that scenario. We have a Border Collie and a Beagle. The Border Collie uses his speed to run away from any confrontation and the Beagle is about the softest dog i have ever met.
The hurt will diminish but never completely go away. Our thoughts are with you and yours.

 

[skargo]

Re: RIP my little boating buddy

Sorry about all this, it's sad.

 

[scipper77]

Re: RIP my little boating buddy

Sorry to seem heartless but if the dog is dangerous you should feel no guilt for doing what needs to be done. This is why it's illegal to keep wolves as pets, they are too dangerous. We once had a dog that never bit anyone. He got so old and crippled that he couldn't stand to eat and rarely could make it outside to pee and poop. In this case we had to make the decision when he was far gone enough to put him down (What a guilty feeling killing the dog because it is old). In your case the decision and timing is clear. I know it's hard to put down a healthy animal (I had trouble putting down one that was suffering) but it must be done. Just don't beat your self up over this.

 

[eastont]

Re: RIP my little boating buddy

Thanks for all the kind words. Yes he was a part of the family, but as time went on it became obvious that he was going to escalate his biting. It was difficult to hold him as life left him, but I still feel it was the only thing we could do.

Besides, who's ever heard of a Bichon Frise that did anything vicious...........

 

[lowkee]

Re: RIP my little boating buddy

Sorry for your loss, but I'm curious what the dog trainer said. I'm a bit purplexed how this dog was untrainable. I adopted a serious alpha dog from the pound and today she is still an alpha, but won't do squat without permission from my wife and I. I can say, by letting the dog bark at those kids, you were giving it permission to attack them when released. I'm glad, for others peoples' ears and ankles sake, you put the dog down, but I don't think it had to be that way.