Dog- need advice.

[Geena]

That's why I usually stay out of the dog threads, they're always so charged with emotion, and just go round and round. Of course it's good to be empathetic, but it's also important to be factual, both have their place in these discussions. That way people might actually learn something from them as well.

 

[townchicks]

The human-aggressive nature of the dog in question is not all that clear as emotions have made assessments of that difficult. That is why I suggested early on having an expert checking the dog first hand. There is a mismatch between what LGD's are often expected to do and what the OP is able to support, regardless the dog needs to be removed from the situation it is in. Part of the dog's breeding just is not being considered as most are trying to pigeon hole it as simply a pet.

I get what you're saying here, but if this dog was ever used as an LGD, it is no longer appropriate for that role. It is not protecting the livestock, it is killing the chickens. It broke through the neighbor's fence and killed their chickens also. I also agree that many breeds are not really appropriate in pet situations (herding breeds in homes that are not prepared to give the dog a job are one of my pet peeves), but I think the fact that this dog has LGD heritage is obscuring the issue a bit. Any old time farmer can tell you what would happen to the sheepdog that starts killing sheep. Herding drive, flock guarding, retrieving, are all just prey drive behaviors that have been modified by humans over the centuries to suit our needs. But it's at it's core still prey drive, and sometimes that line gets crossed, even now. Once it's crossed, the dog will never be trustworthy around animals again. Yes, behavior can be modified, but this is a hardwired behavior, and this dog will always need to be supervised or locked up safely, for the rest of it's life.
The question of whether this behavior will cross over to humans remains to be seen. The problem is, you will not know, until it happens. With a dog this large, and toddlers and babies in the equation, I personally would not take the risk. It may seem unfair to the dog, but so is life in a cage. I personally believe that there are worse things than a gentle humane death.

 

[bobbi-j]

I just finished reading the thread. When I first started reading, I will admit that I wasn’t that concerned about the dog killing other animals on HIS turf. Those other dogs were in his territory. Honestly, I still feel that way. If he were going after other dogs while on leash or getting out and hunting them down, I would have a bigger problem with it. My dog kills rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, opossums and stray cats. Anything that comes onto our property. He is part coonhound and from what I have read, that is a territorial, protective breed. I don’t know what he’d with a small stray dog.

That being said, I do understand OP’s concerns. The kids come first. Always. She did reach out to a rescue and even they are unwilling to take this dog. I agree that putting it down is, in this case, the right thing to do. If it’s done humanely (and I have no doubt the OP will see to that), the dog won’t suffer and will have no idea what’s going on.

OP, it’s a tough decision, but you have to do what’s best for you, your family and your situation.

 

[sourland]

Some no matter what have to be right fighters. Even if they have knowledge of the topic they must prove their point. Their ends justify their means. No matter what. And cannot be part of a empathetic conversation there’s no consideration. Why because they are somehow incapable of taking their knowledge and applying it in a considerate way. I have great respect for those who teach. You must be confident in knowledge and humble in your approach in order to have someone want to learn. It’s a skill. A skill that takes maturity and desire.
Some will always be “right fighters”

Of the many posts that I have read on BYC over the years, this is one of the best.

 

[chickens really]

Yes. My Border Collie/Aussie is human and Dog aggressive. He has in the past bitten people and almost killed the Dog next door when it came onto my property to attack my other Dog Finn. Wilson was abused as a puppy so has fear aggression and Dog aggression.
He is 10 years old and with age and training he is better although a liability because I will never trust him in any situation where humans or Dogs are involved.

 

[chickens really]

Protection is not aggression.

There is a fine line between aggression and protection.

 

[Saaniya]

So I have a Lab and Great Pyrenees mix. He is 3 years old and is neutered. He never had agression towards other animals till we moved to our new piece of land a year or so ago.
Since moving here he has killed alot of things. Our chickens free ranged and then one day we came home to half the flock about 10 dead. We stopped that by keeping them in the coop, but he got through the neighbors fence and killed all theirs too.
After that we completely fenced our property in nonclimb 6 foot wire and nothing is around the fence for him to use to get out.
Well that was the beginning. He killed all the rabbits on the property which was fine since they were pests.Then some stray cats I think 3 so far which came into the property.
Now here is my biggest issue he has now killed 4 dogs. All of them have came into our property and into his allowed zone from his collar. We have him centered in the property with a shock zone collar to prevent him escaping the property on top of a very secure fence. He is not allowed to be close to any of the perimeter fencing by like 25 feet.
This past week was his latest victim and I have been aruging with my husband for a week on how to handle this situation.
Despite the fencing and zone collar he is still killing things.
We have a small child with another on the way and I am worried this aggressive behavior may transfer to kids too.

I feel like he has done enough to be euthanized. Please help! Give some advice or reassure us that this is the right decision.

He's sounds so aggressive
He might loose control or loving what hes doing
Rehome him.in rehab or whatever u decided for ur own safety

 

[Peppercorngal]

So I have a Lab and Great Pyrenees mix. He is 3 years old and is neutered. He never had agression towards other animals till we moved to our new piece of land a year or so ago.
Since moving here he has killed alot of things. Our chickens free ranged and then one day we came home to half the flock about 10 dead. We stopped that by keeping them in the coop, but he got through the neighbors fence and killed all theirs too.
After that we completely fenced our property in nonclimb 6 foot wire and nothing is around the fence for him to use to get out.
Well that was the beginning. He killed all the rabbits on the property which was fine since they were pests.Then some stray cats I think 3 so far which came into the property.
Now here is my biggest issue he has now killed 4 dogs. All of them have came into our property and into his allowed zone from his collar. We have him centered in the property with a shock zone collar to prevent him escaping the property on top of a very secure fence. He is not allowed to be close to any of the perimeter fencing by like 25 feet.
This past week was his latest victim and I have been aruging with my husband for a week on how to handle this situation.
Despite the fencing and zone collar he is still killing things.
We have a small child with another on the way and I am worried this aggressive behavior may transfer to kids too.

I feel like he has done enough to be euthanized. Please help! Give some advice or reassure us that this is the right decision.

This dog kills for the joy of killing, no other reason. He cannot be trusted around any animal and probably would kill an infant as well. He's just gone too far and there is no earthly reason to spend money feeding a pure killer. Euthanize him before something really horrible happens that lands you in a lawsuit you cannot afford.

 

[Lyranonamous]

So I have a Lab and Great Pyrenees mix. He is 3 years old and is neutered. He never had agression towards other animals till we moved to our new piece of land a year or so ago.
Since moving here he has killed alot of things. Our chickens free ranged and then one day we came home to half the flock about 10 dead. We stopped that by keeping them in the coop, but he got through the neighbors fence and killed all theirs too.
After that we completely fenced our property in nonclimb 6 foot wire and nothing is around the fence for him to use to get out.
Well that was the beginning. He killed all the rabbits on the property which was fine since they were pests.Then some stray cats I think 3 so far which came into the property.
Now here is my biggest issue he has now killed 4 dogs. All of them have came into our property and into his allowed zone from his collar. We have him centered in the property with a shock zone collar to prevent him escaping the property on top of a very secure fence. He is not allowed to be close to any of the perimeter fencing by like 25 feet.
This past week was his latest victim and I have been aruging with my husband for a week on how to handle this situation.
Despite the fencing and zone collar he is still killing things.
We have a small child with another on the way and I am worried this aggressive behavior may transfer to kids too.

I feel like he has done enough to be euthanized. Please help! Give some advice or reassure us that this is the right decision.

Is it possible there is a sheep or goat farmer somewhere who could put this dog to work ? Somewhere without children ?

 

[ShannonR]

Is it possible there is a sheep or goat farmer somewhere who could put this dog to work ? Somewhere without children ?

Are you for real?? A sheep or goat farmer?