Goodbye everyone. A Sad Ending for Soldier

[Draymia]

I am an experienced dog owner and groomer. Our shelters and rescues are overrun with loving and deserving dogs needing homes. Soldier was cursed before they ever got him.

Sadly, a vicious dog is an unpredictable and dangerous dog. In my house I would have done the same thing. One month with the attacks escalating is more than enough time to make a sad decision.

I give RebeccaK and her husband credit for trying their best with Soldier. It just wasn't meant to be.

 

[CoraBoxer]

I've been following many of her posts and they were all over the place in a very short period of time. From a terrible behaviourist to one that was said to be amazing, but the first visit was less than a week ago (so how effective could that have been). From an amazing dog to a vicious one. A lot of choices made for/with the dog, that were chronicled in the posts, were made much too quickly, before the dog and the owner were ready. You have to understand what you're getting into and what the dog is trying to tell you. Sadly, inexperienced owners can often make things worse and how exactly does one decide to not consider any other options before putting the dog down? I don't know how bad it was but I do know it wasn't all bad. I know I see my own actions differently than someone else who is observing me and take all the posts with a grain of salt. I know I've made mistakes with mine before, things I would have done differently the first time around and have done differently ever since; adjusted. Again a month is a very short period of time.

I have to agree with the posts above about getting another dog off the street or too soon, especially a puppy. Even a perfect dog from the best breeder will be ruined by a nervous, stressed out owner who is unsure and quick to judge. Years of training, routine, support. All dogs will react the same way to situations they are not comfortable with. Big or small. You have to be ready to introduce the pup to ALL situations numerous times. I can't imagine her going through the fear stages, crate training, potty training, adolescence, health issues, and everything that the dog might pick up from another dog at the dog park etc. And what would happen if it wasn't all smooth or didn't improve quickly..

I could be wrong. There are cases which are impossible, or impossible for some people. I'm not trying to be mean, I just don't believe in sugar coating things. She might hurt now but it'll pass. It would be great if she didn't rush into another dog/pup and realise everything involved because there is no 'it'll pass' for the dog involved.

 

[whiskers]

What makes me sad is that, a dog that bites but doesn't even break the skin... is not an aggressive dog or a dog that is meaning to do harm. That is such a very inhibited bite, I have a hard time considering it vicious or an attack. I get pretty scraped up just playing with my dog.

Not my dog. Not my situation. I only know what I read. I just wish more time were given and more options tried, but I can appreciate that it wasn't an easy or light decision.

 

[EAO76]

Poor Soldier. Who knows what was going on? The theory about the previous owners lying may or may not be true. If the previous owner chased you down wanting to say “hi” that doesn’t really seem like someone who was being dishonest. If they knowingly gave you an aggressive dog I would expect them to avoid you. Soldiers behavior problems may have simply stemmed from him having led a very quiet (or very different life in some other way) life with them and now he was thrust into a much busier life that he is not accustomed to. It sounds like he was a very under socialized dog that verbalized many times that he was uncomfortable and yet he was continuously forced into these situations (you mentioned in several of your posts that you kept taking him to the vet and the pet store to “socialize” him even though he was clearly uncomfortable). While most dogs adjust to being rehomed rather easily I have seen fearful/ un-socialized dogs that have a very difficult time. Especially a 1.5year old un-neutered boxer… he was still a puppy and full of raging hormones to boot.

I’m surprised that your trainer / behaviorist would encourage euthanizing a dog so quickly. When she accessed him did she tell you she felt he was dangerous and unpredictable? Because while I don’t agree with rehoming a truly aggressive, unpredictable dog I have seen several dogs labeled aggressive and then suddenly turn around once they are in different environment. So while there are situations that euthanasia is warranted, in my opinion, one month with EXTREMELY inexperienced owners, one session with a “behaviorists”, such a minor injury and such a young dog shouldn’t equal euthanasia. Euthanasia should be a very last resort. However, I was not there, and the “attack” that was described seems so very odd to me that I cannot even guess what was happening. Considering you had both a vet and a trainer supporting your decision who am I to second guess?

I have to agree with the posts above about getting another dog off the street or too soon, especially a puppy. Even a perfect dog from the best breeder will be ruined by a nervous, stressed out owner who is unsure and quick to judge. Years of training, routine, support. All dogs will react the same way to situations they are not comfortable with. Big or small. You have to be ready to introduce the pup to ALL situations numerous times. I can't imagine her going through the fear stages, crate training, potty training, adolescence, health issues, and everything that the dog might pick up from another dog at the dog park etc. And what would happen if it wasn't all smooth or didn't improve quickly..

I could be wrong. There are cases which are impossible, or impossible for some people. I'm not trying to be mean, I just don't believe in sugar coating things. She might hurt now but it'll pass. It would be great if she didn't rush into another dog/pup and realise everything involved because there is no 'it'll pass' for the dog involved.

I agree with the above comment and with the others that you should think long and hard about getting another dog. And I also agree that a puppy is in no way a guarantee that you will get a balanced dog.

 

[Roge]

I have restrained myself from passing comment also becasue my post would go on forever,I also hope that there was a medical reason for this but hey we will never know as it seems that that area was never looked into, HOW SAD. ;(

 

[SherylM]

So sorry to hear this. I don't post here often so not sure of Soldier's complete story but I'm wondering if he was ever tested medically, ie: thyroid, to determine if there was a medical issue for his aggression?

 

[daisyandduke]

So sorry to hear about Soldier. My best to you and your husband. It is the hardest thing to make a decision to put down your pet, especially so young....it breaks my heart. I am not in your situation so I cannot say what I would have or would have done in your situation. I have a feeling that the previous owner was not very good and maybe there was something about your husband that may have triggered an aggressive response. It could be anything, a gesture a sound that may have triggered defense mode.

I hope you do not let this one experience type-cast the entire breed. Take some time to mourn and really think about the type of dog that best suits your lifestyle. Boxers may not be the breed for you. Boxers are amazing dogs that give much joy. I agree with the previous posts that all dogs (like humans) can have issues. My only hope is that when you do find yourself a dog or a puppy to love that you have thought through the pros and cons of the breed. (((healing vibes))) to you and best of luck.

 

[RufeliRu]

wow. Ive just read through previous threads. i feel sick to my stomach.

i WISH that you had to have a licence to own a dog. in my home country of Switzerland you have to attend classes with your dog and demonstrate that you have control over it in order to get your licence. I know there are a million issues that come with this, and I know it isnt fail safe, but at least it is a start to getting owners to take having a dog seriously.

As with most things in life, knowledge is the key.
Know your breed. Know behaviours. Know that this is a commitment EVERY DAY for the rest of this dogs life. Know that owning a dog is not supposed to be easy or fun all the time. Know about mutual respect. Know about leadership. Know that a dog who 'bites' is not necessarily aggressive but desperately trying to tell you something!!! I could go on.

I really hope you think twice about getting a puppy. The fact that you think this is some kind of guarantee to end up with a well behaved dog when you clearly have very limited knowledge of what a boxer or any other dog needs to be well adjusted says it all.

Soldier my heart bleeds for you sweetheart. All you wanted was for someone who understood. Rest in peace baby x

 

[FreyasMom]

Sad

This post really makes me sad. I wish that Soldier could have had more time to prove himself. My brother just recently adopted a pooley and he has bit myself, my mom, my dad, his sister-in-law and mother-in-law and putting him down has never ever come to any of our minds nor have any of us suggested it. I understand that some people may just not be able to handle it, but then maybe thought should have been considered to rehome him fully informing the new owner of the issues. In my opinion it seems he just wasnt given enough time. I can understand it is a hard decision so my heart goes out to all. I can't imagine how difficult of a decision that had to be to make.