Devastated

[rockyracoon]

You might remember that I recently adopted a rescue dog. On Monday morning, whilst playing in the garden, he went for me, growling and snarling, baying and lunging. I was absolutely terrified, so he's had to go back to the rescue. We're all heartbroken as he was doing so well and had settled in like he'd never not been here. It's the first time we've taken an adult dog, and I'm not sure I could do it again.

[waterboatman]

That is so sad rocky. The thing is you don't know what the poor hound went through before you got him.

[Smowball]

So sorry to hear that RR.But you have to put your own safety first. Xx

[rockyracoon]

The house seems odd without him. It's strange that he made so much difference to our lives in just 7 weeks.

[Smowball]

Animals do. It’s been two weeks since my cat died and the house still feels so so odd without her.

[Tilly2]

I am sorry to hear that it didn't work out with Ricky. What game were you playing?

[Ken4155]

Tilly may be on to something, RR. The poor dog may have associated whatever it is you were doing with something bad that happened to him in the past. A movement, a facial expression, your tone of voice. I've no doubt you've played with him countless times but is there anything you can recall that may have been slightly different this time?

[rockyracoon]

I was just throwing the ball.
About three weeks ago, Mr RR and I had separate issues with him over pull toys, the tug type ones, where he got overly assertive whilst playing with them, so we binned them We've played ball with him since with no incidence. On Monday, we went out to play ball, I threw it twice, he brought it back, the third time, he watched me throw it, but turned and went for me instead of chasing it. We'd been in the garden maybe 2-3 minutes.

We've no idea of his history as he went to the rescue as a stray.

The level of aggression was bad, I was rooted to the spot and just praying he'd calm down, which he eventually did. Later that evening, we were in the living room and he started mouthing me, so I told him to stop and he growled again quite threateningly. My daughter coaxed him out of the house with some biscuits.

He's a lovely dog, cuddly and affectionate, but I can't have that kind of aggressiveness in the home.

[hc4361]

How old is he, RR?

[Bobbisox1]

What a sad story rocky, I'm so sorry to hear of it and as those before me have said,he may have been very badly treated previously , I wish you well

[hc4361]

My late dog had one bout of aggression in her life. It turned out she was brain tumour. Very sad but it isn't always easy to tell when a pet is sick.

[LadyCG]

I'm sorry to hear this, Rocky. I adopted a lovely adult dog from Romania 2.5 years ago. She loved me and my husband but she had issues with guarding whenever anyone came round. She bit the Eon man when he came to fit the smart meter - we're so lucky we didn't get sued, and then she bit my mother. She's also growled and snarled at various other family members. This happened around the time I fell pregnant and we had to make the heart-breaking decision to rehome her. With a tendency for attacking people we just couldn't take the risk with a new baby coming into the house. It only takes a split second to changes lives forever.

[ladybirder]

That's dreadful. How awful for you. Poor dog will have signed his own death warrant I expect as they won't dare to rehome him again.
Will you look for another or has this put you off?

[rockyracoon]

They think he is between 2 and 3 years old.

That's the worry LCG, one bite and it could be goodnight. If my daughter hadn't been unwell, I'd have sent her into the garden to play with him instead of me that morning. Things could have been a whole lot different if her response wasn't they same as mine.

That's all that keeps going through my head Ladybird. I gave them a large assessment of him and they said they'd see if the behaviourist can work with him for rehabilitation, but to be honest, I wouldn't home him with another family, just in case. They might say that to make me feel better.

He was to be the only dog in the house, but I think he'd have hugely benefited by having a friend, he adores dogs and would cry to see them when on his walks.

The whole house is gutted.

[Cloverjo]

That is very sad, rockyraccoon. Thank goodness no one was seriously hurt, though. Poor you, family and dog.

[tiggerblue10]

How awful. Who knows what he'd been subjected to before being rescued. Poor dog!

But I agree, you have to do whats best for your family.

[Patsy33]

This is the risk you take with rescue dogs, unfortunately. You did your best ,RR. All that love and affection you showed him, was the best gift you could have given him. So sorry it didn't work out. So gutted for you all. x

[choux]

I can understand your devastation, such an abrupt end to your relationship and good intentions. I trust you were not injured but the fear must have been intense. Shame for the dog too as it is difficult to see how he could be rehomed with anyone else. Well done for your efforts though.

[ladybirder]

I think you've been very unlucky RR. All my life, every dog I've had has been a rescue and not a puppy, and I've had a good few over my lifetime. I have also fostered dogs for short periods from different rescues and never had anything like what has happened to you.
I do hope in time you try again though, so many dogs, not enough owners.

[10ClarionSt]

As I've said before on here, always remember that whatever breed of dog you have, it's descended from a wolf. That can have a kick-back at some time, not just the experience it had before you got it. Remote, for sure, but still true.

[Zak51arc]

So sorry you have had such an unfortunate experience with the rescue dog. I’m passionate about dogs and have owned dogs over the past 40 years. Although it seems like a good idea, to be honest, unless you know where the dog has come from I firmly believe that it is much better really to buy a pup and train it from scratch. Hope you are successful in finding a suitable dog to love and look after.
Good luck and best wishes.