8 months, 12 days.
That's how long it's been since we took in a then 1 year old GSD/Husky mix named Flynn. A friend sent me a photo last summer asking if I could help with a dog that came from a house with questionable ownership of Flynn. I've rescued animals since I was 17 and given he was still a puppy, it's almost a blank slate. I couldn't have been more wrong.
We gave him his time to decompress with boundaries in our home- no open doors, no yelling (which can be difficult at times with children ranging from 6-15), don't approach the dog suddenly, etc. We set up baby gates, a crate, new food & water dish separate from our other dog's, did umbilical leashing, collar & harness w/ 2 leashes, gave a separate area to use the bathroom, worked with high value treats & clicker & e-collar. He was slowly introduced to our 17 year old dog and 7 year old cat. We slowly introduced him to the local dog park where it's just the same crew of 7 dogs early in the morning. You name it, we've done it. Clean bill of health, learned to like going for drives, loved walks on long leashes on the shoreline.
In 8 months 12 days, we've slowly lost our minds, our safety, our abilities to exist in and out of our home because of Flynn.
Flynn has never stopped using the bathroom all over the house. We've done diapers- he has attacked us when he rips one off to chew on. Pee pads - same aggression. He has chewed through two crates and four baby gates. He chewed through three leashes, broke a tooth on a chain leash, has pulled himself out of several harnesses or snapped buckles when on a walk. Flynn can't be around other dogs, which now includes our old girl. He can't be around anyone at all ever whether he's inside or out. We can no longer walk him if another animal is outside without him lunging to attack. We can't take him on drives anymore- if he sees another animal, he will try to rip the seat & door apart to get out.
He's bitten two children, broken skin both times, both without provocation, no stitches needed. Those aren't the only two bites but they're the most severe.
We doubled down on boundaries, muzzles, vet check to make sure he's healthy, try to reduce his triggers but those triggers seem to multiply overnight. We can't rehome a dangerous dog. Shelters & rescues won't go near him.
Just yesterday he had gotten a hold of a stuffed animal, ran under one of my children's beds & was on the attack to anyone who was in the room. My child came screaming to help. While we've done what we can to mitigate what Flynn sees as issues, yesterday was the absolute first time where I knew that there is no quality of life for us let alone him. We can't have company, we can't have our other pets live their lives around him, we can't leave anything anywhere without the risk of aggressive resource guarding.
I know what call I have to make tomorrow. For all of us, I need to dial those numbers. I have to make a plan to fight to get leashes and harnesses and muzzles onto him to fight to get him safely into a vehicle & transport him to a strange place with stranger people and strange animals. I won't be able to give Flynn a good "last day" because even that day will be filled with the most unimaginable stresses he could ever face.
We've done everything and I still feel like a failure. I'm sad for the life Flynn should have had. He's so beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. And I am a mess.
An edit: To everyone commenting- thank you. I joined this sub and was pouring through posts, comments, recommendations from those going through similar situations with their beloved pups. I held onto the same hope that so many of you have with wanting to see your four legged babies through to being the best family dog. I love all of the successes, I feel for those who had to choose a peaceful sleep to ease their dogs' emotional pain.
For each and every comment from all of you, I cannot thank you enough. I don't know any of you personally but this sub feels like a family. I didn't know where else to go to talk about my boy and the choices we are being forced to make except here.
To the mods of this sub- Thank you. For giving us all a place to belong and help one another, thank you
That's how long it's been since we took in a then 1 year old GSD/Husky mix named Flynn. A friend sent me a photo last summer asking if I could help with a dog that came from a house with questionable ownership of Flynn. I've rescued animals since I was 17 and given he was still a puppy, it's almost a blank slate. I couldn't have been more wrong.
We gave him his time to decompress with boundaries in our home- no open doors, no yelling (which can be difficult at times with children ranging from 6-15), don't approach the dog suddenly, etc. We set up baby gates, a crate, new food & water dish separate from our other dog's, did umbilical leashing, collar & harness w/ 2 leashes, gave a separate area to use the bathroom, worked with high value treats & clicker & e-collar. He was slowly introduced to our 17 year old dog and 7 year old cat. We slowly introduced him to the local dog park where it's just the same crew of 7 dogs early in the morning. You name it, we've done it. Clean bill of health, learned to like going for drives, loved walks on long leashes on the shoreline.
In 8 months 12 days, we've slowly lost our minds, our safety, our abilities to exist in and out of our home because of Flynn.
Flynn has never stopped using the bathroom all over the house. We've done diapers- he has attacked us when he rips one off to chew on. Pee pads - same aggression. He has chewed through two crates and four baby gates. He chewed through three leashes, broke a tooth on a chain leash, has pulled himself out of several harnesses or snapped buckles when on a walk. Flynn can't be around other dogs, which now includes our old girl. He can't be around anyone at all ever whether he's inside or out. We can no longer walk him if another animal is outside without him lunging to attack. We can't take him on drives anymore- if he sees another animal, he will try to rip the seat & door apart to get out.
He's bitten two children, broken skin both times, both without provocation, no stitches needed. Those aren't the only two bites but they're the most severe.
We doubled down on boundaries, muzzles, vet check to make sure he's healthy, try to reduce his triggers but those triggers seem to multiply overnight. We can't rehome a dangerous dog. Shelters & rescues won't go near him.
Just yesterday he had gotten a hold of a stuffed animal, ran under one of my children's beds & was on the attack to anyone who was in the room. My child came screaming to help. While we've done what we can to mitigate what Flynn sees as issues, yesterday was the absolute first time where I knew that there is no quality of life for us let alone him. We can't have company, we can't have our other pets live their lives around him, we can't leave anything anywhere without the risk of aggressive resource guarding.
I know what call I have to make tomorrow. For all of us, I need to dial those numbers. I have to make a plan to fight to get leashes and harnesses and muzzles onto him to fight to get him safely into a vehicle & transport him to a strange place with stranger people and strange animals. I won't be able to give Flynn a good "last day" because even that day will be filled with the most unimaginable stresses he could ever face.
We've done everything and I still feel like a failure. I'm sad for the life Flynn should have had. He's so beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. And I am a mess.
An edit: To everyone commenting- thank you. I joined this sub and was pouring through posts, comments, recommendations from those going through similar situations with their beloved pups. I held onto the same hope that so many of you have with wanting to see your four legged babies through to being the best family dog. I love all of the successes, I feel for those who had to choose a peaceful sleep to ease their dogs' emotional pain.
For each and every comment from all of you, I cannot thank you enough. I don't know any of you personally but this sub feels like a family. I didn't know where else to go to talk about my boy and the choices we are being forced to make except here.
To the mods of this sub- Thank you. For giving us all a place to belong and help one another, thank you