Hi everyone. Our family has a problem. A dog is tearing us apart.
My mother has a 7 year old male beagle that has been part of her life since he was a puppy. She has always had problems with him as he has taken to her and is very over-protective of her. My dad passed about two years ago and they never got a long. This dog has become her "fill-in" family as I was hours away and not able to visit as much as I should.
We combined households around 3 months ago and have had situation after situation, all involving the beagle. First off, he is extremely agressive. We have tried integrating him into the family and it has been somewhat sucessful with me and my four children, but he absolutely hates my husband and tries to attack him every chance he can. As a result, my mother has been kenneling him more and more frequently and all he does is bark. I get that we are in his territory, but no matter what we do, he will not be nice to my husband. Even with a muzzle, the dog still barks and charges him.
Now, the dog has tried to attack three of my four children. My mother claims that the dog has cataracts and has made excuse after excuse for his poor behavior. I am so fed up. I need to be here to help my mother, but he is in the way. I feel bad because I understand that this is a big change for him, but my children (and husband's safety is in jeopardy.)
Last night was the last straw as I came into the house with my 6 year old. She had just gotten casted for an ankle fracture and is using a walker because she is non-weight bearing. I opened the door. Dog saw me. I patted his head. "Hey dog." Put down my purse, turned around to go out and help DD and dog took off and charged after her barking and scaring her so badly. She was trembling. This is not the first time it happened (and similar situations have happened to my 9 yo son and 10yo daughter over the past three months. Dog charges, but does not bite.) My mother yelled at me and DD that we were not loud enough for him and he was taken by surprise, that's why he charged her. She was so mad because DD spoke up and asked why grandma won't do anything about the dog that keeps going after me.
So what I want… the dog to be put down. We have tried letting him out with a muzzle. Hand feeding, etc, but still he charges, barks, and attacks. But I guess this is not an option for my mother. Right now, she has put him outside where he is fenced in and has a house but all he does is bark all day, all night. I have suggested possibly neutering him to maybe take some of his agression away? I must mention that i have an 11 month old that he has not been agressive toward, but I am worried that this is going to happen. I must also mention that she feels the need to be in her bedroom with him when he is in there and that is probabally 90% on weekends when hubby is home. She will let him out and about in the house during the weekday. She will sit in the bedroom alllllllll weekend with him and allllll evening. I almost feel like this stupid dog is her boyfriend. Its ridiculous. I know loving your animal comes with the territory of pet ownership, but when is enough, enough?