My DH had a dog when we met. He was a stray my DH had picked up when the dog was about 6-8 months old and the dog had obviously been abused. He had a myriad of behavioural issues, which I tolerated until we had kids.
I first started to not cope with the dog when I went on maternity leave and so I was home a lot more. Perhaps because I was pregnant, the dogs behavioural issues seemed to become more pronounced. The neighbours started complained about his incessant whining and barking (they had complained since shortly after we moved in). We couldn't have people over because he would bark if we put him outside and scratch at the door (he destroyed 3 doors ). If we let him inside he would jump up. If my DH or I showed affection for each other the dog would move in between us. He had to sleep inside at night (otherwise he would bark, whine and scratch...) and he would sleep in between my DH and I, much to my disgust. He was a large dog, maybe wolfhound?(Not sure how we ever made babies!! ) He had a whole lot of other issues, such as taking food if it wasn't up in a high cupboard and racing at you when you were walking around the house then stopping dead in front of you so that you would trip over him.
My husband provided him with plenty of exercise each day and he had a pretty big yard to play in with lots of toys and chews. The dog was not bored. We took him to the vet, tried a citronella collar for the barking, put him on Valium and paid Barkbusters hundreds of dollars. Nothing worked. At all.
When we brought DD home, I couldn't cope with the dog. I had to have him inside (the barking, the neighbours!) and he drove me NUTS. All his behavioural problems were compounded by the fact that I was also caring for a baby. He was quite protective of DD and would rush at anyone who came near her. He was never aggressive, but who would trust a big dog around an infant?? I used to go out, leave the house, purely to get away from the dog.
I had told my husband many times that the dog had to go. I couldn't live with him, but DH loved the dog and had the attitude that 'a pet is forever'. That was all well and good for DH who was at work all day!! It came to a head when I was pregnant with my DS. The dog had been particularly badly behaved and I had put him outside. We had just received another letter from a neighbour and the council had been on the doorstep. The dog was barking and barking and barking.... at NOTHING. So, I found myself 28 weeks pregnant, with a 2 year old inside, chasing the dog around the yard... knowing absolutely that if I caught him I would kill him with my bare hands. I was shocked at myself. Thankfully, I didn't catch the dog. I packed up my DD, went to my mum's and told my DH that either the dog went or I did.
We tried EVERYTHING. Barkbusters said that there was nothing else they could do and suggested rehoming the dog, but couldn't suggest what sort of home he would be suitable for (he chased farm animals!). The vet told us that a pet should bring joy to a family not stress, anger and resentment. The vet suggested that the dog should be put down. Ultimately, when my DS was 3 weeks old, my husband took the dog to the vet and had him put to sleep. My husband was devastated, I felt like the worst wife in the world to tell my husband he had to put down his beloved dog. 3 months later, my husband said to me, 'It's so peaceful. I didn't realise how much stress the dog caused.'
A lot of people were disgusted that we had put the dog down. My MIL went berserk. But anyone who spent an hour in our home, even devout animal lovers, understood why we had no other option.
So, the short answer to your question (although it took me a long time to get here!!) is yes, we had our dog put down because of our concerns for our children. Concern for their physical safety around an unpredictable big dog, and concern for what type of stressed, unhappy household we would be raising our children in. Some people judged us, but they weren't living in our house.
I don't know how old your baby is, and I don't know the personality or behaviour of your pets. I do know that I wouldn't trust any dog around a baby, infant or small child. If you have concerns I believe you should act on them, even if that just means sending your dogs to stay somewhere else for a while. I know some people would adamantly disagree with me, but IMO your human children must always come before your pets.
Sorry for such a long post I still feel angry and upset when I think about it!!
). If we let him inside he would jump up. If my DH or I showed affection for each other the dog would move in between us. He had to sleep inside at night (otherwise he would bark, whine and scratch...) and he would sleep in between my DH and I, much to my disgust. He was a large dog, maybe wolfhound?
(Not sure how we ever made babies!!
) He had a whole lot of other issues, such as taking food if it wasn't up in a high cupboard and racing at you when you were walking around the house then stopping dead in front of you so that you would trip over him.
So, I found myself 28 weeks pregnant, with a 2 year old inside, chasing the dog around the yard... knowing absolutely that if I caught him I would kill him with my bare hands. I was shocked at myself. Thankfully, I didn't catch the dog. I packed up my DD, went to my mum's and told my DH that either the dog went or I did.
) is yes, we had our dog put down because of our concerns for our children. Concern for their physical safety around an unpredictable big dog, and concern for what type of stressed, unhappy household we would be raising our children in. Some people judged us, but they weren't living in our house.
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