How Many Years Of Training Before Surgery?

My dog is having health issues for the second time in two years, and he is also aggressive. What should I do?

• I have a five year old Jack russell terrier, and I've had him since he was 3 months old. About two years ago, he became ill with bladder stones, and also a liver abnormality. It had gotten to the point where he could not urinate anymore. I brought him to the vet for an emergency visit, and they determined that he needed to be transferred to an emergency animal hospital and get surgery right away. This whole ordeal cost me close to $6,000. He is now on special prescription food that costs me about $100 a month. Recently, I have noticed that his urine looks like there are crystals in it, and he isn't urinating as often. Thus, it's making me notice that he's once again peeing on my furniture, like he did when he'd first gotten sick, probably because he just goes whenever he can, therefore, wherever he may be at the time. I can't bring him to the vet. Due to downfalls in the last few years I honestly at this point don't have two nickels to rub together, and I don't know how I can possibly get him any care. I wish I had all the money in the world to get him the best care in the world. In addition to this, the past five years have been probably the hardest and most stressful I've ever experienced with a dog. I've had several in the past, and they've all been wonderful... Jack russells are known for being absolute terrors and I knew this before I got him. I realize that they can be a little hard to handle, so before I get people telling me that I shouldn't have gotten him because I can't handle him, I want them to consider that his behavior is absolutely not explained by his breed. No, I have not had him professionally trained. That costs too much money that as you can tell by now, I don't have to spare. When he was younger it wasn't as bad. But probably within the last three to four years it's been hard. He's fine with us in the house, he hasn't tried to bite us or been aggressive towards us on normal occasions...that is, if we're sitting down. But if we get up out of our seats, he immediately begins to freak out. If we try to leave the room, or go out the door, he attacks our legs and feet quite viciously. He's broken skin on several occasions. I have to hold on to him if someone is trying to leave. I have a 5 year old niece and a 7 month old nephew, and when they come over, I have to lock him in another room. He is completely aggressive towards them. He used to be fine with my niece when she was younger, but then all of a sudden he started barking at her and trying to attack her. He snagged her arm once and broke the skin a little, like a scratch, but there's never been anything major, but that's only because I know how he is so I hold on to him. If I'd never done that, he would probably have bitten her or at least attacked her, and the same goes for my nephew. He's never bitten anybody hard, or drawn more than a scratch-size amount of blood, but the strength of his bites only gets stronger and stronger. On walks he used to be able to approach other people walking with their dogs, and he's wag his tail and sniff around. But now he gets mad and barks and is about to attack. I honestly don't know what to do, he can't be around guests or strangers, he has to constantly be locked away when people are over, I just don't know what to do. I've tried everything I can on my own, I watch the dog whisperer, I read training books, I research online on his behavior and his breed and everything I can do on my own to help him. He can be the sweetest dog in the world and I love him to death. When we're alone, just me and him in the house, he is so sweet. At night when we curl up to sleep, he is so sweet. Sometimes he can just be the best... I'm torn, and I wish I had the money to bring him to the vet and get his health taken care of, get him any medications or anything that he may need, and also get him a professional trainer for his behavior, but I just can't. I contemplate bringing him to a shelter sometimes, or even getting him put down, but the thought just kills me. I was just wondering if anybody has ever been in a situation like this...

• Answer:

  That's an awful place to be, but if you can't afford the vet care and it looks like he's starting to need it, the best thing you can do is give him up. But, talk to the shelter and see what they say, they may just say that no one will adopt him and having him put down would be the easiest and least traumatic option for him. Honestly, that's usually what happens to aggressive dogs when they hit the shelters, especially because without correction, their behavior gets much, much worse. And, because I can see how much he cares for you and how much you care for him, I doubt you'd want to see him deteriorate that way. It's tough and I'm so sorry.