Decisions to make...

ANGUS - 7 months old. Had to go to doggie heaven today. He was a good pup, very lovable and obedient. Quiet and full of energy. Loved car rides and walks in the park to see and play with the other dogs.

Today was the day he broke his families trust. I have only seen aggression out of Angus a couple of times and that was with me when he was chewing on a bone or having a special treat. He just didnt want to share those things. Typical dog behaviour. He tried to be dominant with the boys by taking the hem of their shirts, and jumping on them when excited, but we were working on that and other training things for puppies. He was just a pup and needed to learn the rules as do all dogs.

Into the garbage for the second time today (closed lid on the can) I already dealt with him the first time, and stepped out for a bit to the store. Noelle called me and said Angus lunged at her while he was in the garbage and she was trying to get it away from him. He was used to Noelle directing him, but like his bones and special treats the garbage was just too good to let her take it away from him. He broke the skin on her neck, didn't puncture it, but left her with some doozy marks.

We decided at that moment we had to put him down. It wasn't an easy decision, but the right one. This is the decision where an owner of a dog needs to make no matter how good behaviour the dog has. Once they bite they need to be put down. No matter what the age. He did it out of aggression, and that is a behaviour you cannot change with no matter how much training you do.

We picked the bullmastiff breed because of their loyalty and they are a family dog. they might be big and intimidating to some but they are the gentle giants of the dog world. Angus had alot of the gentleness and was very docile. He unfortunatley had that little bit of aggression deep down that alot of dogs, no matter what breed, have. My vet was very shocked too as he had gotten to know Angus over the months with his vet check ups and thought he was an awesome dog.

Noelle is doing fine, she is more worried about her vanity at the moment. She doesn't feel it is her fault he had to go down, and that is good because it isn't.

I hope Angus is having fun in doggy heaven and knows how much he was loved. I was with him when he went to sleep. My big boy is already missed dearly.