[sokel]

Even the electric Collars only work for so long, once they stop doing it and they are behaving you stop putting the collar on and they soon learn that no collar no shock
Someone I know of used one on the border terrier that kept going off hunting and not coming back when called.
It got to the point the dog never left her side when off the leash but as soon as she stopped putting the collar on the dog was away , still if she puts the collar on and not once pressing the button the dog never leaves her side but take the collar off and the dog vanishes into the distance

That is the wrong way to use the collar.  It must be left on the dog for a minimum of two weeks without using it in any way whatsoever so that the dog does not realise the collar is the cause of any vibration.  ONLY then should the dog be allowed near what you are trying to avert it from. As I said before a professional trainer should be enlisted for assistance on this.

That is how the collar was used and all was going well, we are talking 10 months after the collar was used that she would still go awol when she didnt have the collar on
The main reason she was being stopped is because she would go after the phesant pens

[Lostlambs]

After a lot of soul-searching and weighing the possibilities, I made the hard decision to put both dogs down. The last ewe mourned her lost lamb all day. With both, one was very old and the vet's opinion was that she was probably starting dementia and the collie cross was just too good at the hunt to be adoptable here. It's difficult getting to that decision by yourself but getting all your feedback really helps. Hard week so far.

[happygolucky]

Funny thing I have had your dog on my mind too, sometimes it is the only option, its better in the long run for all concerned, sad for you but that's nothing to say you did anything wrong...you need some support......I re homed a dog as both me and my husband argued constantly about him, he was lovely, I adored him, his recall was great  unless he did not want to come back then he was off.......he also knocked me over a few times and I could not hold him on walks when I saw people with dogs on leads etc, he was never ever aggressive, but he had strong will that I could not cope with when on my own, and if I took him out on his own then took the others seperatley he would howel, he could not be left at all....my other dogs are fully under my controle but he wasn't, poor boy I felt he needed a one to one owner...we found him a lovely family then I saw they advertised him on Gumtree a few months later, I had tears in my eyes and asked for him back but they did not respond.....that still makes me feel guilty.......we gave him away and they sold him!!!! that's life...I just hope my lovely boy got a nice home as my brother should have had him but I gave him to some one nearer!!! So we all get that guilt feeling about our dogs but not so much about farmed animals!!!!!! You made the right choice!!

[Old Shep]

  That must have been hard.  But at least you haven't passed the problem to someone else and have been very responsible. You did what you believe to be right. 
I wish more people would do the responsible thing, it's so sad to see half starved dumped dogs that get picked up and taken to the pounds only to eventually be pts.

[Mammyshaz]

  very difficult decision for you but the right one for your situation.

[suziequeue]

A very difficult and brave decision to make ....... and thank you for letting us know the outcome her.

I hope in time you might think about getting another dog

Best wishes

[Brijjy]

I was in that situation too a couple of years ago. My lovely, gentle with people, lurcher developed a taste for sheep and there was no way to unlearn him that behaviour, although I did try. An electric collar wasn't an option as I live in Wales and they are banned here. I made the decision to have him PTS. I took him to the vet, explained the problem very clearly and left him with them. They phoned later refusing to PTS him and said that they would rather rehome him. Naturally I was very upset and angry at them, so I said I'd come and pick him up. They said they'd refuse to release him to me as I was going to take him to another vet to put him to sleep. Looking back, I wish I'd gone and got him but at the time I was so upset, I left him with them. I know he went to a rehoming kennel and I think he got rehomed in London. I didn't want to pass his problem on to anyone else as he was starting to chase after anything that moved, including cats. I've no idea where he is now and I do regret not being more assertive with the vets but they were very off with me over the phone, as if I were the worlds worst dog owner! His habit developed at the age of 2.5 after he'd been taught not to chase livestock, natural instinct kicked in and I couldn't stop it.

[SallyintNorth]

  Brijjy 

I've been on the receiving end of being treated like a heartless owner by vets, and it's horrible.  Arrogant  . 

I have always stayed with my dogs and cats when they've been PTS, so haven't been in exactly that situation - but have had to withstand 'looks' from the attending vet, who doesn't know the whole story and has no right to judge my decision.   And I did, years ago, have a similar situation in which the vets said they would rehome rather than PTS a mad doe rabbit I took in.  Of course she behaved like Little Miss Perfect Pet when I took her in.   I heard later she savaged several of them and they put her down.  (Need an 'I told you so' emotiwotsit. )

I did take a friend's "Springador" that had developed a sheep-chasing habit to The Dogs Trust for them, and was extremely impressed with the staff there.  They assessed the dog without reference to me, then came and interviewed me - and told me a lot about the dog, demonstrating that they had a lot of knowledge, insight and experience.  In his case, they said they'd continue assessment for at least a week, so that they were certain they knew him well enough to select the right owners for him.

I left feeling confident that they'd do a good job of placing him in an appropriate home - and would give the new owners plenty of instruction in how to manage him.

I could tell rather too many different stories about various RSPCA rehoming centres, I'm afraid.   Not least a dog I adopted who had a child-biting habit that eventually led me to being at the vets, holding my otherwise healthy and by then very much loved dog, as he slipped away... 

I hope your horrid vets at least put your lurcher through a Dogs Trust, or equally good rehoming service.  But it's out of order (in fact, I think you could possibly sue them, or at the very least complain to the Royal College) to not put the dog down when that's the instruction you've given them and the basis on which they took the dog from you.

Rather than treat you as they did, they should be applauding your strength of character in making a very difficult but altruistic and correct decision about your much-loved pet.

 

[sabrina]

Its a hard thing to do but the right thing. A dog going from home to home only adds to the problem and quite often giving free means someone intends to make money on the animal wither its breeding , selling or dog fighting. Not everyone who seems nice is !

[fiestyredhead331]

we've got similar issues. We were on the look out for a collie now we have a few sheep etc and was put in touch with a lady who had a lovely 18month old collie dog but she wasn't able to care for him properly, no space ti run, dog full of energy and she reckoned that really he just needed to work. Her alternative was for him to be PTS. We took him and he certainly is a lovely dog, good natured etc etc UNTIL he sees a sheep/lamb/goat etc etc then he turns into this carnivorous monster! This poor dog has probably never seen any of these before, we've tried various ways of introducing him to the livestock but nothing has worked.
The lady we got him from is not interested in taking him back and recommends we have him PTS. I feel so sorry for this poor dog. Anyway I have contacted local animal rescue and asked them if they can help but they have no space at present so he's still here for the time being. I hate the way I am the one thats made to feel like the failure, when really we were his last hope.

[happygolucky]

So sad and so hard to make that decision, I have no clever things to add or advise but I see the current trend for dogs such as the big wolf types that I fear a lot of those will be sold to people who cannot train or cope with their needs so they will end up unwanted and hard to re home.
Years ago my daughter had the brother of a pup we had, it was a  Rottweiler crossed with a border collie, mine was always excellent and was more Rottweiler but hers was far too snappy and more like a border collie, it did bite some one once so it had to be put to sleep, so sad but some dogs get a very bad start and some are genetically difficult to train and handle!!!
I feel for you think a few of us have had similar issues but do not always admit to it!!