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traineo Community / Off-Topic & General Chat / Guys, I'm sad :-(
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Stina Ebs
Fitness Guru
Posts: 205
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 # Posted: 23 May 2008 02:24


We have to give our 10 month old puppy back to the shelter tomorrow
We've had him since October but he is really starting to bully our other dog to the point where our other dog won't even leave his kennel he's so scared of him. I think I would feel better if he had another home to go to and not caged in a shelter, but we signed a contract saying we'd bring him back if we had any problems. We could break the contract but he's chipped so if he gets lost it'll trace back to the shelter, then to us, and we get in trouble.

I know its for the best, I'm just sad


Jennifer B
traineo Newbie
Posts: 1
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 # Posted: 23 May 2008 02:59


Yes, we had to do the same thing back in December. Except our problem was more with our new baby. Everything will work out, and in the end it's best for everyone for him to go back. You'll feel better about it soon, and shelters like that will make sure he'll go to another great home! I worked in an animal shelter 3 years ago and believe it happens more than you think. Something just don't always work out


tex girlee
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 169
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 # Posted: 23 May 2008 04:27


awww...you have to give up your puppy? im sad now too! hope it all works out for you and your puppies!

tex
Cindy N
Fitness Guru
Posts: 733
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 # Posted: 23 May 2008 13:02


I had a give a dog back to the shelter once too, because it turned out she did not do well with kids (went after my daughter twice). I sobbed the whole way there and back. I was very happy when I got a call from a woman without children who was taking her home to an acreage where the dog could run. The good thing is, the shelter knows better how to place your dog now and will find the right fit.
Tammie J
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 109
Post History
 # Posted: 23 May 2008 18:36


Awww I'm so sorry. I had a similar experience...I thought I had the time for a puppy.... A LAB no less...But once I got him...I realized he needed WAY more attention and exercise than I had time for. So I had to return him. It is very sad. But CHEER up. He'll end up in a great home and u still have ur other baby too.


Stina Ebs
Fitness Guru
Posts: 205
Post History
 # Posted: 24 May 2008 00:26


Ha! you're not going to believe this! No longer after I wrote this, my husband calls and says he wants to try some obedience classes and stuff first before we give him up. We think that maybe he needs more attention and stuff because he's an Australian Shepherd and they got bored realllly easy! So we are going to try one more thing and if that doesnt work, then we will have to give him up.
Lynn M.
Fitness Guru
Posts: 209
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 # Posted: 26 May 2008 21:04


That's great that your husband wants to try other things. Is the shelter "no-kill"? I was just wondering because I've never heard of a shelter demanding that owners bring the dog back if they don't want it. Usually, shelters are all too happy to get rid of the animals.

Good luck!
Stina Ebs
Fitness Guru
Posts: 205
Post History
 # Posted: 26 May 2008 21:11


Yeah the shelter is no-kill. If it wasn't I wouldnt have even considered taking the puppy back, I would just be to worried that he'd be put down.

We just purchase an underground fence that we put up Saturday. It worked for a few minutes when we tested it and then it stopped working. We're pretty peeved cause it cost us almost $300! We are going to call their customer service tomorrow. We've read a lot of interesting facts about dogs and have seen where we have been lacking in the training category. We already see a big difference.


Splint Chesthair
Fitness Guru
Posts: 471
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 # Posted: 28 May 2008 15:21


Oooh, yeah, we had a dog that was part sheltie, part Australian shepherd and he constantly needed something to do. I would take him for runs on a leash while I was on my bike and he'd be good for a couple of hours but those dogs have TONS of energy. They can run all day. They also need a dominant master, you can't be overly lovey dovey with them, like most dogs but moreso because of their energy.

I've always had good success making a point to bite my dogs on the neck a couple of times a day while making a GRrrr noise. Not hard, just enough to grab some skin and let them know. It sounds funny but all of the dogs I've ever had would turn over on their backs whenever I growled at them.
Dave Nicholson
The Master
Posts: 2094
Post History
 # Posted: 28 May 2008 15:25


Quoting: splint
making a point to bite my dogs on the neck a couple of times a day while making a GRrrr noise.


interesting and clever idea, and good to enforce the alpha designation...

Thinking about getting another dog soon, and this strategy will surely be put into effect if I do!
Rachael M
The Master
Posts: 2299
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 # Posted: 28 May 2008 15:26


Eww, you bite your dogs? That sounds gross.
Tammie J
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 109
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 # Posted: 28 May 2008 19:03


Quoting: rach_1623
Eww, you bite your dogs? That sounds gross.



LOL... you'd be surprised at how many ppl use this tactic... My husband bites my dog if he bites him...its calmed him down quite a bit!! it does sound gross though...BUT then again, ur dog is only as dirty as you let him/her be!
Splint Chesthair
Fitness Guru
Posts: 471
Post History
 # Posted: 28 May 2008 19:14


I never figured my dogs were any dirtier than I. Get this. I also eat fruit and vegetables without washing them first and sometimes drink unpasteurized milk. Woooooo, call me Evel Kneivel. Lol.

I was always taught that it's the owner's responsibilty to maintain dominant status and to ensure the dog will listen. People who don't take the time to do that are irresponsible pet owners. Letting your dog make the rules isn't cute or funny, it's harmful to the dog.
Cardio King
Fitness Guru
Posts: 1784
Post History
 # Posted: 28 May 2008 19:18


Quoting: splint
your dog make the rules isn't cute or funny, it's harmful to the dog.

And potentially to others as well.
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 28 May 2008 19:21


I do a number of things every single day that keep my big ole pooch in his place. Stuff like:

-only petting him when it's MY decision, not when he gets in my space
-never letting him go through any doors before me
-when we play fetch, it's with MY ball and I keep in in a place where he's not allowed to go
-he always eats after the pack
-he always must DO something for any treats, (IE: leaving it, even if it's right in his face, until I say OK)
-walking always in the heal position
-he does not sleep with us, only in his basket
-he has a number of no-go zones in the house, another important message
-I never play tug-of-war with him and his lil rope toy
-when I leave the house and re-unite with him I completely ignore him

Plus a load of other things that are just second nature to me now--all necessary to let him know that he can be comfortable as a subordinate; no need to challenge me ever as, mama don't take no mess.



Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 28 May 2008 19:27 - Edited by: Minu


Just an addendum, every person that ever meets the little fuzzer is always amazed at how incredibly sweet and gentle he is, (and puppy-soft, awesome for a full grown Lab, due to all the squishes he gets. I rarely brush him and never bath him, I think that this is best for their skin PH balance), and at how well he obeys. Then when I tell them he's deaf, they usually don't believe me. He's just really locked in to my eyes and vibe.

(He went deaf at 3 years, and luckily, I trained him with a mix of hand signals and voice commands from the start so the re-educating apres-deaf was pretty damned smooth).

He's my best pal.



Dave Nicholson
The Master
Posts: 2094
Post History
 # Posted: 28 May 2008 20:52


Quoting: Minu
Then when I tell them he's deaf


Wow... I was actually considering adopting a younger pit that is deaf and am wondering what sort of challenges come along with that? I'm used to using a combination of hand-signals and voice commands, but what about getting their attention?
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 28 May 2008 21:00


Sometimes, the mountain's just gotta go to Mohammed...


Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 28 May 2008 21:02


And off-leash fun (unless in an enclosed area), is a thing of the past...
Dave Nicholson
The Master
Posts: 2094
Post History
 # Posted: 28 May 2008 21:02


LOL, thanks

any particular challenges you can think of?
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 28 May 2008 21:20


Yaknow, it's not near as complicated or as challenging as I thought it would be. They are the kings of adaptation. Get that lil pooch already!
Kathy Ward
traineo Newbie
Posts: 1
Post History
 # Posted: 29 May 2008 06:28


I gave my dog back to rescue for a month when she was a pup because my plans for "daycare" fell through. After a month of sobbing I got a call saying she was still available and that she got to stay with her sister everyday (from the same litter) because the lady had started a doggie daycare... wait... I could do that too!

I picked her back up later that night and she's my joy 4 and a half years later still. =)
Linds A
traineo Regular
Posts: 42
Post History
 # Posted: 29 May 2008 18:25


I never figured my dogs were any dirtier than I. Get this. I also eat fruit and vegetables without washing them first and sometimes drink unpasteurized milk. Woooooo, call me Evel Kneivel. Lol


I do the same thing. I hardly ever wash my fruits before eating them!! And I drink Raw milk whenever I get the chance. It's soo good!!!
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