Neighbor complaints about dog/considering rehoming

[hsmamato2]

I have a couple of thoughts..... first, It's possible your neighbor can hear the dog in this situation, but I highly doubt it's all that troublesome considering the two separate houses with closed windows. Second, I think it's going to be VERY difficult to find a reputable place for this dog,way more difficult than you think. There just are too many unwanted dogs out there *without* behavior issues. Any rescue will ask about a million questions before taking him. My best advice(and I've had a 'trouble' dog in my house for 12 years) is to hire a dog walker with ENERGY. Have them come in daily and run that dog for an hour. (my son does this for a job,his client dog is crazy energetic) Get a good solid metal crate(cover with a blanket) and gently train that dog into loving it as a home while you're not around.(lots of good advice on how to do that pretty easily) all of this sounds like a lot, but my point is you don;t just want to 'give the dog away to a random person, as too many bad things happen to family pets that way- and finding a responsible rescue is going to likewise take time and money,it's sometimes easier to find a way to keep the dog. And a trip to the vet for a thundershirt and some calming meds along with the other suggestions wouldn't be a bad thing.

 

[Be Enchanted]

Thank you everyone, I honestly appreciate all of the advice. DH and I discussed things last night and we agree that our first step is going to be a trip to the vet to inquire about some anti anxiety medications to help our poor guy out. A thunder shirt is a good idea too, I will ask about that.

I also like the idea of hiring a dog walker to come during the day, I hadn't thought of that. I'm not trying to be lazy, but working full time and then kids and activities make it hard for me to walk him daily, but if I can pay someone to do it during the day while we're at work that would be wonderful.

 

[clutter]

Ask your vet about holistic medicine. I have a highly anxious dog (not a barker, though, just a cling-on) with hip issues. I took him to an acupuncturist for his hips, but it helped his anxiety. Now I want it for me...

 

[belleatdisney]

Our dog has gotten wonderful results from acupuncture.
I think the exercise will go a long way to help this dog who appears to have multiple problems. A dog walker is a great first step. A tired dog us a good dog.
We run (have them run) up and down basement (carpeted) stairs in the winter to blow off steam. Also train him, just 10 minutes of treats for tricks several times a day will help mentally stimulate him.
I applaud your efforts to do right by this dog.

 

[katie01]

I didn't realize Labs were a breed particularly known for needing to be kept incredibly busy. I've known many to be very active goofuses, but they all can be fairly mellow too. I'm sure a good dose of exercise is a good idea for most dogs -- people too, so it couldn't hurt to up the activity level of OP's dog.

We were recently watching a dog show and joking about the "sales pitch" language the announcers were using when describing some of the breeds, sort of the way something like real estate ads read to soften some of the difficulties and make people think this house is for them. We did talk about how it's kind of a shame that they couldn't be more direct in their comments because that approach left a lot of room for people to cluelessly approach buying certain breeds in particular when the dog has zero likelihood of suiting their lifestyle. Some dogs were "curious, persistent and had a real sense of humor". Others were "very protective of their family or a specific member of their family and known to be wary or skittish with others". Some dogs "like to be busy, like to be in charge of their task assignment and like to be quick and efficient about their duties". It doesn't mean that those are bad dogs, but they can be problematic in the wrong home or family. Hopefully breeders are knowledgeable and ethical about setting the dogs and those who are looking to buy them for success, but that's not always the case.

Yes, your post made me think of something I often hear in regards to choosing a dog, that often makes me scratch my head. Someone will talk about their lifestyle and ask others, "What would be a good breed of dog for our family?" And the majority of people who answer will say, "Dog breed doesn't matter, each individual dog is so different that you can't tell what type of dog you are going to get by choosing a breed". And I always think, "Really? Sure, there are exceptions, but I think it is VERY important to consider dog breed and one's lifestyle!" I would never recommend that a couch potato family buy a Husky. Or that someone wanting a running partner or a dog to go on long family hikes with them, to get a Shih Tzu.

Anyway OP, I am sorry you are going through this, but I commend you for trying to find a solution, for the sake of your dog, and for the neighbors. I agree that Labs need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation, so I would start there, to see if you can get a dog walker or take him to doggie daycare to burn off some of that energy.

 

[design_mom]

We also have a very smart Lab. She's not a barker (thank goodness) but she's a destroyer, and will find something to get into. She *used* to be crate trained and did fine with it, but then decided she didn't like the crate and would injure herself trying to get out of it. We've been though four different dog trainers. I'm seriously not sure if it's her or me (probably some of each), but I have had other dogs before and I've never had one like this.

For her, exercise is the key -- and even more than physical exercise, mental exercise. We did get a good tip from one of our dog trainers. When you take her for a walk, don't just walk. My dog could walk for MILES without getting tired out. He suggested that you should stop suddenly during the walk and make her sit. Or, suddenly walk her in a small circle if you find a place wide enough to do it. Or start walking backwards for a while -- or turn around and go back the way you came for 15', then continue on your way -- anything to keep her guessing about what you're going to ask her to do next. Don't let her go onto autopilot and "just walk." You look silly doing it... but seriously, an hour-long "regular" walk wouldn't wear her out. But 15 minutes of mental gymnastics and she was pooped. That was the best advice we got from all of the trainers.

A good game of indoor hide-and-seek works too and she loves that. However, you have to keep thinking of new places to hide because she will remember and check EVERY place I've hidden before. I've run out of places to hide, so now I just have to hope that she doesn't get to my spot right away.

She's 11 now. She's slowing down a little... but not much.

 

[Maryr1]

!- Medication ASAP. Follow vet recommendations-accupunture, thunder shirt etc.
2-Training-this means investing time into your dog and taking him to obedience classes.
3-Exercise-REAL exercise-perhaps a 3+mile run every morning? Hire a track kid if you can't/won't do it
4-Doggie day care at least 3x/week
A dog is a life long commitment. A tired (exhausted) dog is a good dog with fewer issues. Labs are high energy, high maintenance dogs. Its no secret. Did you do your homework before getting a lab? There are not a lot of bad dogs, but there are a lot of bad dog owners. Don't be one of them. Did you talk to your breeder? Responsible breeders want to know before you rehome a dog.

 

[Tassy]

I have a couple of thoughts..... first, It's possible your neighbor can hear the dog in this situation, but I highly doubt it's all that troublesome considering the two separate houses with closed windows. Second, I think it's going to be VERY difficult to find a reputable place for this dog,way more difficult than you think. There just are too many unwanted dogs out there *without* behavior issues. Any rescue will ask about a million questions before taking him. My best advice(and I've had a 'trouble' dog in my house for 12 years) is to hire a dog walker with ENERGY. Have them come in daily and run that dog for an hour. (my son does this for a job,his client dog is crazy energetic) Get a good solid metal crate(cover with a blanket) and gently train that dog into loving it as a home while you're not around.(lots of good advice on how to do that pretty easily) all of this sounds like a lot, but my point is you don;t just want to 'give the dog away to a random person, as too many bad things happen to family pets that way- and finding a responsible rescue is going to likewise take time and money,it's sometimes easier to find a way to keep the dog. And a trip to the vet for a thundershirt and some calming meds along with the other suggestions wouldn't be a bad thing.

^All of this! I highly doubt the barking from inside your house is disturbing him in his separate house. A condo or apartment, yes, but not this. I don't think this guy would have a valid complaint unless you left Mr. Barky outside to bark. Our newish dog is my first barky dog and she has the bark from hell. It goes right through my bones! She has gotten much, much better though. We hired a trainer last week and her tips are already improving our lives (from walking better on the leash to dealing with begging at meal time). You also mentioned your dog is 3 I believe? This I noticed with our other dogs was when they start to mature and calm down. Our old lab used to drive me crazy then around 3 became very calm. Our new one will turn 3 in the summer and I am hoping she continues on her better behavior path. I'm happy you are going to the vet to discuss. Start there and try hsmamato2's tips. Good luck!

 

[yoopermom]

Consider purchasing a book on teaching your dog tricks (many available, I use https://www.amazon.com/101-Dog-Tric...TF8&qid=1515177829&sr=8-3&keywords=dog+tricks, which even has a kids edition out now!). Make it *fun*. Teeny tiny bits of high desire treats as rewards, lots of excitement over babysteps towards larger behaviors. With a former barker of ours, the first trick I taught her was "hold" (her favorite toy in her mouth) and "out" After she firmly knew these two commands, the first time she barked I would toss her the toy ("hold", can't bark and hold at the same time!), then immediately tell her "out" and power treat her. Soon she would go to bark once, and quickly look at me like "Hey, where's my toy and my treat". A really good animal behaviorist (which is NOT the same thing as your run of the mill obedience trainer, nothing against them) can model this all for you.

I'm glad to hear you're considering a dog walker, but plan on spending more for one who will walk your dog alone (not like in a group situation such is usually done in large cities) and ask if they will incorporate some of the things mentioned by a poster above concerning making the walks more mentally stimulating and not just a "walk".

It might sound a little far out there, but consider contacting border collie breeders in your area, this is the *smartest* of breeds that needs much of the same kind of stimulation your lab does. They may know of resources, also.

Thank you for being receptive to all of these ideas.

Terri

 

[SteveH]

We have a Golden Retriever aka Box of Rocks. She's cute but dumb as they come. She's had anxiety issues her whole life and will bark at the neighbors outside and if anyone makes any noise from the front of the house. Traveling with her in the motorhome was a huge challenge, thunder shirt - failed, homeopathic meds - failed, prescription drugs worked but she was out of it for a few days.

We tried every thing we could to stop the barking; various collars, training, etc. She woudn't stop. Finally we bought a high quality shock collar and took it off every night. Over the course of a couple of years it really worked, yes it took that long. Eventually we were able to turn it down and now with her advanced age she doesn't need it - only because her hearing is going and so she doesn't get triggered unless she can see something. I was at wits end and ready to rehome her but there was no way my wife and youngest son would have let me. They didn't like the idea of the shock collar but I had to put my foot down and say it has to be something. I have no issue with a protective dog barking, but the none stop is a real challenge to live with.

I wish you all the best working through things, the only right answer is the one you make.

 

[cabanafrau]

We also have a very smart Lab. She's not a barker (thank goodness) but she's a destroyer, and will find something to get into. She *used* to be crate trained and did fine with it, but then decided she didn't like the crate and would injure herself trying to get out of it. We've been though four different dog trainers. I'm seriously not sure if it's her or me (probably some of each), but I have had other dogs before and I've never had one like this.

For her, exercise is the key -- and even more than physical exercise, mental exercise. We did get a good tip from one of our dog trainers. When you take her for a walk, don't just walk. My dog could walk for MILES without getting tired out. He suggested that you should stop suddenly during the walk and make her sit. Or, suddenly walk her in a small circle if you find a place wide enough to do it. Or start walking backwards for a while -- or turn around and go back the way you came for 15', then continue on your way -- anything to keep her guessing about what you're going to ask her to do next. Don't let her go onto autopilot and "just walk." You look silly doing it... but seriously, an hour-long "regular" walk wouldn't wear her out. But 15 minutes of mental gymnastics and she was pooped. That was the best advice we got from all of the trainers.

A good game of indoor hide-and-seek works too and she loves that. However, you have to keep thinking of new places to hide because she will remember and check EVERY place I've hidden before. I've run out of places to hide, so now I just have to hope that she doesn't get to my spot right away.

She's 11 now. She's slowing down a little... but not much.

Interesting. I often see people putting their dogs through various paces on walks and assumed they were simply training the dog. I wonder how often it's been this type of mental exercise and I had no clue?

For those curious about the acupuncture, we did this on our Golden years ago when he had some mobility issues. Several years before he had had successful ACL surgery, but in his later years he started struggling to get up after lying down for a while and our vet suggested it as an alternative to meds. It was helpful for him -- and the big galute not only wasn't bothered by the process, he loved it. Because he was a large breed it was done on the floor of an empty exam room. I would sit on the floor with him while the needles were placed and stayed and talked to him and petted him to keep him in place while the needles were in. He didn't register needles going in or coming out -- and his mobility improved.

 

[lsyorke]

I'm a long-time lab owner and have adopted two older labs with issues. If it were my dog, I would:

1. Find a local training organization and enroll in a training class immediately. Most areas have either an all-volunteer training club, training classes at the SPCA, or companies that offer training. It sounds like your dog may not have been properly trained and socialized as a puppy, and may need some significant work to become a good citizen of your household. I'd expect at least 18 weeks of classes (3 sessions or more).
2. Find a dog walker and pay him/her to come and play with and/or walk your dog each day, and/or find yourself a good doggie daycare where your dog can go 1-3 times a week to play for 8 hours a day. 9-10 hours a day is too long to leave a dog alone with no interaction. A good bit of exercise each day should curb the barking and anxiety significantly

However, it sounds to me like you are fed up and have already made your decision. If that's the case, I'd find your local lab rescue and see if you can surrender to them. Both of our labs were surrendered by owners who weren't able to care for them and both of them had significant behavioral issues like the ones you've described. After adopting them (one at 6 years, one at 2 years) we worked with both of them and they became great family dogs. It takes time and patience, but it can be done!

Yes to the dog walker! A tired dog is a good dog! Find a good dog walker(not a kid in the neighborhood) who is willing to work with continuing the training that you'll need to get in place. They are out there and can be a huge help in dealing with a tough puppy. 9-10 hours is way to long for an anxious dog to be alone.

 

[tzolkin]

I also like the idea of hiring a dog walker to come during the day, I hadn't thought of that. I'm not trying to be lazy, but working full time and then kids and activities make it hard for me to walk him daily, but if I can pay someone to do it during the day while we're at work that would be wonderful.

Do you have a fenced yard? If so, I would hire someone who is willing to exercise the dog in the yard (fetch, tug, whatever) and then take him for a walk. Most dog walkers say they will do a 15-30min walk and I just don’t think that will really help your situation. You want the dog panting and exhausted when the person leaves so hopefully he will just nap until you get home.

A simple walk is not going to tire this dog out. I usually walk my dogs about 6 miles per day and that’s really for my own exercise. The one dog could walk forever without getting tired.

They get way more tired by spending 10-15 minutes doing some type of training exercise or game than they do walking for an hour+. We can come back in from walking three miles and I will play a quick game of fetch in the hallway (we don’t have a yard) with my energetic pup.

A few ideas for mental stimulation:
(Maybe your kids could do some of these while you’re making dinner.)

- basic training (sit, down, come, roll over, shake, etc)

- fetch (ball, frisbee)

- tug (make sure you have very clear rules that the dog understands so he will easily release on command as part of the game). You can also hold the rope very high so the dog has to jump which will tire him out faster.

- hide&seek— You can start out with two people and basically just keep calling the dog to come back and forth between the two of you. Each person has treats and moves to a slightly different location when the dog goes to the other. We do this with one person upstairs and one down so it adds more exercise.

- puzzle toys/games— These can be expensive, but there are tons of ideas online of things you can make at home which is what we do.

 

[cabanafrau]

Yes, your post made me think of something I often hear in regards to choosing a dog, that often makes me scratch my head. Someone will talk about their lifestyle and ask others, "What would be a good breed of dog for our family?" And the majority of people who answer will say, "Dog breed doesn't matter, each individual dog is so different that you can't tell what type of dog you are going to get by choosing a breed". And I always think, "Really? Sure, there are exceptions, but I think it is VERY important to consider dog breed and one's lifestyle!" I would never recommend that a couch potato family buy a Husky. Or that someone wanting a running partner or a dog to go on long family hikes with them, to get a Shih Tzu.

Anyway OP, I am sorry you are going through this, but I commend you for trying to find a solution, for the sake of your dog, and for the neighbors. I agree that Labs need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation, so I would start there, to see if you can get a dog walker or take him to doggie daycare to burn off some of that energy.

The announcers touched on this during the dog show. They said the traits they were discussing were generally to be expected of a particular breed because that's what they had been bred for over centuries and tend to still hold true among purebreds. A lot of people might be most familiar with mixed breeds, which does produce more of a wildcard in regards to predicting traits.

Don't anyone get up in arms, I'm not dissing mixed breeds at all. Simply stating that mixing/unknown mixtures make traits harder to predict.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I have a couple of thoughts..... first, It's possible your neighbor can hear the dog in this situation, but I highly doubt it's all that troublesome considering the two separate houses with closed windows. Second, I think it's going to be VERY difficult to find a reputable place for this dog,way more difficult than you think. There just are too many unwanted dogs out there *without* behavior issues. Any rescue will ask about a million questions before taking him. My best advice(and I've had a 'trouble' dog in my house for 12 years) is to hire a dog walker with ENERGY. Have them come in daily and run that dog for an hour. (my son does this for a job,his client dog is crazy energetic) Get a good solid metal crate(cover with a blanket) and gently train that dog into loving it as a home while you're not around.(lots of good advice on how to do that pretty easily) all of this sounds like a lot, but my point is you don;t just want to 'give the dog away to a random person, as too many bad things happen to family pets that way- and finding a responsible rescue is going to likewise take time and money,it's sometimes easier to find a way to keep the dog. And a trip to the vet for a thundershirt and some calming meds along with the other suggestions wouldn't be a bad thing.

From the OP:

So yesterday our next door neighbor stopped by and complained that he can hear our dog barking inside of our house (windows closed) from the inside of HIS house. He said that when we are not home, the dog barks endlessly and it's loud enough that he can hear it inside his house. I believe him.

This is the second time he has complained about our dog barking. Even though I don't particularly like this neighbor, I do give him credit for approaching us directly and not acting belligerent. He was very calm. The first time he complained, we had left our windows open in the summer and the dog barked at him while he and his family were in their backyard. We felt terrible and made it a point to always close the windows when we left the house. We didn't realize his barking could be heard inside of another house (these are single family homes, not townhomes).

Here is my dilemma. The barking is not the only issue we have with our dog. He's a 3 year old lab, very rambunctious. Due to the noise complaints, we will now be locking him and our other dog in the basement every time we leave the house to try to muffle the noise. I'm not sure what other options we have besides a collar that would zap him every time he barks? We've tried a professional trainer (see below).

He has anxiety issues (the barking, and he also nibbles constantly on toys, pillows, mattresses, and he constantly has to be pet and follows me around). He overreacts to things outside, whether it's a person walking by or a squirrel. His bark is SO loud and he absolutely will not calm down once he starts barking. He will bark for several minutes, even after the person or animal has long passed by the window. He's aggressive with other dogs (we can't take him to a dog park), he's a hot mess on walks (yelps and pulls, breathes heavily, walks side to side like a drunk man). When my daughter has friends over we have to put him away because he scares the other kids. We paid for a professional trainer that came to our house four different times to try to help. Her best solution was a collar that we can issue a warning beep with a remote if he starts barking. That's fine when we're home but that doesn't solve my issue of when we're away.

He also destroys things (which we initially dismissed as puppy behavior but now I think it's part of his anxiety), he bit the neighbor dog, and starts fights with other dogs at the dog park.

I guess I'm just feeling a little exhausted from dealing with him. My heart aches even considering the idea of rehoming him and DH was very opposed when I mentioned the thought. He's part of our family, but I'm starting to wonder if we are the best family for HIM and vice versa. DH and I both work so he's home all day for 9-10 hours. We have another dog that is very well behaved and hasn't had any of these issues.

Also, I'm leary of this neighbor and could see him slapping us with a lawsuit over something. Whether it's aggression towards his dog, or noise issues, etc. As I mentioned he's been nice enough to confront us directly up until this point. But I kind of sense that this was probably our final warning before he calls the police or takes further action. The neighbor has young children and I worry that they could approach our fence and the dog would scare them and the neighbor could turn that into a complaint as well.

I have an appointment with the vet to discuss his anxiety issues, perhaps we can try some medication. My eyes tear up by even thinking about rehoming him but I feel like it's an option that we have to start considering.

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

I think the idea of a dog walker is an excellent idea, but there are safety issues here since the dog isn't well socialized and has gone after other dogs and scares people, so whoever takes on the job of running this dog would have to be very experienced with aggressive dogs and not just let the dog go up to others like you can do with dogs who are better socialized. Trouble with that (as I've also had this type of dog) is that people let their dogs off-leash and come running up to your dog regardless of how well you try to protect your dog, so there could still be a problem when the dog is outside with someone. This can be a liability for you if something happens. I'm not sure I'd put someone like a teenager in that position. (Although I think it would be a great job for a teen if the dog was well-behaved!) Maybe the exercise could occur as play in the OP's own yard, ball chasing perhaps - I would specify with whoever comes in as there should be no rough play as this dog needs instruction in calming, more friendly behaviors as opposed to how to be more aggressive. Any game that pits dog against human is not a good idea.

I cannot get behind the idea of crating this particular dog for ten hours a day, especially since it sounds like it would be out of the norm for him, i.e. He's not used to it. We've already been told how he is - he has relentless pent up energy! Seriously, what is he supposed to do in a crate for ten hours? Sleep? Not happening in THIS dog. I think it could actually make his problems worse. Of course, sure, we could throw in some medication to alter his blood chemistry, i.e. Put him into a stupor, that actually might be a kindness since he won't be as aware of how miserable his life is. And let's not forget the "bark", i.e. Shock, collar so if he makes any noise while crated and medicated, we'll be sure to stop it.

Just saw the OP's update:

Thank you everyone, I honestly appreciate all of the advice. DH and I discussed things last night and we agree that our first step is going to be a trip to the vet to inquire about some anti anxiety medications to help our poor guy out. A thunder shirt is a good idea too, I will ask about that.

I also like the idea of hiring a dog walker to come during the day, I hadn't thought of that. I'm not trying to be lazy, but working full time and then kids and activities make it hard for me to walk him daily, but if I can pay someone to do it during the day while we're at work that would be wonderful.

So first step is not increased exercise and stimulation, after all these informed posts. OK then. Sending my best wishes for your dog.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Do you have a fenced yard? If so, I would hire someone who is willing to exercise the dog in the yard (fetch, tug, whatever) and then take him for a walk. Most dog walkers say they will do a 15-30min walk and I just don’t think that will really help your situation. You want the dog panting and exhausted when the person leaves so hopefully he will just nap until you get home.

A simple walk is not going to tire this dog out. I usually walk my dogs about 6 miles per day and that’s really for my own exercise. The one dog could walk forever without getting tired.

They get way more tired by spending 10-15 minutes doing some type of training exercise or game than they do walking for an hour+. We can come back in from walking three miles and I will play a quick game of fetch in the hallway (we don’t have a yard) with my energetic pup.

A few ideas for mental stimulation:
(Maybe your kids could do some of these while you’re making dinner.)

- basic training (sit, down, come, roll over, shake, etc)

- fetch (ball, frisbee)

- tug (make sure you have very clear rules that the dog understands so he will easily release on command as part of the game). You can also hold the rope very high so the dog has to jump which will tire him out faster.

- hide&seek— You can start out with two people and basically just keep calling the dog to come back and forth between the two of you. Each person has treats and moves to a slightly different location when the dog goes to the other. We do this with one person upstairs and one down so it adds more exercise.

- puzzle toys/games— These can be expensive, but there are tons of ideas online of things you can make at home which is what we do.

Excellent points, but not happening.

 

[cabanafrau]

From the OP:


I think the idea of a dog walker is an excellent idea, but there are safety issues here since the dog isn't well socialized and has gone after other dogs and scares people, so whoever takes on the job of running this dog would have to be very experienced with aggressive dogs and not just let the dog go up to others like you can do with dogs who are better socialized. Trouble with that (as I've also had this type of dog) is that people let their dogs off-leash and come running up to your dog regardless of how well you try to protect your dog, so there could still be a problem when the dog is outside with someone. This can be a liability for you if something happens. I'm not sure I'd put someone like a teenager in that position. (Although I think it would be a great job for a teen if the dog was well-behaved!) Maybe the exercise could occur as play in the OP's own yard, ball chasing perhaps - I would specify with whoever comes in as there should be no rough play as this dog needs instruction in calming, more friendly behaviors as opposed to how to be more aggressive. Any game that pits dog against human is not a good idea.

I cannot get behind the idea of crating this particular dog for ten hours a day, especially since it sounds like it would be out of the norm for him, i.e. He's not used to it. We've already been told how he is - he has relentless pent up energy! Seriously, what is he supposed to do in a crate for ten hours? Sleep? Not happening in THIS dog. I think it could actually make his problems worse. Of course, sure, we could throw in some medication to alter his blood chemistry, i.e. Put him into a stupor, that actually might be a kindness since he won't be as aware of how miserable his life is. And let's not forget the "bark", i.e. Shock, collar so if he makes any noise while crated and medicated, we'll be sure to stop it.

Just saw the OP's update:

So first step is not increased exercise and stimulation, after all these informed posts. OK then. Sending my best wishes for your dog.

I understand your frustration.

OP, I guess I am gently asking, do you really want to go the extra mile to keep this dog if it requires some changes on the part of yourself or your family? If not and you can find a way to very responsibly rehome the dog, it might be in his best interest.

I know quite a few people now who are taking their dog to daycare. Would that be an option once a week to mix things up? Upthread I mentioned dog agility competitions. I know in our area there is a very large veterinary practice with an attached doggie resort for boarding and daycare, along with an indoor agility ring. I'm not sure, but the agility ring might be something available to the dogs in daycare or the boarding, as well as for the dog trainers. You might want to see if there's something like this in your area because I know the industry is booming and so much more is done in the years since we've had a dog. Someplace like this might be a great resource for your dog to get more activity, socialization, training -- and just have fun. If you look online I'm sure there are videos of people doing agility or other training with their dogs -- maybe your kids might be able to try segments of it in your backyard to give the dog more activity.

 

[katie01]

Agreed. Both of my dogs are mixed breeds, but they do generally follow the characteristics of their genetic makeup. One is a terrier mix and totally chases and barks at any and all wildlife outside (typical terrier), and my shih tzu mix has all the mellowness of the shih tzu and the ability to learn tricks easily like her bichon side

Oops, I was trying to quote cabanafrau but I forgot to insert quotes

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

I'm not a dog owner. I love them but have never wanted the extra responsibility that takes to own one. But for the love of all that is holy before you decide on getting a dog, make sure you are willing to put in the work of having one. If you feel like you are too busy with child rearing and a job to daily walk your dog DON'T GET ONE. Maybe a hamster or goldfish is a more appropriate pet.

 

[clutter]

I'm not a dog owner. I love them but have never wanted the extra responsibility that takes to own one. But for the love of all that is holy before you decide on getting a dog, make sure you are willing to put in the work of having one. If you feel like you are too busy with child rearing and a job to daily walk your dog DON'T GET ONE. Maybe a hamster or goldfish is a more appropriate pet.

This is really not helpful.

I've had dogs for the last 35+ years. Yet a dog like this could totally throw me. There are times that you may end up with a pet that needs more than you anticipated. Sure, you adjust. And that's what the OP is trying to do. But the adjusting she's done hasn't helped. This has been such a helpful and kind dialogue. There really is NO reason to take it off the rails.