What is the best way to find a new home for a dog?

[npmommie]

Right, and you assume that it is a training problem because you how much I have spent on trianing, what kind of trainer I had and where I did training. I can tell you that your right about one thing. That I am not going to spend any more money on training. But you have no idea why exactly that is. You just assume it is because I must not love dogs and should never own another one, EVER.You can think that that is fine. And I don't feel that giving you any more information about the situation will change your mind on your opinions.

Kristine

you don't have to spend money to achieve training.

 

[Goldenbear6]

I do have to say that I am amazed at the amount of people here who seem to know all the answers to my family problems. Like some people said, you do not sit in my living room and see what goes on. If you did, you might take back a few of your comments. If you knew what I would do for animals rather than NOT do, you might reconsider telling me some of the horrible things I have seen here. Remember, you only know as much as the OP is willing to say, not everything going on in the family home.



Kristine

Don't ask the question, you may not like the answer!

 

[connorlevismom]

Google Springer Spaniel Rescue...

I found this:

Training tips and ideas to help you keep your pet

and this:

Tips for re-homing your pet

and this:

List of coordinators/contacts for Springer Spaniel Rescue

someone there might have advice for you or know of someone who will take this dog.

There are other resources on that site (including a message board).

That is who I contacted, they are the ones who told me to get a trainer.

I don't reall have a lot of faith in that rescue because I know that they say some dogs are purebred springers that are not.

Kristine

 

[npmommie]

I can tell you that at one point we had 5 dogs in our home, now we are down to 2, due to 3 passing on, ( old age and disease )
I have never spent a dime on formal training, I got books, I read all I could on it, I practiced the techniques, I stuck with it,
my dogs are well behaved,

my SIL on the other hand has spent hundreds on training her dogs, not one listens to her, they are out of control.

again,you don't have to spend money, you just have to be committed

 

[amg35]

Right, and you assume that it is a training problem because you how much I have spent on trianing, what kind of trainer I had and where I did training. I can tell you that your right about one thing. That I am not going to spend any more money on training. But you have no idea why exactly that is. You just assume it is because I must not love dogs and should never own another one, EVER.You can think that that is fine. And I don't feel that giving you any more information about the situation will change your mind on your opinions.

Kristine

Well, if you aren't going to tell anyone anything about anything, people are going to assume, especially if you don't answer anyone's questions when they are trying to help you. (above posts)

 

[connorlevismom]

Don't ask the question, you may not like the answer!

i did not ask what might be wrong with the dog or what I could do for his behavior. I asked what is the best way to find a new home for a dog. If I thought I had not done everything I could, I would not have asked the question. I would have been asking for training tips.

Kristine

 

[amg35]

i did not ask what might be wrong with the dog or what I could do for his behavior. I asked what is the best way to find a new home for a dog. If I thought I had not done everything I could, I would not have asked the question. I would have been asking for training tips.

Kristine

I have to say this, and I know you won't care and people will be annoyed at my post, but hey, it's a message board, if you can't say it here, where can you?


I don't believe you have done everything you could. I believe you may have done some things, but no, I don't think you put any real training effort in this past year of the dog's problems.

I'm sure everyone will say how could I say that?? I don't know, it's just a feeling.

Now I am gone....whoosh......

 

[iwrbnd]

I don't have an answer for you but I wanted to let you know I feel your pain! I've always owned dogs and I love them as part of the family. (In fact, when I die I would love to come back as one of my dogs...great life!)

I have 2 golden retrievers and one is 9 years old. In the past year she's turned into such a pain of a dog! She's digging (all the time, huge holes and in the neighbor's yard), she's stealing food and getting in the trash (dragging it all over the backyard) and just plain not obeying us! The other golden just looks at her like "Oooh, you're going to be in trouble!!!"

I've never had a problem dog. I thought as long as I give lots of love and attention without leaving them alone for long periods we would be fine. I don't think that anymore. I can let my dog outside for 5 minutes and she's digging! Sometimes I just want to give her up, too! Of course I'm not but if she started growling at the kids I think that could be the last straw!

 

[Jennasis]

Hey OP...in your estimation, what would be the ideal home for your dog? What would this new home, hopefully, provide that you cannot? I'm just wondering, if the dog is that bad, who is going to take it in??

 

[Goldenbear6]

i did not ask what might be wrong with the dog or what I could do for his behavior. I asked what is the best way to find a new home for a dog. If I thought I had not done everything I could, I would not have asked the question. I would have been asking for training tips.

Kristine

With someone with over 2,600 post, you should know that if you ask a question, or ask for advise, your not going to like all of the responses.

 

[connorlevismom]

OK, OK here it is. The whole story. I did not put it in my first post because #1. It did not have much to do with the dog I was talking about and #2. I was in a hurry trying to take care of the baby and get DS ready and off to school.

I will try and make this as short as I can. You can either read it, or not.

First off if you were sitting in my home to see all that goes on you would not see much action during the day as my DH and I are both at work. What you would see was not one but TWO dogs sleeping. THATS RIGHT, I own 2 dogs. Two dogs that I have had both since before I got married.

Hershey is the one in question. We got him first and he was kid of crazy at first. I was actually be afraid to be alone in the house with him because he would jump on me and bite me. I still have sweatshirts with holes in them from his teeth when he was going at me. I could have taken him right back from the shelter we got him from, but did not. He went to puppy training and also obedience 1-3. Hershey has had his share of vet issues. The worst being him eating a piece of plastic from one of my sons toys and needed surgery to get it removed.

Chester is the second dog. We got him from ESRA (the rescue that was mentione earlier). He was in Indiana but when I saw his picture I just knew I had to have him. I asked the rescue several times about his breed and they assured me that he was a purebred springer. Anyway, my DH and I drove from Minneapolis Minnesota to Terahout Indiana(I know I spelled that wrong) one weekend to go and get him. When we got there he was clearly not a springer but a border collie. I did not care, I love him. He is the one that proved to be a problem. They think that he has been a stray for a very long time because he clearly did not know how to live with a family and was pretty crabby. He also went to puppy training and obedience 1-3. Even after all that, the crabbiness still was there and he wass pretty snippy. I never thought much of it because I did not think he would ever really bite us. He kind of just would jerk up and bark and things (some things that were not even there). We call him crazy Chester. He too, has had his share of vet issues. He has had his ACL repaired not once, but twice. He is a hearder so he weaves when we walks and tore his ACL doing it on the sidewalk during walks.

Fast forward to us deciding to have a child. Both dogs did great upon DS coming home and seemed to not really care about him much after the first couple of months. Hershey was the dog that you could climb all over and he never would bat an eye. Chester on the other hand, was still snappy so we just kept DS away from him and truly, our DS never really cared much about them. When DS was anbout 2 1/2 or so he was sitting in his little care and it accidentally tipped over onto Chester. Chester jumpe up and bit my DS in the face breaking a little skin and leaving a large black and blue mark. We were very concerned about it for several day but in the end, decided it was not Chester's fault for doing it. He was just reacting to being scared of being fallen onto.

After that we decided that we would see a trainer about how to deal with his snappines as we did not want it to happen again. We also wanted to learn how to keep the dogs away from the table, how to get Chester to see us as Alphas (he always had to be the first one out the door, down the stairs..he thought he was a king) and a couple other minor barking things. So we did our research and found a behavioral specialist in the cities. We paid her $150 per hour plus travel to come to our home twice a week for 2 months to work with us and the dogs. We thought it was best that she come to the house to see the dogs in their environment. She taught us a lot of things and was able to help us put Chester in his place, so to speak. After that, the dogs were great. They listened and followed the rules and Chester stopped being so snappy.

Then all of a sudden Hershey started this stuff about a year ago. Acting almost the same as Chester was but in a meaner fashion. I was never afraid of Chester, he never bared his teeth. I was afraid of Hershey when he started this. So, we called the trainer back up and had her come out for a couple of follow up sessions. She pretty much told us al the same things that she had for Chester. We tried and tried and it did not help. It seemed like it got worse actually. He only started showing teeth about beinng in the dishwasher. For some reason he thought that he was allowed to go in it now even though he has never been allowed in it. Then it went to being on the furniture and then it was being told to get away from the table while we were eating. They have a spot on the carpet that they are supposed to lay while we are eating. For some reason Hershey decided he was no longer going to follow that rule. Even my DH was afraid of him. It did not stop us from giving him disipline, it just kind of scared us to do it. Then, he snapped at my husband. It was not like the time that Chester bit my son, Hershey did not get fallen on or hurt, he just did not like what DH was telling him. I thought that medically there had to be something wrong with him because he just was not like this. So off to the vet went for a full physical and blood workup. Results were nothing wrong.

So that brings me pretty much to today. I have been through this with one dog so I know how to deal with it. With that dog, I was never afraid. With this one, I am. And if I am afraid, then I fear for my kids being snapped at or bitten.

So please forgive me if I don't take it well when people tell me that I have not done enough. That I have given up on my dog and am getting rid of him because I don't want to spend anymore money. Part of that is true, but it is more like I am not willing to spend more money on something that has already been done. Twice. Please forgive me when I get mad when people tell me I am not a dog person and clearly shoul never own another pet, ever. I have two dogs, I am not getting rid of both of them. I am trying to find one a better home because I am afraid of him biting my kids. So clearly I am not getting rid of my dog because I just don't want to deal with him. I will still have one at home so that theory does not hold up either.

IMO and in my heart I think that I have done everything I can do for this situation. Now I feel the best thing is to look for a new home for him. Believe me, this is an extremely hard thing to do so thank-you all who made me feel even more horrible about it. I had one dog actually bite my son and I did not find him a new home because I felt it was not the dogs fault. I could have, but I did not. This situation is so differnt and I am truly afraid this dog will bite for no reason.

Sorry this is so long but I felt like I should tell the whole story when I had a second. And for the record, after my two dogs pass, we will not be getting another one for a long time. My DS does not care if they are there or not and we feel like we can not give 100% to them with the kids being so young.

Kristine

 

[Piglets Mommy]

OP, try googling for pet rescues in your area that are not breed specific. You may be able to find someone who can help you re-home your dog that way. Also look on Petfinder for rescues in your area....we got a wonderful dog that way! The rescue we went through has animals of all breeds and ages and even some "special needs" animals. They were great about matching the right dog with the right family.

 

[Christine]

owed the rules and Chester stopped being so snappy.

So please forgive me if I don't take it well when people tell me that I have not done enough. That I have given up on my dog and am getting rid of him because I don't want to spend anymore money. Part of that is true, but it is more like I am not willing to spend more money on something that has already been done. Twice. Please forgive me when I get mad when people tell me I am not a dog person and clearly shoul never own another pet, ever. I have two dogs, I am not getting rid of both of them. I am trying to find one a better home because I am afraid of him biting my kids. So clearly I am not getting rid of my dog because I just don't want to deal with him. I will still have one at home so that theory does not hold up either.

IMO and in my heart I think that I have done everything I can do for this situation. Now I feel the best thing is to look for a new home for him. Believe me, this is an extremely hard thing to do so thank-you all who made me feel even more horrible about it. I had one dog actually bite my son and I did not find him a new home because I felt it was not the dogs fault. I could have, but I did not. This situation is so differnt and I am truly afraid this dog will bite for no reason.

Sorry this is so long but I felt like I should tell the whole story when I had a second. And for the record, after my two dogs pass, we will not be getting another one for a long time. My DS does not care if they are there or not and we feel like we can not give 100% to them with the kids being so young.

Kristine

Fair enough! I'm glad you posted the whole story. You should have done that in the first place. When you ask people for advice, it truly is not fair to give a very, very narrow view of the whole story--especially when it comes to a matter as serious as this. You are talking about dogs and people are very, very passionate and sensitive when it comes to animals. Really, you can't come on a board and plop a very simple paragraph about rehoming without some more details about the situation.

I can tell by some of your more recent posts that you are pretty upset with some responses. I understand, but you have to understand, in return, that your first post actually sounded kind of cold and uncaring. It is a message board and you are in a hurry, but we did not know this, especially with such an important subject.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

OP - if I was one of the people who hurt your feelings, I am sorry. I have been hurt by comments on my own threads, and I don't want to turn around and be the same way to someone else. Christine is right. I am one of those people who is very passionate about animals, and was troubled when I saw your comments about your husband wanting to put your dog down instead of being unaware of how his life turned out. You have since said that you would never do that, and I am glad to hear it. I truly hope that your situation turns out for the best, for both humans and dog. Good luck.

 

[C.Ann]

The safety of your children should be your number one priority.. If this dog were to attack (or worse yet, kill) your baby - and the authorities learned that you were aware that he was showing aggressive behavior prior to the attack - criminal charges could be filed against you and your DH - and your remaining child could be removed from your home..

If you have exhausted all other options that are affordable to you, your best option is to try petfinder or some such place - with FULL disclosure.. If you fail to disclose this behavior, it could result in a lawsuit against you somewhere down the line, so put it in writing and have the new owner sign and date the document..

I know it's a difficult, painful decision to make, but your children's safety must ALWAYS come above all else..

Good luck..

 

[ksjayhawks]

I have not read the whole thread and sorry you feel attacked. You asked how to rehome a dog and that is the advice you should have been given. However, we all know that sometimes that isn't what happens.

You are doing the right thing--the safety of your children must come first.

I would try a pet rescue that is not breed specific and Craigslist as well. Or ask your vet if he/she knows someone or if you can put up a sign in his/her office.

 

[dogluva]

I am not looking for a debate on whether or not I am a horrible person for getting rid of my dog, I am looking for advice.

We have had our dog since he was 6 months old, he is now 9. He is a great dog but has become a little testy when it comes to taking orders. There are times when he is told to get off the furniture (which he knows he is not allowed on) or go to his kennel and he will show his teeth. He even snapped at my DH once when he walked towards him to get off the couch. So, he needs to find a new place to live. With a 6 year old and a 5 month old, I cannot take the chance of him turning on one of the kids for some reason.

I stuggle with how to do it though. I cannot take him to a shelter because at his age, I am afraid nobody will want him. My DH said he would rather put him to sleep than take him to a shelter. At least he would know what happene to him. I tried contacting his breeds rescue group and they were no help telling me to hire a trianer and that they would not take him.

So what is the best way to do this? I want to make sure he goes to a good home, but he needs to go.

Kristine

This is the saddest post. I have a nine year old dog. Sometimes they get grumpy when they get old. I wouldn't be able to do it.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Very dangerous to do if you are not trained. The vast majority of dog owners are not alpha..hence their issues, especially if their dog is the alpha in the pack. I have an alpha golden. Unfortunetly for him, I am more alpha!!

I don't think I said anything about them trying to personally train the dog, rather they NEED A TRAINER!

It's a dog, not grammie!! A dog. And that's the problem with dogs and their behaviour nowadays....people think of them as family.

COMPLETELY DISAGREE!!! (I don't think they make a DIS appropriate emoticon for this)

 

[Ember]

Sorry this is so long but I felt like I should tell the whole story when I had a second. And for the record, after my two dogs pass, we will not be getting another one for a long time. My DS does not care if they are there or not and we feel like we can not give 100% to them with the kids being so young.

Kristine

As a pet lover this must have been a hard choice, too. But it's very responsible for you to have made it.

 

[tinker&belle]

OP-I really feel for your situation. We had a hard situation involving 2 cats and the issues were between the cats. It got to the point where the results were dangerous to my children.

I strongly encourage you to re-home your dog or find a no-kill shelter. It took us a year to find an appropriate option so you may have to figure out a safe way to contain him for your children until you find something that works. Unless of course he actually bites, then the situation has definately taken a turn for the worse.

On the upside, my cat ended up going to a no-kill shelter a month ago and I have followed her on the website. They updated that she is much happier at a foster home(the situations was very unhealthy between her and the other cat.)

So things can work out well, but it may take some time. I know how heartbreaking it can be, especially when the problem involves two animals and children and there is no simple fix. We threw tons of money at the situation too, but I have the peace of knowing we did all that we could. It was hard to get rid of her, but it was the right thing for everyone.

I wish your family the best. It is an impossible situation so you just do the best you can.