Mrs.Nesbit's Diner - Message Board / Forum

TurtleChick · 11-05-2009 09:41:48

we may have to rehome one of my german shepherds. sads

she's a rescue dog - we've had her for about 2 1/2 years. slowly slowly, she's escalated a hate-campaign against one of our other dogs - a 13yr old australian shep mix. it's progressed to the point now of her "attacking" our older dog - pouncing, grabbing her scruff and shaking for 10-15 seconds at a time now almost once daily - and when she's not pouncing she's still obsessing, paying attention to where the other dog is at all times, giving her hard stares allll the time, etc etc. all of this NOT nice to our little old lady dog, not nice for my other german shep (who runs and huddles somewhere hiding when this is happening) and especially not nice for the emotional and physical safety of my kids - particularly my 4yr old son who is heartbroken right along with me.

sigh.
sigh.
sigh.

i am waiting to hear back from a very good local animal behaviorist - we are going to suck it up and pay a lot of money for a consult to see what, if anything, can be done about this. at least, then even if we end up having to find her a new home i'll know we've done what we can to see if she can stay here and us still maintain a safe home for everyone who lives here. sad3

i'm just sick about it. for those who don't know me very well, my animals are my life (next to my kids, of course!!!).

wish us luck!!!!!

edited because i really do know how to spell shepherd and i was mortified to see i'd misspelled it! ack!!!! proofread, always proofread.

Last edited by TurtleChick (11-05-2009 10:58:57)

BantyChickMom · 11-05-2009 10:03:23

Kim, I'm sorry!!! huga

I hope the animal behaviorist can help you!

Hencackle · 11-05-2009 01:59:30

Wouldn't it be nice if Cesar Milan made a house call to visit your rescued shepherd? I hope the behaviorist can help....let us know what he/she has to say.

pleaseplease Wishing you lots of luck!

TurtleChick · 11-05-2009 04:07:59

thanks guys - heard from her, now am just waiting to find out when we go see her... and she has already warned me "it's possible that this is not a resolvable situation, so there's no guarantee that i can provide you with a do-able behavior-modification program even if you do meet with me".

sigh. sigh. sigh.

i have a horrible feeling that this is going to end with her going to live somewhere else. but at least i will be able to find her a home armed with information i wish i'd had when we adopted her. i promised to be her forever home - it's killing me that i may not be able to be. but i couldn't bear it if i selfishly kept her here until she escalated to the point of being a truly dangerous dog. that would be the ultimate act of selfishness on my part i think - her having to be put down because i wasn't responsible enough to draw the line and say she can't live here anymore...

happy thoughts, we need happy thoughts.

TurtleChick · 11-05-2009 04:44:27

we're going on the 17th. i will keep you guys posted.

TerrasCritters · 11-05-2009 08:06:50

huga Thinkin about yall and praying for the best!

TurtleChick · 11-05-2009 11:01:41

okay so nevermind - after talking to the rescue organization i got her from i have pretty much decided to hand her back over to rescue and let her be placed in a home better suited to her needs. sad sad sad

apparently the organization has tightened their rules for placement since we got her and if we were trying to adopt now, we'd never be allowed to have a female dog because we already have one. they say two girl shepherds is just a recipe for disaster. and they don't like creating dog packs of 3 with rescue dogs because the results can be so unpredictable. AND they no longer adopt female shepherds into homes with kids. too much potential for protective behavior from the sheps. GREAT GREAT and GREAT. we never should have gotten her in the first place.

so she'll go to a home experienced with german shepherds, one male dog maximum, and no kids. sigh.

the only thing that makes me feel a bit better is knowing that it is not anything we have or haven't done to create this situation - it just is what it is. it has been killing me to think that i may be responsible for this beautiful dog's lack of a quality life. not to mention the toll that this is taking on the rest of our family - canine and human.

my male shepherd is going to be so sad and confused... sad while our little old lady dog will be having a party.

thank you all for your thoughts. it's cathartic to write here...

paganfish · 11-06-2009 05:04:17

therethere

Kim - I sent you a PM. I just wanted to say, don't be too hard on yourself and put that hammer down. You did the best you could and you are right...it is not anything YOU did to create the situation.

We all know you are a good person and know that your re-homing her only means you have exhausted all other options and are doing with your heart in your hand.

Hang in there and stay sweet.

huga

Pedro

Hencackle · 11-06-2009 08:02:56

Ditto on what Pedro said. Everything will work out well for this dog and your family...think how happy some other person will be to welcome her into his/her home and provide what this dog needs.

TerrasCritters · 11-17-2009 09:37:36

How did it go Kim?

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