Hardest decision :(

[wiggal]

Have just made the hardest decision of my life, or what feels like it.

Tonight i have phoned up, and started the process of rehoming my dog.

I have luckily found a lovely women who lives a few roads from me who has phoned me this evening about it,

Its just so difficult. i know its what is right for my boy, but at the same time i love him to absolute pieces.

Has any one else had to rehome there dog for reasons?

[B00]

Yes, I had to give my dog of 8 years to my mum a couple of weeks ago, as he bit my 2 year old :-(

I was utterly devastated as i know that he more than likely bit her (I was in another room) due to her frightening/ waking him up, rather than out of malice.

I obviously don't know why you're rehoming your dog, but it's obviously because it will be of benefit to him? If you keep thinking along those lines it will slowly get a little easier.

Take care
Boo
:-)

[wiggal]

My boy is 3 years old, he is a gorgeous, loving friendly boy who loves nothing more then a cuddle.

He is also very boisterous & excitable, my partner now works long hours as a contractor and i ork full time, and my boy can not stay in side bcause of the kittens we have. I struggle to walk him on my own as he is very strong and has broken a fair few haltis because he goes hyper when he sees other dogs and is very strong.

[B00]

Then you're doing the right thing, you're doing a good thing- putting his needs before your feelings.

If you can keep in touch with the woman who's taking him on and you know he's as a happy as a sandboy, it'll ease your guilt enormously.

i honestly know how you feel as i still get teary when I think about my own 'little boy'.

Sappy bu88ers aint we eh?

[wiggal]

The women i have been speaking to, we found her by driving round our estate looking for a van ith samoyed on! we found on, but it was in a parking lot in the middle of a set of houses! so we went knocking on doors!

Its not i cant have a dog, i would love a dog, but my ashke has taken to living in the garden, not just because he is out there because of the kttens, but he chooses to be out there most of the time, and its heart breaking for me because in the evening he cries and i go out & see him, but he cant come in as we have tiny kittens.

Does it seem harsh that we are thinking of getting a small (king charles spaniel) that is used to being on its own in the day indoors once we have rehomed ashke?

All my family have said, a small dog that is a house dog would be perfect for me, my sister, a dog owner herself and her partner have both said they know i have so much love to give the right kind of dog, i just think Ashke is too much for me.But i do want to give a dog a perfect home.

[B00]

Dunno about harsh with regards to you feeling guilty re your dog, but I personally wouldn't get another dog if it's going to be on it's own all day. Dogs are social pack animals, and no matter how 'used' to it, I bet their still lonely when left on their own.

However, that's my personal opinion, obviously don't let that sway you one way or another.

[wiggal]

If i had an inside dog, it wouldnt be on its own.

I would only ever get a dog that was used to cats, as i have 6, and my cats like doggies (once they have got used to them)

And i will only be looking for an older dog ( 3/4 years old) to join our house.

[La Diva]

I can only reiterate what's been said before:

I hope you will think long and hard before taking on another dog.

Having rehomed two dogs in such a short time, you need to consider whether you are ideally situated to keep a dog.

[claguey]

Hard to do wiggal, but you must do what's best for your dog. I had to find a new home for one of my terriers after he attacked the younger dog. It was an awful time, there was 2 yrs between them, they were Uncle & Nephew, and until then, inseperable. They slept, played and ate together, travelled with us in the wagon, they were good little house dogs too, then out of the blue Teddy turned on Gizmo, really hurt him. I tried muzzling him, keeping them seperate which was a nightmare in a small house and after advice from the Vet had Ted's 'bits' done all to no avail. He was still aggressive to Gizmo and then Giz tried to fight back which made things worse. Teddy put on weight because he was getting less exercise because they were apart and I had to walk them seperately. A friend at the stables offered to take him on a trial basis to keep her older terrier bitch company. After 2 weeks she said he wasn't coming home to us! He'd got on so well with her dog, became attached to her disabled father and settled in well with the family that they wanted him to stay. I get regular updates on how he is and photos, but I've not been to see him as I know I'd get upset and I didn't want to disrupt him in his new home when he was happy & settled. The decision although heartbreaking at the time was the best thing in the world for both dogs, their needs had to come first. I'm glad for Teddy & Gizmo I did it, they are both happier dogs now. Do the right thing by your dog

[garner]

Put all your love into your cats and do not have another dog.remember a dog is for life!!!

[wiggal]

Its not that we are a bad home for dogs, please dont think that.
We got ashke & he was fine, we got Benson a year after, and we were very niave thinking pedigree dogs come with being well behaved.

We rehomed Benson because Ashke was losing weight due to being dominated by Benson (he was a doberman) and we thought it was best for him to go because i was worried about Ashke, Benson went to a fantastic new hone and now has a dobie girlfriend a year older then him.

But we have realised that Ashke needs more then we can give him, we have a good sized house, room is not a problem, its just Samoyed need alot of work and alot of attention that we can not give him (i know all dogs need alot of attention) but a Samoyed we now realise was a wrong decision for us.

[tigerlily11]

All dogs need a lot of work and I know you would love to have one but it doesn't matter how big or small the dog is, it makes no difference.
As pointed out dogs are pack animals and no matter how big or small they are they need company. They need your time and attention.
They are not like cats who are happy to be left alone for hours on end and come to you only when they feel like it.
Cats are great if you don't mind the fact that life with them is on their terms not yours.
Dogs are not the same.
So if your working all day and so is you partner then stick with your cats. Love them and care for them. It would be such a shame that you might end up having to break your heart and another dogs heart because you might not have the time to deal with it.

[megan07]

Dear wiggal i do hope everything works out for you thinking of you lots of love megan07

[Roughquest]

That is terrible, rehoming one dog to get another! I have never heard of such nonsense! You are not in the right frame of mind to get another dog at all! Please stick with your kittens....a dog is for life no matter what...I cant beleive how offhand you are being, saying you love your dog then to rehome him just to get another, smaller one! Ludicrous....dogs are not a commodity, they are animals with emotion and feeling....

[gelda]

Well said Roughquest !!!

[Illyria54]

Sorry to be a villain here, you are re-homing a dog, who presumably you had before you got your kittens? you can't keep him in the house because of these kittens (I say again) that you got after the dog, and now you are saying you are thinking of getting another dog???? Do you have a conscience I wonder?? You are definitely doing the right thing finding your dog a new home as he deserves better than you!

[sue11]

Good morning Wiggal, I cannot help feeling that the replies advising you against getting another dog are right. It seems that you are an animal lover, but as you have two failed attempts in the past, it really would be fool hardy to try to get another one. I don't want to be harsh as you seem very upset about the situation, but it appears that you are ony thinking about your own needs and not about the dog's needs. I would listen to the advice given and perhaps get another dog when your home situation has changed. Best of luck, Sue.

[Bohne]

I felt really sorry for you, until you started talking about getting another dog!
That's just horrible...

I have often said that I would NEVER get rid of my kitties, and at the same time I know that there would be certain circumstances where it could not be avoided (if they started attacking my baby for example).

But THAT really would be the the most difficult thing, and I would neither make that decision lightly, not get rid of my cats to get some less aggressive ones.

[wiggal]

Thanks all

I know in my head I couldnt get another dog after he goes,

The thing is im just dreading him going so much and not having him round that Ive been kidding myself that rehoming another dog would fill the space he left.
I would in know way be just replacing him, but it would of been for myself, I can see that now.
I suppose having let Ashke down, i wanted to make it up some how, and i was telling myself rehoming another dog that needed it would do that. I know in reality it wouldnt, i just cant stand the thought of how it will be when hes not around.

As for the kittens, they did come after him, but not intentionally. We had our 3 female cats all due to be spayed, only before we got them to the appt, they were showing they were pregnant.
There is no way in hell i could kill litters of kittens that were only 3/4 weeks from being born.

Now we have the first litter starting on kitten food so we can soon get our first female cat spayed.

Once Ashke has left us, it will be down to my partner, myself & the cats (and hamster!)

Thanks again all, I did just need some one to tell me the truth about how i was being, however harshly it was said, to bring me back out of the little world in my head.

[B00]

Bless you wiggal

Rehoming your dog will be the best thing you did for him in the long run, and eventually you'll accept that. I've got to admit I'm secretly glad you're not getting another dog, though I didn't want to be as blunt as some folks have been- lol.

Take care of yourself, and cheers for letting us know what you've decided to do :-)

[wiggal]

Thanks Boo

Im just really struggling with the thought of not having him around to come cuddle up to me on the sofa (only when i give him permission!) Or to see him sharing his food bowl with the older cats.
Thinking of another dog in a way kept my mind of the thought and gave me something to look forward to.