buzyizzy
Well-Known Member
Does anyone on here know the specific tests that these dogs go through before they are put up for adoption?
Trying to clarify some issues of my own dog.
Thanks
Trying to clarify some issues of my own dog.
Thanks
Adopting a Dog from a Rescue Shelter
- Thread starter buzyizzy
- Start date
MissTyc
Well-Known Member
It totally depends on the rescue. The rescue I adopted from assess the dog by an "experienced foster" i.e. they make sure it doesn't have any obvious problems. No tests. I was given backgorund and the warning "she will chase if permitted" .. and spent many hours on the phone with them after adoption which was invaluable!
buzyizzy
Well-Known Member
That's interesting. Bluecross have told me they test the dog in every possible situation they can and Dogstrust apparently want them to be friendly and share a kennel. The dog I adopted didn't go to a foster home, was straight from kennels with a long list of ticks that mostly turned out to be rubbish to put it politely. Four months down the line, many problems have been ironed out and many new experiences had, but I am having to employ a behaviourist to deal with the big ones. We've adopted dogs before and always been told exactly what to expect from them, good and bad, but not this one.
SOS
Well-Known Member
Are you thinking of giving your dog up for adoption or was the dog from a rescue?
Either way I would speak to the/some rescue centres about their testing procedure. Small scale rescues often do informal testing such as introducing the dog to rooms of new people, having it in the office etc to test whether its house trained and walking with other dogs. Big, household name branches would likely have a fixed protocol which they could inform you on.
If you have a dog already from a rescue and are having issues, please speak up about them to the rescue or your vet. Both should be able to advise a good animal behaviourist to work through issues.
If you are feeling like you need to give the dog up and are wondering whether it will pass rescue tests then firstly I want to say well done for making a sensible decision and not advertising the dog online or worse. Breed specific rescues are often very good at training and finding suitable homes as they know the traits inside out. A small scale rescue may be more likely to spend time working with the dog although beware of the hoarders. Ask about recent rehoming success and average length of stay for an animal.
Hope this helps
ETA just seen post above so ignore half my ramble! Was it a small scale rescue?
Either way I would speak to the/some rescue centres about their testing procedure. Small scale rescues often do informal testing such as introducing the dog to rooms of new people, having it in the office etc to test whether its house trained and walking with other dogs. Big, household name branches would likely have a fixed protocol which they could inform you on.
If you have a dog already from a rescue and are having issues, please speak up about them to the rescue or your vet. Both should be able to advise a good animal behaviourist to work through issues.
If you are feeling like you need to give the dog up and are wondering whether it will pass rescue tests then firstly I want to say well done for making a sensible decision and not advertising the dog online or worse. Breed specific rescues are often very good at training and finding suitable homes as they know the traits inside out. A small scale rescue may be more likely to spend time working with the dog although beware of the hoarders. Ask about recent rehoming success and average length of stay for an animal.
Hope this helps
ETA just seen post above so ignore half my ramble! Was it a small scale rescue?
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buzyizzy
Well-Known Member
Are you thinking of giving your dog up for adoption or was the dog from a rescue?
Either way I would speak to the/some rescue centres about their testing procedure. Small scale rescues often do informal testing such as introducing the dog to rooms of new people, having it in the office etc to test whether it’s house trained and walking with other dogs. Big, household name branches would likely have a fixed protocol which they could inform you on.
If you have a dog already from a rescue and are having issues, please speak up about them to the rescue or your vet. Both should be able to advise a good animal behaviourist to work through issues.
If you are feeling like you need to give the dog up and are wondering whether it will pass rescue ‘tests’ then firstly I want to say well done for making a sensible decision and not advertising the dog online or worse. Breed specific rescues are often very good at training and finding suitable homes as they know the traits inside out. A small scale rescue may be more likely to spend time working with the dog although beware of the ‘hoarders’. Ask about recent rehoming success and average length of stay for an animal.
Hope this helps
ETA just seen post above so ignore half my ramble! Was it a small scale rescue?
I adopted her at the beginning of February. Had a few issues at first, but basically I firmly believe she had no tests done at all. She was fed and walked and that was all. I wasn't allowed to see her in her kennel, she was brought to me and she was considerably overweight. I have spoken to them several times, but haven't had any support or suggestions. They are only interested if all is going well, otherwise tough bananas. In desperation this morning I went thru all the numbers of dog behaviourists until I got to speak to someone and we had an extremely eye opening chat. I have now contacted my local behaviourist and waiting to hear from him. I don't blame her at all for her issues, I do blame the charity for not telling me as the one thing I did need was a sociable dog, and that she certainly isn't (yet). :frown3:
ETA yes it was a small scale rescue
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dollyanna
Well-Known Member
It's not always easy either, some dogs are totally different in kennels to being homed, and even if they go into foster they can be totally different a month later so if they are only fostered for a short time then their true challenges might not show.
Any good rescue should offer backup at least. But depending on how long they had the dog there is the chance they didn't know, or the ticks were in fact correct at the time of testing.
My first dog had extremely complex and intense issues once I'd had him a month, but despite being in kennels for 18 months, in a large, well known rescue with inhouse behaviourists, they had never actually seen any of his behaviours. They never did, because even when I took him back to see the behviourist he was comfortable in that environment. I rehomed him with prior knowledge of issues because that's how he landed back in rescue (rescued as a pup) but I do believe they had no idea how big his challenges were.
Current dog was misread, supposed to be fine with other dogs because he doesn't react and just wanted cuddles, but again he was so shut down from being transported and rescued it has taken nearly a year and we are only just starting to really see his character. He is not easy to read, and he gives extreme calming gestures when anxious that most people interpret as wanting cuddles when in fact he is simply desperate to appease because he is terrified.
Small rescues don't always have the knowledge or resources to full assess, but even if they did I'd always take an assessment with a pinch of salt. A new home is a totally different environment.
Any good rescue should offer backup at least. But depending on how long they had the dog there is the chance they didn't know, or the ticks were in fact correct at the time of testing.
My first dog had extremely complex and intense issues once I'd had him a month, but despite being in kennels for 18 months, in a large, well known rescue with inhouse behaviourists, they had never actually seen any of his behaviours. They never did, because even when I took him back to see the behviourist he was comfortable in that environment. I rehomed him with prior knowledge of issues because that's how he landed back in rescue (rescued as a pup) but I do believe they had no idea how big his challenges were.
Current dog was misread, supposed to be fine with other dogs because he doesn't react and just wanted cuddles, but again he was so shut down from being transported and rescued it has taken nearly a year and we are only just starting to really see his character. He is not easy to read, and he gives extreme calming gestures when anxious that most people interpret as wanting cuddles when in fact he is simply desperate to appease because he is terrified.
Small rescues don't always have the knowledge or resources to full assess, but even if they did I'd always take an assessment with a pinch of salt. A new home is a totally different environment.
Suechoccy
Well-Known Member
Rescue dogs also take time to settle to their new surroundings, often a few months. They can be very unsettled at first.
One easy mistake to make (not saying you've made this) is to mollycoddle the dog too much and feel sorry for it, esp with some of the background stories that rescues come with, and that can make the dog fearful/nervous/lacking in confidence or protective/aggressive (depends on breed too). So whatever the story, kind but firm boundaries and a good routine go a huge way. Also as much controlled gentle socialising as possible, all sorts of situations, dogs, animals, people, bit by bit. And watch the food - high protein diet can send them doolally.
Rescue dogs are often hard work because of their circumstances and background, but they are also very rewarding when it comes right. Best wishes with your pooch!
One easy mistake to make (not saying you've made this) is to mollycoddle the dog too much and feel sorry for it, esp with some of the background stories that rescues come with, and that can make the dog fearful/nervous/lacking in confidence or protective/aggressive (depends on breed too). So whatever the story, kind but firm boundaries and a good routine go a huge way. Also as much controlled gentle socialising as possible, all sorts of situations, dogs, animals, people, bit by bit. And watch the food - high protein diet can send them doolally.
Rescue dogs are often hard work because of their circumstances and background, but they are also very rewarding when it comes right. Best wishes with your pooch!
SOS
Well-Known Member
Ah I see. Its a shame that the dog doesnt seem to of been adequately assessed in this case. Unfortunately small rescues are often run by volunteers with no qualifications trying to make the best of a bad situation. Majority of the time it goes well but animals are very hard to assess outside of a settled home environment.
That said from the information you have given it sounds like more could of been done by the rescue. They should of asked your needs and if a social animal was at the top then ensured the dog was suitable. The lack of support after is also worrying. Both the rescue and yourself should have insisted to trial the dog in social situations so you could see the behaviour (and whether if not suitable it could be improved).
I would compile a report of dos/donts the rescue gave you, a rough diary of events since adoption including contact with the rescue and a report from the behaviourist. Then I would send a gentle but to the point letter that states from the information gathered its clear the dog was not as described, and for future owners and dogs you feel their assessments should be improved and owners should be supported more. Sometimes seeing everything on paper is easier to see a failure on their part and how hard it has been for yourself.
Personally I would not send this any further than to the rescue itself, in theory you could report them if they are a registered charity however I am not sure who this would really benefit.
At the end of the day I am guessing you dont want to give the dog back? Nor seek compensation? Ask yourself what you really want and go from there.
I really hope all works out
That said from the information you have given it sounds like more could of been done by the rescue. They should of asked your needs and if a social animal was at the top then ensured the dog was suitable. The lack of support after is also worrying. Both the rescue and yourself should have insisted to trial the dog in social situations so you could see the behaviour (and whether if not suitable it could be improved).
I would compile a report of dos/donts the rescue gave you, a rough diary of events since adoption including contact with the rescue and a report from the behaviourist. Then I would send a gentle but to the point letter that states from the information gathered its clear the dog was not as described, and for future owners and dogs you feel their assessments should be improved and owners should be supported more. Sometimes seeing everything on paper is easier to see a failure on their part and how hard it has been for yourself.
Personally I would not send this any further than to the rescue itself, in theory you could report them if they are a registered charity however I am not sure who this would really benefit.
At the end of the day I am guessing you dont want to give the dog back? Nor seek compensation? Ask yourself what you really want and go from there.
I really hope all works out
buzyizzy
Well-Known Member
Ah I see. It’s a shame that the dog doesn’t seem to of been adequately assessed in this case. Unfortunately small rescues are often run by volunteers with no qualifications trying to make the best of a bad situation. Majority of the time it goes well but animals are very hard to assess outside of a settled home environment.
That said from the information you have given it sounds like more could of been done by the rescue. They should of asked your needs and if a social animal was at the top then ensured the dog was suitable. The lack of support after is also worrying. Both the rescue and yourself should have insisted to trial the dog in social situations so you could see the behaviour (and whether if not suitable it could be improved).
I would compile a report of do’s/dont’s the rescue gave you, a rough diary of events since adoption including contact with the rescue and a report from the behaviourist. Then I would send a gentle but to the point letter that states from the information gathered it’s clear the dog was not as described, and for future owners and dogs you feel their assessments should be improved and owners should be supported more. Sometimes seeing everything on paper is easier to see a failure on their part and how hard it has been for yourself.
Personally I would not send this any further than to the rescue itself, in theory you could report them if they are a registered charity however I am not sure who this would really benefit.
At the end of the day I am guessing you don’t want to give the dog back? Nor seek compensation? Ask yourself what you really want and go from there.
I really hope all works out
I'm not sure what you mean by the do's and don'ts report? I don't want to give her back, I'd rather that she went to a more reputable charity for rehoming, but apparently legally I'm bound to give her back to them. I have spoken to other charities about her and one asked where I had got her from and told me "they do not have the best reputation". Very sad end. I just want the best for her and I can't give it so I'd rather she went to a decent charity.
stormox
Well-Known Member
Is she a dog from an English charity and an English background? As opposed to Romanian, Spanish whatever? Because some foreign dogs have led very traumatic lives, and may be quite feral. I also know of a charity in Ireland that really doesn't assess homes at all as they rehome mostly over the internet.
If you signed a contract to say you have to give her back to the charity I think you must do that. Or at least speak to them before you rehome her to yet another different place. Maybe you could get your behaviourist to write an assessment of her character before giving her back and ask them to ensure it was put with her records?
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Kaylum
Well-Known Member
The charity should have its own behaviourist? Blue Cross certainly do.
mandyroberts
Well-Known Member
My local charity is I suppose small (can take up to 60 dogs). Homes are carefully selected, they tell you everything they know, they are on the end of the phone whenever needed. People can take dogs home for a few hours before they fully adopt to see if there are unanticipated problems. Home checks are done and if you reserve a dog you can't actually take it for a week as they have a 'cooling down period' for prospective owners - its during that week you can take them for home visits. They reject many people for particular dogs (much to the annoyance of the people) but their aim is to home the dog to the right person and if that takes a bit longer, then so be it.
CinnamonChristmasCookie
Fais pas chier!
Legally, there’s no way they’re going to drag you through the courts to get her back if you send her to a different rescue. However, you’d be hard pushed to get her into a rescue at all given how full they are, the waiting lists and the bonkers people fetching dogs from other countries thereby worsening the crisis. They’d also be asking searching questions as to her provenance, I imagine. If she’s a breed, find the breed specific rescue and talk to them.
buzyizzy
Well-Known Member
It's a small charity that rehomes dogs from within UK and Romania. I could easily cope with her not being friendly as we've had GSD's who have been grumpy, but not majorly aggressive. We also had a collie that would snap at anything that came close. However, as she is determined to properly attack any dog within reach, it's a much different story. One of the founders gave me details of the charity's behaviourist, but for love nor money, I can't find him on any behaviourist website and I suspect he is not qualified. I have also spoken to other charities that have confirmed that the charity I used is not a reputable one and has a bad reputation, so I am pretty sure that they are not going to object to my handing her over to a much better charity. I can't afford to have any behaviourist visit as it is upwards of £300 and so I have just taken her advice over the phone, so obvs she can't write a report. Whilst most of the charities are not prepared to take her, I have found one local one that I had forgotten about that deals with special cases and I am currently waiting to hear back. There's no doubt it's a shame, but she's such a massive worry and my neighbours have been wonderful for four months, I don't think I can push them much further and there has been no improvement or lessening in her aggression.
buzyizzy
Well-Known Member
We went thru much the same many years ago with the Bluecross.
stormox
Well-Known Member
Is this dog from Romania? A lot of them are very feral street dogs used to fighting for survival. Not all dogs are suitable for rehoming. Maybe it would be better to take her back where she came from and get her PTS? Otherwise she is going to go to a different charitys kennels, then more different homes.....
chaps89
Well-Known Member
As horrible as it may sound, may PTS not be a better outcome for all concerned? It doesn't sound like she is a happy dog and if she is aggressive, even if she goes to a charity with full disclosure the risk of a future incident sounds high.
buzyizzy
Well-Known Member
Stormox and Chaps89, This is what Blue Cross and Dogs Trust have recommended, but charity won't hear of it. Apparently she's perfectly healthy. I've tried and tried to explain to them that if she has behavioural issues, she is not healthy, but I am banging my head against the proverbial brick wall. They told me that the adoption form I signed stated that I had to return her to them if I could no longer keep her, but oddly enough they have been unable to produce a copy of this form (I don't have it in her paperwork either, which is mighty odd). I have found a really good charity that I went to see after Christmas and I know how fussy they are and all about the full disclosure because they were really open with me about a dog I wanted to adopt from them. They are willing to take her on once she has been in the country for six months, which is a couple of weeks from now. Totally professional place, I was very impressed when I went there.
stormox
Well-Known Member
Maybe you should take the initiative here Bizzylizzie and have her put down by your own vet? What sort of life is she going to have going to another charity (however professional) , then being rehomed, maybe back to charity again if it doesnt work out? Im assuming this dog is from Romania- as you said where you got her from handles UK and Romanian dogs and she hasnt been in England 6 months yet- some Romanian dogs just are not suitable for homes in the UK, with busy streets, neighbours, other dogs children etc when all they are used to is a feral life fighting for survival and evading the Romanian dog-catchers.
If you arent sending her back to the charity she came from, having her PTS wont be any less legal than sending her for another charity to try to deal with.
If you arent sending her back to the charity she came from, having her PTS wont be any less legal than sending her for another charity to try to deal with.
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buzyizzy
Well-Known Member
You should have read the uproar when I suggested it!! I'm not allowed apparently as she's perfectly healthy. But as I said, no one can find any forms I signed so make of that what you will. If there were other issues, I would have no hesitation, but someone at some time has clearly spent time with her. She's completely cat proof, totally clean in the house, won't go ahead of me downstairs, always goes to my side, doesn't bark in the house, I trust her completely with everything except dogs. When we go for a walk, she's careful not to get her lead in a tangle, goes the right way round lamp posts and similar, is fine with sheep (on lead obvs) is affectionate, doesn't mind being left in the house for a few hours, is child proof, when she comes home from a walk she will sit down without being asked and wait for me to take her lead off, she waits until I tell her she can eat her breakfast and tea, she has started to play with her toys, and the list goes on. It's heartbreaking as she's currently curled up next to me on the settee with the cat on the other side, both asleep
She's good in the car, can be left whilst I do a visit without wrecking the joint. She does bark at peeps and dogs when she's in the car.stormox
Well-Known Member
You should have read the uproar when I suggested it!! I'm not allowed apparently as she's perfectly healthy. But as I said, no one can find any forms I signed so make of that what you will. If there were other issues, I would have no hesitation, but someone at some time has clearly spent time with her. She's completely cat proof, totally clean in the house, won't go ahead of me downstairs, always goes to my side, doesn't bark in the house, I trust her completely with everything except dogs. When we go for a walk, she's careful not to get her lead in a tangle, goes the right way round lamp posts and similar, is fine with sheep (on lead obvs) is affectionate, doesn't mind being left in the house for a few hours, is child proof, when she comes home from a walk she will sit down without being asked and wait for me to take her lead off, she waits until I tell her she can eat her breakfast and tea, she has started to play with her toys, and the list goes on. It's heartbreaking as she's currently curled up next to me on the settee with the cat on the other side, both asleep
I suppose only you can decide, Bizzyizzy. You must do what you feel is right yourself, and her, not listen to mine or any others opinions or uproar. But it will be a very difficult life for any dog in a crowded country like the UK if she cannot stand being in the vicinity of others and she could get herself badly hurt if she attacked the wrong dog, or another dog could get hurt by her, both of which would be absolutely awful.
Merrymoles
Well-Known Member
I think even for the most reputable charities assessing a dog can be very difficult.
We got our latest from the Dogs Trust at the end of October and I think they were as honest as they could be but some of the things they have told us have proved to be wrong. They said her recall was good - which it is in a pen but completely non-existent anywhere else but then they didn't have the facilities to test that. We struggled for some months to even get her to come into the house after being in the garden. We did have a visit from their behaviourist but that wasn't really much practical help. They also told us she didn't chase - but she even chases pigeons, let along the feral cats in our garden.
She was very shutdown and anxious which could result in her being aggressive which was somewhat scary with a 36kg dog who is as tall as me if she stands on her back legs. Her teeth have made contact a few times but not with any massive level of intent but it is still completely undesirable.
When she began to settle, we lost our old collie in February which led to a bit of a regression to the former unwanted behaviour but, four months on, and she is improving again.
She remains a bit of a nightmare to travel (she wants to drive and is very vocal and throws herself out as soon as the boot is opened) so I have resorted to clipping her in with a horse quick-release bungee between her harness and a cargo hook so that she stays more or less in the back and is still attached when she leaps out. I'm hopeful that with time she will improve. Again, I'm not sure the Dogs Trust could have assessed this as they travel in a van.
She is hard to hold on to and has pulled my 6ft4 18 stone OH over when she's taken off. I can just about manage her in a halti headcollar which she hates but respects. Again, she'd only been walked in a harness in a restricted area by the charity.
I do believe that she will end up being a lovely dog but I suspect it's going to take another couple of years to get there. I don't think she came from a bad home - the Dogs Trust forwarded a letter anonymously from her previous owners who obviously couldn't cope and apologised for not training her enough. The Dogs Trust recognised that she was stressed in kennels and were quick to let us have her (we'd recently lost our last big dog who came from them and they remembered).
She is technically our fourth rescue dog (we also had two others which we took when my mum died) and all have had different issues. Our first was a 10-month-old collie from a different national charity who arrived covered in fleas, our second was a puppy full of worms and our third had a broken cruciate ligament - and the Dogs Trust were absolutely brilliant in his case, paid for the op and for his on-going medication under a shared adoption scheme.
I have been tempted to give this one back - especially when she left my OH with a badly-damaged knee in the middle of winter - but am working on the fact that we are still seeing progress. Now that I can leave the back door open, she will often come in of her own volition, she will always come in for a sliver of ham anyway and on Bank Holiday Monday I walked her close to sheep and lambs, beef cattle and calves, children and other dogs without any issue at all (parked cars were a different matter but I'm still working on that). I don't trust her enough to walk her off the lead and that may take some time yet.
I know this is an essay but I think you need to take a decision whether you can cope with anything she throws at you or not. This has certainly been our most challenging adoption of all six but I am now in it for the long term. If you haven't got the time or the energy to deal with your girl's issues, I believe you would be right to either try rehoming with a different charity or, if all else fails, PTS.
ETA I know the Dogs Trust do training classes at their centres so if you could find a reputable dog trainer near you there might an opportunity to start her socialisation all over again in a controlled environment with other dogs? A local chap we know is happy to work with dogs one-on-one but in your case you would need someone who has his/her own dogs or is able to manage the process of your dog meeting others.
We got our latest from the Dogs Trust at the end of October and I think they were as honest as they could be but some of the things they have told us have proved to be wrong. They said her recall was good - which it is in a pen but completely non-existent anywhere else but then they didn't have the facilities to test that. We struggled for some months to even get her to come into the house after being in the garden. We did have a visit from their behaviourist but that wasn't really much practical help. They also told us she didn't chase - but she even chases pigeons, let along the feral cats in our garden.
She was very shutdown and anxious which could result in her being aggressive which was somewhat scary with a 36kg dog who is as tall as me if she stands on her back legs. Her teeth have made contact a few times but not with any massive level of intent but it is still completely undesirable.
When she began to settle, we lost our old collie in February which led to a bit of a regression to the former unwanted behaviour but, four months on, and she is improving again.
She remains a bit of a nightmare to travel (she wants to drive and is very vocal and throws herself out as soon as the boot is opened) so I have resorted to clipping her in with a horse quick-release bungee between her harness and a cargo hook so that she stays more or less in the back and is still attached when she leaps out. I'm hopeful that with time she will improve. Again, I'm not sure the Dogs Trust could have assessed this as they travel in a van.
She is hard to hold on to and has pulled my 6ft4 18 stone OH over when she's taken off. I can just about manage her in a halti headcollar which she hates but respects. Again, she'd only been walked in a harness in a restricted area by the charity.
I do believe that she will end up being a lovely dog but I suspect it's going to take another couple of years to get there. I don't think she came from a bad home - the Dogs Trust forwarded a letter anonymously from her previous owners who obviously couldn't cope and apologised for not training her enough. The Dogs Trust recognised that she was stressed in kennels and were quick to let us have her (we'd recently lost our last big dog who came from them and they remembered).
She is technically our fourth rescue dog (we also had two others which we took when my mum died) and all have had different issues. Our first was a 10-month-old collie from a different national charity who arrived covered in fleas, our second was a puppy full of worms and our third had a broken cruciate ligament - and the Dogs Trust were absolutely brilliant in his case, paid for the op and for his on-going medication under a shared adoption scheme.
I have been tempted to give this one back - especially when she left my OH with a badly-damaged knee in the middle of winter - but am working on the fact that we are still seeing progress. Now that I can leave the back door open, she will often come in of her own volition, she will always come in for a sliver of ham anyway and on Bank Holiday Monday I walked her close to sheep and lambs, beef cattle and calves, children and other dogs without any issue at all (parked cars were a different matter but I'm still working on that). I don't trust her enough to walk her off the lead and that may take some time yet.
I know this is an essay but I think you need to take a decision whether you can cope with anything she throws at you or not. This has certainly been our most challenging adoption of all six but I am now in it for the long term. If you haven't got the time or the energy to deal with your girl's issues, I believe you would be right to either try rehoming with a different charity or, if all else fails, PTS.
ETA I know the Dogs Trust do training classes at their centres so if you could find a reputable dog trainer near you there might an opportunity to start her socialisation all over again in a controlled environment with other dogs? A local chap we know is happy to work with dogs one-on-one but in your case you would need someone who has his/her own dogs or is able to manage the process of your dog meeting others.
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planete
Well-Known Member
Have you got any Institute of Modern Dog Trainers graduates near you? One of my fosters who was aggressive was massively helped by one of them and I was charged £60.00 an hour not £300.00. An hour could get you an assessment from him/her and better advice than we can give you without seeing the dog, this might help you decide on the best course of action and perhaps help you influence the charity. On the other hand, if your local charity which specialises in difficult cases have turned around dogs like her before and will take her, I just would not let the original charity know you are giving her to them. They may find out but I doubt they will do more than have a rant at you.
Unfortunately I think having her put down without consent could unleash a huge media storm when it gets known and I would not advise you to risk it even if it might be in the dog's best interest. it would be your word against all the uninformed do-gooders and put you in a very difficult situation.
Unfortunately I think having her put down without consent could unleash a huge media storm when it gets known and I would not advise you to risk it even if it might be in the dog's best interest. it would be your word against all the uninformed do-gooders and put you in a very difficult situation.
buzyizzy
Well-Known Member
Thank you for the kind words and advice. I have made the decision for her to go to a new charity and I have been completely up front about her issues. If I can get a video of her "performance" I will, but I'll need someone with me for that as holding a phone up at the same time is not going to happen. I met two dogs round her neighbourhood last night, one was a JR on the other side of the road and she launched into her usual tirade, but the woman stopped and we chatted from across the road and my girl calmed down a lot and actually sat next to me! Then we met a retriever, much closer up and I distracted her whilst he was going past. She knew he was there, but I persuaded her to sit and let me chat and make a fuss of her whilst he was going past. I have two weeks left of her at home, so having made the decision, I am treating it as a cooling off period. She also ignored the old dog at the yard the night before last, so now I don't know what to do. I am very fond of her and she's such a quick learner and so good on her own at home and clean, I am going to see if she continues to make progress with other dogs and if so, and I feel we are finally making a breakthrough, then she stays. As for recall, well that's gonna take much longer!!
planete
Well-Known Member
To be honest, your last post makes her sound like a classic dog reactive dog who would respond to training. A good behaviourist as mentioned above should be able to make a huge difference.
Scarlett
Well-Known Member
You should have read the uproar when I suggested it!! I'm not allowed apparently as she's perfectly healthy. But as I said, no one can find any forms I signed so make of that what you will. If there were other issues, I would have no hesitation, but someone at some time has clearly spent time with her. She's completely cat proof, totally clean in the house, won't go ahead of me downstairs, always goes to my side, doesn't bark in the house, I trust her completely with everything except dogs. When we go for a walk, she's careful not to get her lead in a tangle, goes the right way round lamp posts and similar, is fine with sheep (on lead obvs) is affectionate, doesn't mind being left in the house for a few hours, is child proof, when she comes home from a walk she will sit down without being asked and wait for me to take her lead off, she waits until I tell her she can eat her breakfast and tea, she has started to play with her toys, and the list goes on. It's heartbreaking as she's currently curled up next to me on the settee with the cat on the other side, both asleep
Umm, so she is perfect everywhere else but reactive on a lead?
That's a different story to a truly aggressive dog in my experience. Lead aggression is fear/anxiety, not true aggression.
I have a rescue like this. He sounds like he's going to savage someone when he is on a lead and feels threatened but it's because he is terrified and stressed.
I'm afraid I disagree that PTS in this situation would be OK. The dog needs regular, correct training first to help work through her anxiety, not a lethal injection. If, after that she still has issues or her behaviour escalates then that is another matter. Please also remember where she has come from, street dogs often take time to adapt (if they do at all) and the situation she is in might be completely alien to her.
If you are unable to provide the training and consistency required then I would absolutely rehome the dog with a charity who can. I've seen and dealt with plenty of reactive dogs and, with the right help, they have become model members of canine society.
Zero00000
Well-Known Member
Sounds more like fear aggression than anything sinister.
I completely agree with Scarlett, it sounds as though regular training could help her.
I completely agree with Scarlett, it sounds as though regular training could help her.
buzyizzy
Well-Known Member
Well, the plot thickens even more. She's just come into season, which given that she apparently was spayed in December (passport says so) and also has what appears to be a scar suggesting so, is pretty remarkable. I can't upload pictures unfortunately. Feeling really quite annoyed for her and me.
SOS
Well-Known Member
I stopped replying on here when I heard she was from a Romanian rescue as I dont support these organisations at all and they seem to run by their own (often very profitable!!) rules. However with this recent update I thought to warn, that this is something I have heard of before but thought it was just here-say.
In theory its fairly easy to make a false bitch spay wound, the only way to know for sure now would be an exploratory laparotomy. Your vet may be able to perform hormone testing but the only way to know 100% is to open up and look.
I have seen first hand animals will falsified paperwork from rescues abroad, including a cat with rabies that had gone nearly neurotic. Very sad.
In theory its fairly easy to make a false bitch spay wound, the only way to know for sure now would be an exploratory laparotomy. Your vet may be able to perform hormone testing but the only way to know 100% is to open up and look.
I have seen first hand animals will falsified paperwork from rescues abroad, including a cat with rabies that had gone nearly neurotic. Very sad.
buzyizzy
Well-Known Member
Unbelievable isn't it. I am going to tell them that she has come into season, and once she's gone to the other charity, I will tell them I have rehomed her. I am also going to take her to the vet to scan her for these odd chips. I am so cross that both of us have been hoodwinked, so unfair picking on two vulnerable girls