Border Terrier Needs Re-Homing Please.

Maesfen

Maesfen

Extremely Old Nag!
Joined
20 June 2005
Messages
16,720
Location
Wynnstay - the Best!
photobucket.com
I've just had an email from an old friend asking for help in re-homing her Border Terrier neutered dog, he's about 4 I think so just wondered if anyone knew anyone looking for a new mate. They're based down in Worthing if that makes any difference.
From the email, I believe it wasn't the dog's fault at all. It's not helped that friend is not a doggy person at all, he's just a dog to her but she wouldn't have a clue how to read him if that makes sense so she wouldn't see the danger of letting grandchild (nearly 2 I think) play with dog and his toys; it was an accident waiting to happen and I'm as mad as anything with her for putting him in that position; told her so too, you know how I call a spade a spade and I've known her over 40 years so think she can take it! OH suggests getting rid of the grandchild but I don't think she'd go for that! :eek: I would love to have him but OH won't go for it simply because we have so many already and we need another dog like a hole in the head! :(
Anyway, copy of the email so you now know what I know -

"Hope things are all right with you and yours. We are all right on the whole but we do have a bit of a problem. We've got the the stage where I (note the I) think we need to look for a new home for Midge. We are having Immy more often now and he is quite jealous but most of the time it's ok, however on Saturday he did nip her quite badly and I feel I can't trust him any more. We had to keep him in the kitchen all week end and I haven't been able to have anything to do with him since Saturday when it happened. It wasn't nasty on his part, I think he was just treatingher like another small dog as they were playing with his ball and both went for it at the same time, heads collided and he lashed out and caught her on the lip. Tp be on the sae side we took her to A&E and spent all morning there. She's fine really but of course we can't let them in the same room any more.
I don't suppose you know of anyone who would like a Border? He's much happier not being walked on a lead as he doesn't seem to be that bothered by other dogs when he's free, so it would be nice to think of him somewhere in the country. I know it's a long shot but I thought I'd ask you first, as I know you wouldn't recommend anywhere which wasn't a good home and I'm certainly not going to let him go just anywhere 'cos he is a lovely little dog. Don't suppose you want another one?"

If anyone has any bright ideas will be very pleased to hear them. I know it's no use asking her to put it behind her, she won't, it will always be a problem for her which is totally unfair on the little dog; he deserves better.

Thanks for reading and living in hope.
 
As you say, this was perfectly avoidable and I would not put the blame on the dog.

Hope he gets sorted.....there was someone looking for borders a while ago but I think she was after puppies.
 
I think he's ok as long as he's not on a lead else he feels very intimidated. They re-homed him from a friend of theirs as a favour because he was having a hard time of it with their new pup (some people eh?) Must have had him 2 years I think and he's got better all the time but it's not helped as they're not really doggy people; they don't understand how their minds work, does that make sense?
 
Thanks CC, that was my reading of it too.
It's hard, I used to share a flat with her, (oh those were the days!) and she was never interested in dogs; it surprised me when she took this one on TBH. Fair do's, they look after him well but it's not a doggy home even if they do love him; they just don't understand dogs if that makes sense and I don't think they've helped him as much as someone experienced would have.
 
Last edited:
Poor wee sod, if only they were up this end of the country, I might have been able to help! I've a "doggy" aunt down that way though... Will sound her out about having a terrorist around. Fingers crossed for him anyway x
 
Thanks so much for trying though, I'm very grateful. Like you, if we were nearer it would have been easier to have him to re home ourselves but at the same time, it'd be a shame to move him about so much so quickly.
 
I certainly wouldn't blame the dog under those circumstances, stupid woman, glad So are you saying the owners before this got rid of him because he wasnn't getting on with their new pup, words fail me!
Will keep my ears open but obviously like you I'm wrong end of the country. Are there any border breed forums he could be mentioned on?
 
Poor kid and poor dog, how daft of the owner. :( :(
Are you on fb? maybe put this on there with a pic of him, see if you can appeal to someone... I really really can't unfortunately, have 6 dogs now. Hope you manage to find an understanding home for him.
 
Thanks for your support but after another email this morning, it looks like I (and you) were a bit misled.

"Hi Pat,
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, I agree with everything you've said, but I wasn't in the room with him when it happened and I don't think Barry realised just how quick it can happen. You sound very cross with me and I can understand that as well. I have always known that I can't trust him and he seems to be getting worse rarther than better, as he has nipped a couple of the neighbours when they have tried to speak to me/him. I've had to start carrying the corrector spray again when I take him out as he growls at any dog he comes across. That's why I thought he would be happier if he was somehwere in the country where he didn't have to be walked in the lead.
I know it's not his fault but that doesn't mean to say it couldn't happen again. I'm not even sure that I will rehome him, at the moment I'm just putting out feelers and you were the first person I thought of because I trust you and I knew he would be looked after with you, obviously that was the wrong choice as you think it's the wrong avenue to go down anyway.
I don't know if there's a Border Welfare locally, but I wouldn't send him to a rescue centre."

At a bit of a loss now as if he's aggresive like that, I wouldn't actually recommend him to anyone. In all the 30 years of having, breeding and showing Borders, we've never had one or known any that have had nasty a streak like that; I do actually feel very sorry for it, it's not at all what you'd expect from the breed, they're normally such happy go lucky chaps wanting to chat with anyone; in fact, we find it a bit of drawback because several times ours have followed ramblers! Sounds to me that it either started out with the upper hand and the first owners didn't sort it out right from the start so it's just esculated or it's been badly scared so is getting in first before it can be attacked itself; what do you think? Without seeing and knowing the dog I wouldn't want to write him off just yet, I'm sure the right person could turn him around - but it's finding that right person - but I think she's going to have to be prepared for the worse scenario if his habit can't be broken.

I'm looking up Border Rescue numbers for her, can't really see what else I can do.
 
She sounds stressy in her message - no doubt the stress she feels every time she takes him out is travelling down the lead to him, we convey more than we know onto our dogs.

If he was never/or still isn't being socialised properly, of course he is going to be a bit scared and defensive of other dogs and people.
 
Agreewhole heartedly with you; much as she's a great friend, as I said from the start, she isn't a dog person at all and has no empathy for them.
I feel so sorry for him and would have him in a shot but have to agree with OH that our 'pack' are perfectly settled (not always perfectly behaved of course!) and introducing a very unsettled, possibly snappy little dog into them, I don't think is fair to either them or him. None of ours know how to have a go or stand up for themselves, they've never had to do it and they would be mortified because they know it's wrong; not fair to push him onto them we feel. I hasten to add, if it was one of our breeding, he would be back here like a shot, but he's not although I forgot to mention to her to contact his breeder, might be worth a shot.

Had to laugh, I got 3 copies of your post through!
 
Thats CC for you, likes to make sure she's got her point across!:D
She does sound as if she is really stressing (the lady with the border not CC) which I am sure isn't helping the dog, a bit idealistic too if she thinks being in the country means he wouldn't have to be on lead.
Might be worth contacting the breeder, but it does sound as if he is going to be very difficult to rehome.:(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top