I must be flipping nuts.

L

Llanali

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I have two adult dogs at home at the moment. I'm driving to wales on Saturday next week to collect a long awaited puppy with my 3 year old daughter.

Firstly I think that warrants a sanity check. I live 30mins from the east coast.

Secondly welfare have just rung, can I take an urgent foster?

Welllll..... says I, it's not great timing....

I rang my husband. "Any room at this inn?"

"There's always room here, human, canine, equine or other?" Comes the reply.

God love him.... so now I have a 12 month old foster bitch arriving on Monday. Four days before the puppy.

We are mad. Definitely.
 
Husband truly is wonderful. He had never had a pet before we met in 2009.... married in 2012. I'm certain he sometimes wonders whether he is second fiddle or orchestra roadie....

They are all [Content removed] still CT. we feel that is we are to breed- every five years max- then we should care for the other end of the spectrum too. By breeding responsibly when we have homes lined up and contracts in place to have pups back at any time, and by fostering / home checking / drumming up support, we believe we are doing our best to make our breeding hobby an ethical endeavour.

I'll feel better when I meet the foster I think.... so far she's female, [Content removed] and 12 months. Oh and located in [Content removed]!

The driving is exhausting especially with toddler in tow but she's very used to it. Don't know where to collect the foster yet, she's booked on transport from [Content removed] on Monday, so [Content removed] is probably a good place to intersect her journey.... that's 3.5 hours from us.
 
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That is lovely, and well done.
When I wanted my last rescue dog I rang the saluki rescue and spoke to a man who said they were not good to rehome and very much one man dogs, I always wondered why he had his name as a rescue as he clearly didn't actually want to rehome them. I got my saluki x from the pound and have mainly loved having her, when she hasn't worn out my patience by killing things.
 
Oh I'm sorry you had that experience Clodagh. That's not good for you, or for the welfare :( I don't know who that would have been, the officers I deal with are both ladies.

They can be very difficult to re home, and not least because as you say, they are rampant killers. Also, many come from travellers homes and are often very slim and fit, and used for coursing and lamping so the rescue ones are very very skilled nimble hunters.

On the flip side, mine are crashed out on a bean bag, and are a pleasure to live with. I'm so pleased you enjoy your little one, and I'm glad she's found you.
 
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Not nuts at all! My 5 month old baby was in a car for nearly 6 hours in one day to pick up our new rescue dog.

If we had more room (sadly our 2 bed terrace is not huge)I would have more than one dog.
Completely agree with the n+1 theory for all animals- the correct number is always the number you have (n) + 1
My husband has this theory for his bikes and our animals
(I dot think it applies to humans/ babies though!)
 
Aw thanks Lev! I'm usually ok at it so don't know what I did wrong.... probably just the wrong side of the gin bottle- in mental preparation for this time next week.

So glad it's not just us Pippi! N +1 is exactly what Mr Llanali feels. Our house isn't big, but the kitchen is and we have some land, so there always feels a bit of room. My own dogs love a foster dog, because it often means they get upgraded to sleep overnight on sitting room sofas! They will be pleased this time; the foster will be in my huge crate, with the pup in another large crate, so I will be tight on kitchen space for them to stretch on their beds over night.... they are in for a few weeks on the sofas lol
 
What a wonderful OH and a great thing you are doing. The breed are lucky to have people like you. Can't wait to see pics of puppy and foster. How likely is it that the foster will become permanent? 😜
 
Dream dog! Swap you for the dog who bounced his way out of his little protective jacket and vet wrap today?? I was trying to protect a dew claw sticking out at a funny angle.
 
Workinggsd that would be my worry if we had the space to foster!
our new dog has seperatipng issues and no training- she is technically on trial and there would be an 'easier' dog out there- but we already love her 48 hours in!
 
WorkingGSD said:
What a wonderful OH and a great thing you are doing. The breed are lucky to have people like you. Can't wait to see pics of puppy and foster. How likely is it that the foster will become permanent? 😜
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Thank you; with the exception of a certain community who like my breed for nefarious purposes and will therefore throw them out when they are damaged or too old to hunt, our breed is well cared for by most of its people. Many of us foster and do transport, our welfare is largely well supported.

Nope, not permanent! I can say no.... if it was up to hubby it would be permanent probably. I can separate my mind from them in that way..... Not least because this one isn't papered and as such, couldn't come to shows with us, even not
For competition. We are showing and travelling most weekend from may to mid October. It's not that I can't book care at home, and I do if we are fostering etc. But I think it's not fair to take on another one when I know it can never join the family outings.

cinnamontoast said:
Dream dog! Swap you for the dog who bounced his way out of his little protective jacket and vet wrap today?? I was trying to protect a dew claw sticking out at a funny angle.
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Ah bless ;) bet you swore! I actually wound up with a jack Russell stray from 1.20pm-6.45pm! Very sweet little 15 weeks- found it wandering on my fields. I thought it belonged to a neighbor a few fields away- it did, but he was working til 6pm so it stayed to watch Aladdin with my little daughter for the afternoon LOL

I'm operating a flipping halfway house for waifs and bloody strays now.

pippixox said:
Workinggsd that would be my worry if we had the space to foster!
our new dog has seperatipng issues and no training- she is technically on trial and there would be an 'easier' dog out there- but we already love her 48 hours in!
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Lucky girl to have found you! I wish you much luck with her. The separation anxiety is tough but fixable, I'm sure. She's probably had a fair amount of upheaval and when she realises you love her and she's staying, im sure she will settle x
 
Best of luck with the new one (s).....

Saw the foster pics and video on your fb earlier, looked like very happy dogs with their new chum <3

Fiona
 
Thanks Fiona :)

She has settled well; we have already been pretty successful in crate training, she's comfortable in there and on the top of it!

She will keep climbing up onto my work surfaces and walking around.... but we are fixing that.

She's good with other dogs, and now eating up nicely.

Husband did some lead work today and she is good... a little strong at times but not too pully. She likely hasn't been lead walked before, she enjoys spinning around ;)

Only problem, and one I need to speak with welfare about, is that she has had a pop at my daughter tonight.... obviously no harm done because we are very vigilant and she was muzzled- a precaution, and one I take with every unknown dog- but I do feel uncomfortable about it. I can keep child and dog apart, but to be honest I don't know if I want to really, because it's terribly hard and the risks of one mistake could be catastrophic so I will have a conversation with rescue in the morning.
 
Argh I don't have feel conflicted :(

I desperately don't want to send her away, she's not a bad soul and has had a rough few weeks. It could be a one off.

But. BUT. It's my child. She's not a guinea pig test dummy: she's my daughter. Can I justify the risk for one dog?
 
Llanali said:
Argh I don't have feel conflicted :(

I desperately don't want to send her away, she's not a bad soul and has had a rough few weeks. It could be a one off.

But. BUT. It's my child. She's not a guinea pig test dummy: she's my daughter. Can I justify the risk for one dog?
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No, you can't. I don't have children, and I generally get extremely frustrated with people who pass on their dogs after one incident, but this is very different - she can perfectly well be fostered by someone who has older children/no children and will blossom with them in the way she would do with you. I absolutely think you need to speak to the rescue and ask that she is re-allocated
 
Exactly ladies :( I feel very sad about it. It's the first foster we have had for this welfare charity and I don't want them to think Badly of us for it. But I care more about my child than what anyone thinks and I don't think it's unreasonable. They knew from that start, and I have always been clear, i Will not have anything here that is either dog or human aggressive.

It wasn't true nastiness, and I can categorically state the child was not antagonising the dog. I have had several fosters and holiday dogs here before, and my child is well accustomed to dogs having been on the show circuit her whole life. She was getting down from her chair at the table- not eating!- and the dog snapped at her. Dog was of course on the other side of me to the child.
 
Gutted- in 24 hours we have made such progress. It's not her fault, I don't want her branded as nasty because she's not, but I feel uncomfortable. I think I will tell them she can stay until the end of the week- i can keep them separated completely- but that I would like them to re allocate her :(

Thanks for confirming I'm not just giving up?
 
You're doing the right thing for sure. There are no rewards for taking on or sticking with something that's dangerous. It's not the dog's fault but it doesn't matter WHY it snapped, it just matters that it did, and at your little daughter. You're doing the responsible thing.
 
You are most definitely not just giving up - this lovely dog has gone through some rough times already, she needs the opportunity to find her feet and get back to normal in an environment she feels most comfortable in. At the moment, that doesn't include small humans - it doesn't mean at all that she is a 'bad' dog, she just needs time to re-adjust.

Apologies for explaining it initially from the dog's point of view, it is simply because I don't have children, but also your daughter is the most important thing in your world and you cannot take that risk.
 
Thank you both :( a tough call in the morning I think. If I had no child or older ones, I would keep her on. But I do, and therefore I can't.

Damn it.

She's now sleeping on my feet and looking the angel Gabriel in canine.

I will see who has space for her; I think the warden herself will have room by this weekend, she had a dog leaving to his forever family I think.
 
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