Rehoming a dog...

PrincessPlaty · 23 December 2009 at 7:19PM

Ok before anyone starts slating me its not my dog, its a dog i have been looking after for my friend for the past 5/6 months, but he does mean the world to me and i cant believe im having to type this

He is a 9 year old jack russell, he allegedly bit my friends partners son (he was just under a year old at the time) on the hand a few months ago, however nobody was in the room with the dog and the child when it apparently happened.:mad: The dog barked and the child cried and the partner put 2 and 2 together and made 5.

Since then probably 4-5 days a week i have had the dog here and up until now have had no problems with him. I have 2DD's aged 3 and 4. I have a large 3 bed house with garden compared to their 2 bed flat with no garden.

He is incredibly grumpy but i didnt think he would bite them.

The past few days however he has been acting very strangely i dont know whether it is because im heavily pregnant (been having contractions for the past 2 days so dont know whether he can sense it or not

). He has generally been more grumpy than usual and has been very snappy.

My DD1 has just been sat in the chair eating a cocktail sausage and the dog has jumped up and snatched the sausage out of her hand (this is completely out of character for him) biting her and drawing blood in the process. I am totally gobsmacked and despite the fact that DD forgave him almost instantly i cant take the risk him being here if he is doing that.

I have spoke to my friend and she has apologised profusely but understands why i cant have him here any longer but in her own words it means she wont be able to have him at home neither because of her partners kids.

So we are now faced with the prospect of 2 days before christmas of rehoming this dog urgently as anybody any ideas where we would start?

Would really rather he went to a person rather than into a shelter of some sort. We would want to know where he will be spending his days if that makes sense, my friend has had him since he was a young pup and i have known him since she got him so this is heartbreaking for both of us

At the moment he is sat in the room with me but he is muzzled im not sure what else to do with him

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what i can do? I am in the south east if that makes it any easier.

TIA

Fire_Fox · 23 December 2009 at 7:29PM

Sorry to hear you are having to make this decision when you already have so much on your plate. Do you feel able to hold onto the dog (muzzled) whilst a suitable placement is found?

My initial thoughts are you are going to struggle to find him a suitable home, unless the dog undergoes some sort of behaviour therapy. The dog obviously can't be in a home with young children, or where (grand)children visit, or where children are on the horizon. That limits his options.

For that reason I think he might be best going to a rescue that specialises in JRs or who are able to carry out an extensive assessment.

PrincessPlaty · 23 December 2009 at 7:35PM

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Sorry to hear you are having to make this decision when you already have so much on your plate. Do you feel able to hold onto the dog (muzzled) whilst a suitable placement is found?

My initial thoughts are you are going to struggle to find him a suitable home, unless the dog undergoes some sort of behaviour therapy. The dog obviously can't be in a home with young children, or where (grand)children visit, or where children are on the horizon. That limits his options. For that reason I think he might be best going to a rescue that specialises in JRs or who are able to carry out an extensive assessment.

Well this is what im thinking at the moment re keeping him muzzled, but obviously he isnt going to like it, if i let him out in the garden and shut the door he barks if he is left out there for more than a couple of minutes

He is also a man hater, he will randomly start barking at poor blokes minding their own in the street when he is out for a walk, he also doesnt get on with other dogs despite numerous attempts to socialise him (this came after he was attacked by a staffie) he was fine with other dogs prior to this.

I am so upset and i couldnt bare to think of him shut in a cage in a rescue over xmas

It would honestly break my heart and i dont know what to do for the best.

cyberbob · 23 December 2009 at 7:41PM

My initial Google search came up with
http://www.jack-russell-terrier.co.uk/index.htm

It may be worth contacting them if they are unable to help they may point you in the direction of someone who can

elsien · 23 December 2009 at 7:47PM

Have you considered that the dog might be ill or in pain? If he's been behaving differently for a few days, then rule out the obvious first.
If after he's been checked over the vet says he's ok, would it be an option financially for your friend to put him in kennels over Christmas (if there's space?) That would give you time to sort out a longer term answer that you're all happier with.
It would be cruel to keep a dog muzzled for any length of time and apart from anything it's likely to make him even grumpier. Anyone you give him to needs to be properly checked out, which just isn't going to be practical this side of Christmas.
So as far as I can see, your options are to keep him separated from the kids such as in another room if you can manage it, ( I use a baby gate for mine) or find him somewhere safe. If you really don't feel you can keep him with you at the moment, a kennels or rescue is the best bet. They're really not so bad, (mine likes kennels and doesn't want to come home) .
But try the vet first - it might be something sortable that you can cope with.

hethmar · 23 December 2009 at 8:04PM

It really would be better to place him in a rescue where they can assess him and also check out the new owners.

Very best of luck.

PrincessPlaty · 23 December 2009 at 8:32PM

elsien yes i did consider that he may be poorly but in every other aspect he seemed to be fine, eating and drinking well, running about playing etc.

Babygate is being picked up tomorrow, the dog isnt back here until boxing day anyway, another thing that has just been suggested to me is the sort of muzzle a greyhound has, one that enables them to eat and drink etc whilst stopping them from biting

im searching on google at the moment to see if i can find something similar that would fit him but im not really sure what im looking for

if anyone has any idea it would be a real help.

Then hopefully something like that combined with the babygate, i will be able to keep hold of him here until we can rehome him properly even if it means contacting a rehoming centre and them assessing him but him staying here until they can find a suitable match for him.

Just had a good cry and thought i had it all out my system but writing this has just made me well up all over again

PrincessPlaty · 23 December 2009 at 8:58PM

Anyone have any experience of using something like this?

http://www.petstuffgalore.co.uk/dog-products/muzzles/baskerville-muzzle.html

Just wondering how effective it would be combined with the stairgate

Also does anyone know if i would be able to get something like this from pets at home or similar rather than ordering it online as obviously going to need it asap...

cyberbob · 23 December 2009 at 9:17PM

According to there online store they don't sell muzzles it may be worth giving your vet a ring as they may stock them as they use them on the less than friendly dogs

hethmar · 23 December 2009 at 9:30PM

You could also try terrier rescue - they are very caring people. They may possibly have someone already on the waiting list for a terrier. Do you have photos of him for them?

http://www.terrierrescue.co.uk/

PrincessPlaty · 23 December 2009 at 11:28PM

Thanks all, just had tears off DD1 before bed she is missing him

She came out with earlier 'mummy harv is a naughty boy but i still love him' had to choke back the tears

This is a pic of him

Rehoming a dog...

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