Rehoming a dog...

hethmar

Oh bless. Well do contact terrier rescue. A couple of years ago I registered with them when I was looking for a border terrier. I know someone who placed their patterdale with them. The dog never left his home but terrier rescue found a couple who lived about 40 miles from him in Suffolk and they took the dog and he is much happier with them. He was a bundle of nerves with the single chap who had him, used to wee all the time and go berserk, the chap couldnt handle him.

Look at the terrier rescue site I gave above, some really good advice on there too.

slummymummyof3

hethmar wrote: »

Oh bless. Well do contact terrier rescue. A couple of years ago I registered with them when I was looking for a border terrier. I know someone who placed their patterdale with them. The dog never left his home but terrier rescue found a couple who lived about 40 miles from him in Suffolk and they took the dog and he is much happier with them. He was a bundle of nerves with the single chap who had him, used to wee all the time and go berserk, the chap couldnt handle him.

Look at the terrier rescue site I gave above, some really good advice on there too.

Did you ever get your border terrier? What an amazing breed they are! Superb with kids - wouldn't be without mine.

OP I hope you get something sorted and good luck with your forthcoming arrival!

PrincessPlaty

Thanks for that link hethmar

I have just spoken to my friend and it looks like with the aid of the babygate and with the muzzle we are going to look at trying to retrain him when he comes back on boxing day.

Not sure where the hell im going to start as its not something i have done before, so it looks like im going to have a lot of research to do over the next few days, but if anyone has any tips they would be greatly appreciated!

I cant give up on him not yet, if he had done it out of spite and had intentionally gone out of his way to bite my DD then it would be different, but thats not the case so i have got to give him another chance.

Feeling a bit better about it today even though the kids have been telling me all morning how much they miss him I have managed to hold back the tears.
All i can say is that i am glad yesterday is done and behind me!

hethmar

slummymummyof3 wrote: »

Did you ever get your border terrier? What an amazing breed they are! Superb with kids - wouldn't be without mine.

!

slummy, certainly did - he was on death row in a northern pound. Wonderful boy, ideal companion for our disabled Parson Russell.

hethmar

Princess, on that terrier rescue site it gives you information on training terriers and Im sure they would be very happy to help you if you rang them. They are brilliant people. One girl travelled up from Surrey to pick up a terrier in Rochdale pound, thats how dedicated they are and all voluntary. PLEASE dont try on your own, read their site and contact them.

PrincessPlaty

Thank you! Have sent them an email and hopefully they can help! Hopefully the babygate will help until they can reply (not expecting a reply from them before he gets back!).

WolfSong2000

The dog's behavior reminds me of another JRT I used to know a few years ago called Spliff (I kid you not. lol). He was a really grumpy little sod and I would never have trusted him with kids...he was much better suited to an adult-only environment, so it may be worth contacting a terrier rescue and seeing if this is an option...Spiff wasn't a deliberately aggressive dog, just grumpy and no time for youngsters - other terriers, such as an old JRT runt called Cracker that my family used to own when I was a kid "tolerated" kids and would snap if pushed, but never bite...just depends on the dog, but unless the dog is happy being around children then it's not fair on the dog or the kids.

And going slightly off-tangent - Border terriers are wonderful, wonderful dogs. Full of character

vicx

PrincessPlaty, although your dog is still his normal self (eating, drinking and playing etc) he could still be in pain or poorly.

My Yorkshire Terrier has been randomly attacking my King Charles Spaniel alot the past few days. They do fight now and again and are very jealous of each other so I have to keep them in seperate bedrooms when I go out but the past few days he has started on my King Charles alot.

After looking in his mouth I noticed he has an abcess (it returns every few month) so I have started him on his tablets again and he has been fine, no more fighting! The toothache pain has obviously been making him viscious towards my other dog.

The baby gate should help with your dog as he won't feel shut out since he can see through the gate. I hope his behaviour improves or you find a good home for him

Fire_Fox

PrincessPlaty wrote: »

I have just spoken to my friend and it looks like with the aid of the babygate and with the muzzle we are going to look at trying to retrain him when he comes back on boxing day.

Not sure where the hell im going to start as its not something i have done before, so it looks like im going to have a lot of research to do over the next few days, but if anyone has any tips they would be greatly appreciated!

I cant give up on him not yet, if he had done it out of spite and had intentionally gone out of his way to bite my DD then it would be different, but thats not the case so i have got to give him another chance.

I would say get some professional help and support - 'puppy' classes, referral to a behaviourist by the vet (might be covered by insurance??), perhaps start clicker training (loads of guidance on YouTube), PM Sarabe and ask her too look in on the thread. I agree with Vicx get him checked over by the vet just in case there is a medical reason why he snatched the food from your daughter's hand. Good luck!

PrincessPlaty

Thanks all of you!

I sent an email to terrier rescue earlier basically explaining what has happened and a bit more background on how he is generally! So hopefully they will be able to give me some advice, will get my friend to get him to the vets asap she is coming round in a little while anyway. I just really hope i can find a solution to this im not ready to give up on him just yet

Wolfsong the way you have described Cracker is more the way Harv is he loves being part of the family and he loves the fuss and the cuddles when he wants them it has to be on his terms. He has snapped at my youngest a few times (mainly her feet makes me wonder at some point if he has been kicked by my friends partners elder child as they are the same age ) but he has never bitten her.

I always thought if he was going to bite either of them it would have been my youngest as she doesnt know when to stop and even when she is told to leave him alone she carries on :rolleyes: I never ever imagined it with my eldest though they both dote on each others every move he knows when she has had enough and vice versa. She has been telling me all day how much she misses him and they have been around each other since she was born and he is very protective of her ~ gutted doesnt even come close to how i feel about the whole situation tbh

I just feel this poor little dog has been shoved from pillar to post and really wouldnt like to have to do it again to him if i can help it! When the original incident happened where he was accused of biting the baby he went to stay with someone else who lived on a farm and he loved it could run about in so much space without being on a lead all the time (because of his dislike of other dogs and men its impossible to let him off the lead when out) unfourtunatly that was only a temporary arrangement to and the lady couldnt have him there any longer i think in surroundings like that he would be in his element!

Im just wittering on now and the tears are welling up again so im going to stop there i just want to thank you all for your advice and support.

xx