A tiny triumph

codemonkey

Oh and NAM, I really hope this hasn't put you off dog ownership. You're a really good dog owner and the world needs more people like you.

neveranymoney

The behaviourist himself actually has a dog aggressive rescue who now lives with two other dogs, an old cat and a kitten.
Oh, if only this hadn't happened, we could have lived with the other crud. He never once ate or so much as looked at anything that wasn't his, I was a right lazy cat and regularly had nonsense lying about that other dogs would have demolished, he almost jittered with joy when I had a high value treat and sat his back end down so fast it was comical. Good points and bad, they broke the mould when they made scampers and I can't imagine another dog like him.

meritaten

There wont be another dog like him NAM - they are all individuals! take some time to grieve for Scampers but come to terms with the fact you were wrong for each other.
Why don't you offer a home to the Facebook guys dog? poor thing - it breaks my heart to think she is outside, banished from a nice warm comfortable home! with winter coming! I could kill him too!
she is only 18 months so she shouldn't have 'major' issues! and you are now a very experienced dog owner! I so admire the way you loved and wanted to do the best for Scampers even when feeling totally discouraged you didn't want to give up on him. I bet his next owner will take him on and wonder what all the warnings were about!

elsien

So sorry for what you're going through. Look after yourself, you deserve it.

neveranymoney

The Facebook dog was long gone, to a workmate of my husbands who works long shifts and lives alone???? I had said at the time that it was a pity scampers was such a looper as I would have taken her, I too meritaten can't think of pet dogs being flung outside and they wouldn't have a clue why. I took a needle in my eye at the furniture salesman who, when asked was the suite we were interested in pet proof, his reply was 'if I had a new settee, no dog would be getting on it.'

I don't think I could face another pet tbh. What if we made another balls of things again? When we initially employed the behaviourist he was saying that rescue dogs have missing years, a puppies formative weeks are so important etc and I said that's precisely one of the reasons we didn't get a pup. I know me, and I know I am very soft and would have babied a puppy and ended up with a badly behaved adult dog. I'm very worried I have scarred the kids, my husband thinks my son is dealing with it a little too well and I agree. He has watched the family pet quite badly bite another dog and to his eyes, go for my face and then watch the fall out of all of this.

Every day I tried to look at all the positives scampers had, lots of people have different, difficult issues with their dogs and I was thankful that scampers didn't do x, y or z and that we could work his dog aggression out and eventually his nervousness would become less. My children are not stompy, rough beasts and are very gentle with animals and I thought it would just be a matter of time.

I wasn't going to decorate for Halloween for various reasons, one being it would freak scampers out, so I am going to get the kids involved in that. I'm going to get back into the gym this week and see how we all feel about things after a bit.

Wellyboots6

Oh NAM, Scampers will find a home don't worry he sounded lovely (link to the rescue...?)
I have always taken on dogs with issues, although LS is the first dog I have taken on with a significant bite history with humans. We seem to be doing OK so far though, and even though I threaten to put him on eBay at least a hundred times a day I have not been put off taking on dogs with issues (yet!).
As Person-one said, someone will see the good in him that you saw and will help him to get over his problems.
At least his new owner has all of the info you have given to help get them started, so be happy that you have helped as much as you can
And I would seriously consider keeping an open mind about getting another rescue at some point, you really do sound like the ideal family for giving another pooch a second chance at life.

elsien

neveranymoney wrote: »

I don't think I could face another pet tbh. What if we made another balls of things again? .

You won't, because you haven't made a balls up of things this time. It's not your fault that you were not given the relevant information when you took Scamps home. You did a lot more than other people would have done.
It's all too soon and too raw at the moment. Give yourselves time.

I felt the same when TM1went, that I'd let her down big time. (Not actually true as I had no idea what I was taking on.) And it does obviously leave its mark - when I fostered gitdog it was along the lines that if it didn't work I'd give up on the idea of having a dog completely. Gitdog is now a permanent fixture.

Just keep an open mind and see how you feel a few months down the line. Having kept tabs on the rescue website, there's a fair few dogs that move round more than one home before they find the one that's right for them.

meritaten

I get this feeling you think you have failed Scampers! you haven't! NAM, you have given the rescue very valuable information which will get him rehomed with the right person for him! The RIGHT dog for you is out there, waiting for you, and armed with this invaluable experience with Scampers is going to have a 'forever' home.

Right now you are too hurt and grieving - take time now to come to terms with what's happened. It is a 'relationship' gone wrong - and I am sorry I suggested taking on another - but from your response I think if a starving dog turned up on your doorstep tonight it would be welcomed in! You are such a loving, good family for any pet..........I am so sorry Scampers wasn't the pet for you.
You have posted very honestly and taken on board the advice and done your best - you couldn't have done more NAM! I think for what you have done for Scampers you deserve a medal!

So I am Awarding the 'Neveranymoney' family.........the Meritaten Award for the most 'Loving' Pet owners of the Year! its very exclusive - you are the only winners!

Person_one

With all that you've learned with Scampers, and from your excellent behaviourist, I am absolutely certain that you'd be a brilliant family for the vast majority of dogs. In different circumstances you'd have been right for Scampers, but your children are just that bit too young, and probably there are just a few too many other dogs living nearby.

You didn't give up, you didn't turn against him, you didn't lash out at him or take out your frustrations on him, you sought expert help and you listened to and followed the advice you were given, and you did the right thing by accepting when enough was enough and not dragging the stress out longer than needed.

What more could any pup or rescue dog want?

joansgirl

Chin up, chuck. Take a deep breath, step back a bit and try to pick up the threads of your life "pre-Scampers". Stop beating yourself up, you did nothing wrong. Maybe in the fullness of time you will be ready for another pet but give it a while.:)