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Original poster

I might have to re-home my dog but dont know if i an go through with it!!

56 replies

fifisworld · 02/04/2008 16:20

I have a 12 month old boxer dog who is lovely, but since i had ds2 i cant take him out during t he day on my own with a double buggy as he's really quite strong when he's on a lead and i cant manage him.
As a result of this ive just been letting him in the garden until dp gets in and one of us stays with the ds's while the other can take him out.
I feel like its not fair on him as he should be out more and should be taken for several walks during the day but i cant take him.
Is it fair to just let him in the garden when he should be out for runs etc or will he be ok with it until ds1 is able to walk distances which probably wont be until the end of the year at the earliest?

OP posts:
bethoo · 03/04/2008 12:22

harnesses did not work with my dogs as they would just lean their body forward still dragging me behimd them. if i tried to restrain them they would end up standing on their back legs.
really recommend a halti or a gentle leader.

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 03/04/2008 12:23

crate good idea

have a look on ebay or maybe the vets may be able to help you find someone to borrow one from.

yorkishbirdy · 03/04/2008 12:24

using a halti is a great idea, they usually need training at first so they don't try to resist it - it is a strange sensation for them at first as it pulls against them when they pull against you. Of course good training is a must - perhaps you can get your DH to use the turning method in the evenings - it does work! Also, you could do training sessions in your garden during the day, perhaps make a few jumps or something and do a bit of agility training in the garden - it doesn't need that much room to do a couple of jumps, a mat to down down/stay etc. and your dog may love it - the children could join in too as they get older.

I hope you can work this out - afer all it is just a few months before it gets easier - you have years ahead of you where it will be much easier and you and your family can get full enjoyment from your relationship with your dog!

loler · 03/04/2008 12:45

If a halti doesn't fit his face - we've got a harness that pulls against the dogs chest. Our dog walks really nicely by the buggy when she's wearing it. Got it from pets at home.

When we had a halti she just lay down and refused to move!

And sorry to hijack but - hi hopey, how are you doing? Are things going better for you? A really good friend had a baby today and made me realise my baby is now a huge boy!

loler · 03/04/2008 12:49

this is the harness.

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 03/04/2008 12:51

HI LOLER!!!! So lovely to hear from you. Yes am loads better now, back to my normal self, whatever that was! Just had a look at your profile pics, your little man is ^GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORGEOUS!!!!

sorry everyone on this thread, haven't spoken to Loler for ages! She's loverly

loler · 03/04/2008 12:58

Sorry promise this is the last one - hopey - just looked at yours too - she's beautiful - doesn't she look like her daddy (in a pretty not boylike way!). Will have to pop into the sept thread and have a chat in not quite as weird a place! - hijack over......

Original poster
fifisworld · 03/04/2008 14:59

Thanks everyone, my dads just been up as he's off work so i got to take him for a nice long walk while my dad had the pushchair. He was pulling for a while then calmed down but theres no way i can manage him on my own when he does.

Hopeysgirl - I will get dp to try that as he normally takes him out at night

Has anyone got any ideas about why he might be weeing on the floor when he gets let oiutside reguarly??

OP posts:
Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 03/04/2008 15:18

is he complete? He might be marking teh same spot because of the smell, you might not be able to smell it.

You can buy special stuff from teh pet shop to get rid of the smell completely.

good luck

PS did you read my thread I'd linked to? Horror story involving boxer! It may make you feel a bit better about your dog if you read it!!!

Original poster
fifisworld · 03/04/2008 15:47

Yeah, i remember reading it at the time..at least mines not like that!!

OP posts:
Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 03/04/2008 16:01

thank goodness for that

PS the owner still hasn't reimbursed us for the vets bill or rug cleaning!!!!!!

Original poster
fifisworld · 03/04/2008 16:37

MIL knows someone who has a crate we can borrow for a few weeks to see how he is with that.

OP posts:
Original poster
fifisworld · 03/04/2008 16:38

hopey - I take it you wont be looking after it again!!!!

Why have they not re-imbursed you yet?

OP posts:
Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 03/04/2008 17:01

because they#re rubbish and apparently completely skint, but they still manage to buy lots of nice things for their house

Also DH is too nice.

and no we will NEVER EVER EVER have him again!!

CountryGirl2007 · 04/04/2008 18:29

AnAngelWithin, you didn't just let him out on the street did you?

As for the dog, boxers and a very energetic breed, that is why people should research what breed/type will suit them.....

but anyway, you don't need to re home him, all he needs is training to stop him pulling and also plenty of exercise to get rid of his excess energy.

as well as his hour or so walk a day, you can do stuff in your back garden to get him moving and burning up his energy! things like frisbee, fetch, agility etc.

If you can't manage the hours walk a day you could hire a dog walker to take him out at least a few days a week, then you could maybe take him out for half an hour in the morning/lunchtime and s/he could take him out in the afternoon/evening for an hour or so.

bethoo · 04/04/2008 19:41

hopey - what horror story about a boxer? have you got the thread?

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 05/04/2008 10:52

I posted a link to the thread on
Wed 02-Apr-08 16:58:14

makes entertaining reading, well it does now that it's all in the past!

Hopeysgirlwasntbig · 05/04/2008 10:52

here

bethoo · 05/04/2008 10:57

just read it!! oh dear. di he get a bad tummy in the end?

AnAngelWithin · 05/04/2008 14:23

countrygirl no i didnt just let him go!! i rang the dog warden who took him to the kennels.

CountryGirl2007 · 06/04/2008 18:34

Oh, just as bad really. pretty much an automatic death sentance.

Lovesdogsandcats · 07/04/2008 09:17

CountryGirl2007 I agree with all you say.

If money not a problem, hire a dog walker. Otherwise, pay someone to trainhim, either by coming to your house to train him to walk without pulling, or you can send him to them and they will do it. Even if it means getting a loan to pay for it, well, he's one of the family so worth it?

AnAngelWithin · 07/04/2008 13:21

pardon countrygirl?? well i am sorry but you are in no position to judge the situation. i would have rather that than him go for my kids after he ripped our rabbit to pieces and started growling at the children!! i took him in out the cold with bleeding feet and looked after him for as long as i could. i assumed the owner would come forward for him so knew we would never actually keep him. FWIW i know the people who rehomed him and he is doing fine.

CountryGirl2007 · 07/04/2008 14:19

Poor rabbit, I suppose that is the risk you take when you pick up a dog though even though it is a good thing to do, it's probably best not to let it loose with a smallie.

at least he got a home and wasn't put down.

how is his temperament now?

AnAngelWithin · 07/04/2008 14:52

its fine. hes gone to a home with no other animals or children.

i just couldnt take the risk with the kids. we werent prepared for taking on a dog at the time really, i just took him in thinking the owner would come forward as he had a collar and a lead on. but they didnt. at least hes got a home now.