go on......say i told you so....

[Titania]

I'm getting rid of my dog......she went for someone for no reason It was someone she had seen numerous times before and all she did was say hello to her and he lunged at her snarling and barking and growling.......I am so upset and shaken. I brought her home and shut her in the kitchen. It sounds horrid but I almost hate her at the moment. What if it had been one of the kids...either mine or one at school where I take her......oh god...the thought of it alone scares the life...thank god she didn't actually get them (for the fact I had her on a short lead) Thank god it was someone I knew who didn't report me....I am too scared to go out with her now and I have told the kids not to go anywhere near her without me. I can't live like this for another 10 years. I text DH and he just said 'oh she will be ok' what if she has one of our kids??? I am not prepared to take that chance even if he is....its ok for him.....he goes to work....he's not the one who has got to deal with her all the time. Shes not just protective of me she is obsessed....I can't even go to the toilet without her barking after me.

FIL is going to get ds1 from school for me this afternoon....I am too shaken and panicky to go out now....

So go on........say I told you so........

the only way you could possibly sort this is by paying for proper dog training, my friend has just done this with her dobermann puppy (v v aggressive) and it has amazingly being turned around corrected almost within 2 sessions.
It is about boundaries, respect trust and communication.
Dogs need to be taught GSD are very very easily trained from my knowledge.
If you are prepared to put in some extra effort, time and dosh to keep her, then it's well worth it, but also you need somewhere to keep her safely like a pen or crate etc?
I have just had to get rid of our puppy due to dds allergic and am gutted so really feel for you

have you rang the lady from the centre yet?

I really think you should because you cant cope with the dog yourself and the centre will find it easier to rehome her whilst she is still a pup. Please think very seriously next time before you have a pet

I don't know the history, but at 18wks old can you REALLY label a dog as aggressive??? I think this dog needs a chance and needs to be 'trained'. She's only a baby! Perhaps another home is the answer, but I really don't think she is going to be a dangerous dog just coz she bit someone at the age of 4mths!

Sorry... perhaps not a popular, but I feel that this dog is being blamed for something that really isn't her own fault. I'm sure she will make a fantastic pet given the training and attention she needs. That's not a slight on you Titania, just some dogs are not suited to some families.

Perhaps you should go for an older dog that is already trained and settled?

I dont think you should have another dog, sorry

Dogs ARE hard work. You should take everything into consideration before you have the dog in the first place. they take time and money but eventually you do get the rewards of a loving family pet. My dogs are still naughty but its one of those things

Keane - I was brought up with dogs... we had 5 at one point! Even though I'm a doggy person and love visiting my parents dogs.... there is just no way I'd commit myself to owning one.... EVER. You are so right. They are hard work and rewarding (much like kids lol).... I've got a house rabbit, he's enough!

my rabbit is even 8! which goes to show you should take ALOT into consideration before having any pet. It makes me so sad that people cant look after them and so many end up in rescue centres

at least if tit-ania gives the dog back now it will have a maximum chance of being rehomed as it is still a puppy and will still be able to be trained

your kids will get over it

not your kids toothache, titania's!

My Mum and Dad have just taken on a little mungrel who has had 2 homes so far.

Her 1st owners children were mistreating her (poked her in the eyes with felt tips!) so she was given to the pound. Her 2nd home the woman had a cat and 2 parrots. The dog, understandably was chasing the cat and the parrots. So she spent every day for 2 mths in a porch with not even a blanket, coz she's apparently uncontrollable and aggressive! She's a lovely we thing with a bit of cocker spaniel and a bit of Jack Russell. ANyway, my Dads sister is neighbours with this woman. She phoned my Dad and my Dad went to see the dog. As soon as he saw where she was 'kept' he picked her up and took her away. Going well so far..... lovely nature, but very lively! She's only 10mths old, so hopefully she can forget her past.

My Mum and Dad have just taken on a little mungrel who has had 2 homes so far.

Her 1st owners children were mistreating her (poked her in the eyes with felt tips!) so she was given to the pound. Her 2nd home the woman had a cat and 2 parrots. The dog, understandably was chasing the cat and the parrots. So she spent every day for 2 mths in a porch with not even a blanket, coz she's apparently uncontrollable and aggressive! She's a lovely we thing with a bit of cocker spaniel and a bit of Jack Russell. ANyway, my Dads sister is neighbours with this woman. She phoned my Dad and my Dad went to see the dog. As soon as he saw where she was 'kept' he picked her up and took her away. Going well so far..... lovely nature, but very lively! She's only 10mths old, so hopefully she can forget her past.

My Mum and Dad have just taken on a little mungrel who has had 2 homes so far.

Her 1st owners children were mistreating her (poked her in the eyes with felt tips!) so she was given to the pound. Her 2nd home the woman had a cat and 2 parrots. The dog, understandably was chasing the cat and the parrots. So she spent every day for 2 mths in a porch with not even a blanket, coz she's apparently uncontrollable and aggressive! She's a lovely we thing with a bit of cocker spaniel and a bit of Jack Russell. ANyway, my Dads sister is neighbours with this woman. She phoned my Dad and my Dad went to see the dog. As soon as he saw where she was 'kept' he picked her up and took her away. Going well so far..... lovely nature, but very lively! She's only 10mths old, so hopefully she can forget her past.

Titania, please don't feel bad. Re-homing centres have the 'return to us' clause for a reason and that is that when a dogs background is unknown, the centre will have little idea of the dogs nature in a family setting and expect a certain percentage of animals to be returned as they haven't been right for the families they have gone to (or vice versa). With regard to your children, they may be upset for a while, but certainly not upset as they would be if your dog turned on them in the future. A lot of hard work and training might help (often does) but some dogs, like humans, are just snappy. Some animals aren't compatible with some people (as toothache said), just like some people aren't compatible with other people. This must be very hard for you .
Take care.

Message withdrawn

Sorry to hear of your problems with molly. I think dog owning is a huge task on top of being a mum and you shouldn't beat yourself up if things haven't worked out as you hoped. Any reputable seller of dogs knows that there can be problems and that is why they have that clause about returning them.

I resisted my kids' demands for a dog until the youngest was 10. At 10 dd was old enough to help properly with looking after it eg bathing after muddy walks, feeding, grooming, not teasing, coping with unpredictable dog behaviour, etc etc etc. We all love our dog to bits - AND spent ages researching suitable breeds before we got him. He's a Tibetan Terrier btw.

Titania,

Have you taken her to the vets....she could be ill as that sometimes makes dogs aggressive.