Old border terrier in need of a home

[doggielady]

Not sure this is the right place but we rescued a border terrier from a breeder who had used him as the stud dog (he has since been neutered). This was about 2 years ago. We think he is about between 8 and 10 years old. He is a lovely old boy extremely affectionate with people. Fantastic with kids. Solid as a rock. Never growls at anyone. Puts up with lots of kids stroking and playing with him. He chases balls and tries hard to play. Two walks of 20 mins a day and he's out like a light for a lot of the day. A real softy and very handsome. He's fit and well. However he is terrible with other dogs. We think it's fear based as he's always on alert in the park to chase away other dogs. If he sees another dog on the other side of the road he goes crazy barking. He really deserves an experienced dog owner who can take him on. Having two other dogs (ones a puppy) and my parents with alzheimers it's just all become too much. We need help. I want Monty to find a new loving home with someone who'll give him the love he deserves.

are you in the UK? and whereabouts?
Valhalla is a rescuer and hopefully she will be along soon and can advise. she has given lots of great advice on a few recent threads if you wanted to read them in the meantime?

Hi Chick, yes we're in the north west. I have read Valhalla advice and she's always spot on. You wouldn't believe the amount of guilt I feel posting this. I used to read posts like mine and always thought 'no matter what I would always see things through' but here I am doing exactly that. He's a very special dog. I should have added we didn't get any papers with him but have been told he is very high pedigree and that papers could be got from the Kennel Club if you wanted to go down that path.

try not to feel guilty, who knows what circumstances any of us may face in the future. you are doing your best to look for a good home for him. i hope Valhalla can help and you dont rehome privately without a rescue contract.
i cant help rehome him but i could help with transport if a rescue/valhalla was able to help

so you have a difficult dog and then get a puppy and then want to pass the dog with issues onto someone else

Rehome the puppy. It's stands a much better chance of finding a loving home than an elderly terrier with behavioural problems. Or you could call a trainer to come and help you work through his issues, just a thought

Thanks Minimiu very supportive especially since you don't know all the facts. The puppy came from a pregnant dog that we rehomed along with the border terrier. She had two pups and we kept one. Dooin, I know you're right the puppy would have a much better chance of a home but the kids would be devastated because of all the work they've put into training the puppy. They bring it for walks etc and they cant do that with the older dog because of his issues. Might consider a trainer. Thanks

sorry didnt notice about the puppy. yes puppy would have better chance of rehoming
as dog only needs two short walks a day could you walk him without the children?
also as you have a lot on your plate at the moment wouldnt it be easier to keep the dog that requires the least amount of exercise?

Certainly consider a trainer PLEASE. Thank you for the compliments but you've mistaken a mere rescuer for a miracle worker. Rescuers are struggling to find rescue places for young, problem-free dogs... what on earth makes you think that I can find one for a 13 yo old dog with issues?

If you have faith in what I say, well, again, thank you, and I hope you'll listen when I tell you to either find a trainer/behaviouralist and/or walk the Border seperately (no arguments please, I'm a lone parent without transport and one of my DC has EB issues and I can cope with walking 2 German Shepherds and a Lab seperately!), or to re-home the puppy.

Your children's disappointment will not be permanent and is in no way comparable to what might otherwise happen to your dog. A dead dog trumps a couple of upset kids IMHO.

If you were to contact the RSPCA, Wood Green Animal Shelters or similar big rescue they would tell you that they won't help and to have the dog killed if necessary.

And PLEASE.... EVERYONE.... NEVER RE-HOME A DOG WITH HIS PEDIGREE PAPERS.

EVER.

can I ask (dense moment and I know the answer will be obvious) but why should you not rehome a dog with it's pedigree papers. I have a ragdoll cat and I always wondered why he came without his papers when I know they were handed to the rescue.

I hope things work out, I have a very soft spot for border terriers but agree that there are very few people that would offer a home to this dog, puppies are always more likely to be rehomed. I understand that your children love the puppy but think of the lesson you will be teaching them in compassion, commitment and care by doing right by this dog.

Papers tend to make the animal a more desirable one to the wrong sort of owner. In an unneutered pet they are a disaster waiting to happen and a puppy farmer's dream come true, even in a neutered animal they're a money-spinner should the owner be the type to try to sell the dog on.

You are still offloading the dog with issues that you have had for two years and keeping the dog that could be rehomed more easily. I feel I am being supportive to the border terrier as I am suggesting it needs to be looked after by its owners not deserted. The very reason you do not want this dog is the reason that its future will be very uncertain in rescue (even if a rescue will take it).

This BT wouldn't have an uncertain future at the rescue I was working in all last weekend, minimu, or in this rescuer's home. He'd be loved and cared for until the end of his natural life... IF there were a space available.

Which there isn't.

Which is the point.

All the reputable, no kill rescues and all the reputable rescuers' homes are pretty much full to the brim precisely because they don't give up on the dogs which the owners are so keen to dispense with as soon as they become troublesome and they end up keeping those dogs until they die of old age or incurable illness because generally no bugger will offer a home to them.

Poor little Monty... you're telling me, doggielady, that you've coped this far and that now, all of a sudden, he's too much? Why the rapid change of heart?

My first rescued dog was called Monty. A beautiful Staffie cross, he came from a pound. He'd been abandoned and left to fend for himself on the streets of Northamptonshire, the sweetest, most loving boy going. Had I not saved him he would have died.... and as a result, many years later, the small number of rescued animals I personally take in and rehome go under the name of "Monty Rescue". Every dog I save, I do so in Monty's name, it's his legacy.

I can't save your Monty, doggielady.... but you can.

Val exactly - many rescues however well meaning will have a problem to house a dog aggressive dog. It can not run free with the other dogs in rescuers homes and even if it is kennelled it may be safe but will be stressed and unhappy beyond believe. Most fosterers have their own dogs. I have been trying to rehouse a truly dog aggressive dog for 4 months and all the well meaning and non kill rescues have refused to take him.

I agree with you entirely that the rescues are fit to bursting. I think there should be a ban on breeding any litters until this has been dealt with.

This border terrier is the owners responsibility and she must step up to the mark and deal with the situation. Get in a trainer, exercise on lead to keep other dogs safe - it is noone elses problem but one that the owner has made for themselves so deal with it.

Doggielady - I feel very sorry for you. You are clearly under a lot of pressure at home. Would there be any friends or family who you know who might be able to take him on? Could you talk to your Vet - they may know of someone whose circumstances would suit him. I hope you get things worked out.

Great idea Millie. And what will become of the dog once that friend or family member becomes bored of him too?

Why do people have to post such sarcastic and unhelpful replies? I wouldn't be surprised if the op never comes back on here for help again. She has two parents with Alzheimer's which may have developed since she took on the dog, which I know is very stressful. We do not know all the circumstances. Surely any advice about training/other options besides rehoming could be said in a nicer way?
Doggielady - my mum's neighbour has a rescue dog which was dog aggressive and it turned out it had a thyroid problem. Once that was treated and she also saw a dog trainer for one to one sessions, the dog became a different dog. He never goes up to dogs but never goes for them now and will tolerate them without a problem. I would get him checked out at the vets if you haven't gone down that road already. Just a thought. Good luck - I know what it's like to have elderly parents who need a lot of attention too, it can be very stressful and sometimes things get on top of you.

"Why do people have to post such sarcastic and unhelpful replies?"

Because I'm a rescuer.

Ditto what Cat says. Don't think the OP actually said she was bored with the dog Val. It sounds as though her family circumstances have changed outside of her control. Doggielady came here to ask for help, she has probably thought long and hard about the options available and may have neither time, funds or mental/physical energy at the moment to invest in trainers.

Doggielady I hope you can work things out.

Oddly, as a lone parent without support of any kind, with 2 DC, one of whom has EBD and with poor health I don't have much time, money or energy either Millie. Particularly not as I have so far this week had 5 people asking me to help them wth finding rescue places for five similarly hard to place dogs though where I'm fucked if I know at the moment. I spent from Friday til last night staying in a caravan at a rescue kennels, covered in shit and dirt, cleaning kennels, assessing dogs, socialising them, setting up fencing and the like, for 60-odd dogs, most of whom have been abandoned by people who also have little money, time and energy.

I took my 3 large dogs with me too. They go everywhere with me, despite me having neither time, funds nor mental/physical energy to invest in anything much. They always will.

And the OP has been given advice. The best, kindest, most sensible professional advice possible - employ a trainer or rehome the puppy, NOT the older dog. She might not like that advice but that's the BEST advice she will be given. I'm not here to please her or to do whatever makes her kids happy ... I'm here in the best interests of the DOG.

I have a 7 month old BT and an old one may be happy with me?

I will probably get shot down in flames but would love to give mine a companion and and old boy could be good?

Old dogs can calm young ones down, so it could work. You might need to put some work in (maybe with a trainer) to make it work. Wouldn't it be great if it did?

My BT is super calm and such a sweetie - but if the older dog cannot tolerate other dogs at all?

Is that the case or just hyper pups?

We have a household where someone is at home for our dog almost all of the time in shifts and we all get the lead out so there is lots of walks to be had (even some of them fairly small ones).

We were laughing the other day cos the dog had had a massive walk with one of us and was lying on the floor. I said "I wonder if he wants to go WALKIES" - he sprang up, looking for his lead.

Whatever17 I would be wary of taking on a dog with problems if you have a young pup tbh. Your pup will be hitting the teen phase very soon and will push boundaries. Unless there is someone experienced on hand 24/7 it could be very difficult. I have a 'teenage' dog and a puppy. I spend the majority of my day breaking up play fights and trying to persuade them not to eat my furniture.

Whether the op is bored or not is not the point. The only kind thing she could do is employ a trainer or if funds/time for that is not available rehome the puppy, who will be snapped up, whereas the older dog she claims to love, will at best languish in kennels for months, most likely years.

Lots of people have a lot on all the time. I know I do. But I cannot imagine a time where that would cause me to give up on one of my dogs. My Dad is in hospital atm. There is something serious wrong with him and they haven't got a clue what it is, so he is in to be monitored. This means I have my own two dogs to walk/train/feed. My sisters pup to walk, as she is helping out my mum by spending time with my Dad in hospital with my Dad. I have my mum's two cats to feed, one of which needs grooming daily and I am allergic to him. Then I have my Dad's parrot to feed and clean, along with his new canary, his two cockatiels, his rescued ex racing pigeons and his rabbit.

On top of that I have school and nursery runs, I am working overtime as the manager is away somewhere and I need to find out who is feeding my cat because he keeps shitting all over my house. I have made my way through a large jar of coffee in just two days. I feel like I have not slept for a month.

Coming home to my dogs and knowing I have 45 minutes of a peaceful, evening walk with them to look forward to, is keeping me sane. I would kill before I let someone take them away from me. I can't understand this mentality that when things get tough, you ease this by rehoming members of your family.