Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Dog returned from kennels today :(

55 replies

ChocolateBiscuitCake · 15/03/2013 20:25

We adopted a 2 year old black lab about 7 weeks ago. He is gorgeous, amazing, divine and we are all smitten with him! We have three young children under 4 and he has the patience of a saint. His indoor "manners" are impeccable (no going upstairs, no begging, no getting on sofa, lets children climb all over him).

However, his outdoor behaviour was less impressive. He could not walk to heal (pulled my arm off and pulled the buggy over) and his recall was selective.

I went to a local dog trainer to seek advise and was told it would take about 6 months of intensive work at home to sort out his bad habits.

Selfishly this just wasn't realistic given the children so I asked if the trainer could do it and he said he could in about 4 weeks.

Naively, I signed him up for a 4 week intensive training "regime".

I collected my dog today.

He is skeletal (I know this can happen in kennels), he has raw testicles and ears and his spirit is gone. Distressed by his distress, I took him to the vet who says he has raw skin from lying on concrete and he has been given anti inflamatories and been put on antibiotics.

The guilt I feel is indescribable as I never thought that this was what I signed up to but I am desperate to contact the trainer and express how angry and upset we are and the obvious distress and discomfort that this dog has been under. I live 10 minutes away - surely the should have called (I spoke to them weekly to get an update on progress and all was "great").

I have never had a dog before - please can I have guidance as to whether this is normal from kennels or whether I should make a complaint.

Any suggestions really welcomed :(

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 15/03/2013 20:32

That is not normal. I have never had a dog in kennels, but have had cats in kennels, and would expect to get them back in the same condition in which I left them.

It sounds as if the dog has been neglected appallingly - I would complain to any professional body they belong to, and dh says complain to police and RSPCA.

I would be demanding that she pays the vet bills and would want a refund of the money you paid her.

Did she tell you that you couldn't see her during the training period? If so, and in hindsight, that could be a red flag.

spiderlight · 15/03/2013 20:33

Oh, poor poor boy :( This is absolutely NOT normal and I would be calling the RSPCA. What qualifications and professional accreditation does this 'trainer' have?

Original poster
ChocolateBiscuitCake · 15/03/2013 20:34

Thank you SDT - that is my gut instinct but I am just wondering whether naivety has played a part so I am doubting myself.

I am so upset.

OP posts:
grabaspoon · 15/03/2013 20:36

So you had a dog for 3 weeks then gave it away for 4?

AlfalfaMum · 15/03/2013 20:36

Poor dog :(

My experience of kennels is limited, but there is no way this is acceptable. Do complain directly, and if youre not happy with the explaination you might consider calling the RSPCA (or maybe do that anyway..). Is the trainer registered or anything?

Daisy has been to 2 kennels. The first, we left her there for a week, the guy running the place seemed lovely promising lots of long walks and it was in the countryside etc, but when we picked her up she was shaking and covered in her own wee. It seemed she had been kept in a big old shed in a cage. We had left her with her own bed, which was soaked and smelly.
Since then, she has stayed a few times at a kennels which came recommended by friends, and she comes back happy.

Original poster
ChocolateBiscuitCake · 15/03/2013 20:36

The trainer is considered pseudo-famous. He has books/dvd's etc.

I am sobbing and heartbroken.

Will call the RSPCA.

Thank you for replying

OP posts:
CajaDeLaMemoria · 15/03/2013 20:37

That is absolutely not normal. It's neglect.

I've worked in a few kennels, trained dogs in some and left a few of my dogs in them. They should come back almost exactly as you left them, if not a bit more spoilt from all the attention!

Complain, and please alert the council too. I'm worried for the other dogs being 'cared for' by this kennel, it sounds horrific.

Original poster
ChocolateBiscuitCake · 15/03/2013 20:38

Grabaspoon - I couldn't walk him safely outdoors. I sought help and thought that the short term of 4 weeks would give us all years of pleasure (dog & owner).

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 15/03/2013 20:39

You were doing what you thought was right, and you were taking the advice of a professional whom you thought you could trust. It is the trainer who has failed the dog, and failed you.

The dog will get better, and will get over what happened, if he gets lots of love, care and consistent discipline from you. They do forget. We have a rescue lab-pointer cross who was very unhappy in the rescue kennels (not their fault, I hasten to add), and she is now a much more relaxed and happy dog - and she knows she is loved.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 15/03/2013 20:41

Grabaspoon - I don't think we can blame the OP for taking the advice of a professional who said he could sort out her dog's behavioural issues.

tabulahrasa · 15/03/2013 20:46

It's not just neglect - not seeking medical treatment for his skin is against the law as well.

Booyhoo · 15/03/2013 20:52
Sad

that poor dog. i cant imagine what that must have been like for him. 4 weeks alone, away from his new family hungry and in pain. he must have been so scared.

i would be looking for a prosecution in your shoes OP. other dogs will also be suffering.

Willowisp · 15/03/2013 20:59

Please name & shame this dog 'trainer'.

You can't reverse what happened to your dog, but you can help stop this happening to someone else's pet.

Also, please don't let your kids climb all over your dog....teach them to show respect...he's not a sofa or a toy.....

I'm extremely sorry for your dog...but I have to say, I'm wondering what on earth possessed you to rehome an animal in your circumstances ? Hmm

thegriffon · 15/03/2013 21:00

This is so upsetting, wish I hadn't read it.

Willowisp · 15/03/2013 21:02

The more I think of this, the less I get it...where's the back up support from the place you rehomed him ?

Why are they doing rehoming a young (unneutered ?) male to a family with 3 kids under 4 ?

Come on, tell the truth...something's afoot....

SoftSheen · 15/03/2013 21:08

This is absolutely appalling- please do report to the RSPCA. Hope your poor dog recovers soon.

SaggyOldClothCatpuss · 15/03/2013 21:09

Poor boy. Definitely report her.

Lucyellensmum95 · 15/03/2013 21:09

Well hindsight is a wonderful thing isn't it - OP, you have a duty to report this bastard, to get some sort of compensation (he should pay the vets bills at the very least) and to stop him from doing this again. What an utter cunt!

You are right - dogs often do lose weight in a kennel situation but assuming you rescued him from such a situation he hadn't done this before so it indicates even more strongly towards neglect and mistreatment.

Where did you get this dog from? The rescue centre was very irresponsible letting you have him to be honest, four young children and no dog experience? What were they thinking? I don't blame you at all but they were wrong to let you have him (of course it was a HOME so i sort of get that too, but places like dogs trust would not have let you have this dog, they would have found you something more suitable, or made you wait until your circumstances were better). As i say, hindsight.

You sound like a lovely caring person so please don't beat yourself up - just give the dog lots of love and care, but do be prepared to be patient, it will take time, the dog is at that boisterous age anyway so will calm down naturally, i take it he is neutered? Can your DH take the dog out so that you don't have to juggle dog and buggy, ive done this and it can be difficult i know.

You need to go along to training lessons, these things are about training the owners really, not the dogs.

Please please please report this person - name and shame too Angry

Inthepotty · 15/03/2013 21:10

Willowisp, lay off the OP.

OP hope your dog is feeling better soon, poor boy. Do report to Police and RSPCA, and any other bodies you can. Hoping Scuttlebutter may see this, she always seems to know who would be best to contact.

Lilyloo · 15/03/2013 21:13

This sounds a bit odd tbh. Within 3 weeks you had contacted a behaviourist and had your dog taken away? Course his recall was selective he barely had chance to get to know you. Why would you put a 2 year old lab on pushchair?
And the behaviourist had the vacancies within the 3 weeks you had owned him to take him there and then?
Poor poor dog, you really should have asked for support from the rehoming centre you got him from :(

nurseneedshelp · 15/03/2013 21:14

Poor dog,did you know think how distressed he would be being taken from his new lovely family???
Bet the poor thing thought he had been abandoned again! Sounds like you were being lazy and wanted a perfect dog immediately! You wouldn't give your child away if their behaviour wasn't up to scratch! Disgusting, you've only got yourself to blame.
For what its worth I NEVER rant but this has made me really cross!

LifeAbove · 15/03/2013 21:17

Absolutely report to the RSPCA about this, and I know you've been to the vet, but it's worth asking them to complete a body score to rate the dog's body condition too.
BTW, my DP might be able to help with walking, if you'd like? He's a behaviourist. PM me if you want.

Booyhoo · 15/03/2013 21:20

nurse!

no she doesn't only have herself to blame!!

regardless of how perfect she expected her dog to be, no-one expects to hand their dog to a behavioural expert and have him returned in a neglected and abused state! it is not OP's fault that he was mistreated it is the 'trainers' fault entirely!

OP's only crime was perhaps not doing enough of a background check on the kennels beforehand.

KeatsiePie · 15/03/2013 21:20

Good grief! That is horrible. Look, it's true what SDTG said, they do forget if the bad experience is replaced with love and security. Get him to a vet and give him a lot of reassurance right now.

He sounds like a really good dog to have so much good humor and patience with children. He will be boisterous on a leash, b/c he's young and just naturally full of kinetic energy, but you can train him gradually; it will just take a while; right now that energy is just too powerful and he can't always contain it. and look into a different kind of dog-training (e.g., I would avoid sites where the trainer uses phrases about being alpha, laying down the law, boot camp, showing who's boss, and also avoid trainers who make a point of being ex-military or ex-police.). I would look instead for a group class you can take him to, something non-authoritarian and gentle. I'm so so sorry that happened to him.

KeatsiePie · 15/03/2013 21:22

And yes report, PLEASE report! Take photos of how he looks now for "before and after" use. If it were me I'd post reviews online everywhere I could think of, with photos. I do think you have an obligation to try to keep other dogs from being sent there by reporting/publicizing, since you know it's an abusive place.

Swipe left for the next trending thread