Does this happen? I feel overwhelmed.
Story...
My son is 14 and has autism and OCD. He has no friends despite many many efforts. He is high functioning. We've had his name on a list for an autism assistance dog for years but he's now too old for the list. A year ago, we sourced a breeder and decided to get him the doggy companion ourselves. So far so good. Two litters went by....no bitch for us until now.
The pup is beautiful. Full of energy but very clever, as these Goldens are! But, my son is tearful and upset (and so am I) because we have a beloved cat who is 7. She has taken the dog very, very badly. Last night, my son came to me in tears saying "I miss Tallulah (the cat), I want the dog to go away if we are going to lose Tallulah".
I should add....I'm 53 and menopausally emotional at the best of times. Have I made a massive mistake? We've had the idea of a golden retriever companion for our son for so so long, what HAVE I done?! I feel like ringing the breeder and saying keep the cash....I've made a mistake.
Help!
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
Ive had a golden retriever puppy 4 days....and changed my mind
Eliza22 · 14/07/2015 08:42
Thanks miserablemoo and KatherineClifton. Those first few weeks were horrendous to be honest. Everyone was oooing and ahhhing about her cuteness and I was screaming inside "yes! She's cute but it's all too much!" It all seems more do-able (well, a bit) now. DS is engaging ever so slightly and I'm getting earlier nights knowing I'm up very early (for the school holidays, at least). I'm a bit scared by now much she's grown in such a short time though, she's going to be enormous!
Sadly, I don't really have the space for the dog prison. We are scheduled to have an extension, from March but by then (hopefully) she'll be calmer and more obedient 
Oh goodness, she is beautiful. I will have her if you decide not to keep her. 
but you will keep her because you luffs her even though you don't know it yet
cashew!!
Oh she is lovely.I am so glad you decided to persevere and it's nice to read that ds is starting to thaw a little bit too. My ds was still steadfastly ignoring Eric at the same age.Silly now but Eric gets spoken to and fussed before he even acknowledges my presence these days 
!!
The cat remains steadfastly upstairs. It's ...going to be... A slow process, I think!
We have a split house - cat upstairs and dog downstairs....
The baby gate on the stairs is a meeting point for much hissing (cat) and looking sheepish or occasional grumble (dog).
The co-exist - not happily but both are happy. The cat is actually more lovely and more content than she has ever been. She will often sit on the stairs and stare the dog out until she slinks to her bed, just for kicks really. The dog will also whine if left in her (very comfortable) kitchen bed (we have a gate on the kitchen too) and I suspect it because the cat can stare her out from the stairs in there ...
We've had the dog three years and nothing has improved really. I feed the cat first and the dog is made to sit in her bed and wait nicely whilst I do so. Any high value treats (chicken or tuna) go to the cat first every time.
My son has ASD and he loves them both equally. The dog has got him out walking her and the cat goes to him more than she used to. When he has a meltdown both hide from him but it is the cat who is not afraid to approach him after - the dog is more wary.
I wish the dog and cat got on but I think the cat was too old (12/13) to adjust really and the dog is actually a bit scared of her (and the Hoover / lawnmower / loud noises / men in floresant jackets) so it was an impossible mix but it's worked out ok for them both.
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Because I took leave of my senses! I went for one, took my sister to make sure I got one. Left with 2. They are collie x FCR. One is all collie and the other is much more FCR. There are lots of common problems I haven't had at all because there are 2 such as settling at night, in crate, leaving them home alone, mouthing, biting. And I do have two home-ed teenagers who are responsible for one each (but obviously they are my responsibility). But even with 3 of us it was horrific hard work for the first couple of months.
I suppose the only silver lining is I didn't leave with 3! I always said with my twins when they were small 'at least they aren't triplets'
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