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Seller lied about new dog - please help

56 replies

Biddie191 · 11/12/2018 13:02

Hi
Sorry for the long post, but I really would appreciate help!
Having searched for a while, we finally found the dog we wanted. I asked the seller a LOT of questions, as we had quite a way to travel, and I didn't want to visit and fall for a dog only to find it wasn't suitable.
Living on a small farm, and in a rural area, number one priority was that the dog was good with livestock, most specifically with sheep and chickens. My son has chickens he saved up to buy himself from a chicken farm, and he loves them. This was carefully explained to the seller.
Second was that the dog was house-trained - as the dog is a year old, training should be established, as trying to start at this age is far harder, and finally, the dog must be trustworthy off the lead (so come back when called).
I was told the dog was fine with animals, including chickens. I was also told that she was house-trained and would come back to you when called.
Getting the dog home, we decided not to let her off the lead until she was settled, and knew us well, but the 2nd day she shot off out of the door when one of the children was bringing shopping in. She proceeded to run straight to my son's chicken run, and massacre his hens. In her frenzy she would not stop until my daughter rugby tackled her to the ground, and still she wouldn't let go of the bird in her mouth.
She is not at all house trained - despite being walked 5 or 6 times a day, when she's loose she will just squat on the floor, even if she's just come in from a long walk, and doesn't seem guilty about it (so doesn't seem aware that it's not on). Obviously you expect some initial 'accidents' but it's not improving.
She is selectively deaf, and only comes to you when she wants (ie when you have treats, and even then when there's nothing else going on more entertaining)
After the massacre I messaged the seller to tell her, no response. We've worked with her for a few weeks now, but have been unable to let her off the lead at all when outside. She escaped again at the weekend, I called to her, with her favourite toy, she half came to me, then shot straight around to the chicken run again. Fortunately we managed to grab her as she squeezed under the gate, so no deaths, but her intention was clear.
It is only a matter of time before she gets out again, and kills, whether our hens, the neighbour's hens or sheep, the neighbour's cats.... She can't stay, as this is not something any of us can cope with.
Messaged seller again, who ignored me, until I threatened legal action. I've read up on it, and it seems that as she lied (in writing) she has to take the dog back, and refund the money, but she is adamant that she doesn't have to.
What can I do?

OP posts:
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Spudlet · 12/12/2018 12:10

Glad you feel better. I've definitely had those moments of despair!

I would look around locally for a decent training class - will be great practice for her working around the distractions of other dogs in a new place.

If she is a foodie dog, a tube of primula cheese can be an excellent recall motivator and allows you to control how much she gets easily. It saved our bacon a good few times! I only ever used it with a whistle, so the whistle became the absolute unignorable recall tool. My dog is a total guts though, he'd do anything for a lump of cheese Wink

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TropicPlunder · 12/12/2018 13:01

Good luck! Really hope it goes well. Our chicken situation and dog type was different...but one game changer for me, was not sounding cross when I called the dog away from the chickens. Of course, it was worrying whenever she looked like she might bother them, but if I yelled her over sounding cross, she wouldn't come. But if I called her sounding excited and happy, she would leave chickens and come for a treat.
Sounds like you've done terriers and chickens before, with great success! Hope you can get a good solution here Smile

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AlanThePig · 12/12/2018 17:30

A female JRT from a farm that has never lived indoors screams breeding bitch to me. Has she seen a vet? She could well be older than you think.

Sending her back to the woman is I imagine sending her to her death, and even if you won in small claims due to misrepresentation could you actually give her back?

There are rescues good with this kind of thing, there is a bloody marvellous one in Staffs called 'Pebbles' who never PTS and will take on retraining of the stubbornest of dog.

I wish you luck.

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AlanThePig · 12/12/2018 17:32

Sorry, read OP again and realised it's YOU on the farm. Point still stands though, might be worth a vet visit.

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PrettyLovely · 12/12/2018 20:24

Hope things improve op!

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steppemum · 14/12/2018 10:44

persevere. They say a new dog takes up to a year to completely settle.
We have a rescue, he's been with us for a year, and it took us 4 months to train him to walk properly on the lead (his biggest issue)

We have chickens, and he is prey driven. He would kill a chicken that got out. we have solved it by reinforcing the chicken run, so it is dog proof. I wouldn't trust him around chickens.

But he ignores things like sheep and cattle, so don't despair!

I would second the muzzle, then you can be sure there won't be any accidents.

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