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The doghouse

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Original poster

If you've rehomed before should you ever get another dog?

102 replies

fizzingbubbleseffervescence · 21/12/2022 17:04

I'm still reeling with the grief and guilt from rehoming our first ever dog. Do you think it's ever possible to get another one? Is there a breed/personality out there for every owner, or are some people just not dog people?

We got our first ever dog as an 8 week old puppy. We read pretty much every book going in advance and we attended puppy classes from the get go. The puppy bit us from day one but we accepted this (and trained hard) as that's what puppies do isn't it? We followed the advice to the letter from small group and one-one trainers but the biting never seemed to stop. We worked so hard on training for 13 more months and we had a practically perfect dog in terms of recall, toileting, sitting and waiting. But for some reason she continued to bite us on walks, either off lead or on lead. She was a big 40kg dog and I was covered in bites. We followed the advice of two behaviourists and in the end the vet said it was too dangerous for me to walk her. She bit my children too and we were terrified it was a ticking time bomb before she bit a member of the public.

We contacted a breed specific rescue who said they would train her from their home. They said it's such a difficult breed but she was the most difficult they ever met. She kept attacking their other dogs and they said they couldn't cope with her any more but they found a lovely older couple who had no children and no other dogs and lots of experience with her breed and she seems to be happy with them.

I'm so happy she's OK but I feel traumatised from the bites and grief that I've lost my baby. I've got a big dog shaped hole that I'd love to fill and so much love and energy to give to another dog.

Do you think it was a one off awful experience? I don't think I'll ever get over losing her. Everyone I knew told me it wasn't safe to keep her but I don't know if the guilt will ever go. Has anyone ever been through this and gone on to get another dog?

Thank you for any support.

OP posts:
StrawberryPot · 21/12/2022 17:05

What was the breed?

hattie43 · 21/12/2022 17:07

Are you definitely meaning proper bites rather than mouthing which is how puppies explore and learn .

Original poster
fizzingbubbleseffervescence · 21/12/2022 17:12

hattie43 · 21/12/2022 17:07

Are you definitely meaning proper bites rather than mouthing which is how puppies explore and learn .

I think to begin with it was just mouthing. All puppies have razor sharp teeth don't they? But from 6 months to 15 months it was proper bites sadly, I sent photos to the vet and she said they were really bad and I shouldn't continue to walk her 😢

OP posts:
Original poster
fizzingbubbleseffervescence · 21/12/2022 17:13

We had her checked out by the vet too for any pain but there was nothing physically wrong.

OP posts:
TrentCrimm · 21/12/2022 17:14

Yes, you absolutely can.

Dogs don't come in 'one size fits all'. Responsible rehoming to give a much loved dog the absolute best chance in life is a world away from giving up a pet because you cba, or haven't tried.

Original poster
fizzingbubbleseffervescence · 21/12/2022 17:14

StrawberryPot · 21/12/2022 17:05

What was the breed?

She was quite a rare breed and I don't want to 'out' the rescue centre or myself so is it OK if I don't say. A big working breed

OP posts:
Tiredallofthetime · 21/12/2022 17:16

MN will say that you should never be allowed another animal 🙄

Obviously someone who keeps getting pets and rehoming them should accept that animals aren’t for them. But sometimes life happens.

ChessieDarling · 21/12/2022 17:16

I’ve had a chronic biter put down and have gone on to have more dogs since. He was, to be quite frank, just a bit of a prick and despite doing absolutely everything to try and get him to come right, nothing worked. It was the right thing to do, he wasn’t safe. I don’t think it should mean never having another dog ever and I don’t think you should feel it means that for you either.

Wanderingoff · 21/12/2022 17:16

It sounds like it was just a sad case of bad luck

what about fostering a small chilled breed that you know has no issues? Maybe help out with cinnamon trust?

Wanderingoff · 21/12/2022 17:17

I know someone else who has rehomed three dogs and is going to get another one.

that is a different scenario and she is an idiot

OrlandointheWilderness · 21/12/2022 17:17

Sounds like you've taken on a breed that you aren't experienced enough to handle. I wish people would pay more attention to the word 'working' when it comes to breed choice. It doesn't mean will like a long walk occasionally, it means needs training and rules and stimulation! Drives me bonkers with spaniels - I have working dogs and in a pet home they would be a right pain in the ass!
Yes of course have another. Just pick something you honestly can handle.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 21/12/2022 17:20

I would say in the circumstances you describe it's ok, but it's always a bad idea to get a new dog when you're still grieving for the last one. It might all be fine, but the chances of you making a bad choice or struggling to bond are that much higher.

TheSpottedZebra · 21/12/2022 17:20

^ this!

You say you did all all research, but yet you chose a big strong dog as your first dog and... it didn't work out.

So, being harsh, your research wasn't that good and/or you werent honest about your lifestyle or limitations. So what would be different this time?

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 21/12/2022 17:22

TheSpottedZebra · 21/12/2022 17:20

^ this!

You say you did all all research, but yet you chose a big strong dog as your first dog and... it didn't work out.

So, being harsh, your research wasn't that good and/or you werent honest about your lifestyle or limitations. So what would be different this time?

Yes this…

StrawberryPot · 21/12/2022 17:23

Well if you're not going to tell us the breed it's difficult to comment on why the dog may have behaved like this. Though of course no dog should be biting like that.

But a rare breed and inexperienced owner is a bad combination. Why did you go for a rare breed?

Kanaloa · 21/12/2022 17:23

I don’t know the answer to this really. I will say it’s a big belief of mine that really 90% of people shouldn’t have dogs. It’s a massive commitment which can go wrong which is why I wouldn’t get one. Your whole life is basically structured around the dog from then on if you’re doing a good job of it. So impossible to say really.

Wolfiefan · 21/12/2022 17:24

I agree. Looks like the wrong breed for you and your set up. Rehoming when you’ve tried everything else and it’s best for the animal isn’t selfish. It’s hard and brave.

Kanaloa · 21/12/2022 17:26

TrentCrimm · 21/12/2022 17:14

Yes, you absolutely can.

Dogs don't come in 'one size fits all'. Responsible rehoming to give a much loved dog the absolute best chance in life is a world away from giving up a pet because you cba, or haven't tried.

I mean they may not come in one size fits all but a bit of common sense would tell you that a big difficult working breed when you’re a family with kids probably isn’t your size.

cosmicgarland · 21/12/2022 17:26

I think as long as you research thoroughly what breed would be best for you then there's no reason not to rehome

Wanderingoff · 21/12/2022 17:26

I agree that you should be realistic about breed

i choose a Cavalier as a first dog and it was a brilliant decision. Turns out I’m a good dog owner but not a particularly good dog trainer. But any less than ideal behaviour is generally fine because he’s small, not aggressive and super cute.

i would LOVE to have an amazing well behaved German Shepard. But I now know I am simply not capable of doing what needs to be done for that. I am a small wimpy dog owner person.

TheSpottedZebra · 21/12/2022 17:31

Well you said in your other thread what the breed is. Giant Schnauzer.

Come on, what lead you to choose that as a 1st time dog owner?

strictlygoingtomissstrictly · 21/12/2022 17:35

StrawberryPot · 21/12/2022 17:23

Well if you're not going to tell us the breed it's difficult to comment on why the dog may have behaved like this. Though of course no dog should be biting like that.

But a rare breed and inexperienced owner is a bad combination. Why did you go for a rare breed?

They aren't asking why the dog behaved like this. It sounds like the trainer or vet didn't know why.

If she doesn't want to tell us the breed we should respect that. It doesn't make any difference to her question!

And OP ... yes, you should get yourself another dog.

Similar (but different) ... A friend had an horse that kept trying to buck her off all the time. A vet was called in to make sure the horse wasn't in any discomfort. Despite working with a trainer she had to rehome him before an accident happened. Nobody blamed her or criticised her when she got another horse!

Kanaloa · 21/12/2022 17:36

TheSpottedZebra · 21/12/2022 17:31

Well you said in your other thread what the breed is. Giant Schnauzer.

Come on, what lead you to choose that as a 1st time dog owner?

I mean if this is true it was a bit daft from the off really and doesn’t read like someone who was prepared to be a responsible pet owner. The most extremely basic research would tell you that they are very large high energy working dogs who need an incredible amount of training and are obviously not suitable for a first time owner as a family pet with young kids.

Why did you choose it?

Choconut · 21/12/2022 17:41

Why would you do all that research and then get a large rare breed working dog
as your first dog? Who sold you that dog knowing you had children and no experience - not any decent breeder. Giant schnauzers need to work - what were you doing to fulfill that need?

I think if you are that clueless that you think that a giant schnauzer working dog would be a good first dog for you then dog owning probably isn't for you. Maybe get a cat.

PutinSmellsPassItOn · 21/12/2022 17:46

But why the hell did you take on 'a big working breed ' as your first dog ? The poor thing was probably extremely frustrated. It sounds like you chose your dog based on looks, which is idiotic.

You say you did research, what exactly did you research ?