I want to get rid of our dog

[Anonymous]

I doubt the contract is legally enforceable. This fog is making your life very difficult and we are still on SAH. I would find a way to rehome the dog. You don’t know what might be happening with your 5 other kids while all your attention goes to a dog. BTW our dog loves her crate and sleeps in it every night. Not real sanitary having a dog in your bed.

[Anonymous]

No matter what anyone says a dog is not a 15+ year commitment. But a child is. And far more important.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I’m not offended by the replies. I knew I was asking for it posting on a public forum about a dog. Haha I actually thought it would be worse.

I appreciate all the ideas. I have to add that we had a dog for 13 years before this. None of my kids have known life without a dog outside of the small break we took. They all had a dog from birth. They sat by our dying dog in our house. So I don’t feel I did or didn’t do anything to make them love or hate the dog. Not everyone is going to be a dog person. I am not yet I grew up with dogs and we also fostered puppies. But having a lot of kids and a lot of family life just made my dog tolerance lower over the years. We happen to get an annoying high needs dog.

I don’t see myself really getting rid of her. I just needed to vent. It’s little things. Our house backs to a street so even if she’s in our fenced backyard, she barks at people walking by. One night I got shamed by a neighbor when she barked and so now I’m stressed about even letting her out in the morning or at night in my own yard and she start barking and I can’t get back in fast enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt the contract is legally enforceable. This fog is making your life very difficult and we are still on SAH. I would find a way to rehome the dog. You don’t know what might be happening with your 5 other kids while all your attention goes to a dog. BTW our dog loves her crate and sleeps in it every night. Not real sanitary having a dog in your bed.

She’s been sleeping on their floor.

The contract makes it sound like if they find out you did anything against it then you could face fines or whatever. So I didn’t think we could give her away randomly or drop her at the shelter. Haha

[Anonymous]

There is a COVID clause for everything now. Sounds like you need to rehome. Contact the rescue, your could mention COVID clause, mental health, financial insecurity during uncertain times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a COVID clause for everything now. Sounds like you need to rehome. Contact the rescue, your could mention COVID clause, mental health, financial insecurity during uncertain times.

WTF is a Covid clause? This doesn’t sounds like they got the puppy during Covid. They’ve had it a while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a COVID clause for everything now. Sounds like you need to rehome. Contact the rescue, your could mention COVID clause, mental health, financial insecurity during uncertain times.

WTF is a Covid clause? This doesn’t sounds like they got the puppy during Covid. They’ve had it a while.

Yes we got her in 2017.

[Anonymous]

I think you should return the dog to the rescue. The dog just sounds bored, neglected and will be happier in another home. So many people are looking to adopt right now so please return the dog asap. And then don’t ever get a dog again, at least not until the kids are out of the house.

[Anonymous]

Make each of your kids take turns walking and exercising the dog. Feeding the dog too. Cleaning up its messes, etc. no excuses. Good learning opportunity for them.

As far as when leaving the house, crate the dog and then immediately upon return take it outside and when it does it’s business praise it. Many dogs like the crate as it is protective (den like) for them.

[Anonymous]

OP- I’d suggest having your child who helps with the dog become familiar with Cesar Milan’s work.

He works with a lot of challenging dogs with problem behaviors and describes them as out of balance. He has specific techniques for establishing boundaries. Your child can try leading the dog and guiding the rest of the family in establishing more structure for the dog.

Agreed with earlier posters that heavy exercise and a check-in with your vet are good ideas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’m not offended by the replies. I knew I was asking for it posting on a public forum about a dog. Haha I actually thought it would be worse.

I appreciate all the ideas. I have to add that we had a dog for 13 years before this. None of my kids have known life without a dog outside of the small break we took. They all had a dog from birth. They sat by our dying dog in our house. So I don’t feel I did or didn’t do anything to make them love or hate the dog. Not everyone is going to be a dog person. I am not yet I grew up with dogs and we also fostered puppies. But having a lot of kids and a lot of family life just made my dog tolerance lower over the years. We happen to get an annoying high needs dog.

I don’t see myself really getting rid of her. I just needed to vent. It’s little things. Our house backs to a street so even if she’s in our fenced backyard, she barks at people walking by. One night I got shamed by a neighbor when she barked and so now I’m stressed about even letting her out in the morning or at night in my own yard and she start barking and I can’t get back in fast enough.

OP, please don’t take this the wrong way. Have you considered anxiety meds for yourself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’m not offended by the replies. I knew I was asking for it posting on a public forum about a dog. Haha I actually thought it would be worse.

I appreciate all the ideas. I have to add that we had a dog for 13 years before this. None of my kids have known life without a dog outside of the small break we took. They all had a dog from birth. They sat by our dying dog in our house. So I don’t feel I did or didn’t do anything to make them love or hate the dog. Not everyone is going to be a dog person. I am not yet I grew up with dogs and we also fostered puppies. But having a lot of kids and a lot of family life just made my dog tolerance lower over the years. We happen to get an annoying high needs dog.

I don’t see myself really getting rid of her. I just needed to vent. It’s little things. Our house backs to a street so even if she’s in our fenced backyard, she barks at people walking by. One night I got shamed by a neighbor when she barked and so now I’m stressed about even letting her out in the morning or at night in my own yard and she start barking and I can’t get back in fast enough.

OP, please don’t take this the wrong way. Have you considered anxiety meds for yourself?

Yes!!! LOL

[Anonymous]

I would contact the rescue organization and see what your options are.

[Anonymous]

PSA to everyone: This is why you adopt adult dogs whose personalities are already established- and then do a foster-to-adopt to make sure they fit with your lifestyle/family.

OPs story is all too familiar and what happens when you go for that adorable puppy and then can't handle it when they grow up with issues (probably issues they got from how they were raised/socialized).

OP - just give the dog back to the rescue and they will do their homework to match it with a family that is able to handle it. It sounds like a bad situation for your home. Please don't get another pet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Our kids are 7-16. She’s a mix breed, we don’t really know. We got her from a rescue and signed a contract and I think we have to contact them. Can’t just get rid of her randomly.

Not talking about travel now...but trips in the past that we can’t take her. I’m assuming you mean not traveling because of covid, not because of her.

ADHD is it. She probably needs more training than we have had the money for.

You absolutely need to return it to the rescue if you decide not to keep her.

You should not have adopted the dog in the first place. And now her issues will be foisted on someone else. But, it sounds like she'll be better off with someone who can handle her.