Been away for a while

[Corasmum]

Hey every one
Havent posted on here for ages due Max our rescue dog having to be returned to the rescue and feeling like a complete failure when it comes to dogs. He was a smashing lad but there were a few behaviours that started to cause a few concerns and after talking it through with the rescue and our trainer we felt that it was best for all if he went back (he went straight into the there home not kennels) until a very special home came up for him and im pleased to say that it has. So I had a complete stress when this happened and got rid of every thing doggy I possessed and donated that to the rescue and decided that was it never again, hurts far to much and so scared of getting it wrong. For the first month it seemed ok with out a dog. But then I started to miss having a dog, house far to empty and clean! So trawled through rescue sites, seemed to fine most were either ok with kids, not cats or ok with cats but older children only, I guess at this stage in my life with 2 younger children, cats and limited experience I felt we may well set ourselves up to fail again. So we thought about going down the route of getting a puppy but researching the breeder properely this time and visiting etc. So I came on here and caught a thread where a few were recommended. (equally I also knew from other threads some to avoid big thanks for that) and we chose and contacted Kazeti and had a long chat with Doug and arranged to go up and met them and there dogs, we explained about what had happened wih Max and Cora, and what our experience was with dogs and what we were looking for. We met Xala and Xen who would be the next mating and talked about what would be most suitable for us. And then we met Tyla (nick name Tinky) who is turning 4 on the 15th of this month, and is just absoloutley perfect for us. So we went away and had think about it all then phoned back and arranged to take the kids up with us to meet Tyla and if all went well then we would have her. And very pleased to say she was beyond fantastic with the kids has now been with us 2 weeks and has been a truly amazing girl. There has not been one thing about her that has made me worried at all its like she has been here forever. At last we got it right! will post some pics of her.
From a finally very happy household
Rach, Tinky Tyla x

[Stuart]

I guess this post has everything in it really,.. The problems that can come up with almost any dog,... the sensible direction taken before things got too bad, ...the rescue who was there for you,... the reseach into the `right` dog,..and the end happy story.

I am pleased for you.

Why did you think it went wrong in the first instance?, do you think it was the dog?, your inexperience?, the rescue, possibly miss-matching you up?

It might well be a good thread to continue, it may point someone in the right direction, and avoid the mistakes that were made in your case

[lauraburns]

Hiya Rach, lovely to see you back! Sounds like you have finally found the right dog for you! Maybe look forward to catching you down the campsite some time in the future so I can meet her in person!!

[Corasmum]

We will be down there again in the summer Laura, we just missed you this year by about a day I think

With Max I feel it was my fault I should have held of a little longer and maybe met him a few more times. He overbonded (if that makes sense) to my partner and it first it started with jealousy (sp) when we had the kids (every other weekend) and trying to seperate them away from there dad, he nipped at the eldest when she was having a cuddle with her Dad, he also started food guarding so we took precautions around the children, if max was eating they were to leave him, we never left any bones laying around as if the kids walked past them he would charge over and raise his lip at them. That became my biggest concern, especially after Cora biting some one I didnt want to risk that happening to the children and became quite guarded when they were around. We also found his seperation anxiety was far worse then we thought, in the time that we had him I was able to leave him for a grand time of 2minutes and 30 seconds before the howling and barking started. We work shifts and on days where he would be left for more than 4 hours we would have some one come in, but in that interim time he would bark non stop and be stressed, I had noise abatement proceeding started against us so we did our own recordings. We used DAP diffuser, Calm aid from vets as well and we had a training programme to get him used to us coming and going. I never got past the stage where he didnt react to me picking up the car keys. Now we knew that his back ground was that he had been left out side of a family for 9months, never walked just fed. So I think maybe I should have had a bit more forseight in that he would maybe overbond to O/H and that he wouldnt cope with being left.
I think when I met Max I let my heart rule my head and that is not a mistake I would make again. I was trying to do right by him by giving him a loving home but ultimately I may have caused him more anxiety

[Moobli]

Tyla sounds perfect for you and I am so pleased to hear how happy you are with her.

Dogs should bring pleasure to our lives, not stress and unhappiness. You tried really hard with Max, but it just wasn't to be. Try not to beat yourself up over it. It sounds as though perhaps Max wasn't right for your circumstances in the first instance, but you tried everything you could to overcome his issues. I think as far as rescue dogs and children go, you just cannot risk letting a dog with an unknown history around children when he/she is obviously stressed and is growling at them etc.

I hope Tyla brings you many years of happiness. She is a gorgeous girl.

[kazeti]

here's where you want to click a "LIKE" button on a thread
It was obvious after talking to you and jason that Tink would be the perfect fit for you both!!

[kazeti]

It's Tink in my avitar pic!!!!!!!!!

[Kaz and Harvey]

I am so happy you have have she is gorgeous
Sometimes things happen for a reason

[LOVEGSD]

Welcome back and it's great to hear you've got a new addition and a gorgeous one at that judging by the avatar pic. So sorry things didn't work out with Max but at least he is now in a special home too...x

[Corasmum]

Thank you all for you replys I suspect I will be posting lots of pics of her on here and if I can suss out how some videos as well