Rehoming....

I'm glad to hear things are going better!!  I know it's hard... when we first got Gracie, we put her in her own area for bedtime and boy, does she have some LUNGS!  I could walk outside the house and hear her howling like someone was beating her!  She hardly ever does the howling thing now... only if she hears another dog howling (or if she's in heat howling for her boyfriend... have mercy!)  FeFe would howl if I said mooooooo (like a cow with a deep voice) or if the alarm went off for too long... then Gracie would start in screaming lol 
 
How is Gingerbread the pro snugglebug doing with Cinnabun?  Give them both kisses and hugs from us!

ORIGINAL: houndlove

To meet and interact with both my dogs now, I think people would be shocked to hear that I'd seriously given thought to rehoming both of them after first getting them. But I stuck it out. There were tears, there were some panic attacks. We made it through, mostly due to my husband being so totally unflappable that the things that would send me off the deep end he'd just kind of shrug and go, "oh well."

For me it's like this: I often don't think I'm good enough to care for these dogs. These beautiful living creatures are counting on me and I'm not living up to what I think they need. I have very high standards, for myself and for others--but mostly for myself. If I can't solve a problem my dog is having, I feel like a failure and I feel like there's got to be a jillion people out there who would not fail my dog like I've done.

So, I completely understand how awful dealing with a problem dog can be, and how tempting rehoming can be when you feel like you're failing your dog. I'm so glad you're sticking it out. Now, it shocks me to think that I might not have my dogs in my life. But with Conrad, who has seperation anxiety, there were about 4 months where every single day I would ask myself why I couldn't seem to help this dog, and that surely there must be someone out there who can. But for all of my feelings of failure, I always felt the ultimate failure would be giving up. That finally was the one step I couldn't take.

I'm really glad you're sticking it out. You certainly aren't the only dog lover who's thought about rehoming. I think we've all had that moment at one time or another.

 
Thank you. [] It really makes me feel sooo much better that I'm not the only one who has given serious thought to rehoming. I have a really good feeling now that things are going to get better. I'm glad to hear that things worked out with your guys!!
 
I think feeling like you're "not good enough" as a parent is also common. I know I've felt that way also. That's part of the reason I was thinking of a family with kids and a yard for Cinnabun. This place is like a grandma's house and I don't want him to be unhappy. I'm trying to make it a little more entertaining for him, but I might be one of the more boring 28 year olds out there. lol 

You know, Izzy was a lot the same way when we brought her home.  She is a screamer too!  She screamed all the way through the first two nights until she went hoarse.   (s/p?)  She screams at the vet too, but now runs to her crate anytime she thinks we are leaving.  She really just doesn't like strangers to ick her up now and that is fine with me.  It is a trust thing for her.  It does get better.  I will say that from an outsider looking in Izzy looks like one of those bratty dogs you keep referring to, and we even thought that at first a little, but she trusts us now and really is not a bratty dog.  Other people might still think she is but we absolutley adore her and she has so much personality and is so animated b/c of it.  Harley absolutely lovers her now too!  I am so glad you are going ot give it a go.  Harley was the easiest puppy ever and it took me months to feel like I really got anywhere with Izzy.  Just hang in there b/c the reward is so much better than the work it took to get there.

We all want to see pics!!!!!

ORIGINAL: lokis_mom

Don't feel bad for posting your feelings. That's what this board is here for! I think you're like me. I have immediate, passionate reactions to things. I can definitely see how you'd be overwhelmed by bringing home a "terror" puppy and I think in your position I would've posted the same things. But hopefully talking it through with all the "dog people" on the board made you feel better. It sounds like Cinnabun has a chance of fitting into your family and that's great!

Keep us posted (pictures??) on the progress. And use all the great resources on the board to help make the transition easier. People will forget the "emotional" posts, but the advice you will get is indispensible.

 
Thank you! I really do hope people forget about this post, I wish I had one of those "men in black" memory eraser thingys. [] 
 
I will definitely post pics. It'll probably be in a few days...

edited

ORIGINAL: boneyjean

You know, Izzy was a lot the same way when we brought her home.  She is a screamer too!  She screamed all the way through the first two nights until she went hoarse.   (s/p?)  She screams at the vet too, but now runs to her crate anytime she thinks we are leaving.  She really just doesn't like strangers to ick her up now and that is fine with me.  It is a trust thing for her.  It does get better.  I will say that from an outsider looking in Izzy looks like one of those bratty dogs you keep referring to, and we even thought that at first a little, but she trusts us now and really is not a bratty dog.  Other people might still think she is but we absolutley adore her and she has so much personality and is so animated b/c of it.  Harley absolutely lovers her now too!  I am so glad you are going ot give it a go.  Harley was the easiest puppy ever and it took me months to feel like I really got anywhere with Izzy.  Just hang in there b/c the reward is so much better than the work it took to get there.

We all want to see pics!!!!!

 
If Cinnabun can get to the point that he only screams at the vet, then I'll be pretty happy!
 
I'm really sorry that I haven't been able to post pics yet. It's probably going to be Sept. 1st before I can get them developed... so that's about 3 days...

I wish I had one of those "men in black" memory eraser thingys.

According to Will Smith, the technical term for that is a "Flashy Thing". [sm=biggrin.gif]

Just to make you feel just a little better, I'll back up my evil puppy claims with a pic. This is my Bree at maybe 10 or 11 weeks old giving me lip.

Doesn't Ginger look horribly harrassed? rofl

ORIGINAL: dogslyfe

I wish I had one of those "men in black" memory eraser thingys.

According to Will Smith, the technical term for that is a "Flashy Thing". [sm=biggrin.gif]

Just to make you feel just a little better, I'll back up my evil puppy claims with a pic. This is my Bree at maybe 10 or 11 weeks old giving me lip.

 
Yeah, I'll be on ebay looking for one of those flashy thingys... []
 
LOL at that picture of Bree giving you lip!!!
 
*By the way, Cinnabun has been peacefully napping for the past hour or so. I keep walking over to check on him and he's snoozing away. Ahhhhhhh. []

I also just wanted to mention that for the first few days with Daisy, her and Duke did not get along!  She harassed him so badly (she is so overbearing) and Duke was miserable.  But after a couple of weeks they became best friends.  Duke still gets really cranky with her or runs to me for help when she is a little 'too' puppy.... but he loves her.  I think that he would be lost without her now. 

I remember when we got Molly.  Man, what a nightmare.  My boyfriend and I had never fought before (well, not really) but all of a sudden we fought all the time - about everything!  We finally realized our fighting all started about the same time Molly came to live with us.  We went from a LAZY (repeat: LAZY) 9 year old Rott/Lab to the most hyperactive spastic 3 month old hound ever imaginable.  Talk about stress - seperately - and on our relationship.  (It makes me even more convinced we should never have kids, except furry "adult" kids!)  We got through it stronger and now we couldn't imagine life without her - even if she does still have her spastic moments!  Hang in there!

For me it's like this: I often don't think I'm good enough to care for these dogs. These beautiful living creatures are counting on me and I'm not living up to what I think they need. I have very high standards, for myself and for others--but mostly for myself. If I can't solve a problem my dog is having, I feel like a failure and I feel like there's got to be a jillion people out there who would not fail my dog like I've done.

 
Wow get out of my head houndlover, lol that is exactly how I feel and felt.

Doesn't Ginger look horribly harrassed? rofl

LOL!!! [sm=rofl.gif]

People think I'm crazy when I liken getting a puppy to having a baby. With both, there is an adjustment period. You have to get used to taking the puppy out all the time, getting up in the middle of the night to let the puppy out if necessary, adjusting your schedule and not being able to do things because the puppy can't be home alone for a long time and things like that. It can be stressful and sometimes it can be emotional. I know there were a few times when I was tempted to flush Shelby down the toilet. I'm just thankful that the experience I had with the Borzoi did not repeat itself because I probably would've needed therapy. I would like to add another BT to the family in another year or so and even sometimes I think to myself "Are you sure about that?". Sometimes I think we're serious masochists to keep doing it over and over again but how can you say no to such sweet faces? []

I feel kind of silly that I got so overwhelmed and was ready to throw in the towel.

No need to feel silly.  There were times that I wondered what in the H-E double toothpicks I was doing with Xerxes.  And why didn't he listen, and why did I have to get up every couple of hours to take him out, and why was he talking back to me at 3 months old and and and and...

Now he's starting to go through a "I'm all grown up now and you're not my boss" stage.  So we do more obedience on the leash and blah blah blah....The point being I stuck with him, just like you're doing with your Cinnabun.  The best part is that you get to watch Cinnabun blossom into a cuddly furball just like your Gingerbread. 

Posting your feelings on this board is a good thing.  How would you have gotten this feedback if you hadn't done so?  At the best, you've discouraged someone from getting a puppy that they're not ready for...and probably saving that pup's life.  I'm glad you shared.  It validates the feelings that others have had. Give that screaming little furball a big hug from me.