Inspired1

Just spoke to Bindi's old "mum" and she's coming to pick her up this afternoon, I do still feel like a bit of a failure, but this environment/our lifestyle and skills is not quite right for Bindi. Hopefully they can find someone to help her out. Thanks so much everyone for your advice, and I've learnt a really big lesson here about fostering and/or introducing a dog into our home. Right now I am feeling so so much more in awe of our amazingly handsome, well mannered boy, realised just how wonderful he is, even though I knew it before

I wouldn't say that at all.. it's more that this dog is more than you are equipped to assess/handle- and she needs to be properly surrendered/assessed/dealt with...and not 'rehomed' Just now make sure that she is legally yours to pass on/surrender! You did this with the right intentions ... Thanks persephone, yes I'll be checking with the old owners first to see that they are ok with me passing her on. I haven't changed her registration obvously as we only got her yesterday afternoon and I'll pass her old owners details onto whoever ends up taking her as they will probably want to ask questions about her past I am guessing. I am feeling like a bit of a failure, and my husband says "she'll be right she just needs time" that very well could be the case, but I really think she needs to be somewhere who can offer her a more regulated environment and really work with her etc.

Poodlefan, thanks for that, yes you are right! Aggression does concern me which is why I'll be seeking help for her or rehoming her to someone who can work with her I don't want to put us, our animals or anyone elses animals at risk, I am honest in saying I've not had any experience with a dog like this before. I can assure you I'm keeping her leashed and seperated where she cannot hurt herself or the other animals, and I've told the kids to speak firmly and nice to her with a nice pat, but not to get down at her level and not without me as I'm aware if another animal is near and she doesn't like it, obviously the bad could happen. I will be passing her onto someone else and will work out who that will be today hopefully, and will let her previous owners know too. I do understand the gravity and that's why I came here, we obviously don't have a good environment and I feel she does still deserve to go to someone who can work with her to really understand her and professionally know how to deal with her. Thanks everyone

Nekhbet, thanks for the advice. I am aware that things we may be doing may be wrong for Bindi and be making it harder for her to cope with the situation. I will be seeking the help of someone locally if at all possible, as obviously I don't want to cause or worsen behaviours. I'll be calling the local animal welfare group today

P.S. Thanks Vickie, your advice is helpful. Yes you are right we are VERY blessed with our boy, I have realised just how blessed over the last 12 hrs We rehomed him age 5 and he's never ha an issue with other dogs or animals and he seems to know that we will protect him if Bindi is aggressive so he simply is relaxed and goes about being the big sook he is normally I will take note on the affection, I had probably incorrectly figured she would be frigtened and missing her pack so would need reassurance, but then I was also worried she would think all the affection would mean we were in fact hers and Yoshi should not be close. To get around this when the kids were in bed last night Yoshi was on his bed we had her on the lead and just spoke calmly but firmly to her while they were both in the room. She was fine for a while and then lunged so we removed her to the laundry. I do honestly feel that the entire situation is what's driving her behaviour it's scary and new, I will try to find someone locally to work with her in a calmer environment that will not be so overwhelming. We camp and bushwalk a lot and can't risk having a dog aggressive dog, but I believe in a single animal home as she has been and with someone who can slowly socialize her and work with her she will be a wonderful dog. She's definitely not a bad dog now, we just need to know how to help her be better with her behaviour

Thanks again everyone. She truly is a beautiful dog and will definitely make a wonderful family pet. Her tail was out from between her legs a little more this morning. She was walking on leash in the yard, and my boy was playing with a soccer ball, she is fine having him there and isn't constantly trying to attack or anything, but she did have a little lunge at him, so I have walked her around a little more and she's back in the laundry now so not to meet the pig this morning. We are on an acre and surrounded by 300 acres so she is hearing cows and seeing cars that is something she's definitely not used to. I will contact the owners and the animal rescue group locally today to see if they have someone locally who can give a hand. I think I was overwhelmed and emotional in my first post, but he isn't an attack dog by any means and does tolerate Yoshi being around, but of course only time and correct direction will tell if she can be rehomed with other animals. When we went back to the bird aviary this morning her first instinct was to jump and try and chase, but with simple reinforcement and redirection she moved on so it's not all bad will see how we go taking things one step at a time anyways

Hi Blue Collie, thank you so much for the words of encouragement. I almost feel like calling the old owners and telling them we just can't do it, but the other half of me wants to give her a chance here! She really is a sweet girl and would hate to see her go to a pound or anything of the likes. We are near Port Macquarie, so not all that far from you if you are Newcastle. Tonight hubby was sitting with her in the lounge room holding her on a loose lead and I was on the lounge, she definitely knows I am "safe" for her as she made her way over. Both dogs were fine for some time until she decided otherwise and had a go. My boy doesn't retaliate so it's not a "fight" and she hasn't hurt him, it looks serious but more her trying to protect herself from a percieved threat I think. We have given her her own Space in the laundry/mud room so she can be warm and cosy to sleep. My worry is that even if she does settle that I will not ever be able to really trust her and one of our children might be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I probably sound stupid taking her on at all, but she deserves a loving home and her owners were desperate and expecting a baby and needing to leave their current house. Any pointers or ideas you have would be much appreciated Blue collie, thank you!! I absolutely understand She has had an overwhelming day! I am feeling a bit teary at the moment wondering I I have done a dumb thing, she's not a bad dog but maybe our house is bad for her?

Thanks everyone for your input. She has improved remarkably already, and on your advice have not tapped her nose again. She definitely looks to humans for guidance on behaviour and wants to please. Please don't think I am irresponsible with her, she is separated from the other animals and is only introduced to Yoshi on a lead and has constant positive reinforcement and affection from everyone here. The pig is a difficulty but I will work out something tomorrow, Bindi only arrived this afternoon. Yes, right now I do feel bad that she had not seamlessly fit in here. The young couple are not likely to pay for a beahviouralist nor do I know if there are any locally. I have a feeling she has done puppy preschool and then had very little interaction with animals other than chasing birds in the back yard. I am willing to give her a couple of days of exploring and settling and doing the best I can with her, if she doesn't settle then perhaps she is suited to a single dog/animal family. Right now she just wanders back to the spot her owners car was when they dropped her. It's making me so sad for her! If we didn't have other animals he would just snuggle. I guess my big heart has maybe not served me the best this time

Thanks, yes our boy is wondering what's happening, but I truly think she's just scared senseless and overwhelmed. I'm willing to give her a little time to settle as she can't do enough to get close to people and just earlier she wet herself when the pig got too close thru the gate. I think it's obviously a very scary environment fo her, so perhaps just some time to settle in and realise she's not in danger might be in order?

EDIT to say: Bindi is going back to her family and they are going to continue looking for a rental where they can take her, or a home where she will get what she needed. Thanks for your advice and help Hi everyone, A local couple were needing temporary (possibly permanent) rehoming of their Border Collie girl, so I offered to take her in here just in case they can find a new rental where they can keep dogs, and if not, either keep her, or rehome her somewhere lovely. We dropped over yesterday as apparently she's normally good with other dogs, so myself and the 3 kiddos and our Kelpie x Koolie boy went to visit. As soon as we got to the front door she went wild, barking and pulling and looking like she wanted to kill him. I thought because it was her territory it was obviously not going to work that way (the owners wanted to meet us/our dog before we took her), so I offered for them to come out to our place today to drop her off as they need to move very very soon. Well I can say that she's WONDERFUL with people and kids, but she still tries to attack our boy, as well as the pig and the rabbit. I get the feeling maybe she's not as socialised as they thought. I understand she's scared and this is all new/strange for her, and I want this to be as good of an experience for her as possible. How do I get her to fit into our home and stop her aggression towards our dog and other animals? About Bindi: She's a 2.5 year undesexed Border Collie She's lived with her 2 owners in a backyard by herself and they both work. She sits and drops on command She loves balls/chasing things including birds (even the windscreen wipers in the car sent her into a spin!) She is wonderful with kids and people and has quickly learnt that I am alpha and she must do what I require of her although she still has a hard time controlling herself from attacking the animals. She's on a leash at all times while she is here so far. Our poor 7 yr old Kelpie x is such a sook, generally he can hold his own, but he just looks at me with sad eyes when she tries to attack him and then stands behind me, or goes to his blanket, he's never one for confrontation but never one to back down if he really feels his territory is at threat. I actually feel bad for him right now. So how do I help this girl control her aggression and co-exist with other animals? So far I just pull right back on her lead and give her a firm NO BINDI and a harsh talking to, if she keeps going I have been giving her a smack on the nose along with the NO and the firm talking too. We have been giving her reassuring pats when she's doing the right thing, and don't have toys or food around them. She layed down for a belly rub when Yoshi was in the same room but then when she stood up and I went to walk her back out she attacked again. He just sits there and watches her. Any pointers or ideas or links to good info would be great, thanks, Loreena

Oh how sad Our Kelpie is black with spots of white on his chest and feet. We found out about him just before his owners had to surrender him, so we love him and feel lucky to have him, so he doesn't feel unlucky to us :D

Hi everyone, We're looking for a new 4 legged friend to add to our family. We already have a Kelpie/Koolie we rehomed as a 5 year old, and he absolutely thinks he's human!! There's a bullmastiff nearby being offered as the owners rehomed her from someone else, but she's not in any way protective over them, apparantly she's so laid back and cruisy and they were looking for more of a guard dog, and the guard dog they have found doesn't like other dogs, they also can't afford to keep 2 dogs. So, we are really considering taking her on and rehoming her. She's desexed 4.5 years and we are told she's pure, although that's not really of much concern to us. She's absolutely placid, is toilet trained and loves kids, so that's everything we are looking for in a dog. I guess not knowing much about the breed is why I am asking here. Our Kelpie sits on our laps if he can, he really thinks his human and loves his people, I am wondering if you think a bullmastiff would get edgy having another "people dog" around. I am sure our Kelpie might wonder what's going on at first but he'll be fine. Any advice or ideas on how well a 4.5yr mastiff might rehome. Considering she's been rehomed only a month ago and these people want to move her on due to her placid nature, I can't help but want to give her a home where she'll get to stay. I think we may take our boy over to meet her and the kids and see how we go from there. Is there any way to tell if she has any problems such as hip displaysia just by looking at her? Any opinions or advice would be great, Thanks