Home Needed For Family Pet

[mixeduppup]

Why do you always have to be so rude DD !

Completely agreed

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Bellacody, will you at least consider what I suggested about the Prozac? If a dog is suffering from stress, it may help - definitely worth asking the vet if Mia doesn't have to be gone right now.

Absolutely Dogmad, I'm definitely going to be talking to my son about Prozac.

Great, I know it's a stressful time but they may just come across somewhere they can rent with a dog that is suitable.

[bellacody]

Great, I know it's a stressful time but they may just come across somewhere they can rent with a dog that is suitable.

I sure hope for this but they get knocked back every time . I don't know why the few who cause issues with rentals make it so difficult for those that do the right thing.

[Gertrude139]

I found the thing that helped me the most to find a pet friendly rental with two medium/large sized dogs was to have a 'pet resume'. I submitted it with all my applications.

I had a photo of each dog on there and a little bit about them, their training and behaviour and assurance that if they caused any damage it would all be repaired at our cost immediately. I also had 'references' from my neighbours, vet nurse and breeder. This really helped to get the agents on board with most of them commenting on what lovely dogs we had. And I had virtually no rental history too. Tell them to apply for places that don't specifically say pet friendly too, two of the three offers I got were for places not listed as pet friendly.

[melzawelza]

Hi BellaCody,

Just wanted to commend you for all you are doing for this little girl. Good on you.

When you say she is aggressive to other dogs, what exactly does she do? The reason I'm asking is a lot of dogs may be all show but can live quite happily with other dogs if their owner manages them.

I'm wondering if you're able to get a crate at your place and crate/rotate her and your dog initially - to at least bide her more time while you try and find somewhere for her to go.

I find Vebo to be the cheapest for high quality crates:

Vebo Pet

A crate could also be very helpful for working with her separation anxiety too if she is properly crate trained.

Just something to consider as a management strategy to buy you and her more time.

You may find after some time crating and rotating she warms to your dog - if she is reactive out of fear (which is possible seeing as she has been attacked in the past) she may improve once she's spent enough time with your dog safely.

A behaviourist would of course be ideal as they can actually come and see her behaviour and give more tailored advice but just a few things that are popping in to my mind reading the thread.

[Guest hankodie]

I know a great behaviourist on the coast if you do decide to go down that path, PM me if you want her name. I hope you work it out, it's definitely a tough situation to be in.

Edit: I think you should definitely consider consulting a behaviourist to assess her issues, I don't think people should be recommending her to be euthanised if her issues can indeed be managed and there is no way to be able to tell that from your posts alone. Please try and consider all of the options and resources available to you and your son's dog.

I'm not sure how to PM...can you please PM her name to me, just in case, although money is an issue for them. I just feel it will be good to have. Truly, the other posters were just worrying about how anxious she gets, they didn't mean to go ahead and euthanize her. They were just concerned and worried about her anxieties going through the roof at the next home . I have a lot to talk to my son about....nothing can be rushed...I'll do my best to make sure of that. I appreciate your post very much hankodie. In fact, everyone has just tried so hard to help me under this awful situation, I just appreciate you all.

Bellacody, if you are on a computer, look to the top right hand side next to your username. There should be a notification for a private message there, just click on it. The behaviourist i have in mind is very good she will be able to identify and give you great advice, even if you do decide to re-home she can give you great advice as to what kind of home you need to look for.

[Staffyluv]

If she has her papers, have you contacted her breeder - perhaps they can help you rehome the Stafforshire Bull Terrier?

Make up posters and put them up at the local vets and ask local rescue groups if they mind helping you rehome her. I think Staffy Rescue in Sydney help with private rehoming and I am sure Mina and Anthony at Big Dog Rescue would help with adding her to their facebook groups and websites.. I am sure there are other rescue groups near you, maybe post in rescue to ask what rescue groups are in your area?

Be open and honest in your poster about her personality and what she needs.. But don't be negative about it.

I did a poster for my last foster girl (I can send you a copy if you like to give you some ideas).

Some dogs do better in a new home.. The last girl I had through had numerous issues in her home but here with me, we really didn't see much in the way of problems at all.. Dogs adjust quite well and tend to 'fit in' with the home they are in at the time. Not all but most do..

Is she aggressive towards other dogs or is it just that she hasn't been well socialised and doesn't really know how to behave around others?

[WreckitWhippet]

I would have thought that a staffy of only 8-9 kgs would be quite easy to rehome, actually, even taking into account her other issues. Find someone who wants a small loving dog and a constant companion and she'd probably have her ideal home.

That home needs to be found, of course.

Advertising in the local paper and getting information from a rescue person as to how to check out the calls and the potential home would probably be the way to go.

Well I was thinking exactly that, that maybe an older person just wanting a constant companion would be perfect....but I wasn't thinking about her stress levels completely. Part of me thinks her anxieties would be better if she had that special someone who wanted to be with her all the time...it's just so very hard, isn't it. I have a few rescue places to hear back from and one to call so maybe it will be ok...I hope.

Actually this isn't always the best option, everyone thinks it is because the dog needs company it seems.

The dog I just mentioned in my post had an elderly owner who spent most of their time with him.

However we all have to go out at some point - shopping, doctors etc unless we are housebound.

When his owner went out, the dog I had was put outside. His distress was enormous and he climbed trees and a 6ft fence and took off.

In the end his owner would leave the gate open so he didn't injure himself in his stressed out state.

Weaning the dog off the need for constant human company is the best thing ...

We are all aware and in awe of your vast experience, Dogmad, but my response was not made in the context of Mia's need for constant attention: it was made in the context of her being a vey small Staffy and a vey loving playful little dog. AND, in the knowledge which I am sure that you also have, that dogs can change in different household.

Owners, despite their very best intentions, can make a dog anxious and wary and, perhaps, even dog aggressive.

In another home, Mia could just as easily settle down, curled into a comfortable ball and wait for her owner to come home.

No need to be rude Danny, where I'm concerned I know you find it difficult - merry Christmas to you :) Dogs with anxiety problems don't generally just get sorted out by moving to yet another home either.

Especially dog aggressive SBT's , with anxiety.

They become the serial escape artists and home wreckers.

[Guest Ams]

BellaCody you didn't really answer the question regarding time frame, or if you did and I've missed it, I do apologise. How long does this dog have before it HAS to be rehomed? Are we looking at days, weeks or months. "Not long" is non-specific. I've had one person define that as "by 5 pm this afternoon" and another "oh not for six months".

A definite time frame will help us help you in your decision making regarding medication and what training to start, what will be helpful and what simply won't work if the time frame is too short.

It will also help rescue organisations in making decisions about when they may need to try and make room for her. I am often doing the mental dog shuffle in my head when people contact me about surrenders as I may have anything up to five or six dogs who I know are "coming" into care and what their time line is.

[Dame Aussie]

Oh she's lovely, I don't really have any advice other than what has already been posted, but I hope you can find a solution.

Good on you for trying to help her :)

[BigDaz]

Your best bet is to find the right Rescue, a good organization that understands Staffords will find a loving home for this dog.

What was mentioned earlier about a dogs situation dictating its aggressiveness and anxiety is a possibility. I have seen anxious or dog aggressive dogs thrive in a new situation where they are happy and not carrying the weight of the family on their shoulders....Staffy's do this.

Keep working at it.

[OSoSwift]

Don't worry about those with their own agenda's. You have not caused any issues with any people that did not already have them :)

A little more idea of timeline would be beneficial.