I have a big dilemma. I have two dogs currently, and I cannot, for any reason bring in a third.
One dog is a very stable Boxer, Kavik. I have had her since a pup, and I originally got her to be a working dog. She doesn't have what it takes, and to push her to be a working dog is really not fair to her. I *could* probably get her titled, but it would not be what is best for her.
The other is the newer rescue, Ivan. He has potential for a working dog, and he is really catching on quick to play since the seminar. He *may* be able to be titled, but it would be hard. He has great potential as a SAR dog, and he really shows a lot of tracking/detection potential. There is so much prejudice because of his breed that no one will "allow" the risk. No one.
I really really want to get into ringsport or at least schutzhund work. For that I need to get a dog that can do the job.
So, I either have to
A - wait for one of the two that I have to pass on - which will (hopefully) be at least 10 years down the road
B - move to where I can keep both (but I really like where I live, and I am not able to just "move", plus, If I have to move, I would be moving to somewhere there is a better club to join, or at least a few people that are interested. This means I'd probably be moving to another state. Not an easy thing to do with dogs, horses, significant other...
C - rehome one of my two dogs. the Boxer (Kavik) could literally go just about anywhere. As long as it was a good home, she is so easy to work with, that she would even be a great first dog for someone willing to do the right things. (not because she would be dangerous, but because it wouldn't be fair to her)
-Ivan would be significantly harder to re-home. He would do very well with an experienced dog owner, but there would be less of a learning curve because of his past. He *must* have consistent handling, and consistent training. He is a fantastic dog, and wonderful with people, and other dogs - when he is handled correctly. But he HAS to go to the right home. This makes it more difficult. I'm torn as to what to do here.

None of this sounds very fair to the dogs.

Why not join a Schutzhund or Ring club, without your dogs for now.
Ask if you can become trained as a helper/decoy, and learn as much as you can about training. Leave your dogs at home.

You'll have a ton of experience, once you decide to get another (third dog), or once one of the current dogs has passed on.

You may even find that one of your current dogs is more than suitable. Just because they may never be titled, doesn't mean the training wouldn't be fun for all of you.

 Quote: alyssa myracle

None of this sounds very fair to the dogs.

Why not join a Schutzhund or Ring club, without your dogs for now.
Ask if you can become trained as a helper/decoy, and learn as much as you can about training. Leave your dogs at home.

You'll have a ton of experience, once you decide to get another (third dog), or once one of the current dogs has passed on.

You may even find that one of your current dogs is more than suitable. Just because they may never be titled, doesn't mean the training wouldn't be fun for all of you.

There is not a single club in this state at all that will allow me to join without a "title-able" dog. In fact, the only club that called me back told me that I couldn't even attend as a spectator. It has basically brought to light a problem that I have known for years. I need to get a dog cut out for what I want to do. When I took on Ivan, I was actually in the middle of arranging for a working dog that WOULD have been up to the work, and he was around 18mo old I believe?
I have been trying to find a good pup for 5 years now. The "prospect" I have (Kavik) is now 3, and is not cut out for it. I will not be in a situation where I can get a third for a few years, at least.
I cannot train more than 30 dogs in a week, then come home and train my three on top of it. It's hard enough with two. Waiting for 10 years is not really possible either.
It's not like I'd be "dumping" the dog, though, It would be most likely going to a good friend of mine who's dog just passed away. She has known Kavik since she was a pup, and has been hoping I would eventually breed her for 2 years now.

Just out of curiosity, what breed is Ivan?

Ivan is the fighter that I rescued 2 months ago... pit bull

That seems funny that they don't allow spectators. We have people watch all the time. I know it must be tough for trainers and clubs sometimes because of the amount of people that just come out a couple of times and never come back, but what your facing seems a little on the extreme.

So you have a suitable home for Kavik right now, why not send her there?
The friend will be happy with Kavik, and you can get the dog you want for ring sport.
It sounds like a perfect solution.

I think you could try re-homing Kavik with your friend... it sounds ideal for what you want, if you would still get to see her all the time.

Plus it sounds like she'd get more one on one, being the only dog in the home. Why not ask your friend if she'd like to watch Kavik for a week or two to see how it goes? (for both you and your friend, as well as the dog)

It sounds like you are torn because you don't want to give her up, which is totally understandable since you had her since a puppy, and you have committed to her. If you do decide to rehome her, I would have the friend sign an agreement that if anything happens (like she has to move or has a baby or anything) and she wants to give the dog up, that she be returned to you or you have the final say where she ends up. It would REALLY suck to find out 5 years down the road she ended up in a shelter.

My friend lives 600 miles from me. I couldn't just pop down the road to see Kavik.
Yeah, I'm torn because I know that what is best for her would be a lower drive home as a pet, rather than where she is now. But I got her as a pup.
Shelter would never be an option ever. But thanks for mentioning - it's horrible to think about!
The only other option is finding a suitable home for Ivan, but I have a bit more responsibility there.
It's just a hard dilemma.
Steve - thanks. I thought that was a bit off, but that was what they said. When the one club I talked to heard about the pitbull, they said no way

The reason that I wrote this thread is because I wanted to get some input on this matter. I know that I will get advice that I will value greatly.
It's not at all something that I take lightly, and I have a responsibility to the dogs that I have NOW.
Either way, I won't be making a quick decision, and I will have to make sure that I arrive at the right one for the dogs, no matter how badly I want to do something else.
Ideally, I would really like to at least learn with the dogs that I have until I can add a third.
Hell, I'd love to have 30 dogs - guess I'm a sucker like that. Who knows? I may end up like others here that collect dogs lol.
But I really appreciate any advice I get on ideas. And maybe I just need to go to a different state to do schutzhund work. (the one guy called me back a bit ago - they seem to be more of a good ole boy club than anything else.)