So after a hellish summer and awful winter, Finn, my sister's lab I took in back in may, is going to be rehomed next week to Ontario.
He was absolutely terrified and literally screaming with the bugs in the summer, and absolutely hates the cold. He will literally sit in one spot when I shovel, and not move, or play and will even ignore food outside. And inside he shuts down. He is miserable. This is not the climate for him,and since I am outside all seasons, he has to be crated due to chewing issues when left alone.
So after much thought, and to make him happy, I contacted a friend of my sister, who had wanted him long before she sent him to me, and she was overjoyed and immediately agreed to take him.
I will miss him in spring, his only favorite season here, but for his health and my peace of mind, since I feel guilt every time I have to leave him crated, it will have to be.
I am going to be dog free until possibly late fall, and then I may look into getting a pup and starting over.

Harry, the sheepdog has gone through training, and was one of the worst cases for impulse control, according to the trainer. Luckily she will be working with my sister and him for a year. My sister likes his growly attitude to strangers, and he is officially hers now. That one I don't miss a bit. He was way too much dog for me, as most of you had said before. The vet wanted him on prozac, but my sister declined. I wish them all good luck, and hope all dogs are happy in their new homes.
I have gotten to the point I just want a goofy, trainable easy going companion, but will wait until the right one pops at me.
How is everyone else doing?

Hopefully all will go well for Finn now.

All doing good here!

He just can't cope with the freezing conditions, we have been in the low -40's for windchill all month. I feel bad for him. Luckily for him the temps are mild where he is headed, will be exciting to see how he grows there!

Considering your situation I think you've chosen the right decision, for the dogs and for yourself. But be careful with the "goofy" ones (I like that word!) . But all dogs are clever and a goofy one might just simulate being like that and behave insidiously as if he were easy trainable, but over time you'll be the one who's being trained. He'll know how to capture your heart and finally you'll have a possessive Goofy-Sweetie. (Don't take me seriously, just kidding you).

Haha Christine, after the numerous dogs with severe health issues, behaviour issues etc, I am going to try and enjoy a bit of quiet, and look very much forward to hearing finn's and Harry's progress, and eventually finding the right match for myself. But no more taking in someone else's dogs anymore!

So I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, Becky. Some day you'll find a very Smart Goofy, who will wrap you around his paw at lightning speed.

So sorry you are having such problems finding a canine companion! I wish I could help!

My dogs are doing pretty well. Toni turned 15 in September and is still going strong. It was 3 years ago this week that we lost her sister Cat, and 2 years ago this week that we lost the Drifty Dog, so this week has been a bit melancholy to say the least.

Fennec is still a nut wagon, but she keeps us on our toes, and is fun to be around. As she ages, she is slower to over stimulate, so maybe by the time she is 10 she will be calm... as calm as a Malinois can be, anyway...

Eleven just turned 2 at Christmas, and is totally and completely Paul’s dog. He wasn’t ready for a pup when she joined us as he was hurting pretty bad after losing Drift, but it didn’t take him long to warm up to her. She continues to go with me to visit the kids and do the therapy dog thing, but her heart belongs to Paul.

 Quote: Kelly

So sorry you are having such problems finding a canine companion! I wish I could help!

My dogs are doing pretty well. Toni turned 15 in September and is still going strong. It was 3 years ago this week that we lost her sister Cat, and 2 years ago this week that we lost the Drifty Dog, so this week has been a bit melancholy to say the least.

Fennec is still a nut wagon, but she keeps us on our toes, and is fun to be around. As she ages, she is slower to over stimulate, so maybe by the time she is 10 she will be calm... as calm as a Malinois can be, anyway...

Eleven just turned 2 at Christmas, and is totally and completely Paul’s dog. He wasn’t ready for a pup when she joined us as he was hurting pretty bad after losing Drift, but it didn’t take him long to warm up to her. She continues to go with me to visit the kids and do the therapy dog thing, but her heart belongs to Paul.

It's great to read this, Kelly!

Thanks Kelly, glad all is well, how did you heal up? Great I hope!
We had way too many wolves stalking Finn this winter, it has been risky at bedtime potties because he was slow to poo and never barks, so the move is going to be safer for him and I. Tired of shooting at the bastards.

I bathed and cleaned him up, and secluded him to the crate for the week, just to prep him for his long trek.
I am relieved that he leaves tmrw morning, as it will be getting cold again here right away!
No more impulse dogs. I am going to think long and hard about what would suit my needs here. Until then I will hang out with my rats on my down time hee hee!

The hips healed up great - better than new!

The wild critters we have aren’t nearly as brazen as the ones you have- except for the badgers. Those things will walk right up to you and take off a leg. A friend of mine had a horse attacked by a badger... messed up the horse pretty bad.

The bears aren’t bad but I watch the dogs in the spring when they come out with the cubs... we have a creek through the property and it seems to be where everything in the area comes to drink.

We have a wolf too, but I have only seen him once - though I have found his prints a few times - they are huge! I know when he’s around because Toni will actually sit and shake and refuse to go outside.

We had a cougar wander through one day a few years ago, but we haven’t seen it since. I had the dogs out and Caterina alerted on it. Took me a second to figure out what it was she was looking at, and I hustled the dogs in pretty fast! It was maybe 100 yards away.

Stay safe, and the right dog will come along. You have more environmental concerns to think about than most of us do when getting a new dog. I think once you find that dog, it will be worth the wait.