OK I have read your post and all the answers but I still don't think I understand what the problem is.

She is a nice dog, quiet in her kennel, and you love her. The only two problems and reasons you are thinking of rehoming her is because of (1) your (age?) and (2) for the VERY CONFUSING (to me) way you insist on walking this dog off leash.

Obviously nothing can be done about issue number 1, but issue number two is very easy to fix. Buy a leash. Problem solved! No training required (of the dog), and no need to spend any time, effort, or coping skills, or finding her a new home.

I think you really want to keep her otherwise you would not have made this thread. If you ABSOLUTELY MUST walk your other two dogs off leash (which is one of my biggest pet peeves), this dog needs to be ON leash.

Maybe I am WAY off base here, and didn't understand exactly what you are asking, so if that is the case than I sincerely apologize.

 Quote: Angela Burrell

but issue number two is very easy to fix. Buy a leash. Problem solved! No training required (of the dog), and no need to spend any time, effort, or coping skills, or finding her a new home.

But, the problem is not solved if the dog ever gets loose. Which, can happen and not necassarily at the fault of the owner.

Thank you all again for your kind and understanding responses.

Rick, your experience with Bella is very similar to mine with Summer and the "collar" thing, and you have given me a needed boost of confidence.

We do have the collar/leash "issue" resolved as well, and now I can grab her collar and she does not roll like a croc to try to get away, nor does she do the "bucking bronco" thing on leash and try to get out of the collar. She walks very nicely right at my side on leash without me even having to tell her to "heel", but we are working on all basic ob commands, as well.

I realize the recall problem is from lack of proofing on my part, of course, and is not the actual recall. As I said, she has a phenomonal recall when there are no distractions, but the two times she ran to the neighbors is when they were outside and their dog was outside. She ran over to greet them, and once she did, and I again whistled, she came running as fast as she could back to me and then of course, I made a big fuss over her for being such a good girl!

I also realize, as you have all pointed out is that she needs to learn she cannot ignor me and go over there to begin with! I guess I just needed to be told I did the right thing by deciding to keep her and that with work she truly will be the great dog I think she is.

As of now I am planning on keeping her and making this work, and she is scheduled to be spayed tomorrow morning.

Thanks again everyone. I will keep you posted.

I think you're doing the right thing to keep her. If you don't, you don't owe the lady with the zillions of dogs anything. Your obligation is to the dog. She would keep the dog tied up??? Hell no, she doesn't deserve the dog, and the dog deserves better than that for the rest of her life. I wonder what is happening to those 3 pups she took.

If you do decide to rehome her, work in obedience with her first until she's well trained so that the next people who adopt her won't end up putting her back in the pound.

Also, I agree with no off-leash at any time.