Hello again,

I am waiting for a call back from the breeder we got him from, as she has said in the past that because of the ongoing issues with him, she would take him back and rehome him.

I can't help but feel a sense of disappoint in mostly our family situation as I do care for Squirt and it will be a gut-wrenching day to see him go. I know that we have done the best we could with the knowledge we have , but I do not think it is realistic to keep him SAFELY and to provide a GOOD home for him...not just a cement slab and some chain link. This is my priority and more than anything I just don't want him misunderstood by anyone else because he is a well meaning, wanting to please type dog. This has been a huge learning situation that I will never forget, and I plan to never treat a dog the way I have treated my dogs (not understanding of pack rules, boundaries, viewing them like you would a child, etc), ever again.
I thank you for all of your input and advice, it was very helpful!
I will continue to provide updates.
Becky

It sounds like you are on the right path, and "good on ya'" for doing the right, albeit difficult thing. Hang in there.

Thank you Rebecca for admitting the truth.
This dogs 'issues' should have been handled long ago. Now it's a little inconvenient because you have to face it everyday.
Well it is a lesson, one I hope you remember if you ever decide to get another dog. Too bad the dog has to pay for your teaching.

That you have a child now has little to do with my feeling on this matter. This dog should have been rehomed long before now as you haven't devoted the time or energy needed to deal with this dog even without the extra burden of a child.
And yeah, whatever their numbers happen to be,there are dogs that don't belong in a family, but that sounds more like an excuse then a reason to me.

I'll reserve my sympathies for the dog.
I hope he finds some good owners.

Randy

Becky, it sounds like you are doing the best thing for your family and for the dog. Hard lesson to learn...
Good luck!

 Quote: randy allen

That you have a child now has little to do with my feeling on this matter. This dog should have been rehomed long before now as you haven't devoted the time or energy needed to deal with this dog even without the extra burden of a child.

Randy

I can't say that I agree with you. My husband and I have devoted a lot of time and energy to working with our dogs before our child came into the picture and have continued to provide them with the best environment we can through this transition in our lives. I did not perhaps have a concrete understanding of how dogs relate to the world and this handicapped us in SOME of our interactions with them, but the issues we have had with this dog have not simply been ignored or brushed under the table.

Do not judge us prematurely.

Yeah yeah,
Whatever.

You gave your all. Okay.
And you've just had a big epiphany......but alas, it's too late.
Gee I'm sorry, but the dog should have another home.
Is that better?


Oops, I'm not the person you need to convince.

Though I don't really agree with the way it was said, I have to admit there is a large part of me that agrees with Randy. I raised a child ALONE with more than one difficult dog. It just never occurred to me to re-home a dog (with the exception of fosters). It sounds like there aren't too many that agree with this POV, but it worked out well for us. It was hard work for me, it meant my daughter had to grow up respecting dogs, but all of the time and effort were well worth it.

By the time my daughter was nine she was working safely in the Dobe kennel with me, and a year later helped start young horses. The best part of it is the respect that my daughter grew up having for animals, and the clear understanding of what the word 'commitment' means in regards to same. I'm not really a 'get rid of it' kind of person. It's my feeling that if I were, my life might be easier, but far less fulfilling.

Working with the dogs did not detract from my relationship with my daughter at all, but enhanced it.

I'll admit it was tough in the beginning, but only for a couple of years.

I'm not saying that in this case with this family that re-homing is the wrong answer. If you can't guarantee safety, it's what you have to do. I just don't want somebody reading this thread down the road to think that re-homing is THE answer. I can't help but empathize with the dog; a sentiment that my daughter, now 16, mirrors.

Anyway, that's my 1/2 cent

I would like to let you all know that I appreciate your comments and concerns for our family's safety and my dog's well-being, and I do appreciate the blunt honesty. Re-homing our dog for the sake of making our life 'easier' is not our first choice, however, the safety of our son, our neighbors and their family that frequently visits, is our first priority. I realize that this situation has escalated beyond what it needed to for mostly a lack of knowlegde on the part of my husband and I. I struggle with a sense of guilt over the past, but I cannot change it. What I CAN do is make sure that this dog has the best shot at a good future, and to continue to work with our pitt mix and teach my son the lessons I wasn't taught about dogs growing up.
I realize that my life is too busy to reasonably expect the dedication he needs at this point in his life. We are making the next right choice for him, which is that he will go to a professional trainer/breeder who will monitor his behavior, work with him, and work with his new family. This is something I cannot give him right now.
I applaud those of you who have sacrificed for your dogs well-being and been able to handle these types of situations with good outcomes. You have my respect.
Becky

the main thing is, this will be a win-win situation: the dog wins, you win.

just post if you need any input on the pitx--as i'm sure you're aware by now, you'll get lots of feedback

My two cents about re-homing. In a perfect world everyone would keep a dog from the time it's 8 weeks until it dies, but the TRUTH IS NOT EVERYONE CAN HANDLE A FEARFUL, AGGRESSIVE OR ANXIETY PRONE, ETC. ETC. DOG. Some people simply do not have the knowledge, skills, temperment, time or ability to properly deal with these hard cases!!! People and animals get hurt WHEN PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT OWN THESE KIND, KEEP THESE KIND OF DOGS OUT OF GUILT!!!!

Only YOU know if you are capable of dealing with a dog with special needs.

NOT EVERYONE SHOULD ADOPT A CHILD WITH DISABILITIES BECAUSE THEY CAN'T ALL HANDLE IT. Not everyone can keep and care for a dog with special needs.

As far as kids/babies and dogs. I have a two year old and 5 dogs. I rotate the dogs in crates, outside and loose in the house or loose on a leash. When my son is watching t.v. and sitting on the couch calmly, I will let a dog or two loose in the house while I'm supervising. When my son is running around the house like a lunatic or rough housing with daddy, the dogs are crated, outside or on a leash in a down stay (these are dogs I've worked with.) Since your son is around 8 months old, I'd like to tell you it gets easier as your son gets older, but it gets harder (in my opinion.) Because the older my son gets the more he wants "the dog to sit on my lap" and he wants to "brush" her with his car on top of her head and stuff like that.

Don't worry, lots of people have dogs and kids. I think the biggest thing to remember is don't have rose-colored glasses, never assume your dog "would never hurt a fly" and always assume your son will be willing to hurt the dog!

It's also important to learn to read dog body language and understand dog psychology. I recommend Cesar Milan's book, "Cesear's Way." It's sold on this site.