I sent one of my foster dogs, Jake the Catahoula, to another foster home yesterday, and now am wondering if I did the right thing or if I was just taking the easy way out.

He's about 9 months old, has a great grounding in the basics of obedience, fantastic toy drive, fantastic food drive, affectionate and playful and laid back, gets along with dogs, cats & kids. I really loved working with him - he catches on FAST and is so enthusiastic to do anything for you!

The problem, I discovered, is that he's a resource guarder, especially with rawhides, though any toy or food item will trigger it. The day before yesterday, he discovered a rawhide one of the other dogs had snuck out of the house and left in the back yard. I went to remove it from the environment to prevent any potential dog scuffles, he saw it, and came up the leash at me. Luckily for both of us, all I have to show for it is a nasty bruise on one hand.

I decided he had to go to another home, because while I'm sure I could manage this behavior issue, my husband can't, my father-in-law won't (he's too soft, spoils the dogs, a constant thing I have to train against), and I have young kidlets. With working two jobs and going to school full time, I'm not home long enough each day to implement a training program that would work for him, and it's not fair to keep him crated when he's not being "managed", and I can't take him to work or school with me.

I brought him to his new foster home yesterday evening, and I've met the guy who has him now before. I don't agree with all his training methods or philosophies, though all the dogs he's adopted out have been successfully retrained that I know of, and his own dogs are very well mannered sweethearts. I think he'll be able to help Jake.

Meh. I guess I am just feeling like a failure because I know how to fix him, but I don't have the time to fix him. He's only been gone a day and I miss the big dummy already. He seemed especially astute at picking up on when work was really horrible (like the night we had 3 hbcs come in and they all died) and would seat belt me into the couch when I got home.

Can't win 'em all.

In your place, I would have done the same thing. I won't ever tolerate aggression around my kid. Just me, but there are plenty of dog's in the world that aren't aggressive that I wouldn't have to worry about. Just not something I'm going to put the time into or put up with.

I think you made a good call, but only YOU know if you took the easy way out for YOUR situation.

"Easy way out" is relative to the person and their entire life situation.

Yes, you did the right thing if if would have bit a family member, you would never forgive yourself. he may be the perfect dog for someone else ( with a attitude adjustment, you don't bite the hand that feeds you )

Yes, you did the right thing if he would have bit a family member, you would never forgive yourself. he may be the perfect dog for someone else. ( with a attitude adjustment, you don't bite the hand that feeds you )

I know exactly how you feel. I've had to say no to fostering several dogs because of having the kids or time constraints for their specific needs.

I try to focus on the dogs that I can help. For example, a lot of our foster homes wont take older dogs, fearful or non-houstrained dogs. I can do that. We have another lady that always takes the Moms with pups and so on.

It sounds like he went to another foster that can help him, so you've done well by him...and family always comes first. It wouldn't help him any if he had a bite on his record...especially to a kid.

Thank you. ) I've been doubting myself a lot the past couple of months (finally took the plunge and left my "comfy" rut of 12 years in the print industry and got a job at the local e-clinic) and have been having the toughest time adjusting to being a complete novice in every aspect of work, and that lack of confidence has been carrying over to other aspects of life. Not helped by the fact that my father-in-law and I don't see eye to eye on training philosophies at all (as in, I think the dogs need at the very least a good grounding in manners before they leave my care, and he thinks they should be spoiled rotten and have no discipline whatsoever), and he's the epitome of Minnesota passive aggressive... D So the past few days since I put my foot down and sent Jake to another home have been rough, to say the least.

It sounds like you did just the right thing for your situation.



BTW, I went from e-clinic to print industry and I miss it greatly.

Lol! I miss feeling like I know what I'm doing but I don't miss the over-corporatized work environment. And I love that I'm learning so much new stuff every day at work. Sometimes I think my brain is melting lol! I'm at the "Here, hold this and don't move" stage when I actually get to be in the treatment area. Most of the time I'm still at the front desk directing triage and wading through paperwork and answering phones.

I just found out Jake got adopted, too! By a couple who have had Catahoulas in the past and were apparently experienced in working with problem behaviors. I guess they had been web stalking him and spent 4+ hours visiting with him at the adoption event, and they haven't returned him or called to complain about anything. I'm so relieved he's found a home! )