To rescue or to raise..THAT is the question

[llombardo]

Originally Posted by zivagirl

This girl is all of those things - but she also has a voice.

She comes home on Tuesday.

[katieliz]

good choice (no choice, lolol???)...hoping everything goes wonderfully for you!

[blehmannwa]

Yay!! When I was fostering pit bulls, I saw one of the pups choose her human. It was amazing. The pup was Dinah and she was snow white and sweet, sweet, sweet! I was really wanting to keep her but I got an application from a family. I arranged to meet them at Dinah's puppy class and the moment that Dinah laid eyes on them it was a done deal. It was as though she recognized them.

In answer to your question, Havoc was 8 weeks when I brought him home. He pooped in the house once and pee'd on a throw rug a few times. He was from a very good breeder and already had an idea that one should "go" outside. Tempest is a rehomed pit that probably was my most frustrating house train. She gathered that she should go through a doorway to eliminate but didn't grasp that the door should go outside.

[zivagirl]

Forgive me for laughing, but the doors comment just struck me as funny. I am anxious to see how Beth acts without a man hanging around. How she acts in a gruff-free zone.

[blehmannwa]

P.S. A Dog's Purpose is a great book.

[blehmannwa]

It took me a bit to figure out the problem with doors. Eventually I just closed all doors and blocked off hallways. I finally hung a bell on the backdoor and trained her to ring it for outside. She abuses the privilege.

[heronponie]

Congrats on your new dog!

FWIW, my eskie used to be a submissive pee-r. She was given to me because the last owner hated the peeing.

She did grow out of it naturally once she moved in to my home. I can't say I'd guarantee that result for every dog with this issue, but she proves that it CAN happen!

[zivagirl]

I have been doing a lot of research, a lot of question asking. Generally speaking, removing a rescue from a kennel setting often works as a reset.

Either way, we're going to deal with accidents.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

I got a foster who was 8 and had lived in an outdoor kennel all her life. She's the black GSD in my avatar. She never left (foster failure but she was also not a pet dog for a pet home due to temperament issues) until it was her time to go. I had her for 3 years, 9 months (not long enough!) and she was super conscientious about doing potty outdoors only. It may not be the case at first with the peeing she's doing, and obviously each dog is different, but Nina didn't like to go outside at all. Ever. She'd had enough! If it was rainy, she would go out 2x a day! And held it!

My Bella GSD was a nervous pee'r and I have a nervous pooper - so it can be worse! The nervous pooper for about 2 years I didn't move my arms or raise my voice. Talk about conditioning behavior! I was very well trained not to do anything that would empty out her colon pocket - she wasn't even that bad, I just didn't want to freak her out. She will learn that she doesn't need to do it when she sees how patient you are.

I would join the Yahoo shyk9 group - the archives alone are worth making up an account.

Congrats to you and to her! Puppies are nice but you will find that you are in a partnership with an adult dog and bond with them in such a great way!

[Fynn&Vandy]

So excited about your choice!! Can't wait to hear all about her and see tons of pics!! Congrats!! And as a fellow rescuer THANK YOU!!!!!