[middleofnowhere]

So the first owner lives 3 hours away. ... My take on this is that a good visit for an afternoon (or a couple of hours) could be a win all around. And if it isn't, this will not happen frequently, you will recover quickly, etc.

I just don't see the catastrophe in this.

 

[LuvShepherds]

It depends on how stable she is. Even though they have both owned the same dog, that is all they have in common. She is a compete stranger.

 

[BigOzzy2018]

No no no no!!!!!!!.

 

[GSDMUM]

So the first owner lives 3 hours away. ... My take on this is that a good visit for an afternoon (or a couple of hours) could be a win all around. And if it isn't, this will not happen frequently, you will recover quickly, etc.

I just don't see the catastrophe in this.

I had asked a prominant trainer in the area, author and on TV too, locally known, and she said to wait 3 months and try it once and see how the dog reacts. IF badly then no more visits, if it does not affect him, then it is okay on occasion. She said it takes about 3 months to acclimate a dog to it's new home, like us moving to a different country, to feel at home.

 

[hirakawa199006]

yes and a no

Yes, only if the owners agreeing seeing the dog on a neutral location

No, if they suspect there is wrongdoing.

Normally I would let them see over a few months so the situation calmed down a little.

 

[CarolP]

If she mentions what your husband said, I'd just say, "that was before we realized the dog has issues that require so much time, energy and money."

I stopped reading through all the replies because they all seem to say the same thing.

I'd like to elaborate. Dogs don't forget their previous owners. I wouldn't ever let her meet my dog again. It has nothing to do with her giving up the dog either. I'm not that punitive. I don't really care about her. It's all about my dog and my duty to her.

It's too confusing. When my dogs come into my home, I give them a new name, their own bed, their own crate, new toys, new everything and they start a brand new life. I usually transition them off their old food as soon as possible unless there is a veterinary reason why I can't.

I want my dogs to know, this is your home forever, and there is no going back.

BTW, there is common wisdom that it takes dogs three months to feel like their new home is really theirs. My experience (with shelter dogs I've brought home) is that it's at least a year before they fully relax. It's the small things: the way they sleep, or the way they snuggle up to existing dogs, or eat their dinners more slowly, etc. It's even longer if the dog has behavioral issues, like anxiety.

There is NO way I would let my dog see their old owner before two years.

Well, I wouldn't ever. But certainly never before the two years are up.

It really helped me to read your reply. I just adopted a 9 year old GSD from original owners who just didn't want him anymore. I have done everything for the past 3-1/2 months to make him feel comfortable, but I know he still grieves for them. I just assumed he would be fine after 3 months with me, but now I understand it can take up to a year for him to feel comfortable. Knowing German Shepherds, it's very possible that he may NEVER feel comfortable living with me. That would really make me sad.