rehoming Jack

taraharvey · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:09 pm Post subject: rehoming Jack

I am very sad to say that my husband has put the hammer down and said we need to find Jack a new home. We adopted him about a month ago he just turned 8 years old on 8 28 08. I understand where he is coming from, I just feel awful that it isn't working out with him. I would like to give him more time to adjust, but he has been naughty(and not in the cute weim way). He has become more and more food aggressive, he has knocked my 13 mo old baby over by stealing Cheetos (or what ever else he has to snack on). He actually bit my husband, not aggressively, but he get obsessed with tennis balls and they were playing and Jack refused to give it up and bit him when he went to reach for it out of his mouth. All of these things I can justify and hope for the best, but when hubby speaks up(which is not that often)I have to listen.

I feel guilty, I feel like I am letting his previous owners down...even though they gave him up after 8 years of raising him. If any of you have any suggestions please let me know. I am trying to avoid the rescue route as they are full now. Maybe you could just send Jack and I some prayers our way. Thanks for reading.

anne · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:50 pm Post subject:

The original owners didn't say they'd take him back if it didn't work out?! (and after having him for 8 years?)
OK, sorry....
PM me your email address and I'll send you some articles on how to place your own dog, but please understand that you MUST tell people about his bite history and it will be a special home that takes him. Also please be aware that if you place a dog with a bite history, and he bites again, this could be a potential lawsuit. It may not have been a "true" bite but it sounds like he has the potential if he was getting mouthy in the way you describe.
I am sorry to be so negative, but I just want you to realize some potential issues.
Again if you PM me I'll send you some placement tips. I can't attach here so will have to email them to you.

youhavenoidea · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:50 pm Post subject:

That sucks. Could you strike a bargain with your husband to let you try working with a behaviorist first, THEN rehome if it really doesn't work?

A month to acclimate and learn his place in a new home, as a previously single-home senior isn't a long time. He's facing an intimidating amount of uncertainty in his life right now.

He may view your child as lower in the pecking order than him, especially if he's not used to being around toddlers, and hasn't been taught that a toddler is in fact a PERSON.

I just feel bad for the guy, as he couldn't possibly have even had the time to try and "fit in" yet.

And on your parts . . . It may have served him and yourselves better if more research had been done into what you were getting into? It's not like you didn't have the baby when you sought out the adoption . . .

weimdawgs · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:07 am Post subject:

1 month for an eight year old dog is like no time at all. Jake was 9 when we adopted him. It took nearly a year for him to adjust to us and our family and for our three dogs to adjust to him. He came to us as a dominate, pushy, mouthy (bitey) boy. He is now a gentle giant. Jake had to learn how to be around children.

Take all the advice that Anne offers you in rehoming him. Please make sure the next home has the time to devote to him and is willing to give him the time and attention to resolve whatever issues he may have. I probably would not place him in a home with small children.

Good luck. I hope you are able to find him a good forever home.