Sonnet, the retired Leader Dog we adopted, is a dominate female. She has been asserting that dominance over our golden retriever Billy, since she got here. If I were her kindergarten teacher, the "does not get along well with others" box would be checked on her report card.
It's been a month and 1/2 of keeping alert to make sure we don't have out and out dog fights in the house. Billy puts up with it so long, until he can't stand it anymore, and then he fights back. The other day, both were outside playing while Rick was stacking wood. He was throwing the ball when the big fight happened. Billy won't let "anyone" get his ball, his retrieving is serious business.
This was the out and out dog fight. Rick almost got bit pulling them apart. Billy had a cut under his eye, and Sonnet had a scrape across her chest. That's when we knew this wasn't working out. We could foresee a summer of making sure we didn't have both dogs outside at the same time and being on alert in the house all the time.
After talking it over with Bob (Sonnet's legally blind partner for so many years), Sonnet has been returned to him for now. She will be a "pet" until his new dog comes. When Leader Dogs for the Blind comes to deliver his new dog, Sonnet will go back with them and will be adopted by someone on their waiting list for dogs. Bob wishes he could keep her, but, the condo he lives in doesn't allow pet dogs over 45 pounds and he would end up in the same situation with his new dog and Sonnet. Sonnet would be asserting her dominance constantly.
We are all saddened by this. It's something we didn't see coming. I so wanted Sonnet to stay in the area so Bob could see her once in a while, but, she needs to be placed in a home with no other dogs. If anyone locally is interested in her let me know. She was so good with my grandchildren, we could hardly believe it. Four feet were always on the ground and ever so gentle. She is a great house dog -- without another dog around.
.....dr momi
It's been a month and 1/2 of keeping alert to make sure we don't have out and out dog fights in the house. Billy puts up with it so long, until he can't stand it anymore, and then he fights back. The other day, both were outside playing while Rick was stacking wood. He was throwing the ball when the big fight happened. Billy won't let "anyone" get his ball, his retrieving is serious business.
This was the out and out dog fight. Rick almost got bit pulling them apart. Billy had a cut under his eye, and Sonnet had a scrape across her chest. That's when we knew this wasn't working out. We could foresee a summer of making sure we didn't have both dogs outside at the same time and being on alert in the house all the time.
After talking it over with Bob (Sonnet's legally blind partner for so many years), Sonnet has been returned to him for now. She will be a "pet" until his new dog comes. When Leader Dogs for the Blind comes to deliver his new dog, Sonnet will go back with them and will be adopted by someone on their waiting list for dogs. Bob wishes he could keep her, but, the condo he lives in doesn't allow pet dogs over 45 pounds and he would end up in the same situation with his new dog and Sonnet. Sonnet would be asserting her dominance constantly.
We are all saddened by this. It's something we didn't see coming. I so wanted Sonnet to stay in the area so Bob could see her once in a while, but, she needs to be placed in a home with no other dogs. If anyone locally is interested in her let me know. She was so good with my grandchildren, we could hardly believe it. Four feet were always on the ground and ever so gentle. She is a great house dog -- without another dog around.
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| There were times of peace. Love you Sonnet. |
7 comments:
I am so sorry it didnt work out :( Doggie politics can really be brutal. I am glad to hear there is a waiting list of people who will adopt older dogs. Sometime these things work out for a reason.
i am sorry to hear this. i know you did your absolute best to make this transition possible. i hope she finds a good, loving home!
Such a sad situation, but it happens. Some dogs are born alpha dogs and no matter how much you try, you can't remove that dominant instinct. Sonnet will be happier in a one dog home.
Sorry to hear you've been having dog get-along problems; it's so hard to finally admit that sometimes no matter how hard you try to make everyone get along, they just wont. Hope she finds another home quickly.
Thank goodness Rick was there to avoid a battle to the end. Hoping Billy has a quick recovery!
I'm enjoying your buttons, by the way!
I'm glad Sonnet will be able to find another home. It sounds as though she will be better off being an "only child."
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