My children's lives center around our dog. Their eyes pop open in the mornings and they begin to sing her name. My 4.5 yo makes up raps and poems and love songs and sonnets about her. My 7.5 yo tell me daily that he's "so glad" we got her. Before they fall asleep, they serenade her.
We adopted her from a rescue org back in Oct 08. She has severe separation anxiety -- which we have worked on tirelessly all these months (some of you read my other post on this) -- but also fear aggression and has shown plenty of signs that she's just so nervous when people are in her space that she could just snap one day and bite a child.
And I just paid a dog trainer, whom I respect and trust VERY much, $175 for a session that ended with her saying that she thinks this dog is not a good fit for us. That her behavior issues are so broad and so potentially serious that she really couldn't continue to work with us. That we would need to seek a veterinary behavioral specialist for help if we decide to keep her.
**Am I really going to crush my children's hearts and tell them that we can no longer keep their very first and very beloved dog?!?**
Do I want to rehome her? Actually, it would be a relief. I would miss her and cry a lot and probably always feel like a failure, but I am a homeschooling mama on the EDGE. And I need to meet my children's needs in other areas and that is not happening.
But can children EVER forgive their parents for rehoming a favorite pet? Seriously, couldn't they be scarred for life?!?
I can't even believe I'm typing this . . . too emotional for discussing this with RL friends . . . too embarrassed that I got us into this situation in the first place by blindly adopting a special needs dog who really just needs to live on a farm. (Which is where she was when we adopted her. Sigh.)
I am too fragile for a "you can do it" pep talk, and especially cannot take a scathing "how could you ever give up on a family pet" reply . . . If that's burning for you, please respect that that's not what's needed here. What I'm really wanting to know is if any of you have any experience like this and can tell me what it was like, how you survived, if it was worth it, what you did to help your children, and if they healed from it.
A lot to ask, I realize, but submitting with hope . . .
edited to add: As of 4/18/09 this situation has been resolved, happily for all, I think.
We adopted her from a rescue org back in Oct 08. She has severe separation anxiety -- which we have worked on tirelessly all these months (some of you read my other post on this) -- but also fear aggression and has shown plenty of signs that she's just so nervous when people are in her space that she could just snap one day and bite a child.
And I just paid a dog trainer, whom I respect and trust VERY much, $175 for a session that ended with her saying that she thinks this dog is not a good fit for us. That her behavior issues are so broad and so potentially serious that she really couldn't continue to work with us. That we would need to seek a veterinary behavioral specialist for help if we decide to keep her.
**Am I really going to crush my children's hearts and tell them that we can no longer keep their very first and very beloved dog?!?**
Do I want to rehome her? Actually, it would be a relief. I would miss her and cry a lot and probably always feel like a failure, but I am a homeschooling mama on the EDGE. And I need to meet my children's needs in other areas and that is not happening.
But can children EVER forgive their parents for rehoming a favorite pet? Seriously, couldn't they be scarred for life?!?
I can't even believe I'm typing this . . . too emotional for discussing this with RL friends . . . too embarrassed that I got us into this situation in the first place by blindly adopting a special needs dog who really just needs to live on a farm. (Which is where she was when we adopted her. Sigh.)
I am too fragile for a "you can do it" pep talk, and especially cannot take a scathing "how could you ever give up on a family pet" reply . . . If that's burning for you, please respect that that's not what's needed here. What I'm really wanting to know is if any of you have any experience like this and can tell me what it was like, how you survived, if it was worth it, what you did to help your children, and if they healed from it.
A lot to ask, I realize, but submitting with hope . . .
edited to add: As of 4/18/09 this situation has been resolved, happily for all, I think.