[oc_spirit]

Ok so Bonnie (husky on loan for sledding purposes which was potential permanent member of the family) was doing fabulously here at the Sauder residence and I was having high hopes for her being able to complete her SD title and teach the boys a thing or two by example from an experienced puller. But things have taken a turn for the worse. It has become evident that the last few weeks Bonnie wasn;t herself and was still settling in. Cheri had warned me about Bonnie not being good with kids because she simply doesn't understand these screaming, flailing, everywhere-at-once beings. When out for walks with her she would pull a little at her leash to go to them but nothing too great that I wasnt able to handle with a little help from OC being attached to Bonnie by a neckline (I'd tell them to on-by and OC would drag Bonnie past).

Now things have taken a turn for the worst. Bonnie now strains at her leash to get at the kids and ends up dragging BOTH me and OC over and when she gets there she goes into hysterics nipping at them (in a peculiar playful but yet not, way) and tugging at their clothes. I try to call her off but she ignores me completely and i have to grab her by the collar and firmly lead her away. Luckily the encounters we have had the parents understood dogs and knew it wasn;t serious but I know her nips aren't light and were they to be on flesh instead of thick winter coats they could do damage and that could wind us up in a lot of trouble!

When kids walk along the trail behind my place Bonnie goes nuts running the fence line trying to find a fault in order to get to them! OC goes back and forth too but its a playful bunny-hop, invitation to play. Hers reminds me of a Martin hunting squirrels. She never did this before! When kids went by she would trot up to the fence and walk along it at the same pace they did.

I know if I were to commit to this I would be able to train Bonnie away from it but at 9 years old it would take a lot of time and effort. Niether of which I have right now as Summative due dates creep closer and exams threaten! Especially since it would be volunteer training (if I'm gonna put this much time into something, not to be greedy, but I wanna get something out of it like I normally do).

Bonnie has also started getting very snappish towards OC. At first it was just a "putiing him in his place" thing but now even if I'm not paying attention to her she'll drive him away from me. I have to bring him inside or put her in the kennel just so I can see my own dog! OC's submisive like heck so he never fights back and just goes and mopes instead which breaks my heart. If I go up to him with her loose she drives him away before I can get to him.

OC still is trying to get Bonnie to play and she tolerates it for 2minutes then will get after him for it and each day her corrections are getting more and more serious (understandable but still not fair to poor OC). Luckily they are still completely compatible in the kennel together since both dogs have their chilling spots and just stay out of eachother's way.

Now here's why I feel like I'm failing Bonnie, come last race of the season, I want to send her home. She just does not fit in as a town dog and needs to have the privacy and especially lack of children, of the country where her real home is. I'm torn though because I know I can re-train Bonnie to be a town-dog but my loyalty lays with OC before any other dog and he is just not too thrilled with her here. He loves the companionship but he gets beat up and can never see me with her around. I don't want to be the person that just sends a dog back when things don't work out perfectly. If I do send her back, in a year or two I plan to get my show puppy that I've been waiting for. But I don't want to be the person either that gets a dog, isn't satisfied, gets another one. What do you guys think?