Would I be failing Bonnie if I did this?

[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?

[Carrie]

It sounds like Bonnie is taking the law into her own hands and not trusting you to be the one in charge. I think you can turn this around. She needs to be taken down a notch in her opinion of herself....not harshly, of course, but there are exercises you can practice with her, as you know. Even though she's a sled dog and is normally ahead of you when working, will it disrupt her training in that area to have her walk behind you when on a regular leash? What about NILIF and desensatizing. I know you don't have oodles of time and some of this does take lots of time and practice. I'm just seeing this....all this stuff as a leadership issue with her.

But if you decide to pack her suitcase, I don't think it will hurt her one bit. She may fit in better in another place, like you said. She wouldn't have the stress of a bunch of kids around and could live out her life without all that and without you having to take on the training hassle. Let us know what you do. I really don't think you'd be letting her down at all as long as she's going to a good place. Dogs are very adaptable.

[bigdoglover]

I completely understand what you are going through. Just my 2 cents here, but there are things you need to think about. OC is your pride and joy....do you honestly think this new girl will turn around? Do you have the time to do it? As Carrie said, there are many methods to work with her. In your heart, do you really want to commit to her? Do you think by keeping her it will negatively affect OC? I'm just rolling the rock around in my head, throwing out questions that may help with your decision. I don't think you would be doing her a diservice....she has spent 9 years in a "quieter" environment....again, not saying she can't be desensitized and retrained, people do it all the time! (shelter dogs, foster dogs, etc). It's something that requires a lot of thought, but I know you will do what's best for you, OC, and the new pup's life! Whatever you decide, we are all here for you!!

[calgal]

Boy, that IS a tough question and I'm sure it's going to be a tough decision for you. Just weigh all the pros and cons and you will get your answer. Good luck.

[Shadowkins]

Seems like you have quite a burden to carry but from what I've read in your posts, you are a very mature, caring young lady who will in the end do the best thing for all.
I'm just curious if Bonnie was in a quiter place for so long and did not have to put up with kids or other distractions, is it really fair to her now to expect her to change...don't get me wrong , I know dogs can adapt with the proper training but is that necessarily what is right for her? It just seems that as we get older and more set in our ways, it becomes increasingly difficult to make those changes...so jmo maybe the best for Bonnie would be to return to a setting she is accustomed to...after all she was on loan...right? It's just a thought...you'll do the best for her I know and whatever you decide, I'm sure all of us here will support you! Good luck and keep us posted.

[oc_spirit]

Carrie, I somewhat agree with you, actually I think I might be agreeing with you 100% but misread your post LOL Anyway how I see it is that Bonnie does look at me as ruler of the pack, however she doesn't trust me completely yet so doesn't feel my decisions are always the right ones. I'm really confused by the nippings though, they seem to be in a playful gesture yet they're so relentless and appear to mimic a bitch correcting a puppy (just using her front teeth) at the same time they also look like exaggerated nipping (several small nips repeated). I just can't explain it.

BDL,

do you honestly think this new girl will turn around? Do you have the time to do it?

I honestly don't know, she's been like this all 9years of her life but I've already witnessed some pretty incredible turn arounds with previous dogs I've worked with. Right now I don't have the time but once new semester starts I will.

In your heart, do you really want to commit to her? Do you think by keeping her it will negatively affect OC?

I've never been one to turn away from a dog in the past, but in this case I'm just not feeling the commitment and I don't know why...And I do worry about OC. He's started even avoiding me in the house because he worries Bonnie will dash out from somewhere and drive him off like she does in the yard. I have to firmly tell him to come so he can see she isn't there to do anything then he becomes his regular self again.

Shadowkins, you bring up a very good point. Am I just being selfish so I can keep my dogsled team?

Oy the questions that keep running through my head!

[linnie]

Ren If you send her back will she be going to a stable home environment?
I can see you point especially with OC and children.
The final factor really comes down to making ture the dog will be happy wherever she is.
hard decision all round.

[oc_spirit]

Linnie, yes she will be going back to the kennel where she came from (still her REAL home) which is a wonderful show/sledding kennel. My favourite part about them is that they keep their dogs in actual kennel runs as opposed to chains on swivel poles which MANY Sibe kennels (especially working ones) do. And she isn't neglected in the least there, being a retired dog. In fact she claims the spot on the couch right beside Cheri when they all settle to watch tv (when the dogs are loose in the yard they have free access to the house by doggy door).

[linnie]

Well Ren I dont see it as letting her down or failing in anyway.
The final decision is your but if she is going to be well cared for and loved then thats what really matters.

[AlaskanKristen]

In my opinion, I think that you should send her back. If OC is scared to even approach his human, there's something wrong. Sometimes dogs just don't work in a certian home.

I had something similar going on with Kallie, and after I finally put her down, I realized that for over a year I had been living as a person who was scared to death of her dog. I also realized that Jacques was scared of big dogs because of her (which we are still working on). In the end, it was best all around for her to be gone. I miss her, but I realize that I was putting my new dogs, dogs I would be racing against, my neighbors' dogs, and people who would get caught in the middle in jeopardy by keeping her.

Sometimes it can be very hard to do something, but I believe that in the end it will work out. If you truly do not think that she fits in (ie: not being comfortable around kids when there's many around, bullying OC, etc.), then I think that the best thing for her and you would be to return her.

[oc_spirit]

Kristen, you're right. And at races or even training runs when kids come around I'm scared because they don't listen to me when I tell them not to go up to the puppies cause they bite. And the parents aren't much help either.