Would You Give Her Up?
Posted by: Alan in Gun Dog Obedience Training Tips, tags: Give, Would
I have a boxer mix that keeps running away from home. We can’t afford to fence in our yard, and we try to keep her on a chain when she’s outside, but she still escapes often. In January when she escaped the house she was shot twice by our gun happy neighbors.
I’m trying to obedience train her and working hard on her recall, but I get so scared that the next time she runs off she will not come home. I really care about her and don’t want to give her up, but I want her to be safe.
I recently found someone that is looking for a large dog and emailed her. She is interested in possibly adopting. They have a fenced yard and say that they will walk her and dote on her.
Would you give her up to a new home? If so, what questions would you ask a stranger to ensure it is a good home??
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September 18th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I agree with the other answers, she will likely be better off in another home. Seriously consider the advice from “My Pit Bull”–if you can find a reputable rescue near you, it would be a better option. People in rescue organizations do this day in and day out. They’re experienced in judging what home & family are best for each dog. There are a lot of shady characters that will give the “right answers” to someone who’s giving away their dog. And the dog could end up in a bad spot.
Edit: Well, if she’s only outside to potty, why don’t you just stay out there with her, have her on a leash with a good collar? Taking a dog out to eliminate doesn’t take that long. If you really don’t want to give her up, then taking measures to make sure she doesn’t get loose are not that difficult nor expensive.
Edit: NOW you’re getting to the root of the problem! lol. I’ve had the same problem with humans here–it’s been tougher training them than the dog. We’ve set up baby gates in the house, across the hallway that leads to the front door. The dog is gated behind the hallway, has access to the rest of the house, but not the door. Of course that means trusting that the humans will shut the baby gate too. But at least it offers a possible double-barrier.
If you can do that, it would help. Then work on training. http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/chargi…http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?I…
I don’t know anything about invisible fencing, but I know you can buy the kit & do it yourself (petco or home depot might have it.) I’m sure others can give opinions on whether they work or are inhumane.
Add; Great suggestion from Tammy-definitely give the scat mat a try.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
You could take her to a professional trainer to get her trained to come when you call her, etc.
Questions to ask: Ask for two personal references, and the name and number of her vet. Call the vet and see if she was current on shots, etc. with her other pets (if she had them), and if she provided proper medical care for her previous pets. Call the personal references and ask how long they have known her, if they saw her interact with animals, what the house they live in is like, if the yard is fenced, and if they live by a busy road or street.
September 19th, 2009 at 2:21 am
since you cannot give this dog a fence and she has been shot twice I would say yes give her up. Go to the person’s house, take a look at their fence and their house a good environment for your dog then let her go.
Love is doing the highest good for the other person/animal…you should let her go to a good home…
September 19th, 2009 at 3:27 am
I’d absolutely give her to a BETTER home!!
You are down right abusing your dog…chaining her, not allowing her INDOORS like she should be..
I’d give her to a Rescue where you’d KNOW she’d get a GOOD, responsible home.
I wouldn’t trust a random stranger. But it’s your choice how you want to do it, but I do suggest you find the dog a new home.
September 19th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Where do you live that your neighbors are SHOOTING at your dog??
If you can’t train her to stay put… then yeah i guess find someone that can keep her safe… and away from your neighbor! holy…
what about a collar that she can’t get out of? they make cloth chokers that tighten when they pull…
September 19th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Give her away to a more suitable home. A dog shouldn’t be left chained up unattended. A neighbor who shoots at dogs is not a safe place to life for people, let alone a defenseless animal. Call the police on the jerk!
September 19th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
If you can’t care for her in the way that this dog needs and some one else can, then you are making the right decision to give her away.
September 20th, 2009 at 1:04 am
your dog need attention lots boxers need it take her for long walks run her energy out thats what I did when my pits were doing that good luck
September 20th, 2009 at 1:58 am
Get a kennel pen , keep her leashed while outside, or rehome her.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:40 am
a fence would have been cheaper that the vet bills from being shot!
September 20th, 2009 at 5:04 am
slipped away from you? You have to have the dog under control at ALL times – that is either in a properly fenced yard that prevents escape, on a leash or in control by obedience. I don’t see evidence that any of this has been done and to ‘chain’ her is just cruel on a lot of levels. Please turn her in to rescue or a shelter and allow her to be properly rehomed in a place that CAN take responsibility for her. You cannot properly screen a new home – people lie and they get dogs all the time to be fight bait and to torture from people like you. There is no way for you to ‘ask’ questions in order to locate a good home – you just don’t have the wherewithall or capabilities. Sorry but that is just the way it is. Your ‘gun happy neighbors’ have the right to protect their property and a dog running loose can be a danger to them and their property so you are exposing her to likely death. Yes, give her to a shelter or rescue so she has a chance or take and have her humanely put down as that is better than the suffering she will do in the environment she is in right now. Please do not get another dog.
September 20th, 2009 at 8:07 am
Did you report your neighbors? In our town,it is against the law to fire a gun inside the city limits,and it is a laos a crime to shoot a dog who isn’t a danger.Your dog looks very sweet and well-cared for.Why not try a heavier cable instead of a chain when she is out? Chains seem to break easily,and cables are easier on the dog,but stronger than chains.Get the jumbo kind.They are usually silver-colored and are 20 feet long,for dogs up to 200 lbs.This is what I use to let my 80 lb. dogs out to go to the bathroom,and they have never broken one.Also,there is something called a “scat mat” that you can put in front of the door as a barrier,so that when some one opens it,and she tries to get out,she will get a little shock! You tell her,”NO!,STAY!” when she gets the shock ( have her on a leash when you do this) Soon she will not want to go out the door when the scat mat is there,even if it isn’t on.http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Holiday…
Edit: The scat mat worked when one of the feral kitties that I feed was getting on my neighbor’s Jeep.I bought him one to appease him,and the cat never got on the car again! I tested it on myself and my own cats,and it really doesn’t hurt,it’s like a strong static shock,but it sure made those cats jump! I hope you can get the dog trained.I had a “door bolter” and she got hit by a car.Luckily,she only got a bad gash on her rear leg,but it had to be sutured.She never did leave the yard again after getting hit,though.I didn’t know about scat mats then or I would have got one for her.
September 20th, 2009 at 11:47 am
You can get a good size dog kennel at petsmart for around $200. You could use this as an alternative to tying her out on a chain, which is a bad idea. And you can’t tie her out on a choke collar, it’s just not safe unless you’re supervising her all the time. How about just NOT tying her out at all? We just walk outside with our dogs on a retractable leash when they need to go potty.
If you are thinking about giving the dog to another family, get vet references, and check out their home if you can. Offer to bring the dog over to their house so they can meet it. That way you get to scope out their house without seeming too nosy, and you get to see how the dog reacts to them in their environment.
September 20th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
You should not give up your dog by any means, the dog needs a lot of training instead.
you say you cannot afford a fence, then get a kennel run and put up, and put building blocks under ground all around the pen, she will not be able to dog past those big building blocks and make sure you put a top on it, so the dog cannot climb out of it.
now, get the scat mat as suggested and put in front of the doors for her.
and also, before opening a door from now on, leash the dog, and in a firm tone no, every time someone is gonna go outside, do not let the door open til leash is on the dog, boxers are not stupid and will learn well if trained properly.
Next, it is against the law to shoot a dog, even if the dog is on their property, unless the dog is meaning harm to them, if you can let me know just what city you are in, I can contact the DA’s office and inquire for you, but bet they can be made to pay the vet bills and even fined for shooting the dog, the dog was not a threat to them…………
but, you have to take responsibility for your dog first and train the dog correctly.
and do what Tammy C, said about the cable, no chains, but cable, they cannot break cables.
good luck
Breeder/handler 15yrs
Paralegal 20 yrs
September 20th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Our chocolate lab Spur is an accomplished escape artist too.
When he first came into our lives, his previous owner told my SIL that he could get out everything.
He told my SIL that he wound up putting three collars on Spur (a nylon, a choker, and a one inch wide leather) and he still managed to escape.
He wound up leaving a hairless patch about two inches long by an inch wide where he “scalped” himself in the process of the escape.
He escaped twice when my brother and SIL had him and wound up at the pound both times.
When they couldn’t handle his escaping and destructive behavior caused by separation anxiety he came to live with us.
In the 7-8 months he’s lived with us, he’s escaped three times.
I’m incredibly lucky. Everyone, including the town cops know our dogs. The first time, I got a call from a lady two blocks over letting me know he was sitting on her front porch, the second time one of the city workers drove him home and the third time the town cop was his chaffeur.
I’m also lucky that our cops like dogs and understand about the ones that like to escape!
I had to start staying outside with Spur while he did his business.
If you’re not willing to take the time to be outside with him and she’s only out for a short period of time, you could try putting one of those harness (the ones that go around their chest in front of the front legs and under the chest itself.)
I’m not sure how much it would help, but I would think they would less risk of her strangling that something else and it might make it harder or stop her from slipping out of it.
If rehoming her is the only thing to do, look into a Boxer rescue and see if they can get her in. They will screen potential adopters and find the best home for her.
Personally, I would do anything to keep my dog, and I have.
Spur wasn’t even my dog and I paid $200 to get him out of the pound before he was euthanized and he’s been a handful (destructive tendencies because of separation anxiety, the escaping). But because I love him, I have searched high and low for ways to help him.
If you love this girl, do whatever you can to keep her!
Good luck!
Add- Beautiful dogs you have there! Your Boxer is so pretty.
The best way to keep her from running out the door as it’s being opened or if it’s left open is to teach her “sit”, “stay”.
Get her to sit down and tell her to stay until you are prepared to let her out. If she moves, give her a firm “No!” and get her to sit, stay again.
Once you have her chain/tie out ready, tell her okay or whatever word you want to use to come to you.
It doesn’t happen overnight, but they learn the drill pretty fast.
As for the humans…..post signs on your doors reminding them to shut them if you have to.
As tacky as it looks, I wound up having to do that with our screen door.