Tough choices

This past Sunday, we said farewell to our dog Bobby, and returned him to the rescue group we adopted him from nearly three years ago. From the start, he was challenging. On the very first day we got him, having no previous attachments to our kids, he would totally flip out when they went outside to play - he would run from window to window trying to keep his eyes on them. That behavior issue calmed down for the most part, but others remained, and new ones came along. He was always aggressive when we'd pass other dogs when we were out walking - with the help of a professional dog trainer, this issue improved but it never completely went away. Bobby also nipped at ("bit" is a small stretch) people in our home at least three or four times - each time totally unprovoked and without warning or explanation. He would also take any available opportunity to run out our front door if there was a dog outside anywhere near our house. It was scary for the person just trying to walk their dog, and it was scary for the dog, and it was scary for us. I lived in constant worry of the kids not shutting/latching the front door and Bobby going after dogs. When this happened, he would act aggressive to the dogs, but wasn't truly trying to hurt them - because if he'd want to, he certainly could have.

About two months ago, we had another incident of this behavior - probably the third or fourth time he'd gone after this same neighbor and her dog - and we decided we just couldn't do it anymore. We made the very difficult decision to return him to the adoption agency we got him from. We just don't have the time or energy to devote to the kind of training he needs, and could no longer take the very real chance that he'd bite someone seriously. I hope we've made the best decision for all involved. After all, this is the same dog who followed Tod out the bedroom window and onto the snowy roof of our garage...and then fell off, thankfully cushioned by the snow, and uninjured.

Something just wasn't right about Bobby. I hope his next owner can take the time to help him be comfortable in his environment, and live a long and happy life. And I hope the kids (and Shelby) will adjust okay. So far, Amy has taken it hardest - he was her favorite - but she seems a little better each day.

Already I feel like our house is an entirely new place. I am much less stressed now that I don't have to worry about Bobby running out the door, going totally NUTS if someone walked by or knocked on the door, or biting one of the neighbor kids if they happen to come in the house without me knowing it. And now we can have the kids walk Shelby, since she's totally manageable - this part is fantastic!

I hope the kids won't have long-term resentments about this. It's hard to convince them that it's the best thing for all of us, though I do think they 'get it' at a certain level. I remember we had a family dog. a mutt named Buffy, when I was younger than they are, and then we got a second dog, a black lab named Ebony. Ebony 'attacked' Buffy, and then Ebony 'went to live on a farm'. Of course I can't ask my Mom now what really happened, but that's how I remember it. I wonder if Ebony was put down (one of the options mentioned for Bobby), but honestly I don't want to know. It's better to think she really did find a new, better home.

So here's to many happy years for Bobby, wherever he ends up.