[tayloram2810]

I have reached a crossroads. Back when I lived alone I adopted my dog Matilda. She was a puppy and I loved her. My life took a sudden turn back in August though and because of it I had to move back home with my parents. My mother and her did not mesh. Matilda is a very high energy dog, a mix of hound, pointer, and pit bul. She is boisterous and jumps when excited which is all the time. My mother likes calm quiet dogs that are small then Matildas 38 lbs of energy. Things got worse when I got an internship 45 minutes away that gave me housing but wouldn't allow pets. My mother's frustration with my dogs personality and my inability to be home often do to work is makingredients it very hard. My mother and I had a particularly bad arguments and she in anger threatened to take Matilda to the pound if I can't rain her in. I can only get down to the house on my days off but I don't always have them do to my internship having a lot of maditory to attend events. I am also worried that once this is over in November I might be moving around alot finding more work. I love Matilda more then anything, and when it was just me and her things were fine. But her being at my parent's house while I work has become unfair for both her and my parents. I am beginning to realize I may need to make a difficult choice. I want things to work so she can still be with me but I don't know when I will next have the time and space for her to be comfortable and I don't know if things can keep going till November when this job is done and I can find us a place. Any advice whether it be to help lessen the issues or to rehome would be greatly appreciated

 

[SchnauzerGirl8810]

How much exercise is she receiving? What kind of training have you done with her?

 

[tayloram2810]

When I'm home she goes to the dog park for an hour or 2 and she gets walked once in the morning and once at night. When I'm not home she gets the walks but my parents don't like going to the dog park. Traini.Training wise she has the basics but she is willful and easily distracted so that's an issue that's been hard to work on

 

[Aspen726]

Typically, I would say find a positive reinforcement trainer in your area and increase your training with her. In your case, it sounds like you don't have the time. If you don't have the time to work with the dog, then I do suggest rehoming her. It's not fair to make her live somewhere that she isn't wanted. I'm sure she can feel the tension from your mom.

 

[newdoggirl]

She's beautiful.

If you really can't give her the home she deserves then it might be time to rehome her, for her sake. But, if that's what you decide, please do her the respect of rehoming her responsibly. Go through a proper adoption/rescue agency to ensure her new family is vetted properly & she's given the best shot at a new start. It will cost you but it's the right thing to do vs. just throwing her up on some website.

My poor girl got passed around like a hot potato until she was 7 months old due to her lack of training and resulting behavioural issues. It breaks my heart to think the same thing will happen to Matilda if you don't go through a proper agency.

 

[storms226]

It's heartbreaking, I know.

If your Mom isn't willing to help with Matilda's requirements for exercise and mental stimulation - or anyone else in the house - then the best thing for her is to find a better suited home. If you truly do love her you will do that for her. As much as it hurts.

I agree to go about it carefully and diligently. Research rescue groups in the area and reach out to them. I do not advise a shelter as Matilda's energy type is not really suited to that type of environment. Maybe you can even find a rescue group who can foster Matilda during the process. As much as it may hurt to hear, being in your parents home is not good for her. The anger and anxiety that your Mom is giving off is just fueling Matilda's stress and reactivity.

If you lived at home then I don't think Matilda would need to be rehomed. You would be there to help diffuse the stress energy and ensure she gets out and gets exercise. But if the majority of the time she is with someone who doesn't like her, then it's not healthy. For all involved.

Good luck ♥

 

[sullyrules]

I echo what the others above have said, just wanted to add that if you are in florida I may be able to help rehome her responsibly if that's what you decide to do.

 

[SchnauzerGirl8810]

Rehoming her may be the best option.

However, maybe your mom would be more supportive if you lightened her load, so to speak.

For instance, could you pay for your dog to go to daycare 1-2 days a week (assuming she plays well with other dogs)? This would give your mom a break from caring for the dog. Plus it will burn off a lot of your dog's energy and she may be much calmer around the house. Also, could you commit to a training class once a week to work on issues like jumping etc? Or maybe you could pay for a dog walker a couple times a week? Again, to take some of the burden of your parents.

 

[timber]

45 minutes is not too far of a commute, can you not live at home until the internship is done? While I agree that if there are not other options rehoming would be best for your dog, life often has unexpected obstacles and we can't give up too easily if we really love our companions and took on the commitment.

 

[traciek88]

I think it depends on how much you're willing to do in order to keep Matilda. I agree with Timber that if you can deal with a long commute, you might be able to keep her. If you can afford a dog walker or daycare that might also help a great deal. What about any other friends and family? Do you have anyone close who might be willing to walk her or take her to the park for cheap or as a favor? And are there any other housing options you can look into other than what you have? If you decide to keep her I would also recommend a flirt pole. It's like a big, dog version of a feather on a stick toy. My dog is also a very energetic dog and on days with inclement weather or when I'm not feeling well, the flirt pole is able to get a lot of energy out without going anywhere.

I think another big thing to consider, is the future. Even if you're able to manage the next several months, if you think you're very likely to get a very busy schedule that might make life with Matilda harder. Unless of course again, you can afford a regular dog walker or daycare. I really think that unless all options are out or impractical, you should try to keep your dog when you want them. However, if you really feel like this is going to make you and Matilda (and your mother) miserable in the short AND long run, rehoming is the best choice.

 

[MollyDoggy]

I haven't used it myself, but check out Rover.com. I just saw this website a few days ago, maybe someone else can say something about their experiences with it. You can hire someone to go to your parents house and walk your dog while you're at work. This will help free your parents from the responsibility and might be cheaper than other options.