My LuLu is going into a foster home

[Carol Hanr]

My goldendoodle LuLu is going to a foster home with IDOG.  She has  been acting very strange...growling at the grandkids and me, attacking the little dogs and stalking the cat.  She will probably be leaving on Wednesday.  I am so very sad, she has been with me since she was about 11 weeks, and she will be 3 in January. I'm crushed, has this ever happened to anyone else??

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Have you had her checked thoroughly by a vet? Perhaps she is ill or in pain. This would seem to be a good thing to do before rehoming her, which is a drastic step. Good luck with this.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Carol - I don't know what to say to you as I just don't have the facts.  Was she a well trained and well behaved doodle till just lately?  Did you have her checked out by the vet if she has changed?  Was she never really trained and now it is just too much for you?  Without the details - there just isn't anything that I can add except that if this were my doodle - I would DO ANYTHING before giving the dog up.  There are trainers that will come into your home, there are doggie boot camps that your dog attends away from home.  Only you can say if you HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Looking at your page it seems like there were issues back in March, I'm not an expert and I'm not trying to judge but this might be a training issue.  Have you gotten some professional help with getting Lulu trained?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree that Lulu should be thoroughly checked by a vet, and have a full thyroid panel done; not just checking the T4 levels in a blood chemistry panel, but a full thyroid panel. These usually need to be sent out to a lab and it can take two weeks to get the results. If Lulu has just recently started this behavior at her age, there could be a medical reason for it.

Did anything out of the ordinary occur prior to the start of this behavior? A move, a change in the members of the household, a change in the household routine, a boarding situation, a run-in with another dog? Was Lulu friendly and well-behaved with you, your grandkids and other animals before this started? Have you talked to a behaviorist?

I have to agree with Jane, I would exhaust all possibilities before giving up a dog. IDOG is a wonderful organization and they will do their best to find her a good home, but it is still the most traumatic experience a dog can go through to lose everything that is familiar to her. As a volunteer who is involved in placing dogs for DRC, I can tell you that the dogs do usually adjust and go on to have good lives. But from what you are describing, unless the cause of these behaviors is discovered and remedied, she would have to go into a home where are no children or small animals, and never go out in public where there are other small dogs until the foster and/or new owners have spent time working with her on these issues anyway. Have you thought about keeping her with you and trying to do that yourself?

[Jennifer and Jack]

It is really hard not to be judgmental, especially because like Jane said "we don't have all the facts" If you have been living side by side with your dog for three years and their is some behavior issues, the first logical step, like already pointed out is to get the dog fully checked, lab work, the full work up. I am entirely a grump and I will snap and bite your head off to when my lab values are off and I don't feel good, and I am way more capable of expressing myself then a dog is.

 

Second if physically, everything checks out? What have you done to rectify the problems? I am only asking because you said that you are "crushed" That is a terrible feeling to feel so I would imagine you have exhausted all possible avenues, including training, crating when Grandkids come around etc?

 

It would be one thing if you came on here and said, you know what, I didn't know what I was getting into three years ago and this dog is more then I wanted, more then I bargained for and I made a mistake in getting it, I don't want to put any more time and energy into it, and I am going to give him a home to someone who has the time and energy to train her properly.

 

 

I just hear you saying, the dog has some issues, I am crushed and re-homing it which is why most people's heads are going to spin after reading this.

 

What can we do to help?  I am not in favor of someone keeping a dog that they don't want, Dogs know when they are wanted and when they are loved, they are super sensitive to that She is young enough to have a long and happy life ahead of him and I would much rather him be in a family where she can be trained and appreciated and taught proper behavior, but what gets me is that you are saying you are crushed...

 

That is why I am asking?? if you are crushed and want to keep her, surely their is a solution other then giving her away.

[Carol Hanr]

I really take offense to what you said. I tried everything to not come to the point of rehoming.  Getting LuLu was not a spur of the moment thing for me nor was it a mistake as you seem to think. I did research, talked to breeders, and had joined a few forums. I went into getting LuLu and expected her to be with me for a lifetime. If you have seen my other post you will see LuLu had a complete physical and complete thyroid panel workup. I have been living side by side and sleeping side by side with LuLu since she came to me. As a puppy she slept in my  bed. With her behavior she can no longer do that.  I am a grump sometimes too, but I do not try to bite anyone...I don't growl if people get to close to me. I feel LuLu needs to be an only pet with no children or cats or other dogs. I will not ask my young grandchildren to leave my home, that is not an option, and I do not want them to be bitten.  Maybe I should have given a bit more info, but was just asking if anyone had ever rehomed. I needed to vent a bit, and YES, I am crushed...this is how I felt when my husband passed...I am again losing something I dearly love and thought would be with me for a lifetime...

[Adina P]

I know that Carol has posted on other forums since this began, so she has reached out for help in one or or another.  But I don't frequent those forums enough to know the background fully. 

 

Carol, I don't think anyone is trying to be judgmental, except that they don't know the history or background.  But as I see it, this has been decided.  Whether 'other' options are possible or every other avenue (that is possible for  her) has been exhausted is a moot point.  I think she's just looking for doodle lovers who might understand her pain.

 

That said, Carol, if you still have a glimmer of hope that maybe something can be done or a trainer can be found...I'm sure there are folks here who can advise you.  But I really don't know the full background of Lulu's behavioral issues.  And I don't know what options you have entertained or tried and what was simply not an option for one reason or another.. 

[Carol Hanr]

LuLu had the complete thyroid panel done and all is well. She was fully checked out by vet, who said she was very healthy.  This is not something I have entered into lightly. I love my LuLu very much, and yes, she was trained. This behavior has been going on a while and is escalating. I cannot take a chance of her hurting my gk's who live with me, or my toddler and infant gk's that visit. My vet did say that this happens to some dogs, and one of the vet techs had the same problem and with the behavioral specialist the dog still worsened. I think that maybe LuLu needs a quiter home with no children, cats, or other dogs. My family and I are all broken up over this as I do not take my responsibilities as a pet owner lightly. I have done all I can and feel helpless right now. LuLu attacked one of the little dogs again, and yesterday went after the other one that she would play with. Her and the cat were best buds, but know she hates the cat!!! Maybe rehoming is not the answer for some, but for me it is. I'm not chancing her attacking someone and having to be put down!! I love her too much to see that happen and she deserves another chance!!!

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Wow...It's really scary that her behavior continues to deteriorate.  She isn't very old.  It almost sounds like early dementia or something.  I wonder if dogs get things like that???  That is so sad.  I'm sorry.

[Cindy M, Zachary & the Frenchies]

I've had dogs that got on really well for many years - then had a tiff and never reestablished their relationship. When I divorced my husband took one of our dogs with him who used to be an excellent friend to one of my dogs who started fighting and picking on everyone and she thrived as an only dog. I have no training in animal psychology just a longtime multiple dog owner, and I think sometimes some dogs just get fed up and have had enough with the irritating bevavior of other animals and kids (I know people like that). Carol my heart goes out to you during this difficult time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Carol - then you have to know that you are doing what you must!  I'm sorry for your heartache and sorry for LuLu's too!  We will say a prayer that the right home is out there for her.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Best of luck to you and your family, That must be a terrible feeling. All the best, I hope your baby finds a wonderful and loving home without kids and other pets.