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??

 

[Susan, Zeke. Lily & Jasper]

I'm so sorry Carol.  It sounds like you have really looked for solutions to LuLu's behavior.  It also sounds like you are heartbroken over a very difficult dedision,  but you have to do the right thing for ALL concerned.  Protecting your household and giving LuLu another chance seems to be a good choice.  I sincerely hope LuLu can be helped and find the situation right for her.  I would do the same thing if I were in your shoes.  Hugs!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Carol I just wanted to stop in and wish you the best in letting Lulu go to another home. Perhaps she is just an old soul and needs a quiet and relaxing home. Certainly that isn't happening with a house full of children and other pets.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I won't add any advice or judgement, I just wanted to say that I'm very sorry that you are going through this. I hope everything works out for the best.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I have never had to go through something like this and I hope to heaven I never do! I feel so badly for you and your family and Lulu. I'm really sorry.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

You will be in my prayers. I am sure it was a hard decision but sometimes the best decision is the most heart breaking.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I have waited to post because I'm been thinking about this all afternoon.  I am so sorry, and I can't even begin to imagine how you are feeling.  I will admit my first reaction was to be a bit judgmental, and then I started to think..."there but for the grace of God, goes I".  I have an 18 month old Doodle who is a really nervous guy.  When he was a puppy he did bite, and growl, and snap.  I have been blessed with the time and resources to be able to train him (with the help of some great trainers and DK), so now for the most part I know that he can be trusted.  But I did say "for the most part".  I still do not totally trust him around the grandkids, and I have to manage those interactions closely.  While my Murphy is really good most of the time now, every now and then something still sets him off.  We had a recent growling incident with my husband that made me realize our training was far from over.  He is a wonderful, amazing, loving boy, and thank heavens he's with us so that we can control his "dark side" and he can have a great "dog life".  But as I said, all the stars are aligned for that with Murphy.  If I did not have the time or could not afford all the training I've done, I just don't know.  So, I think you are making the best decision that you can right now for LuLu.  I pary that she will find the perfect home (with no cats, little dogs, or young kids) where she can flourish and have a full and wonderful life.  I'm sure that IDOG will do a great job of finding the perfect family for her.  Again, I'm really sorry.  My heart is breaking right now just even thinking about this.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

Have you contacted your breeder?  My contract says that I must give breeder first dibs on a dog before putting down, rehoming.  Also, I think it would be a good idea to let your breeder know this is happening.  She may pull the breeder dogs from the line, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that one.  Oh what a terrible situation. 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

One of the things I was so nervous about before getting Riley and why I did a years research was the possibility of having a dog that was unreliable around children.  I am lucky in that I have never had to take such a hard decision and  I think it must have been very hard for you to post this,  I admire your courage. I am hoping that Lulu finds a safe 'forever' home where she will have a very happy life.  I am so sorry that it has come to this for you and I just want to wish you well in having to make such a heartbreaking decision.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The story is clearer now. Of course you grandchildren must come first.I am very sorry to hear what you have gone through. I hope knowing everyone will be safe and that LuLu will get another chance will make you feel better after a while.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jane said it best, you are making the best decision you can right now for Lulu. I hope you can find some comfort in knowing that you are rehoming her in the most responsible way possible. I hope Lulu will find a perfect home.

[Carol Hanr]

Someone said something to the effect that I might be tired of LuLu. I have 4 dogs, the oldest is now 11. I do not tire of my pets and am a responsible pet owner. My vet and pet insurance can certainly tell you that. My pets have what they need and much more...my credit card bill can tell you that.  I cannot crate all day as my gk's live with me and LuLu only knows her crate as a getaway when she wants one. There have been no changes in the house or anything. I have done everything for LuLu, wish I could do more, that is why I contacted IDOG. Someone also mentioned it being a traumatic experience for dogs going into foster, and yes, I agree. Last year I began fostering, but many dogs were helped and trained when they went to their forever homes. This decision not only affects me, but my whole family. My gk.s are devastated as well as my daughter. My daughter is very close to LuLu and she has noticed the change too.

[KAHLUA]

Carol, I am so sorry that you and Lulu have to be separated.  When I was pregnant with my daughter, I moved to KY (from CA) 4 months ahead of my husband.  I found out I was pregnant 3 months before he moved to KY.  When I moved I brought my 3 year old cocker spaniel with me.  Well, needless to say, it was Max and I together for 4 months.  When my husband finally arrived, Max would have nothing to do with him.  The bigger I got the more territorial Max became.  One evening, I guess I was in the 6 or 7 month of the pregnancy, Max was sitting on my lap when my husband came in and came, to give me a kiss, Max growled at him and from then on until I had the baby he snapped, growled or hid near me when my husband walked in or around me.  My mother-in-law went so far as finding a home for Max, I was outraged.  I couldn't imagine not having my Max.  I prayed and prayed once the baby was born that Max would go back to his normal self, because I knew if he acted that way near the baby, I would have no choice but to find him another home.  We laugh about this now, but it wasn't funny back then.  When Shelby was born, the first day I brought her home, I was very wary of Max.  You are not going to believe what happened.  We put her on the floor in her carrier, he walked up to her, sniffed her licked her foot, and kinda whimpered when she made a noise.  He just looked at her for about 10 minutes, looked at me, then jumped in my husband's lap and licked him.  Max pretty much ignored me for a least a week or so.  Can you believe it?????  The funny part is we tell people that once Max saw that the baby wasn't his, he probably decided that I was a two-timer and made friends with my husband again. 

 

You need to do what you need to do, I thought maybe you might find this story funny and it might ease the pain of having to separate from Lulu.