I almost darent ask???

[Kate MacKenzy]

Hi All.

Not sure what the re-homing discussions were all about., It all sounded heated..

 

But here it is:

I find myself in this God awful position of having to permanantly return to the UK in the New Year for family reasons.

I have my two wonderful Doodles, who are the light of my every day... I miss them when Im at work and wish I could call them...The joy they bring me individually and together, exceeds my definition of happiness.

I simply cant take both of them as I am going to have to rent a house for the forseeable future and I simply wont find a rental home in the UK that will have the space or permission for two such large dogs..

Doodles Ive had since he was 4 months, Bailey I had from a rescue and he came to me at 18 months.The thought of finding another home for one of them is breaking my heart and knowing the angst this separation as well as a long flight and new country is bound to inflict on my other doodle is also extremely upsetting.

I dont think little Doodles could take a new owner, he's basically a Mommas boy and also high maintenance and funny with it, while Baily is an oversized lap dog, he wants to be with other people and would go easily with anyone who feeds him basically.

 

Bailey is almost 5, well trained in sit, down, heel, stay and just wants to be by your side every moment Im at home. He does have issues with  food issues..

So what is the best way to find Bailey a new loving owner and be sure he's going to a loving home.

As I live in Vermont, is it better I try and resettle him before the depths of winter weather adds to the difficutly of finding the right owner and him making the adjustement in a new yard and routine?

I dont want him going to a shelter first but wonder if they have the better exposure and contacts to get the best for him?

 

 

 

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If you adopted Bailey through a rescue, your adoption contract most likely stipulates that you must return him to them.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Hi Kate, sorry to hear you have to rehome your doodles.  Check your rescue contract like Karen said but if they don't require you to return the dog to them, you can contact a doodle specific rescue like The Doodle Rescue Collective http://doodlerescue.org/ (they are a great group and I adopted my Ollie through them) or Idog rescue http://idog.biz/IDOGRescue.html.   Please don't try to rehome him through craiglist though.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Definitely check with the rescue organization through which you adopted Bailey.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I agree with what everyone said.. and want to stress please do not list on craigs list.. Many dogs on there are used for horrible situations.

I see that one of your dogs had previous bitten a kennel owner... Please be very careful and place them only in the best of hands if the original rescue group doesn't take him back.

Please if you could let us know what happens... I am sure if the rescue group doesn't take him back the two other links may help you, if you find that they are not helpful, please come back to us. We have a lot of resources and will try to help you

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I am truly sorry that you are going through this. 

On your page you wrote in January he just turned 3 and here you say he is almost 5. Can you clarify that?

A shelter is no place for any dog - especially for one that has through what Bailey has. Shelters do not take the time to find the right family for each dog the way a rescue can. If he has bite history and/or shows any aggression at the shelter (and who wouldn't being so scared??) the shelter will euthanize him! They will not take a chance that he will bite again. 

 Has he been evaluated with a behaviorist? Has he had a full exam with your vet which includes a thyroid panel?

Have you been working on food guarding issues? Have they gotten better at all?

If the rescue won't take him back, please go through a doodle only rescue and please let them know any issue that he has to they attempt to find a home that can deal with them.

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

You must feel very torn between family and doodle needs. The others have given you good advice so far. I hope you find a good home for Bailey.

[Ginny Nightingale]

You already got advice that i totally agree with but I want to ask another question--am I right in remembering that the UK has a 6 month quarantine for any pet brought in? That will be rough if that is true!

[Jennifer and Jack]

My friend just had their dog brought over to the UK... They have done away with the quarantine as long as you meet specific requirements such as tape worm...deworming, Rabies Vaccination and a Titer to prove immunity against it, the pet must be micro chipped and one or two other things..

Sorry to get off topic.. The laws changed January 2012....

[F, Calla & Luca]

It's  not off topic and it's good to know.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

that's interesting.

[Kate MacKenzy]

HI all,

Thanks so much for all the advice:

For anyone wanting clarification in future ref Pets into the UK, they have to go through the hoops of THe Pet Passport Scheme; Here is the link to the DEFRA site for the UK: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/

They have just reduced the waiting period from 6 months to 21 days which is more realistic...

It costs on average $1500-1800 to ship a dog from east coast to the UK.

 

I will contact the Rescue where Bailey came from, but I wasnt impressed with the state he was in, when I collected him. They were certainly thorough enough with questionaires and correspondence...$ 700 fee which I thought was high but I dont know...But he arrived with his coat literally hacked like some child had cut his hair back and he's been cut on the shoulder. She aplogized saying he's been so matted, but I wondered why he'd been left in that state until the day before I collected him as it was many weeks of communication before we met up for the transfer?

Can someone clarify for me that a Resuce will place him with a family until a permanant home is found or they house them in a kennel situation with many other dogs? I dont want that for him, much as he would like it, as I know what the outcome would eventually be.

So despite what my contract says....and I may well comply with it, but I have to do what is best for my dog, someone locally  who already knows and loves him may be the best answer for him and give me peace of mind.

I want to know he's going directly to another home and not going to be in some waiting process and passed from one temporary place to another or end up in a shelter. I was hoping to go visit any prospective home and be in involved in choosing the right home, right family, right financial means before letting go of him. I cant even speak about it without crying.

Big Dog (as he mostly answers to) is 90lbs of affection and loyalty.. He slngs in his sleep, and can run like the wind when off leash but always comes back,( Typically wet). He insists on riding in the front seat of the truck for a better view, loves to be with other dogs and gravitates towards guys. Despite his size, he's not the alpha dog when at home, but out of the home, always takes the lead of the two of them, or Doodles forfiets his role, not sure which but its always an interesting dynamic.

His food issues: If I havent had tiime to empty the 60lb bag of doog food ino the locker, I can go to work and come home and he hasnt been anywhere near it. When I feed them, He sits and waits at his dish full of food until I say eat and then he'll eat, not before I give the command. If I eat,  he will lie on the floor until Im done. My house rule is if they get human food, and they do, it goes into their bowls and only then they enjoy it.

The issue is always about the kitchen counter, if Im cooking and get disctracted he'll have stolen the head of broccli when I turn around its gone, and he's outside with it. Or a cookig utensil, he's walked off with, mostly wooden spoons again from the counter.  He wont give it up. Initially when he got here without thinking I went to remove whatever from his mouth and without warning he nipped me. Since Ive typically sat and stared him down and until he reluctantly drops it from his jaws and then I retreive it.  Its non-confrontational if not a lengthy process.

This was the behavior that took him to the resuce before.  I can see I need to do some homework here to prepare him for someone elses home. Ive tried to contact behaviorists, but Im so far out in the country no one will travel to train him in his own home envirornment, so any idea's would be helpful.

To clarify Bailey will be four in November this year.

 

[Jennifer and Jack]

That is pricey! My friend just did it and there was no days of quarantine as long as the rules were met....I don't see on the site where it says a 21 day of quarantine ...I am not Arguing I am truly curious ..


Best of luck to you in finding your big guy a forever family.