ETA: Unfortunately Kayda had to go back to the rescue yesterday. She chased Rowan down yesterday morning, tackled her and bit her. Rowan is okay, but it was scary for both of us, because it wasn't normal puppy playing. I never ever would have adopted Kayda if I had known that she was showing aggression towards people and animals. I feel angry and misled by the rescue that we adopted her from, because I feel like they should have known more about her personality. I don't think they ever took her for a walk, or took her around people outside of her foster home. If they had, they would have seen what we saw....Kayda lunging and barking at kids at the playground, the crazy dog aggression, the high prey drive (they knew we had a kitten in the house when we adopted her). Unfortunately, because they didn't bother to find out about her personality before adopting her, and because I didn't press them with any specific and direct questions, we all ended up being unhappy with the results. I feel like Kayda is a great puppy, with lots of potential to be a great dog. But I am just not willing to takes risks with a puppy that is showing such aggressive tendencies at only 3 months old. So, we are going to move, get our fence built, settle in, and then really take our time looking for a new dog. We are going to look at puppies, but also at older more "established" dogs, and really talk to the foster families and rescue groups, and hopefully be more educated adopters the next time around. There are SO many doggies out there that need good homes, I know we will find the right one for our family (Mac included...he is SO much happier with Kayda gone, he is actually coming to us again for snuggles instead of hiding upstairs all day!). Just take a look at some of these cute little faces:
Alvin
Luca
Cheddar (If I was adopting today he would be really high on my list)
Mac (well, that name is already taken!)
Elsa
Tinker
Mama
Sadie Sue
Aurora
Baby Girl
Josephine (another that would probably be high on the list)
Its so sad that there are so many puppies and dogs (and cats too) that need new homes :( I wish that there was a mandatory spay and neuter law, or that there were government kickbacks for spaying and neutering your pet. That would surely cut down on the number of these poor animals living their lives in cages, waiting for someone to love them. Or being euthanized simply because there is not enough room in the shelter, or because they are victims of BSL (because in reality ALL DOGS BITE not just APBT's). Break my heart. Our new house is about 2 minutes from the Bonnie L Hays small animal shelter, and Killian has expressed interest in volunteering there. He is probably too young, but maybe they would let him come with me if I volunteered. I think it would be a great learning experiance for him, and really build on the compassion that he already has for animals. Maybe he will be the next Cesar Millan ;)
************************************************************************************
Last night was Kaydas first puppy kindergarten class. Here is the pupil on the way to school:
I would love to say that she did great but....she didn't. In actually learning what she was supposed to learn (watch me, sit and lay down) she would have got an "A". She did great with all that stuff. The only problem is she is clearly lacking ANY social skills. The person who had her before us must have kept her in a box or something because Kayda barks at everything and everyone. People we pass on our walks, dogs we see...she acted like she wanted to shred her classmates apart and eat them! It was very embarrassing, people probably assume that its MY fault that she acts so rotten, when in fact I am trying to do everything I can to help her. I talked to the trainer after, and she said while she wasn't concerned that Kayda barked at other dogs, she was concerned when she saw Kayda bark and lung at a person :( She said she is way too young to be showing people aggression. I am so worried that we will put all this time and love and energy into her and then ultimately have to give her back to the rescue. I wont have an aggressive dog when I have kids and their friends in my house. Not gonna work! I really love this dog, and I want to make it work, I want her to realize that people and dogs are not going to hurt her. So, I have signed her up for "daycare". I filled out the application last night, and now have to wait to hear back from the place. I am hoping that if I take her to daycare for an hour a day, she can play with other dogs in a safe environment. Dog parks are out for us, not only because she hasnt had all her shots, but also because people take their dogs there and then just ignore them, letting them do whatever they want. I have seen way to many fights and bad situations when I used to go with a friend and her dog, and I dont want to put Kayda in that situation. Especially at this point when she is already scared of other dogs. I hope that this works, and that she grows up to be a dog we all love and can trust!
Alvin
Luca
Cheddar (If I was adopting today he would be really high on my list)
Mac (well, that name is already taken!)
Elsa
Tinker
Mama
Sadie Sue
Aurora
Baby Girl
Josephine (another that would probably be high on the list)
Its so sad that there are so many puppies and dogs (and cats too) that need new homes :( I wish that there was a mandatory spay and neuter law, or that there were government kickbacks for spaying and neutering your pet. That would surely cut down on the number of these poor animals living their lives in cages, waiting for someone to love them. Or being euthanized simply because there is not enough room in the shelter, or because they are victims of BSL (because in reality ALL DOGS BITE not just APBT's). Break my heart. Our new house is about 2 minutes from the Bonnie L Hays small animal shelter, and Killian has expressed interest in volunteering there. He is probably too young, but maybe they would let him come with me if I volunteered. I think it would be a great learning experiance for him, and really build on the compassion that he already has for animals. Maybe he will be the next Cesar Millan ;)
************************************************************************************
Last night was Kaydas first puppy kindergarten class. Here is the pupil on the way to school:
I would love to say that she did great but....she didn't. In actually learning what she was supposed to learn (watch me, sit and lay down) she would have got an "A". She did great with all that stuff. The only problem is she is clearly lacking ANY social skills. The person who had her before us must have kept her in a box or something because Kayda barks at everything and everyone. People we pass on our walks, dogs we see...she acted like she wanted to shred her classmates apart and eat them! It was very embarrassing, people probably assume that its MY fault that she acts so rotten, when in fact I am trying to do everything I can to help her. I talked to the trainer after, and she said while she wasn't concerned that Kayda barked at other dogs, she was concerned when she saw Kayda bark and lung at a person :( She said she is way too young to be showing people aggression. I am so worried that we will put all this time and love and energy into her and then ultimately have to give her back to the rescue. I wont have an aggressive dog when I have kids and their friends in my house. Not gonna work! I really love this dog, and I want to make it work, I want her to realize that people and dogs are not going to hurt her. So, I have signed her up for "daycare". I filled out the application last night, and now have to wait to hear back from the place. I am hoping that if I take her to daycare for an hour a day, she can play with other dogs in a safe environment. Dog parks are out for us, not only because she hasnt had all her shots, but also because people take their dogs there and then just ignore them, letting them do whatever they want. I have seen way to many fights and bad situations when I used to go with a friend and her dog, and I dont want to put Kayda in that situation. Especially at this point when she is already scared of other dogs. I hope that this works, and that she grows up to be a dog we all love and can trust!