what happened to commitment

Whatever Happened to Commitment?

I know I’ve done a blog before on dogs coming into rescue but the reasons some people give when applying for a space for their dog beggars belief. Rescue is about taking in dogs that need rescuing, sounds crazy doesn’t it saying that but I mean dogs with no homes, abused dogs, strays, welfare cases, it doesn’t mean rescuing a dog from its owner! Or does it? When a six month old dog has issues does the lack of correct understanding of that dog, and of the commitment needed to bring it up and teach it good manners, amount to the dog needing rescuing from them. There is the argument that says, ‘yes they’re better going to rescue and being rehomed to someone sensible’. But there are a couple of problems there, one is that the dog’s have huge issues, and number two is the problem of finding someone sensible and who is prepared to put in the ongoing training needed.

There are loads of sensible dog owners and of course because they’re sensible they rarely get noticed. Their dogs are well behaved, come back when called and don’t’ have issues, but those owners have put in time, patience and commitment to getting their dogs so well mannered.

Let me run you through some of the reasons we get for people relinquishing their dogs. It’s done a ‘collie nip’ on next doors dog, it doesn’t like walking where there are cars, it’s guarding its food, it growled when my toddler tried to climb on its back.

And then…………. its bitten twelve people but I don’t want you to think its aggressive, it’s bullying my other dog, two of my family have had to have plastic surgery due bites from our dog. And so it goes on.

Followed by………….. It’s breaking my heart, its with a heavy heart, its because my partner left me and I can’t cope, it’s causing marital problems, I’m only doing what is best for the dog.

Followed by……………… I’ve done everything possible, I’ve spent a fortune on training, it’s not my fault, when I think about it I shouldn’t really have got a dog.

And the age of these dogs? Ranging from six months and all under two years old!!

Breeders who have cashed in during Covid should be ashamed of themselves, they’ve sold to people who have never had a dog before, people who were going to work after Covid and those breeders have made a lot of money from these poor pups.

Trainers who have suddenly appeared in the last two years after doing online courses, and who have made money from the people who have tried to understand their dogs should stop and think of how a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. It can put people in hospital and cause the death of a dog,

Sadly a lot of these dogs have biting issues, not because they are aggressive or poorly bred, but because they have been misunderstood and poorly managed. Kids dragging them round, bouncing on furniture, endless tugging games, chewing furniture, an overload of toys and lots of cuddles until they nip. Then starts the guarding of food, their bed, their toys and suddenly at six months old the dog is ruling the home, has no manners and thinks it can rule by biting.

There are not enough rescue spaces to take them all in and in a lot of cases rescues will struggle to rehome them. So they end up at the vets, their lives taken before they’re old enough to have really started living.

Without harder laws regarding breeding, training, online courses and rules/laws regarding dog ownership this isn’t going to go away.

Not a blog for the fainthearted but one that is a sad fact. I’ll try and do a happy one next!