Woul you consider euthanasia?

[Alterwho]

@Cat_Tap

I will foster for two weeks before making the final decision. I then have to decide whether or not to keep him. If I do not want him I will have to foster until an adopter can be found. The dog cannot return to a kennel.

Honest question - What happens if the dog absolutely doesn’t work out for you for whatever reason? Are you really stuck (I hate using that word but couldn’t come up with something more appropriate) with the dog till it gets adopted by someone else? What if that takes months or years or never? You said the dog had very little “outside socialization”.What does that mean exactly? For me that’s kind of a red flag for a large breed adult dog.

I’m sorry for being so negative, that really isn’t my intent. You sound like an amazing woman who would provide an awesome home for a dog in need but I really, really want you to find the right dog.

[cristalle]

@Alterwho

@Cat_Tap

I will foster for two weeks before making the final decision. I then have to decide whether or not to keep him. If I do not want him I will have to foster until an adopter can be found. The dog cannot return to a kennel.

Honest question - What happens if the dog absolutely doesn’t work out for you for whatever reason? Are you really stuck (I hate using that word but couldn’t come up with something more appropriate) with the dog till it gets adopted by someone else? What if that takes months or years or never? You said the dog had very little “outside socialization”.What does that mean exactly? For me that’s kind of a red flag for a large breed adult dog.

That was my concern too. And I may be confused, but I thought earlier, in this discussion or on another thread, that a Boxer had been ruled out as a suitable dog ?
After all you have been through with your previous dog, I am just concerned for you, and hoping you get the right dog for you.

[Bluey]

One time we get older, our priorities change.
A fall before we are considered old is just a fall.
An older person falling can cause end of life issues.
A neighbor fell last Friday, when help came said she was ok, next day her son checked on her, she was very sick, he took her to the ER and she was dead that evening, they think from a blood clot caused by the fall, the kind of blood cloth younger bodies rarely experience.

My point of this sad story, I too always preferred bigger dogs without a second thought, although had some little ones too.
My last dog was on purpose a little one, just naturally easier to handle for someone reaching old age, your main problem don’t trip on them, they are not going to bump on you in an exuberant moment.

I think that boxers are large very vigorous dogs with careless body awareness, not exactly the best for someone reaching natural old body limits.
That would be my main concern, admitting that if you like a dog, you will deal with size just fine.
Just one more point to be aware of here.

Even having a busy ranch life, many hours outside working, my life was no match for one of my border collies over the top, neurotic energy needs.
She would have loved 24/7 work to do, was unhappy every moment work ended until something else came up, nothing mattered to her in life but work, which she was great at, not happy just going for walks.
She would run along a dirt road and chase and try to head the dust balls the wind made of her tracks, for hours on end if you let her.

My standard worth repeating advice when acquiring a dog, always think of the dog too.
Don’t let it keep you from a dog you really like, you will make whatever work, but if you have a choice, weigh all a dog brings to you AND what you do bring to the dog.
The better the match in temperament and energy level, how much exercise and entertainment any one dog will require, for the given circumstances, the happier everyone will be.

[betonbill]

Why can’t it return to the kennel if it turns out to be unsuitable?

[Bluey]

@betonbill

Why can’t it return to the kennel if it turns out to be unsuitable?

Seems to be a requirement of the rescue it comes from, you are stuck with the dog until someone else wants to try with it, however long it takes.

[endlessclimb]

Good luck legally enforcing that one. @Cat_Tap think carefully about what that actually means. Dog is aggressive, runs off, pulls you down while walking him, does immense property damage, whatever - they expect you to house the critter for free while they find someone.

Sounds weird to me.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

That’s pretty typical of rescues–they expect the person to commit to fostering, even if the dog isn’t a match. I assume “can’t go back” means that the original owner, who had dogs in a kennel can’t take the dog, or the rescue doesn’t want the dog to go from a home to a kennel situation.

A large, active breed that hasn’t been socialized to humans doesn’t sound like the best choice to me OP. But perhaps when you meet the dog, you’ll get a better vibe.

Honestly, I would think an 8-year-old shepherd sounds like a better match, if it’s a super-chill older dog.

[jherold]

Don’t be afraid to say “no” to the boxer. A dog with very limited outside socialization is going to behave very differently in his house than he will when moved to yours. Can you meet him at a neutral location before agreeing to take him? I’d be concerned about separation anxiety with a dog that has always lived with a large group of other dogs. Frankly the shepherd sounded better.

[ParadoxFarm]

Great advice here. I just want to add that even through you are excited about the possibility, do not be worried if you decide last moment that this is not the right match. Don’t feel obligated in any way simply because you’ve already invested some time and energy into the possible adoption. I agree with a previous poster that boxers can be full of energy and silliness, which for some is fun, but for others, it just might be a bit too much. Maybe meet the shepherd x as well so you can compare. You are not locked in. …yet! Best of luck. We all need a good dog (or more) in our lives!

[Cat_Tap]

Have had some computer issues, Received forms and waivers to sign but printer is suddenly not working. I am having some sever emotional upheavals, could be my chemo but have put everything on hold. Have informed Boxer Rescue and they said no worry, no rush.

Right now I am snowed in. Waiting for new tenant farmer to plow me out, previous farmer is retired. Exhausted just getting horses through drifts to turn them out. Wheelbarrow stuck on the way to the manure pit.

Of course current political situation is not helping either. For the first time in my life I fear for my country. I was born before the end of WWII in Germany and have seen devastation. Of course I realize I am over reacting but the anxiety is real.

Thank you Cothers for your input.

[Bicoastal]

@ParadoxFarm

Don’t feel obligated in any way simply because you’ve already invested some time and energy into the possible adoption… You are not locked in. …yet! Best of luck.

I want to echo this. Maybe the printer is your sign! (I intend a light-hearted, teasing, playful tone here.) From what I’ve read about the Boxer Rescue, I would not move forward.

• A two-hour phone interview
• Witness signatures required
• Stuck if you decide no (even during the two-week trial period)

The biggest benefit of going through a rescue s being able to return an unsuitable match. You could be stuck for an indeterminant time. The next great benefit is someone has knowledge of the dog in a home. Unfortunately, I no longer assume that with rescues today. Is the Boxer currently in a kennel?

It sounds like one of the (many) over-the-top unreasonable rescues. I would much rather adopt from a no-nonsense public animal shelter (and privately rehome the dog myself if it did not work out). There are some temperament test quides you could apply when visiting the shelter dog, particularly Sue Sternberg’s Assess-a-Pet.

I am so, so sorry this has been such a difficult journey. I don’t understand it. You are an extraordinary home.

With the death of the breeder, do you know from the wife if there are any remaining dogs?

[Bluey]

@Cat_Tap

Have had some computer issues, Received forms and waivers to sign but printer is suddenly not working. I am having some sever emotional upheavals, could be my chemo but have put everything on hold. Have informed Boxer Rescue and they said no worry, no rush.

Right now I am snowed in. Waiting for new tenant farmer to plow me out, previous farmer is retired. Exhausted just getting horses through drifts to turn them out. Wheelbarrow stuck on the way to the manure pit.

Of course current political situation is not helping either. For the first time in my life I fear for my country. I was born before the end of WWII in Germany and have seen devastation. Of course I realize I am over reacting but the anxiety is real.

Thank you Cothers for your input.

Similar to your predicament, but I think you live in Canada, right?
Extra pressure living in this current Trump nightmare if you are in the US.

I was lucky when my last dog passed next May three years ago that I have been able to curb any need to have another, no matter how often those dreams reoccur.

In today’s world, you in Canada maybe more stable for longer than we are heading downhill in the US, the stress of what we know happened growing up in a devastated Europe after WWII, adding one more care and worry to our lives now that we are old may just not be sensible on principle.

We seem to be entering another reality and it seems this time is going to be definitely a less comfortable one, society changing so fast along with our age making some things harder.
Maybe not the best time to add more responsibilities to our lives.

If another chance comes up, you can always reconsider.
Or you may decide again is not quite the right time … and be ok with it.

[Cat_Tap]

Bicoastal that was my thought also. I am not religious but I did say to a friend that there is a higher power signalling.

[S1969]

@Bicoastal

The biggest benefit of going through a rescue s being able to return an unsuitable match.

I think the biggest benefit of going through a rescue is not getting an unsuitable match. Because they have established foster homes already.

Getting a rescue from a good foster is ideal. Being a foster home is you doing that work so someone else doesn’t have an unsuitable match. If you wanted to be a foster home, that’s a completely different thing.

This organization sounds like it is taking in more dogs than it can reasonably assess/foster at present…not at all a place I would want to get my next dog from. Especially a large breed that probably comes with baggage.

Just editing to say that we visited a local rescue and took some photos for them recently. They had a bunch of really nice dogs - but 2 or 3 really needy seniors. I think 2 will probably stay with their foster homes unless a perfect match shows up - one was a blind (but rather feisty) JRT and the other was a mostly toothless little Manchester terrier. There was also an older, sweet mini poodle who was so traumatized to be in such a loud environment I wanted to cry. (She was adopted right away; someone else could obviously see her need.)

My heart broke for these little ones - they need their own person and a warm lap. Is anything like that a possibility?

[Bicoastal]

@S1969

I think the biggest benefit of going through a rescue is not getting an unsuitable match. Because they have established foster homes already.

Getting a rescue from a good foster is ideal.

That’s a great benefit! That is my historical experience with rescues. More recently, it seems many operate as listing services without possession of the dog at all or the dog is not in a home environment. “The dog cannot return to a kennel” raised a red flag for me that maybe this dog is being housed in a kennel and not in a home.

I’ve been on both sides. No diss to broadstroke ALL rescues.

[S1969]

@Bicoastal

More recently, it seems many operate as listing services without possession of the dog at all or the dog is not in a home environment. “

This is why some rescues need rescuing!

The quality of the rescue organization is huge. The group I met recently seem to be really great. But yes, they are always looking for foster homes. That said, none of their dogs go directly from the source (which is often shelters in the southern states) to a home. Every one goes to a foster for some period of time and then placed. Some could be placed right away - goofy puppies that just need a family to love them. Others need a bit more evaluation to sort out where they should go.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

@Bicoastal

“The dog cannot return to a kennel” raised a red flag for me that maybe this dog is being housed in a kennel and not in a home.

My impression was that the dog was being “rescued” from a kennel. Not using the quotes ironically, just as caution that all rescues are not necessarily from the absolute “worst of the worst” situations, but that the dog was coming from a kennel, living with other dogs, and not in a home. (It sounded like the dog’s owner/caretaker was getting rid of the dogs.)

This means that there is no situation for the dog to return to; also, even if there was, most rescues philosophically will not have a dog, once in a home, being returned to a shelter or any non-home environment because of the stress on the dog, and also because of the difficulty switching from a home living environment to living environment.

Many rescues in my area have two programs:

1. Adoption. The dog is in a foster home, with information provided by the foster home to the prospective adopter about temperament, housebreaking, if good with kids, if good with cats, if good with other dogs.

2. Foster-to-adopt. The dog is often (in my area) coming from a transport from the south or was pulled from a local shelter. In this instance, almost nothing is known about the dog, and the dog is highly stressed, given they’ve just been an often not-great shelter or other communal living environment. It’s not known what their temperament is like as a result, if they’re housebroken, accustomed to living in a home, can be walked on a leash, are good around kids. The foster agrees to take the dog on a week’s trial to determine if it’s a good fit. If it is, the foster gets first dibs on adopting the dog. If not, the foster agrees to foster the dog for at least another week (or another specified period of time) until an adopter or other foster home can be found. The foster then provides the additional information learned about the dog to the rescue, plus photos and other media to find a suitable adopter.

If the dog is a really bad match (dog-aggressive in a house with other dogs), the rescue may search for an emergency substitute foster home.

The advantage of the pure adoption is you get a dog from a home with a history, but you are paying what is usually a non-refundable adoption fee. With fostering, you don’t pay until the adoption is finalized but you may be “stuck” with a dog who isn’t a good fit in your home for a bit because there is no where for the dog to go back to. That sounds like what the OP is thinking of doing.

[Cat_Tap]

All your comments are appreciated both positive and negative. That is why I come here other than my previous trainer who is also a Social Worker I don’t have anyone to discuss this with.Trainer is not pushing one way or the other but said she would support any of my decisions.

I don’t know where the dog is currently. He along with his siblings, off spring and several unrelated dogs were given up by overwhelmed owners. My instructions were that I would meet the dog at the vet clinic where I could spend time with him and even take him for a walk before making a decision.

As I have said before I am currently having lots of ups and downs. We have had a ton of snow. My driveway has been plowed but I have had to shovel around the buildings, make paths for the wheelbarrow, to the turnout field, to my hay storage, to the garage where my supplies were stored and I am exhausted.

Current decision which of course may change again is that I have too much to cope with right now, no time to drive distances for viewing, not calm enough to benefit any poor dog.

The Rescue did say they are overrun with dogs right now. Probably a lot of them are Covid rejects, people wanting a cute dog to walk, have company while working from home and all that has come to end. No one ever considered how much work goes into training and looking after a dog.

Thanks everyone, input is always appreciated.

[JanM]

I suspect the trend to force return to the office is also driving the Covid adopters to dump the dogs on a rescue or shelter. I know people who moved states away, because they were all remote workers, they bought bigger homes, added dogs or cats, and now will move back to higher costs areas for their jobs and won’t have room or money for anything but basic living expenses.

Of course it’s not really from Covid, but many people I know not only went full remote about then, but many moved to cheaper places, and bought homes, adopted pets, and now either have to move back to the high cost area and downsize, or some have lost their jobs, and probably will have to relocate to find another one, and cut back on budget, or move in with roommates, or family or some criisis relocation.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

@JanM

I suspect the trend to force return to the office is also driving the Covid adopters to dump the dogs on a rescue or shelter.

I don’t think it’s COVID (the height of “shelter at home” was 5 years ago). It’s the economy. I know I’m struggling financially. Vet care is expensive. Some people are losing their homes and have to move to areas which aren’t pet-friendly. It’s easy to say “I would be homeless for my pets” or “I would starve to feed my pets” until it comes to that. I’m fortunately not in that situation, thank God, but there but for the grace of God go many of us.

Or, in some cases, people are so financially strapped that once their beloved pet passes, they can’t think of adding another mouth to feed to their home, especially if the passing required costly vet care and months of expensive food, taking time off from work.