It's not goats but you folk understand...

dlskidmore · #41 05/19/12, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusky Beauty

I really struggled with the guilt for weeks because I feel like being master to a dog is a sacred trust, and I blew it. I worried about how scared he was, and if he felt like I abandoned him, but I knew I had done the right thing.

The reason I'm so strict with my current dogs was I had one like that before. He bit two people in the month I had him. If my adoption contract wasn't so strict I would have put him down, but I had to return him to them. (They placed him in another home that also returned him, but they are a "no-kill" group.)

I know exactly how you feel. But I turned it around, and spent a lot of time studying dog behavior before I got another, and I love them all more now that I understand them better.

Dusky Beauty · #42 05/19/12, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlskidmore

The reason I'm so strict with my current dogs was I had one like that before. He bit two people in the month I had him. If my adoption contract wasn't so strict I would have put him down, but I had to return him to them. (They placed him in another home that also returned him, but they are a "no-kill" group.)

I know exactly how you feel. But I turned it around, and spent a lot of time studying dog behavior before I got another, and I love them all more now that I understand them better.

Well, Puff (the pyr mix) wasn't a danger to anyone or anything but the poultry, so he made out well. Turns out the rescue used him as a "trial dog" for about 3 weeks... he visited potential adopters for a couple days so they could try on dog ownership so they could make an informed decision. --- So he got pampered and doted on for weeks and loved every minute, and was then adopted by a posh Scottsdale family. I'm sure he has a much larger dog day spa budget than my entire feed store bill.

DamnearaFarm · #43 05/19/12, 05:54 PM

Aw, Pony, girl.... I'm so sorry y'all are going through this. I've been there. <<<hugs>>>

Pony · #44 05/19/12, 09:00 PM

Tonight is a bit better. Spent a lot of time in the garden, and then we took the goats for a walkabout of the perimeter of the property.

I don't feel quite so raw tonight... and I haven't even had a glass of wine (yet).

Again, my deep thanks to all of you. Thanks for sharing your similar experiences. I'm sorry so many others have had this happen, but it does help to know we're not the only ones who've struggled through it.

nduetime · #45 05/19/12, 09:18 PM

Awww, Pony and Nick. I am so very sorry. Bud D was normally such a sweet thing. My heart feels for both of you, Bud D and Zonk. No matter how and why, it just plain hurts. I know you two and know how much you think of your animals. Hope you can get some rest dear friend and squishter, have another glass of wine on me!

Pony · #46 05/19/12, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nduetime

Awww, Pony and Nick. I am so very sorry. Bud D was normally such a sweet thing. My heart feels for both of you, Bud D and Zonk. No matter how and why, it just plain hurts. I know you two and know how much you think of your animals. Hope you can get some rest dear friend and squishter, have another glass of wine on me!

<sniffle>

NOW I think I'm ready for that wine...

Thanks, Trish. Love you.

Wags · #47 05/24/12, 04:57 PM

Just now seeing this - so sorry for both of your losses!

(((Hugs)))

Pony · #48 05/24/12, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wags

Just now seeing this - so sorry for both of your losses!

(((Hugs)))

Thanks, Jane. {hugs back}

Steph in MT · #49 05/25/12, 09:56 AM

I'm so sorry - my heart is breaking for you.
There's something especially hard when a pet of your own kills your other pets.
When it happened with my dog and goats I felt like I failed so many animals. I still struggle with it. And yes, it's hard to get the visuals out of your head as it's burned to memory. It will dull with time.
Sending you strength and big hugs.
Again, I'm so sorry...

Pony · #50 05/25/12, 10:11 AM

This morning, I referred to the incident as "The Mother's Day Massacre."

And in a weird twist of my crooked brain, I started thinking about "Alice's Restaurant" (posted that to Trish's FB wall the other day...) and now I have THAT stuck in my head.

Oh. The Thanksgiving Day Massacree. That's why it stuck.

WINE!

jen74145 · #51 05/25/12, 10:22 AM

I've been there too. It is such a hard subject to wrangle, I don't think you were lectured. This is one that I think many multiple-beast owners have to deal with at some point.

I will never trust a dog again, because I know them. I love them, but they are an animal and if left alone or just out of sight, will wind up killing your puppy/cat/stock. My current dog is 6.5 pounds, so I trust him by default. He couldn't hurt my cat if he wanted to. I couldn't bring home the seemingly sweet and gentle GSD mix or BC mix that DH adored because I looked at them and remembered.

I think you did the right thing. Most dogs have the impulse, but won't carry through. Carrying through is just the line in the sand.

dlskidmore · #52 05/25/12, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jen74145

Most dogs have the impulse, but won't carry through. Carrying through is just the line in the sand.

Carrying through doesn't make them bad dogs. For thousands of years we bred them as hunting companions. Dogs' most useful drives, even herding sheep, are subsets of hunting and defense behaviors. Every good dog has those drives. They are exactly what they were born to be, they're just not always very good at pretending to be human.

missythemom · #53 05/26/12, 07:59 AM

I am sorry this happened. What a difficult decision to make, you made the right one, but difficult none the less. (((hugs)))

Pony · #54 05/26/12, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlskidmore

Carrying through doesn't make them bad dogs. For thousands of years we bred them as hunting companions. Dogs' most useful drives, even herding sheep, are subsets of hunting and defense behaviors. Every good dog has those drives. They are exactly what they were born to be, they're just not always very good at pretending to be human.

I know that dogs have prey drive - ALL dogs have it, to one degree or another.

When the dog kills other pets, though, it can no longer function within the admittedly unnatural setting we created.

This wasn't Bud's first time. He attacked Frankie the Hound before, but we thought it was a pack dominance issue. The pieces fell into place after The Recent Unpleasantness.

I doubt that anyone here actually expects dogs to be human. Can't imagine anyone on this board carrying a dog around in a handbag. LOL!

Ranger · #55 05/26/12, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

I know that dogs have prey drive - ALL dogs have it, to one degree or another.

When the dog kills other pets, though, it can no longer function within the admittedly unnatural setting we created.

This wasn't Bud's first time. He attacked Frankie the Hound before, but we thought it was a pack dominance issue. The pieces fell into place after The Recent Unpleasantness.

I doubt that anyone here actually expects dogs to be human. Can't imagine anyone on this board carrying a dog around in a handbag. LOL!

A goat, maybe, but probably not a dog. Probably. Maybe. Not often.

Pony · #56 05/26/12, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger

A goat, maybe, but probably not a dog. Probably. Maybe. Not often.

HA!

Can't fit Nubians into purses. Or backpacks.

Maybe could fit a saddle on one?

dlskidmore · #57 05/27/12, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

HA!

Can't fit Nubians into purses. Or backpacks.

Maybe could fit a saddle on one?

I've seriously recommended pack goats as assistance animals, but everyone thinks I'm joking.

Cliff · #58 05/27/12, 09:27 AM

How are you doing Pony? For months after I had to put my dog down I looked for him every time I went outside... and missed him. It was almost harder than the initial loss of him. Every time I notice this thread again I wonder how you're doing.

Pony · #59 05/27/12, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff

How are you doing Pony? For months after I had to put my dog down I looked for him every time I went outside... and missed him. It was almost harder than the initial loss of him. Every time I notice this thread again I wonder how you're doing.

Every so often, I'll see the border collie at the food dish, and for some reason, my mind makes it look like that big old dumb AB... Or something will crash in another room, and I'll holler at Zonker to quit climbing.

Our brains play funny tricks on us.

Pony · #60 05/27/12, 11:32 AM

p.s. Thanks for asking, Cliff.