My mom is thinking about getting rid of my dog! PLEASE HELP!?

Question

I have a really big dog! A Black lab, he is not even a year yet. We dont have a big enough home for that big dog! But I have two choices, 1. To get rid of my dog and get a smaller dog and my dog go to a big farm with a pond ( he loves water) or...... 2. Keep my dog and get a big fence and get a trainer which is alot of money! But if we do that we would barley have money. I love my dog ALOT, but should I take #1 or #2? P.S REMEMBER I LOVE MY DOG!

Answer 1

If you love your dog you will do what is best for him.

Answer 2

Well, you say get rid of dog go to a farm with a big pond. If this is so, you know where he is going and he is going to be happy, I say let him be happy. BUT YOU can train the dog and won't have need for a fence. I have two black labs, a britney spaniel, a rotti, and a lab chow shep mix. They are all GREAT dogs and even tho they are not trained they do listen to me for the most part. You can do basic training with this dog and keep the dog tied up during the day and bring it in at night. The dog should be fine. BUT a BIG FENCE? WHY? What I have suggested will work and there is little expense in my suggestion. Good Luck either way.

Answer 3

Labs are very loyal, and despite all the other advice above, I think you should keep him as he's probably already attached to you. Look at people in New York City; all of them live in small apartments, yet many of them have dogs, and not just lap dogs, either. As to training, you might be able to find someone at a nearby dog park who will help you train him for free. That's what I did, and I was almost to the point you are. I had a big, high-energy pointer dog, and was living in a tiny trailer at the time. Well, at the dog park I went to was a man who used to train dogs for the Marines. He would hold impromptu training classes on the weekends at the park. We did it, and it made all the difference. After that, my living situation was dictated at least in part by the needs of my dog. I found a home with a yard where I could keep him, and as a result lived for 10 years with the best companion God ever gave a man. He died a few years ago, (his name was Odus) but the experience of knowing him was one of the best I've ever had. You just might have the same experience. Remeber, a dog is a member of the family; you're his "pack," and he's probably very happy being with you.
If you like, you can see a short movie Odus and I made together, called WHAT DO DOGS DREAM WHEN THEY SLEEP? on my Myspace page.

www.myspace.com/zeebya

It's the fourth video box down on the right-hand side. Be sure to turn off the John Williams music that automatically starts when the page is opened so you can hear the sound on the video.
The music control is on the left, just below the picture of me at the top.

Answer 4

Do not do option 1 unless it is a last resort. The pond won't mean as much as to your dog as an attentive owner will. If you are giving him to someone who will treat him like you do, it might not be so bad, but a lot of people with farms keep their dogs outside and don't really pet them! That's OK if that's how the dog was raised, but if you've already kept it as a pet, it's kinda cruel.

Labs are one of the easiest dogs to train. Get a book on it from the library or something. They are big, but very manageable. You need to take your dog on walks daily. If your backyard isn't place the dog can be let out in (because it jumps your fence), walk your dog every time it has to pee. I know that's a pain, but I lived in an apartment for two years--you can do it!

I'll let you read advice from an expert, but the most important object of dog training is to get your dog's respect. Labs are so trainable because they are so eager to please. One common mistake is failing to use a command voice--if you say 'come here' in a regular, polite voice, the dog either won't hear or won't obey. Use the dog's name and a firm voice (don't yell, but use a tone of voice that makes it a command) and the dog will obey if it understands the command. (Teaching a command is the easy part--getting the dog to obey is usually what you need to work on.) Also, you need to call the dog down for misbehavior, such as jumping on guests, every time it happens. If you let the dog get away with it sometimes and not others, you'll confuse the dog. Dogs are smart--get the dog to understand that you are the boss, teach them the rules, enforce the rules, and he'll get it.

The bottom line is that your mother should have never let you have a dog if you (and she) couldn't handle it. Now that you have one, you need to do your best to be a good dog owner. If you really need that trainer and fence, shovel some snow or figure out some way to get money for it--don't give your dog away--its a bad habit to start abandoning loved ones just because it isn't easy to keep loving them.

Answer 5

I would choose number two...kinda. If you're willing to take him on a long walk on a leash everyday, this should get rid of some energy, and you wouldn't need a fence. As far as training, look up different training methods/tips on the internet that you can do at home. Also on Animal Planet they have two helpful shows called Good Dog U. and Barking Mad. These shows give tips on how to get rid of troublesome behavior.

Just a note for your Mom. I don't understand why she got a lab if she didn't want a large dog. And why did she get a dog knowing that she couldn't afford a fence or training? And what if she gets a small dog that starts bad habits, is she going to get rid of it too? Dogs are NOT perfect, but they have feelings. If all of you got this dog, you made a committment to take care of it, and that's what you should do.

If you guys choose to get rid of this dog, DO NOT get another one because there will always be an excuse.

Answer 6

Ask yourself the question you're missing... Which is better for your dog? Why did you get your dog in the first place if you couldn't handle a big dog? No one can make this decision but you and your mom. If your dog (and you and your mom) will be better off with him at a new home, then go for it. If you decide to keep him, keep in mind that you may be able to find fencing cheaper than you think. Keep an eye on the classifieds for used fencing, check craigslist in your area. Training can be done on your own, unless your dog is one of the 'impossible to train' dogs, most CAN be trained by their owner. Buy a decent dog training book and see how it goes before investing in a trainer.

Answer 7

didn't you realize when you brought him home he would outgrow your house? Is your mother willing to put up a big fence? Does this mean you will make him live outside? If so,I think you should let the poor dog go live on the big farm with a pond! Dogs need to be inside with their people. What kind of live will a dog have if left in the back yard! Dont get a smaller dog, either! What will you do if it wont stop peeing on your carpet?

Answer 8

If you went with choice number 1 everyone would probably be happier in the long run, including the dog..and really he is a pup still, so he would re-adjust. Big dogs like that need a lot of room to run. Probably, the new owner would let you come visit from time to time also. That sounds like the logical thing to do. If you do give him away, give the dog time to re-adjust to his new owner before you go visit though. This might be hard for you to do, but you don't want to confuse the dog into thinking you are still it's master...after 6 months or so you could visit though, and he will always remember you. Good luck.

Answer 9

Do what is best for the dog.

I would recommend doing option 1. Your dog will probably be happy with a farm with a pond. If you do this, GO VISIT YOUR DOG A LOT because dogs become attached to their owners and will miss you. Ask the farm owner if you can take the dog for walks sometimes.

Answer 10

I don't know how old you are, but if you really want to keep your dog try raising some money to help your mom pay for costs of a fence and obedience classes. But if you guys really don't have the money for this, i would really consider giving your dog to someone who can accommodate him, and meet his needs. And if you do give him away, make sure, if you DO get another dog, that you have the money to care for whatever needs this dog might have. Good Luck, i am sorry that you might lose your dog. I know dogs are a huge part of the family.

Answer 11

2. just think in the standpoint of your dog he will think that abandoned him and will be depressed for a long time. You should have known before you got a dog that they grow up and get big, just like a child. Either way you will be spending money if you get a puppy then you will have to pay all the costs to get shots, register it, get it fixed etc. Just think of obedience training a long term investment that is well worth the cost. If you love your dog as you say you do then there you shouldn't even have to ask the question. Keep him