Returning a dog to the breeder - Questions/Rant

He's a puppy. I'm not sure why people look at a 4/5 month old pup and assume that the dog will be the same at 2 years of age. Or that the dog at 2 years of age will be the same at 5 years of age.

Dogs go through stages in their maturation and development. Just because a dog is all lovey-dovey at 5 months doesn't mean that at 10 months he'll be the same. Most likely you'll have the ornery "teenager" that requires a "why should I" explanation for each and every thing.

I can't wait until I get my next Fila. It's been a long wait and a lot of having to put off dogs "now" so that I can make sure that my home is properly settled and everything is ready.

As fort solitary bathroom time, I haven't had that in a looooong time (even before my human kiddos...lol). My Rottie was determined to poke her head behind the shower curtain and watch. My Dogo would lie by the door and make sure I was safe. My Fila practically showered with me. My Cane Corso/Mastiff would be in the same room, but not necessarily wanting to be right next to me. And the APBTs....well, they just constantly stay amused at how water can come out of the wall.

I've never owned a mastiff/moloss breed that wasn't extremely devoted to me. But devotion did not equal completely dependent and soft. While my Fila wanted in my lap at rest times, my Shar Pei/Corso preferred to be in the room but not necessarily next to me unless it was his idea. My Dogo also preferred to be in the same room, but was much more of a guardian dog in that he took his place next to the door or a window for look-out duty.

Even so, I've always found that working with those dogs was more like having a two-way conversation instead of me just telling and them just listening. What I was saying had to make sense to them. Sometimes, especially with Wrigley, they thought I was wrong and continued to do things their way. It's like you could see them listening, thinking it over, and then saying "Nope. Not doing that. Kthanksbye.". One thing they were not were blind followers. My APBTs will do anything and everything I tell them to do just because it came out my mouth (or was signaled by hand). Not the others. I had to make sure that they realized I was ALWAYS the smarter one and the one in charge or else they would steal that role right out from underneath me (which happens in far too many ownership cases IMO).

So, IMO, the moral of the story is that such a young pup is just a pup trying to form a bond and figure out to whom he belongs. And IMO just because a dog shows devototion and affection, doesn't mean he's weak, soft, or lacking confidence.

Having these dogs isn't supposed to equal some cool power trip.

Get the pup back to his breeder. I can't imagine a breeder wanting a pup in a home that doesn't care for it and is outspoken in it's disdain for having to even do the basics such as feed it and take it out. I just pray that such an emotional neglect doesn't lead to problems later on. It did in my rescue girl and she was never the same. She paid the ultimate price because of how her previous owners neglected her in every way possible. These dogs have memories like elephants. They don't forget.

An owner owes a dog so much more. So very much more.


JMO as always.

In case anyone read the original **** thread, but missed this small detail- I NEVER asked if the dog should go back to the breeder or not.

My decision already was to return the dog to the breeder, who refused to get in touch with me for over a week after she was supposed to call me back. My questions were about options I had when I couldn't get in touch with her - but mostly it was to just rant my frustration over the situation.

Just because the dog didn't fit, doesn't mean I didn't like him. He is a great boy, and I wanted him to be returned as soon as possible so he can start looking for the right home for him as soon as possible. I've got a heart - I'm not some cold jerk. I feel terrible for how everything went.

I don't know why it surprises me that people would take this opportunity to burn me on a stake... but that's what people on forums do. I've had a lot of scrutiny against me, but I've never received this level of hostility for something that really doesn't deserve it. I returned a dog to his breeder that wasn't the right dog for me... where did I go wrong with that?

I personally wasn't trying to be hostile at all. I was actually trying to be supportive. Like the other poster said, we don't all want the same things in dogs. Just because several of us mentioned that we would like a dog that behaved that way, doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the fact that you don't feel the same way. I think it's a sad situation for any dog to be uprooted from what they've started to know as their home, but in the long run it's better than being kept where they don't belong.

I am appalled that you are implying I neglected him in any way. You can see in his pictures that he is in NO way neglected, physically or emotionally - he is just not the type of dog for me. ]

Well, all this thread did, was give me a major case of puppy fever. I can't get a wrinkly puppy out of my head who follows me around constantly

WANT. WANT. WANT. :rofl1:

I hope this is a lesson to everyone to think carefully about and take seriously the words of those who *know* their breed.

People often acquire dogs with unrealistic expectations. People buy dogs and expect borders not to herd, and expect labs not to swim, chew, and play, and expect malinois not to be monsters, and so on.

Being more careful in the buying process will prevent puppies from bonding then being pulled away at a vital growth stage.

I agree, but I would like to add to the breed expectations..... People need to not buy Northern breeds because they are pretty and then be surprised and horrified to find out they are NOT Labs and eat your house when they get bored and will RUN at the first given opportunity. Or eat your cat, chickens, rabbit, etc. etc. after being left alone with it all the time because oh if you raise them with them they will be fine.... riiiiiiiight because prey drive isn't genetic.
Most pet owners aren't gonna run a dog five miles a day and have the patience to build a working relationship with that Northern breed brain in order to stimulate them mentally... all the exercise in the world isn't gonna help if their brains aren't worked too.

They are working dogs and don't do well in pet homes. I ended up with a second because some well meaning lady liked my dog and went and got her own. Yes I took her with the intention of finding her a home, but realistically..... she will always be safest and happiest with me. Considering how unlucky the rest of the dogs from that bust were I owe it to her.

Most homes are not capable of handling a Siberian husky, Alaskan sled dog, or other Northern breed dogs. This includes show line sibes... dear god have I seen some train wrecks with pet owners ruining good dogs and setting them up to fail. I'm really sick of seeing these dogs screwed over by pet owners.

End rant.

Maybe the implying from things you have said in other posts in this thread.






If the dog is not getting the attention and training it needs... if you are doing the absolute bare minimum and basic needs... yes, to many of us, you ARE neglecting the dog.