A Very Difficult Choice
For about a year, our family had been looking into acquiring a four legged furry friend of the canine persuasion, to add to our house hold. Then, 4 months ago, one of our neighbours was giving up their dog. We knew that everyone in the neighbourhood liked this pup and thought it would a great idea to add him to our home. After talking with the previous owners and arranging a “play date” we suddenly found that they had up and moved and surrendered the dog to the local animal shelter! We right away went to make sure we could have him and kept in constant contact with the shelter as he was being held for the standard time and then neutered and microchipped. We were THRILLED when we were finally able to go and adopt him into our family, but now I realize that I was blinded by the fact of “saving him” and didn’t really think about his adaptability with our family.
I have been trying to be patient, as I know the previous owners didn’t do ANY type of training, and things have been progressing very well, but after 4 months, I am afraid that it may be time to find him a better home.
Please know this, I am really NOT the type to “give up” and this has been something I keep tossing back and forth daily at first, then weekly. I think it would be best FOR THE DOG’S sake, that we re-home him.
My husband and I owned a dog BEFORE we had kids and that dogs personality was one of such love and utter devotion to us. With this dog now (he is a beagle and his name is Radar), he seems to be of a dominant personality and there are things that I just can’t see eventually “working themselves out” over time. We have three daughters aged 12, 6 and 3. He is a little too “rough” with them sometimes and our 10 yr old cat HATES him. He really LOVES other dogs and people and LOVES to socialize. I really think he would do well with an ACTIVE owner (one that would take him on jogs and what not) and maybe another dog. He is good with kids, I just think he is better suited for OLDER kids (8+) as he is strong.
It is our children we are having trouble training! The younger/smaller ones just cannot remember to pick up their toys and food wrappers and he gets into them and I am afraid he is going to get hurt.
He is good about “going” outside. He “lives” on our main floor with a baby gate on the stairs so he won’t go up and get the girls stuffed animals and so the cat can stay up there without him bothering her. We had to move the litter box and the cat’s food and water to our eldest daughter’s room so the cat wouldn’t have to come downstairs. He sleeps on the couch at night when we all go to bed and doesn’t make any noise. In fact, in the mornings, I have to drag him off the couch to go outside!
I really want what’s best for Radar, and as much as we enjoy him and love him, I really think he would be happier somewhere else.
He does seem alot better yesterday and today - his stools seem more solid and yes, we were trying to teach him tricks last night and used a handful of kibble - worked just like treats!! 
