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Comment by Sam Tsang on February 4, 2012 at 9:58pm

Hi Melissa, there's no shame in knowing your limit and do what's best for Truck and Franklin. Rescue is not for everyone, it takes a lot of work to match the right dog to the right family. I personally think it'll work out much better if you proceed to screen and place Truck in a forever home yourself, you know him much better than the breeder. I wouldn't return Truck back to the breeder as long as there's no written contract. Thank you for taking Truck out of a bad situation, lets hope that the right forever home is just around the corner.

Comment by Melissa and Franklin! on February 4, 2012 at 9:18pm

Kathy- Thank you for your story. I think if Truck were around a year old I would keep him. I feel like if he were younger I would be able to work out these issues a bit easier. I was very specific with the breeder about what I wanted because, honestly, I didn't want a project. I paid for him, and did not adopt him from a rescue, because I wanted to know what I was getting beforehand, I didn't want surprises and a bunch of personality issues. I also think my situation may differ a bit because your boy sounds like he just had never been exposed to much growing up. Truck on the other hand has traveled the country, shown, and competed in rally and obedience. For a dog with this much exposure to new situations he absolutely should not have this kind of fear of the new/different. He is 4 years old and can't even cope with a new person in my house. Like Beth said, right outside my door is a busy walking/bike path, on any given day we may run into 3-5 dogs (most of which are off leash), families with children (who often don't have the courtesy to ask before petting a strange dog), hikers, bikers, joggers, etc. Truck just can't handle all of that, and honestly he is a bit of a liability to me since I never know if he is going to bite a kid (he hasn't tried but I have been VERY careful) or if he is going to attack an approaching dog (again I've had to be VERY careful with him). I don't want to turn my world upside down for a dog. It may be selfish, but at the same time I want the dog to enjoy my company and Franklin's company and enjoy traveling and camping and hiking and even boating. Truck would probably have a heart attack if we went out on the boat. I have already changed my lifestyle so much in the last 3 weeks and he is STILL not able to cope. I haven't seen 3 of my closest friends in the last 3 weeks because I know Truck will attack their dogs, I brought him to my brother's house and had to keep him leashed to me the entire time because he kept trying to go after my brother's big dog.

I think at this point I will search for a rescue with zero training but more of a personality that will fit in my life. Truck is perfectly trained but has the completely wrong personality. And really I don't think that he will ever be a "normal" dog, which at this time in my life is what I want. Even a rambunctious high-energy maniac would be better for me because at least I know I can fix that.  

Beth- I too have had a cat similar to yours. It took 3 months before I could even pet her. Almost a year for her to get along well with my other cat. But as you said, she is just a cat so much less is expected of her. When she runs and hides from strangers, its no big deal. But like you said, a timid dog just doesn't fit in my life. I need an outgoing dog or at least one who has a shred of confidence! Truck will literally yelp if I accidentally wave the chuck-it in his direction when playing with Franklin. I almost feel like passersby probably think I beat my dog because of his reaction to most things. 

Comment by Kevan hudson on February 4, 2012 at 9:16pm

over the years I have rescued many dogs, some of them take a long time to adjust some not so much,sounds like truck is a younger dog, he would adjust ,he perhaps needs someone who can spend the amount of time with him he needs,we would love to have him up here ,but we are way up here in edmonton, canada,I hope for trucks sake you find a good home for him.........

Comment by Zigward & Kimberly on February 4, 2012 at 8:14pm

awh:( im really sorry.

it must be pretty hard. i hope that if you return him to the breeder she matches him up correctly the next time:/

Comment by Kayla and Mason on February 4, 2012 at 7:39pm

I'm so sorry Melissa it sounds like you tried very hard :( I know how upsetting it can feel to try and it not work out--I had rescued an older dog named Yoda and itw as the same situation..they said he was active, he wasn't, they said he was healthy, he wasn't...they said he'd get along with my younger guy and he absolutely DID NOT. He ended up moving in with Tavia at MTCR and is thriving there with older low energy buddies.

How old is Truck? He's very cute. I wish he'd do well with a high energy dog! I want to add another cardi soonish...I know you'll find him a good home, I hope they let you do the re-homing. If you do, you should use the Corgi Rescues of America group on fb! We'll all help in any way we can. 

Comment by Bev Levy on February 4, 2012 at 7:32pm

Finding another more suitable home for a dog is not giving up on him, it is doing what is best for him. I bet you have helped him a lot and hope he finds a great situation for him.

Comment by Beth on February 4, 2012 at 6:37pm

Kathy, I think you are correct that helping an animal with fear issues can be rewarding;  I rescued a very shy, timid kitten and it was infinitely rewarding to watch her come out of her shell and learn to trust me.  But alas she only ever learned to trust me.  Since she was a cat, that was fine as little was expected of her.

A timid dog, however, would have a scary and miserable life with me and I am not really able to accommodate the needs of a timid dog.  There is just way too much activity right outside my door every day.  I would need to move, or seal up my windows, or confine the dog to the back of the house.  I would need to put the dog in the car to walk it all summer, since our neighborhood is at the doorstep of a park and there is rarely a day that goes by that we don't deal with multiple new people and dogs.  "Too many people" at my house would be going outside to pee.

From everything Melissa has posted, I think her life with her dogs is not terribly different from mine.  Different climate, different activities but the same busy lifestyle.

It's not just a matter of if you can make it work.  It's a matter of considering how the dog will feel, having to face fears every single day of its life.  In my neighborhood, the dog would get a reprieve for a couple months in winter and that would be it.   

I think it's wonderful what you've been able to do with your dog, and like I said, having done something similar with a cat (she would not come out from under the bed except to use her box for weeks--- when I moved with her she lost 3 pounds out of terror and I was afraid I'd lose her) I know how rewarding it is.    But not every house is appropriate for that type of dog, and I know mine is definitely not.   Poor thing would need medication just to function. 

Comment by Kathy Losacco on February 4, 2012 at 6:15pm

I adopted Austin, my corgi, when he was a year old.  He, also, is a very timid, introverted dog.  He was put up for adoption because his original owner passed away and the daughter inherited him, intending to keep him, but he just hid in her barn.  It has taken him a long time to come out of his shell.  He had never had a leash on so walking him at first was a challenge.  A bus driving by would shut him down, a motorcycle, too many people. He doesn't like too much commotion going on in the house.  He prefers to be by himself, or just a little removed. He likes to watch from another room. It took me a year to get him to the dog beach and another year before he tried swimming. He is almost seven years old now and we go for 8-10 mile hikes on the weekends and 2-4 mile walks on weekdays.  He doesn't like to cuddle but loves a good belly rub. If he spends 15 minutes next to me on the couch I consider that a triumph.  He loves to play frisbee and corner the cats.  He doesn't like it when a tail is wagged in his face or a foot moves.  He loves to dig down for moles (his hole head goes underground and if he had a snorkle I think he would go deeper) or maybe he is playing ostrich.  He won't go for a walk with my kids, but knows to be beneath my daughter when she is in the kitchen cooking.

Even though it is trying at times, I think he has been worth it.  He has taught me infinite amounts of patience and to accept the different personalities of my pets. He can only cope with so much, so I have learned to read when things are becoming too much and to pull back.  (sometimes you need to stretch them a little, but too much will make them revert)

Austin will never be outgoing and cuddly,  but he is my constant companion and he has come to trust me as I have come to understand him.

This is just my story with my little man.  Take from it what you need.

Comment by Beth on February 4, 2012 at 6:06pm

Melissa, I'm sorry he's not working but I have the feeling you have made the right decision.   It does sound like Truck would thrive in a quiet home that wants a lap dog.  It's a shame his owner didn't know him well enough to place him well.   We went to look at a 6-year-old bitch before we got Maddie, and on the first meeting her owner and I immediately decided it was  just a bad match.  She was not timid, but she was super mellow and she clearly wanted nothing to do with Jack.  Jack is so high-energy that a mellow dog would make life difficult for everyone: us and both dogs.  

Becky was also a retired show dog.   Her daughter (who was there when we met Becky, and would have been perfect for us but was not available) went BOB at the National Specialty recently, which was way cool!  Anyway, point being that there are people who show at the highest levels who are dog-savvy and know their dogs very well.    Sounds like Truck never should have been sent to you and I think you have given him ample time.  

He is a stunning dog, though.

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