hi guys , ive got a bit of a dilemma and its effecting me more than i thought it would. i have a mini schnauzer called elsie she is a lovely wee dog and i do love her i admit she was bought in haste nearly three years ago now . the problem is i have another two weimaraners and i feel she doesnt exactly fit into our lifestyle we run with the weimars quite alot and they go to alot more shows and stuff sometimes elsie is left behind. my sisters mother and father in law absoloutley adore her and they dont have any other dogs and lost their old westie  a while back  she would be absoloutley spoiled there and be given alot more attention than sadly she gets here. what do i do ?

I think you have answered that yourself, if you feel she would be better off with your sisters inlaws then go for it, at least being with people you know you can keep an eye on her.

i think you are right i have answered it havent i ? its a bonus that i can still have contact with her over the phone and maybe see her once in a while.
thanks

Did you just buy another new puppy, or is that someone else?

You posted less than two weeks ago how well your Schnauzer and adult Weim got on but you had concerns with the new pup getting along with your first Weim?  So how come she (the schnauzer) suddenly doesn't "fit your lifestyle"

If you don't want to keep this little dog then be up front with yourself about your reasoning first and also be sure it's what you want long term.  From what you've written on this thread then IMO it is far better she goes to a home where she will have all the time, energy and love in the world and hopefully this time her forever home.  But your previous yet very recent posts are in complete conflict with this one .... hence why I can't follow what is really going on :)

Are you perhaps just over stressed right now and so letting your emotions getting the better of you?  You say you 'run the Weims a lot' - but as one is not even 4 months old that shouldn't be happening and in any event a Schnauzer, regardless of size, is a very energetic breed and more than able to rough house and keep up with larger dogs.

> Are you perhaps just over stressed right now and so letting your emotions getting the better of you? 

I thought this too. Maybe three is proving to be more of a handful than you had imagined. It just seems a bit out of the blue. You have obviously got a good solution available to you, but make sure it is really what you want, and it's not just a knee jerk reaction.

Good luck.

So did the Weims or the schnauzer come first?
I think its sad when people buy pups on a whim as they usually do end up being rehomed due to no fault of their own :(
But at least with this dog she is getting a good home guranteed and quickly and also somewhere you know she will be spoiled and looked after :)

Shame really that it is she who must go, I assume from your previous posts she and the older bitch got on well?
Maybe the timing was wrong for you to take on another pup and it's upset the mix a bit.
Maybe you have now realized that she is the wrong breed for your family in which case if the new home is as good as you hope maybe she will be better in a one dog environment.
We should all take note of this...buy in haste, repent at leisure. A pitfall many could all drop into if not carefull!
Best of luck with her
Aileen.

Whatever you decide if your Schnauzer came from a decent breeder it would be nice to let them know that she has been re-homed within the family.

Many people do buy the wrong breed of dog and do not understand that different breeds have different traits that do not fit in with lifestyle, patience and tolerance, I know that people buy in haste and live to regret it, and I to a point can understand this, most of these poor souls end up in rescue.

However, it seems that even though you prefer your Weimaraners this dog has lived with you for 3 years now, so bought in haste did not make you re-home in haste, herein lies the problem, it really does now come across as though you are only thinking of re-homing as you have two of your prefered breed and she does not fit in looks wise and with what you wish to do with the other dogs, it is quite a selfish reason to re-home a dog, a bit like having a favourite child and the other gets little attention.

My mother has had gundogs for years, and had one of her weak moments a few years ago and bought a terrier cross puppy, totally different size, shape and traits to her other dogs added to that she is going blind too, but that little dog is the life and soul of the pack, fits in with everything she does with her other dogs and even when her eyesight all but goes she will be as much a part of life as she can be, never once would the thought of re-homing her cross anyones mind, when you love something, you love it. You proffess to love this little Schnauzer, but you surely can't.

I think the dog would be better at your mums, but as said you need to be honest with the reasons, she does not appear to be doing anything wrong?

Would you still be re-homing her if your parents weren't interested?  Would you be sending her to rescue?

I guess your heart is not in it, so your parents are her best bet, sorry if my post upsets you, but I feel so sad for this little dog. :-(

> afterthat i landed elsie the mini schnauzer ive no idea how that came about i always said i wouldnt get  a small dog but my daughter twisted my arm and guess what she is adorable .

> i feel she doesnt exactly fit into our lifestyle we run with the weimars quite alot and they go to alot more shows and stuff sometimes elsie is left behind.

We had to give up a dog once, although in very different circumstances, and it's incredibly painful.  I think you also mentioned in a previous post that you'd had to give up a pointer (?) so you obviously know how difficult it can be, but what does your daughter think?  I cut a bit from a previous post of yours as I took this to mean that Elsie is your daughters dog.

There were some mixed messages on your previous posts about your adult Weim not getting on well with your puppy but she seemed to have no problem with Elsie.  Are you wondering if she and the pup will get on better if Elsie is not there?  I think there are a lot of people on CD that will help you if you looking to find a way for the 3 dogs to live in harmony.  There are many threads that seem to indicate it's usually a temporary thing that often improves when the pup is a little older and everyone has learnt their place in your household.  Also you said that Meami (sp?) has accepted pups before when she was 4 and 6, so there's no reason why she won't do that again given time.

We have a 5 yr old dog that gets left at home whilst we go to shows with our puppy (or he goes to Grandma's with the kids for sofa slumping and ice creams!).  We did feel a bit guilty about leaving him behind BUT he'd hate it so he's not missing anything. We just have to make sure that he gets his type of quality time on other days.

If you genuinely think that the dogs will be happier if separated can you ask your sisters parents in law to have one of them for a short holiday to see what happens?

Sounds like the Schnauzer would be better off elsewhere to me.  You will get over the guilt when you see her happy in her new home.  

i think you already now what to do.
The answer is that which is best for her as you have always done.

I had a very much wanted dog of 7 [like an only child really] until I got talked into having a second dog- she was not my choice of breed at all- but a friend could not cope and my then 11 yr old son blagged me into it. Out of the litter my friend's bitch had 6 in all- I instantly fell in love with the biggest brindle boy that I called starsky, she ended up keeping him- as I assumed wrong that my male would get aggressive having another male move into our home- so I settled for the small bitch.
Even though I love tinkerbell loads- I think of her as my sons dog and once I excepted her into our fold she is here to stay.
Funnily enough I now have her brother here since last night !! the biggest brindle boy starsky of the litter who my friend after 4 yrs can not put up with any more !!. Sadly she has only let him come to live with me on the understanding I hand him over to the dogs trust to find another forever home? even though I would love to keep him.
I should of just gone with my gut instinct 4 years ago, Which is what this lady with her 3 yr old dog should do.

>i have three dogs and three kids i dont do anything with them although i would like to
>we run with the weimars quite alot and they go to alot more shows

I'm a little confused - do you show or not? These two statements seem to conflict.

It does seem a bit rough on the Schnauzer that she should be ousted by a newcomer. But she may well be happier getting the attention and company she deserves.

We have a Lab which we show and a Bichon which we don't - it costs me quite a bit, but we ALWAYS take her with us as NFC.

thanks for all your posts  i am quite upset at the moment as i dont know if i have done the right thing my inlaws came and picked her up tonight.

Its whats  right for the dog.  You'll get to see her and im sure she'll be fine.

I feel sorry for the dog.

It's one of the hardest things to do apart from getting a loved dog PTS.  I've had to rehome one of mine this week as after a knee injury, (which I'm probably going to have to wait months for an op) I am no longer able to walk all 5 dogs together, and no, it's not possible to take them out seperately.  I originally rehomed both mum and daughter, but daughter couldn't cope and was pining badly so I took her back.  Mum has settled in beautifully and I couldn't have found a better home for her.  I am now left with 4 which I can just about cope with.  There will probably be people slate me for this but the main thing is to put the dogs first, it wouldn't have been much of a life for them if they couldn't get exercised every day like they're used to.  I know that even after my op. when I'll probably be on crutches or sticks, I'll still manage with the ones I've got to at least get them up to the park for a decent run until I recover properly.

> but the main thing is to put the dogs first

Absolutely. I'm sure nobody would slate you for that BB.

I hope your dog has now found her 'forever home'.

Please in the future if you ever feel the need to buy another dog, make sure your lifestyle fits the dog BEFORE you get it, including fitting in with your current dogs.

"I had a very much wanted dog of 7 [like an only child really] until I got talked into having a second dog- she was not my choice of breed at all- but a friend could not cope and my then 11 yr old son blagged me into it. Out of the litter my friend's bitch had 6 in all- I instantly fell in love with the biggest brindle boy that I called starsky, she ended up keeping him- as I assumed wrong that my male would get aggressive having another male move into our home- so I settled for the small bitch.
Even though I love tinkerbell loads- I think of her as my sons dog and once I excepted her into our fold she is here to stay.
Funnily enough I now have her brother here since last night !! the biggest brindle boy starsky of the litter who my friend after 4 yrs can not put up with any more !!. Sadly she has only let him come to live with me on the understanding I hand him over to the dogs trust to find another forever home? even though I would love to keep him.
I should of just gone with my gut instinct 4 years ago, Which is what this lady with her 3 yr old dog should do. "
Sorry to hijack the thread, but the owner has already relinquished all rights to the dog so you can keep him.

We all went out for the day today taking the dogs along picnic and beach- and her son said that today that he wishes for me to keep him now and so does his mum- Starsky has settled in great to my house with my lot so after only a short time well since Thursday they realise he will be happier with me. So more than likely he will be here to stay !! :-)

Amandalawson - Reading back through your posts I'm a bit confused. You've posted several times about your older weim not getting on with the new pup. You've said you don't do anything with your dogs, and certainly a 15 week old pup shouldn't be getting more exercise than an adult mini schnauzer could cope with? A 15 week old pup can't go to shows. I'm at a complete loss as to why you've rehomed this girl - and why you posted on here about it - what do you want people to tell you....that it's ok to rehome adult dogs because you've decided they don't fit your image? :-(

BelgianBonkers, you're situation is very different. I'm so sorry you've had to make that choice but it was done for the dogs own good. It's something I worry about too, living alone, what if I had an accident and couldn't look after the dogs. I hope you get your op soon.

OK let's say it how it is, you are very selfish not putting the dog first.  Working for a rescue it is something that we see quite often, one minute you want the dog, the next minute you think another dog is a better option, so what happens next?  Well you re-home it of course :( think of all the excuses in the world why the dog would be better somewhere else and it boils down to one reason and one reason only, you are not really fit to have the dog, he or she is worth far more than the home you can give, it is brilliant that your in-laws are willing to re-home her, lets hope they have more commitment and responsibility than you do. I feel so sad for this girl and wish her the best of luck in her new (and let's hope) forever home.

Amanda,
I have always tried  not be judgemental and opinionated on this forum when commenting on doggy matters- but reading through previous threads from you has seemed strange that only at the beginning of the month you were raving about being a proud owner of 3 dogs & 3 kids and if it were not for your husband you would have a house full of dogs?  well it is such a shame that you have decided to to get dog number 3 into your life and that now within less than 6 months having 3 dogs then deciding to get rid of dog  number 2 ?? when that animal has clearly become part of your family for 3 years very upsetting indeed also what also sort of message does it send to your child about responsible dog ownership ??. Lets hope within the next year the people who are having your dog [that you don't want any more] decide to re-place their previous dog that sadly died and then get rid of the one they have taken on for you ??

Thank-you Tigger2 and Rachelandoscar for your kind words.  It's not something I'd thought about before as I've always been so fit and healthy.  Hubby's due to get a hernia op soon (guarantee it'll be about the same time as mine!), so we had to do something.  The hardest part was choosing which ones had to go.  Sash had been rescued from death row a couple of years ago and settled so quickly with us that I thought she'd be the best choice along with her daughter who I thought would be happy with her mum.  So much for that idea!!  She was so stressed, to the extent she was growling and showing her teeth at the new family (not like her at all, she loves everyone) so we took her back.  It really does make you have a long think about other situations that could arise. 

This is why i said i felt sorry for the dog, i wasn't trying to upset anyone but i have to say i found the reason for wanting rid of the dog rather selfish too.

Maybe i'm a bit naive but isn't a dog for life anymore these days? This dog seemed to fit into the OP's lifestyle well enough 3 years ago & the fact a new puppy has been brought into the equasion since then makes it seem a little like a case of out with the old & in with the new.

I think what makes it so difficult to understand is the fact that hundreds of dogs are put in rescue every week for very legitimate reasons. It just sounds a bit 'trite' to want to rehome a dog because it doesn't fit your lifestyle anymore, afterall when you take on a dog it's up to you to adapt your lifestyle to accomodate the dog not the other way around.

I don't know really, it's a tough one to answer without sounding judgemental but i really do feel the reason given is a little unfair on the dog. I can think of countless ways this dog's inability to keep up when out running could have been accomodated, walking them seperately for a start would have shown more committment.

I think the main thing is the dog has been found a good home.  As I found out, you can never tell what's going to happen to you in the future.  We all take on dogs with the intention of giving them a forever home, but life can give you a very good kick up the bum and as far as I'm concerned your dogs have to come first.  I tried walking the dogs seperately and it didn't work.  They were so used to me taking them out together that the ones that were left on the first shift freaked out totally when seperated and vice versa on the second shift.  Maybe the OP had the same problem?  I persevered for nearly a fortnight with this thinking "they would get used to it".  It caused far too much stress on the dogs.  It ended up with me waiting til hubby got home from work before the dogs could get walked.  He would take the second shift into the yard so I could get out with the others.  This was not fair on any of the dogs as they got no exercise during the day.

> I think the main thing is the dog has been found a good home.

I agree and on that note will close this thread