Calling It Quits. When Rehoming Your Dog Becomes Necessary

Is there ever a time when you, in all good conscience and sleepless nights, know that giving up your dog is the best thing you can do for your dog and yourself?

The short answer is yes.  I did. Her name was Lexus. She went to a better home. But my decision still haunts me to this day.

This is Lexus’ story.

Lexus was a female Doberman Pinscher. I adopted her as a puppy shortly after my 93-year-old mother, who had been living with me, passed away. I already had two Boston Terriers, but always loved Dobes and wanted a larger dog while I was still young and strong enough to handle one.

I found a breeder online who lived in Arizona and had a long history with Dobermans. I contacted her, and she responded. While she had a waiting list, she listened to my story and told me she was moving me to the top of the list. She had a beautiful black/tan female, sent me photos of the puppy, along with pup’s mom and dad.

I picked up “Lexus” as I named her at the airport and brought her home. She was absolutely beautiful, and my other pups took to her immediately. This was the beginning of what I’d hoped would be a happy family.  Little did I know what awaited me.

As Lexus grew, health-wise and physically, she was A-1, but mentally, there was something off. Something that an experienced dog owner recognizes but doesn’t want to admit. She was reactive, began becoming aloof with my Bostons, and was very wary, almost to the point of dislike, of my Boston Spunky.

I already had been through several months of training with her, and she knew the basic commands and recall. But my trainer advised that there was something “different” about her. Overly alert, overly reactive. Again, that “R” word.

I took her for a wellness exam, and my vet with over 15 yrs experience, also felt unsure of her. Lexus was not aggressive or growling, the vet was able to examine her, but Dr. Martens remained also felt “something” was not quite right.

Trouble Brewing

Shortly after the vet visit, Lexus and Spunky had their first real dust-up. Spunky had the kind of personality that I swear, could make God crazy. You needed eyes 360 around your head because if you didn’t see him, or hear him, he was getting into trouble somewhere. I soon discovered that Spunky’s mere presence was enough to drive Lexus crazy. When she barked at him, I listened to the tone of her bark which was not a bark to signal annoyance, but rather one of warning.

I was at the fridge getting ice for a my drink when I heard a commotion. I turned around and saw Spunky do a somersault over the island. I was able to separate Lexus and Spunky albeit with some difficulty, only to have little Spunky decide to charge right at Lexus all over again. At that point Lexus slipped out of my arms and got ahold of Spunky by the head. I was frantic, and trying to pull Lexus off Spunky, but to no avail. When I saw Spunky stop fighting and go limp with pink foam coming from his mouth, I thought he was dead. Lexus dropped him like a stone.

I ran a limp Spunky over to the ER praying he was alright. The ER vet calmed me down and assured me that they saw similar situations all the time. Spunky was conscious, a little shaken up. He had puncture marks on his head and neck but no real damage. I was given antibiotics and she came home.

When I got home, I scoured the internet for trainers who had Doberman/GSD/working dog experience with problem children. The next day, I called him and arranged a consultation with him. He asked that I bring Spunky along with Lexus.

The consultation was an eye-opener, with Lexus charging at Spunky in front of me and the trainer. I knew that Lexus had issues that I couldn’t deal with alone. I agreed to place Lexus in a two-week boot camp to see if he could help her.

At that point, the situations that had been building with Lexus were coming to a head. My neighbors on both sides of me were wary of Lexus. When I took her on walks, although she was well-behaved, she was dog reactive to a certain extent.

I made the decision to call her breeder, and let her know what was going on and my situation. The breeder said she would take Lexus back and find her a new home.  I thought about it and then backed out. I couldn’t part with her.

Enter Czarina

Now if that wasn’t enough, in June of 2008, I made decision to bring a fourth dog into my home, a baby female German Shepherd.  By that time, Lexus had returned home from her boot camp, and was remarkably calmer and less reactive. Before adopting the GSD puppy, I took Lexus to meet her.

You know when you witness a situation and you make a mental note of it, but push it into the back of your mind. That’s how I felt with watching Lexus and soon-to-be-named, Czarina. Czarina was a curious, playful little puppy, trying to play with Lexus, while Lexus was wary and tried to avoid contact with her.

I forged ahead and brought Czarina home with me. The little pup blended with the Bostons, and Lexus left her alone for the most part. One day, Lexus was asleep next to me at the end of the sofa. Little Czarina came over and nudged Lexus with her nose. Lexus erupted and bit Czarina. Czarina immediately started wailing and blood is flowing.

Ran Czarina to the vet, visions of Spunky in front of me. Dr. Martens examined her and told me that by one millimeter, Czarina could have lost her eye. More antibiotics and home we went.

The Decision Made

I called Lexus breeder, and this time we spoke for over two hours. I told her that I could not continue with my current situation, but that I wanted to ensure that Lexus went to a good home where she was loved and cared for.  Two weeks later, the breeder called me and told me she had a client who had just lost his female Doberman.  He was single with 20 acres on the Willamette. He wanted Lexus and felt she’d be perfect for his 5 yr old male, who was more laid back.

I made arrangements to fly Lexus to Phoenix, and drove with her to United’s cargo terminal made sure she had a blankie, water, toys in her crate. I stayed with her until I couldn’t anymore. I drove home with relief that the dog fights were over, and yet deeply morose.

The breeder sent me a letter from her new owner who told me about her new home, how happy and grateful he was to have her and that she was enjoying life running throughout his property with her Doberman brother.

I know that I’d made the right decision for Lexus and my other pups, yet to this day remain haunted by my decision.  I can’t think about her without remorse and that I failed her somehow. In retrospect, she was a dog who needed an owner who was totally centered on her, where she was their universe.

I had a rocky road with Lexus, with other situations not documented here that led to my ultimate decision to rehome her.

If you are in a similar situation where you’re at your wit’s end, and unsure what to do, contact me before you surrender your dog. There may be options for you and your dog that I’ve not covered here. Trust me when I tell you that when you give up your pup, it will stay with you for the rest of your life.