Almost two years ago our beloved old mutt died..I held out for a year but the kids kept begging for a dog...finally broke down and adopted one from the pound. (all my animals have been pound animals or strays). Well, long story short, Ike, a lab mix, has been a challenge to say the least. He is smart and loving but he is WILD. He has also grown to 70 lbs plus and needs enormous amounts of attention. Dh and I finally decided to look for another home and I think we have found one...these folks just lost their dog, have a huge yard (fenced in) plus 10 acres. The problem? I feel terrible...I have had animals all my life...everyone jokes about all the strays I have picked up...but this dog is just too much for me. The kids have helped very little with him...he has just gotten so big but my youngest two are now acting like I am the meanest mother in the world. My dd even started the old Lilo and Stitch ohana thing. Has anyone been through this?????

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 11:56 pm:

It sounds like he just isn't the best fit for your family, though. With a 10-acre yard, he would have lots of room to be happy! Then couldn't you rescue another dog from the pound, that might be a better fit?

By Karefl on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - 02:46 pm:

YES I have & I feel for you! We had a bassett hound for about a year that just didn't fit here! He barked constantly! That dog could even bark w/a muzzle on!!! HE would eat anything that was in his zone! I have to leash him to the couch in the house & keep everything clear of him! And bassetts STINK to high heaven No matter how much you bath them! The kids liked him though so I put up with it! The LAST straw was when he got a hold of a deposit bag of $$$ from our business (it was WAAAYYYYY back on the desk & he got it!) and chewed through the bag! A few more minutes & he would have eaten a few days worth of sales!!!! I was ready to take him to the pound! "No mom! They'll kill him" I told them that it was better than them watching me do it! LOL (No I wouldn't, but I was MAD) Luckily his former owners took him back & are very happy to have him (although I can't see how! LOL). Now we have a FABULOUS Golden Retriever that we ALL love! The kids got over the bassett leaving fairly quickly. We just had to let them know that we're the parents & we don't think that he (the bassett hound) was the right dog for our family. Good Luck!
Karrie