got my dog from a shelter 2 years ago. no history, but found pregnant and living on the streets. i spent a fortune on specialist trainer as she had predatory aggression, big problem as we had a cat. i hoped with time and a good home she would settle, but she is getting worse, she runs away all the time, escapes through windows, opens doors, slips her lead, she has become aggressive around other dogs. she is extremley hard work and after having my cat put to sleep recently i realise i havnt bonded with her like i have with dogs in the past, i am seriously thinking of rehoming her as im at my wits end. i am not inexperienced with dogs or training them, but nothing works with this one. everyone who knows us thinks we should rehome her as she is such a hard dog to look after, we get no pleasure from her. i know it sounds cruel and i would never see her hurt. do you think its best to rehome her?

I know its hard but i think for the sake of the dog she would be better off with someone who knows about training dogs and can help her.

As they say, you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but I've found a shock collar (used correctly) works wonders. Before anybody cries "cruelty", in 5 years I've only had to shock my dog twice, The initial training session, and once when he chased a fox across a road. The beep is the effective bit, as the dog associates it with the shock, and now simply putting the collar on is enough for him to realise that I am in control. Dogs are pack animals, show him you are the pack leader.

Well rehoming the dog will certainly confuse and stress it even more than it might be right now, however changing your entire life and not being happy with it, is unfair for you. You tried your best for two years and got little response from the dog, so its not wrong to rehome. I'm sorry about your situation

I would giver here a couple of more years and see how it turns out first I have known dogs to be that way until they really get to know someone and if she doesn't warm up to you at all I mean if she hasn't warmed up to you at all so far then yes rehoming the doggy would be best. I would give it one more year just to see if things don't get better.

I know this sounds stupid, but try sitting down and having a serious one on one conversation with her about the situation and your thoughts about the decisions you face if she keeps it up.I did this with my German Shepherd (from a shelter) after him and the cat were just about to kill each other. I spoke to both of them and basically said if they kept it up, somebody had to go. 2 days later, the dog was laying at my feet, the cat pranced into the room and jumped up on my lap and the dog didn't even flinch!I truly believe that this was a miricle of connecting and communicating with my pets.Whenever I have had an ant infestation in my house, I politely ask them to leave and explain the dire consequences if they do not. It hasn't failed me yet.I promise you, I'm not a nutter!

I can understand your frustration with your dog but exactly where do you intend to re-home her?She has obviously had a very unsettled start and two years of effort don't seem to have improved her. Do you really think that passing her on to someone else is going to help her? I would think that she will probably become even more difficult and more unhappy.I know you say that you do not want to hurt her but passing her on like an unwanted parcel might make your life better but I can't see it improving hers unless she is lucky enough to go to someone who specialises in rehabilitating problem dogs who is willing to keep her. There aren't many of them about!It does sometimes happen that this sort of dog meets the ideal owner but generally it doesn't - I've been involved with problem and rescue dogs long enough to know.If she really is as bad as you say then you should seriously consider euthanasia. Passing her on to someone else to deal with isn't fair on the new owner or the dog.

Sometimes we can't bond with certain dogs. When this happens it is kinder to the dog to rehome it.If there is no relationship between you two, then you will never master this dog. You have done your bit & rescued this dog from certain death. You gave her a chance that maybe no one else would.The thing is I am not sure that anyone would want to take on a dog like this when they could have a sweet natured dog instead. I think your dog is very unhappy & maybe it would be kinder to put her to sleep.Hard choice to make I know but it is better than handing your problem over to someone else & the outcome becoming the same.

Sounds like it is time to find your dog another home. You have also admitted you have not bonded with it like you have some of the other dogs. It is not cruel for you to re home the dog.. Two years is a long time and after the specialist training if it has not worked now it never will... There will be someone out there wanting a dog just like yours and another dog/cat out there that need you too which you will form a bond with and will get pleasure from. Advertise her at the local vets etc, if no luck take her to the pound.... one can only do what one can do and it sounds like enough is enough

if you have a specific breed research its history ie what was its purpose? eg terriers were used for killing vermin and flushing foxs, hounds were used to hunt, herders to round sheep cattle ect. it will have something it will always focus on ie it may be food orientated or fixed on a ball.. use this for training if it showes any aggression de-value what it desires. if it is a tennis ball have another couple with you.. give it a purpose and it should respond my own dogs are aggresive only on the lead and are totally passive off of it .. if this does not work rehoming is always an option. but if you have a dog two years you may under estimate how much it may mean to you hope this helps Andy

I think it sounds like you have tried your best with your dog. You have been patient with her for two years now and I think it would be a shame to give up now. I think you should contact your vet to see if they can recommend a trainer or scheme to help you and your dog. As you have already spent so much effort with this dog I think it would be a shame to let her go without a fight. Give yourself a target of six months to turn this around and then if all else fails approach the re-homing centre. You need to bond with the dog and your vet should give you some tips on this as well.I hope this helps, I had similar problems with my last dog until he was 6 years old. He calmed down all of a sudden and he lived until he was 13 1/2, those years were the best ever, he was a great friend!!If it comes to the crunch and you feel that you can no longer care for the dog then it would be best to have her re-homed and that is not something you should feel bad about, you will know that you tried your very best for her. Good luck.x

read 'the dog listener' by jan fennell

as there was no history on the dog, you can't say for sure as to wether she was hurt in some way, both my dogs have been rescued from very difficult situations, please persevere with her, it took me two years to get my female the way i wanted her, it is a big long struggle, but i tried to ignore the bad things and concentrate on the good things, i also smothered her with love. try a different approach, my guess is that she has seen more people than anything else and is not sure what her proper home is. She needs you to be patient with her and try to understand about her past difficulties.Also remember that she is not used to love and attention, so itll take her time to be secure.