[tntnjmom]

Many of you know that we've had behavioral issues with JoJo since we adopted her. I haven't been posting for a few weeks b/c we'd decided to try to find her a more suitable home. She's our first dog, and still in that rascally phase, and we just wanted for her to have a better chance as becomming the great dog we know she can be.
We thought we'd found the perfect home for her...and the family adopted her last Monday evening (last week). Almost 2 days later, she and all her belongings were up for sale on our local Craigslist forum. I was BEYOND UPSET and immediately contacted the family and left for the 2 hour drive to pick her up and bring her home. Although this family had dogs and the room and time she needed, they saw a quick buck in being able to sell her to another family b/c they needed the money.
She had only been with them for 1.5 days before we got her back.
My husband and I renewed that committment we'd made to her, and have made some adjustments in the house and with our family to suit her needs and become better beagle parents.

We've been working with her on her training, thanks to the help of a wonderful book my husband purchased. I broke my foot, but once it heals, I'll be taking her in for obedience classes.
She's been making some fairly good progress - even walking and running with us on a <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">loose leash</span></span>! (that was a HUGE issue for us if you remember my venting thread about bad walks)
She's also stopped chewing her crate. My husband found a product called Crate Ware -- it's essentially like a crib bumper system but for the dog's crate. VERY cozy and she really loves it. It's turned her crate into a cute little den, prevents her from chewing the bars, and she loves to go in there and just turn herself into a beagle ball. (aren't beagle balls the cutest??)

I had a rough time with what had happened with this other family. You check into them, the stories check out, but I think bottom line is that you just never know 100%.
JoJo was meant to stay with us, and we're trying our abosolute best to make it work.
She's back to being her doggy-diva self and is slowly learning that she's not the alpha in the house.

Thank you all so much for all the help you've given to me during the past 6-7 months while we've struggled to make things works.
I look forward to posting more positive stories!

 

[My2Beagles]

Oh I am so happy to hear that you gave JoJo a second chance - I bet she is too. Good luck with the extra dose of perseverance - I'm sure it will pay off - it's obvious that it already has. I get so many comments from people who tell me what a wonderful job I have done with the Beaglebratz (these comments are probably coming from people who believe how dumb and stubborn Beagles can be. The only thing I can say - yes, they can be IF you allow it but it just takes a strong and determined commitment to prove them otherwise.

 

[RosCole]

WOW! Thank goodness you found her on Craigslist! What that other family did was just terrible

, but, on the other hand, JoJo was meant to be with you!

I am so glad to hear you gave her antother chance, she deserves a good home and sounds like that good home is yours!

Please keep us updated and maybe some pics??

 

[tntnjmom]

I do need to get some pictures up. I have a really cute one of her with one of the kittens. We call JoJo their doggy Mommy b/c she loves to bathe them and they curl up together on her beds.

It was meant to happen, I believe. I think finding her a new home was essentially, the easy way out. We knew we had no idea how to properly raise a beagle. They're wonderful dogs, but are a handful for inexperienced owners...which we are. Now we both get a second chance at taking the harder route - which is most certainly, more rewarding.
Something in my gut told me to check Craigslist...not sure why...but when I saw the ad, I knew it was her. I'm SO grateful I was able to get her back. And she's so happy to be home.

 

[RosCole]

I think most of us have had those days where you just want to pull your hair out but you know what, we started with one and now have 3 beagles!

They really tug at your heartstrings and are great dogs to have around!

 

[sheiser]

I wish you all the best of luck and perseverance needed to keep your family happy, whole, and sane!

 

[araine]

Great to hear, I went through nearly the same thing with another family with my mutt Nubi. Instead of the family calling me to come and get her, they only had her 1 day and then dumped her at their local pound, actually not even that, they tied her to the fence next to the pound....people are unbelievable.

 

[tntnjmom]

Originally Posted By: AmberGreat to hear, I went through nearly the same thing with another family with my mutt Nubi. Instead of the family calling me to come and get her, they only had her 1 day and then dumped her at their local pound, actually not even that, they tied her to the fence next to the pound....people are unbelievable.

Oh my goodness! I just don't get it. I'd SO much rather get a call saying Hey, it's not working out, then see them being dumped essentially, you know? Especially when we were SO OPEN about wanting what's best for her and how much we loved her, etc.
Some people just...well, they're not nice. (to be nice about it)

 

[ecemom]

I can't believe the nerve of some people!! What did they say when you called them out and went to get her?? I'm curious to know...

I'm glad you did get her back and I wish you the best of luck with your second chance!

 

[tntnjmom]

I actually didn't call her on it immediately. Just called to check in to see what she'd say. She claimed JoJo was snapping at her 2-year-old who was grabbing on her and pulling at her (well, yeah...I would, too!). Said she wanted to give her a few days to see if she worked out. (but I suspect it was to find a buyer)
So I said I'd be there to pick her up and bring her back home.

2 days later, I emailed everything I had, she blatantly denied posting the ad (but it was VERY obvious she had). I hope we never, ever run into them anywhere b/c I won't keep my mouth shut again. I just wanted JoJo back and out of her property. They have issues.


But, JoJo's doing MUCH better. Responding well to training. We're doing well, too, now that we've taken some better steps at helping everyone coincide more peacefully.
She's actually laying down with one of the kittens in the sun right now. It's SO darn cute! And she's calm about it, which is a big step.

 

[barykelly]

So glad everything worked out for your family and JoJo!!!

What book did your husband purchase that has helped with your training?

 

[tntnjmom]

Originally Posted By: Abby 01/15/09So glad everything worked out for your family and JoJo!!!

What book did your husband purchase that has helped with your training?

Maran Illustrated Dog Training

It's not beagle-specific, but it's so detailed and gives so many excellent tips. Each topic comes complete with a set of photos that progress through the training. Definitely worth checking out if you need some help.

 

[tntnjmom]

Another update:

(it's long)

She's grown increasingly depressed in the last week or so. A little more each day.
I broke my foot over Labor Day weekend, so I can't get her out to walk or run. We both miss our runs! My husband pulled his leg muscles while playing softball this week, so he can't get her out for very long walks like he was.
I try to get her to play inside (fetch, or with her rope) and she wants nothing to do with it. She lays around all day, only getting active when my daughter comes home from school. Then crazy once my son gets home, and even crazier when my husband comes home.
She's not been eating very much the last 2 days, and has been vomitting bile in the mornings. And she's regressed with nighttime potty training (getting up in the middle of the night, to either poo or pee next to my side of the bed). Yesterday afternoon, I left her uncrated for 10 minutes while I walked outfront to pick up my daughter from the bus. She decided it'd be a good time to just wander upstairs and poo in EVERYONE's room, right in the middle of the floors.
She wants absolutely nothing to do with me. I try to play with her, work on training, etc...and nothing. She tries then loses interest very quickly. I just don't get it. My husband will come home and she's ALL OVER HIM. Even strangers (to her) that come to our door, she fights to get out and she's all over them like they're her new best friend. But not me.

We can't see that there's anything medically wrong with her. Wet nose, she's not feeling warm, she's still going outside and her poo looks fine. And she is eating, just not like she used to.
Can dogs get depressed?
She already doesn't handle stress very well, and with the kids back in school and me unable to get her out like normal...her routine is WAY different than it was. And I have up to 12 more weeks of not being able to get her outside for good walks during the day.
I think we're back to thinking that she deserves better than we can offer. I contacted our local Beagles to the Rescue chapter, but have yet to hear back. I have no idea where to go from here, and after the last incident when we tried to find her a new family...I'm very weary. I want what's best for her and she's making it clear that we're not it. I have no idea what's going on and I'm actually losing sleep over it...

 

[RosCole]

I don't have anything to offer regarding your situation, I don't know what I would do but I am so sorry to hear you are going through this, especially after all you've been through.
I hope you are able to find resolve and I hope that means JoJo can stay with you, maybe all of the sudden changes have just taken a toll and JoJo just needs some more time to realize she is not going anywhere and your relationship with her can improve.

 

[tntnjmom]

Thank you for reading, even if you don't have advice.

It's difficult, as I'm her main caretaker, for her to not want much to do with me. I try, and unless I have treats, she just wants to lay around.
My husband gets home and she's stuck to him like glue, and really doesn't listen to him much either. She just wants to be near him. It's turning into an unhealthy attachment b/c it seems that she's got separation anxiety as soon as he leaves. If he's home, she's normal (and attached to him). When he's gone, she lays around and acts depressed. And he's not much help b/c he lets her stick to him and doesn't show her that she's not the alpha -- and she really thinks she is.
I'm at such a loss. We've checked into the rescue organizations, and they're pretty rigorous to get into, and even then, there's no promise on a placement.
She's getting more food agressive with the cats, too, which really scares me.
It seems like the work we did with her as far as obedience goes, is just gone since her day with the other family. And no matter how hard we try, we're just having a difficult time getting the old JoJo back. I'm sure the lack of exercise is only adding to it....