Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Hope everyone had a happy holiday

    Posted 12-29-2019 09:57 PM

    Last year I was so busy with holiday puppies.  I really got the "blues" when I realized so many new pet owners made a mistake in getting a new puppy.  I had a client, for this blog, let's say her name is Sue.  Sue recently lost a 15 year old toy poodle and wanted another puppy.  Sue saw a Shiba Inu online and thought he was "cute".  Coy, the Shiba, was finally sent to me for potty training as she threatened to give him to local shelter if he messed in home again.  Needless to say, Coy never went back to Sue.  He found a loving home.  I ran into her at an event in Feburary and she got another 6 year old poodle plus a puppy!!!

    I really had compassion fatigue last year.  Sue was just one of 6 clients that made an emotional, compulsive decision that affects everyone.  Breeders, family members, vets, trainers.  

    I hope this year is better.  

     

    Allison Christian B.A 

    Naples Top Dogs LLC

     

     

     

     

     


    #General
    #holidayvlues


  • 2.  RE: Hope everyone had a happy holiday

    Posted 12-30-2019 07:25 AM

    Fingers crossed this year goes better  I wish it was easier to anticipate who's going to be great with a new puppy and who's... not... I'm always a solid mix of excited and nervous as heck when they go home!

    Two years ago, one foster puppy from my Christmas litter was adopted at Christmas and returned a week later for not being potty-trained yet (like? what? duh?? le's 10 weeks old now when you're returning him? but I told them he was smart so clearly he should have figured that out on Day 1) .

    He was adopted again a few weeks later... and returned at 6 months old for being too big and badly trained. He literally didn't even know 'sit' anymore.... He was by far the smartest puppy in his litter and had several basic commands down when he left me, so that was very frustrating - plus, adopting out an untrained 70lb dog is tough!

    The third time he was adopted, it worked out and his family still adores him 

    Adopters one? Middle-aged couple with lots of dog experience and the wife worked at a doggy daycare!

    Adopters two? A family with 3 older children (I think the youngest was like 13?) and another big dog. 

    Adopters three? A totally inexperienced young couple recently out of college; neither grew up with dogs.

    You just never know!


    #General