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- Jan 3, 2010
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About 10 months ago, my cousin had asked me to come to her place (about 2 hrs round trip) to help her train their 6 month old puppy. They had had him for 4 months, he didn't know any commands, chewed on things he wasn't supposed to, wasn't crate trained and wasn't even close to being potty trained. He was a mix of two pretty easy breeds to train (lab/golden mix). She complained about everything that he did from pulling on the leash to knocking his bowl over when he ate. I spent 7 hours over there working with him and her, giving her tips, showing her how to do things, answering questions and everything. The puppy was an ANGEL while I was there and I was sure that if she kept up what we had went over he would be trained in no time. Before I left, I told her I would come out again in two weeks to see where they were and work on any more problems they were having. I also told her that if she had any problems before then that she could call, text or email me. Just before I was supposed to go out again I saw she posted something on Facebook about them giving the puppy away. When I asked her about it, she told me that he was impossible to train and she just didn't have time to deal with him.
In November when Mike and I separated, we had to find a new home for out pit bull, Josh. We were looking for either a temporary or permanent home. I asked my cousin if she wanted to try Josh out for a little bit before we searched elsewhere because she had been posting things about looking for a new puppy. Josh was 7 at the time, very friendly, kid and cat tested, trained, house broken and crate trained. Pretty much the perfect dog. Her grandmother (my aunt) even tried to convince her to try Josh out, she had met her and fallen in love. If she wasn't living in a retirement village, she would have taken her. Anyways, my cousin went on about how they wanted a puppy and that Josh was too old, she wouldn't even try her for a week. I thought, alright then, I'm done with this. I decided not to help her anymore.
At the beginning of December, after we had placed Josh with a great foster based rescue, my cousin sends me a text asking if there's anywhere to get really cheap puppy stuff because they were going to get a JRT/Chihuahua puppy for her fiance's father. The pups had just been born, so she was going to need stuff for the start of February. I told her to check Kijiji and sites like that for the stuff. Then she sent me a message that was pretty snotty saying something along the lines of, "Don't you have anything you can give me? You have dogs all the time and I know you have two extra crates". I replied simply with, "Sorry, I don't have anything extra right now. I do have three crates, but I have two dogs and cat. I need them for vet trips and incase someone gets sick and has to be separated.". She didn't talk to me for a month after that.
I saw just a bit ago that someone was asking if anyone knew of any English Bulldog breeders in the area. One of my friends breeds them and I wasn't thinking when I replied to it and gave the information. I hadn't actually looked to see who posted it but when it clicked with me what I had just done, so I sent her a message asking if it was for her or for someone else. She replied that it was for them and that they had found one that was trained and housebroken for $900 but it was in Ottawa. She said that they were willing to spend up to $1000 on one. I responded back with information on the breed, other things about them that I had found out through working with them through rescue and through my friend. I told her about all the medical expenses that she would almost surely have to experience with the breed, that they were difficult to train because they are stubborn, most need to have their wrinkles and tail pockets cleaned daily, etc. I also told her that she could possibly minimize the cost of these things by purchasing one for a reputable breeder but that it would cost her about double what she was willing to pay up front. I also explained that if she went that route, then she would also have a health guarantee from the breeder. She just responded that her mother in law was over and she'd talk to me later.
I did email my friend that breeds them and told her to really investigate my cousin if she contacted her, she asked why and I explained everything. It's up to her now whether she will sell her a pup, if she is even contacted.
I am so mad at my cousin. She has a 3 year old son and is planning on having another baby soon. She works part time and always complains that she's exhausted, how is she going to have time for a puppy? I'm trying to stay out of it, but I have a feeling that I'm going to be the one that's left to clean up the mess when she doesn't want it anymore.
One of my friend's fiance's mom has a 1 year old dachshund that she's threatening to put down, so I have already committed to taking that dog in if I need to to rehabilitate and most likely rehome. I have enough dog stress with that, I don't need her stressing me out with this too!
In November when Mike and I separated, we had to find a new home for out pit bull, Josh. We were looking for either a temporary or permanent home. I asked my cousin if she wanted to try Josh out for a little bit before we searched elsewhere because she had been posting things about looking for a new puppy. Josh was 7 at the time, very friendly, kid and cat tested, trained, house broken and crate trained. Pretty much the perfect dog. Her grandmother (my aunt) even tried to convince her to try Josh out, she had met her and fallen in love. If she wasn't living in a retirement village, she would have taken her. Anyways, my cousin went on about how they wanted a puppy and that Josh was too old, she wouldn't even try her for a week. I thought, alright then, I'm done with this. I decided not to help her anymore.
At the beginning of December, after we had placed Josh with a great foster based rescue, my cousin sends me a text asking if there's anywhere to get really cheap puppy stuff because they were going to get a JRT/Chihuahua puppy for her fiance's father. The pups had just been born, so she was going to need stuff for the start of February. I told her to check Kijiji and sites like that for the stuff. Then she sent me a message that was pretty snotty saying something along the lines of, "Don't you have anything you can give me? You have dogs all the time and I know you have two extra crates". I replied simply with, "Sorry, I don't have anything extra right now. I do have three crates, but I have two dogs and cat. I need them for vet trips and incase someone gets sick and has to be separated.". She didn't talk to me for a month after that.
I saw just a bit ago that someone was asking if anyone knew of any English Bulldog breeders in the area. One of my friends breeds them and I wasn't thinking when I replied to it and gave the information. I hadn't actually looked to see who posted it but when it clicked with me what I had just done, so I sent her a message asking if it was for her or for someone else. She replied that it was for them and that they had found one that was trained and housebroken for $900 but it was in Ottawa. She said that they were willing to spend up to $1000 on one. I responded back with information on the breed, other things about them that I had found out through working with them through rescue and through my friend. I told her about all the medical expenses that she would almost surely have to experience with the breed, that they were difficult to train because they are stubborn, most need to have their wrinkles and tail pockets cleaned daily, etc. I also told her that she could possibly minimize the cost of these things by purchasing one for a reputable breeder but that it would cost her about double what she was willing to pay up front. I also explained that if she went that route, then she would also have a health guarantee from the breeder. She just responded that her mother in law was over and she'd talk to me later.
I did email my friend that breeds them and told her to really investigate my cousin if she contacted her, she asked why and I explained everything. It's up to her now whether she will sell her a pup, if she is even contacted.
I am so mad at my cousin. She has a 3 year old son and is planning on having another baby soon. She works part time and always complains that she's exhausted, how is she going to have time for a puppy? I'm trying to stay out of it, but I have a feeling that I'm going to be the one that's left to clean up the mess when she doesn't want it anymore.
One of my friend's fiance's mom has a 1 year old dachshund that she's threatening to put down, so I have already committed to taking that dog in if I need to to rehabilitate and most likely rehome. I have enough dog stress with that, I don't need her stressing me out with this too!