Rescue Adoption did not Work

[alimel]

I am so sad, we were so excited to meet Max the Rottweiler from Rottweiler Rescue in South Florida. He is 2 years old and he is deaf, however, he is so very intelligent, his owner, who is relocating, taught him hand commands and he is super obedient. He is playful, happy, goofy and very very gentle...what's the problem you ask? My 9 year old Rottie hates him. He constantly growled and snapped at him for no reason, Max was not bothering him, he would not let him in the same room with him. We just lost our 16 year old Beagle and we are not sure if it is too soon to bring another dog home or because they are both males of the same breed.

My dog is very mello normally , he loves everyone, this is why we thought this would be great. I am so sorry it did not work out My Mel has been so depressed we thought another dog would cheer him up. I started to get attached to Max, how do foster parents do this? I only had Max for 1 day and I fell in love with him.

I want to thank all the people out there who are foster parents for dogs and all the rescue groups. You all really are wonderful people dedicated to finding forever familes for abandoned dogs. I will continue to work with rescue organizations to find a dog that Mel will accept, I think we will try a female in a few weeks!

[Dax]

How did you introduce them? Sometimes territory can play a role in it.

A female and another breed might be a better choice.

[dobermom]

I would encourage you to get a female.

[alimel]

We introduced them in a neutral territory then walked them together for about a mile. He was fine until they came in the house. Poor Max did not even react to my dog's agressiveness, he just looked at us like what's going on - you know how their foreheads wrinkle when they are puzzled!

[Dax]

Awww... he sounds so sweet. Too bad it didn't work out.

[Dignity]

Sorry it didn't work out. My thought is that your dog saw that the other dog was deaf and wanted to take advantage of the situation and be top dog. Usually it is best to get the opposite gender, especially if you are planning on going through a rescue. Denali is so easy going, she met all the adoptees in THEIR territory and liked most of them (everybody did ok with each other). The other thought is maybe your dog isn't ready for another dog yet? He may still be trying to understand what is going on and figure out where he fits into the pack.

Just give him some time, and I would try a opposite gender. It's great that you're looking at rescues!!!!

[aburgstede]

Neutral territory...not even a backyard....a park, a street, etc.

We foster parents do it...barely. We've adopted two of our fosters! And I can think of numerous others we would love to have kept...um... probably all of them !!! We do it like this, by keeping this in mind: sending one to a loving, caring, well qualified forever home=one more open spot in foster care=one less lonely poor pathetic soul out on the street in danger of being PTS (put to sleep). It's a long term goal and you have to be strong, but it pays off when you get updates from the adopters telling you how great the dog is doing, how happy they are they adopted, and see the happy face on the dog in the pictures they send you. And, when you get your next foster (from the shelter, the street, or save them within seconds of being PTS), you know why you sent the last one home.

It's a foster parent's passion. I know it is mine.

I'm sorry it didn't work out...but there's a reason...you will discover that...only in time. Most likely when you find the right one!!

-Amy
Disabled Dachshund Society (www.ourdds.org)

[alimel]

Thank you Amy, we are not giving up yet! We had Max's owner bring him to the dog park today to meet us and everything went well until we took Max home. They played in the yard after their baths and the teeth came out again in the house. We are going to try one last time next week.

We had our neighbors bring over their dogs, female shepard and male rot mix and he was fine with them, in fact he brought out toys for them. He has known them for about a year, but this was the first time they came in the house.

I hope someday that I can be a foster mom, I think I can do it, not sure about my husband, he would get too attached

[SalemsMom]

Its to bad,he sounded like a wonderful dog,we would bring the strange dog in the house while someone else takes your dog out somewhere,but it is after they have been taken to a park,together first,then when your dog comes home,the new dog already has his scent in the house.

[Trace]

Wait a minute - you only had him in your house for one day? If I read that correctly - that is not nrealy enough time to tell if dogs will get along.