[BK001]

Good morning Sweet Nothings,
Nucky you may have noticed that I did not weigh in here or in the other post about Advice for your Pup. We've only had two dogs. The first, Spike, a large German Shepherd mixed breed, was rescued (to my dismay) while we were both working when a friend of DH convinced him that we need a dog! Ha. He was a "chewer" - loved leather shoes, pocketbooks, and especially wood. My house was filled throughout with beautiful wood trim -- beautiful that is until Spike got done with it! The dog did not like me at all (the feeling was mutual) and he nipped and growled at me many times. Each night I came home and would immediately assess the new damage he had done. We tried everything including an expensive trainer (who after several sessions pulled me aside and said "It's your husband who needs the training". After 1.5 years my nerves were so rattled and, for the first and only time in our 30 plus year marriage I gave my husband an ultimatum that I meant from the core of my soul -- it's me or the dog. Choose.

Our little Yorkie came many years later -- I had since retired -- and it's too long a story to tell the circumstances but he became ours. The good news he loved us both equally - the bad, he suffered from horrific separation anxiety. Regardless of everything we tried, he never got over it. I was older with more patience and, being at home, it was easier to deal with him. But having him changed our lives irrevocably. For years we avoided going out as much as we may have wanted to because of his barking, scratching at the door and, of course, the "present" that he left on the floor for us every single time we left the house. After we moved here, Mike installed those metal kick plates on the laundry/garage door after he nearly destroyed the door from scratching. He would bite the ankles/legs of any visitor that tried to leave our home. I lived in fear that someday we may get sued. We both cried like babies when he passed and I still miss him -- but there is also a feeling of relief.

Did we love him? You betcha. Would I get another dog. Possilbly. But for now, with all my medical appointments, and the desire to socialize more, I need the ability to go out when we want to without always worrying about what trouble the dog will get into.

I was reluctant to respond to you because, perhaps I'm a coward, but I had misgivings about this little guy based upon our experience and, if asked, would have recommended that you return him and try to find a better emotionally adjusted dog.