Hi all, I'm looking at adopting a bullmastiff-x-lab next week. I've met her today and she needs a bit of work on the lead and is over exuberant but that's all fine. Here's what I'm worried about...
I live alone and would be gone about 13 hours a day when I'm on duty. I have a purpose built run with a big dog house and she would be walked for at least an hour a day when I'm working, and more when I'm not (I work 3-4 days a week). But she would live outside in the run except when it's cold. I don't want to be inconsistent of having her in the house one minute and outside the next as I work days and nights. So outside would be the permanent option.
Would she be okay as an only dog living like that? I've always had a pack of dogs but my wife and I have separated and one is all I can manage now (especially with the work she'll need).
Please don't tear into me here as being honest, I'm just trying to rebuild my life and I could do without any harshness. I'm just looking for honest opinions of people familiar with the breed (I've had three English Mastiffs but all were in a pack with others, I realise Bullmastiff's are different). Thanks in advance.
I adopted a 2 year old whippet/boxer mix in June 2016. She had been previously abused and starved. I was naive and believed with the right training and environment, she would be fine. She has excelled in most areas, but she is still aggressive towards anyone that comes near me, except my boyfriend. And honestly, if it was only this aggression, I would want to keep working with her, but she has other vices as well - She was kept mainly in a crate and has no hesitation to pee and poo in there as she pleases. We reintroduced her to crate training, but we cannot leave the house for more than 3 hours without her pooping in her crate, running around in it, laying in it, kicking it up on the walls... And I've been around many dogs... and I work in healthcare.. I'm no stranger to terrible smells, but her poop is the WORST thing I have ever smelled in my life. In addition to this, she also eats poop, no discretion as to who the poop belongs to. She will stand behind my other dog in the yard and barely wait for the poop to come out of his ass and then gobble it up if we're not quick enough like a nice warm meal. Then she comes inside and pukes it up, and I lied earlier.. THAT is the worst thing I have ever smelled.. I've been trying to work with her constantly, but I am exhausted and my boyfriend is more than over her. We feel trapped not being able to leave the house and I can't hire a dog walker because of the stranger aggression. I contacted animal control where I adopted her from, but they told me they will likely euthanize her. Now, every time she craps her crate, I think "Is this worth killing her over?" I have been contacting rescues, but no one will take a dog with behavioral issues, and honestly, I don't know that I can do that - I would never forgive myself if she bit someone because I didn't make the right choice. It's hard for me to think about putting down a perfectly healthy dog, though, and as much as she drives me insane, I do love her. Have any of you had to put down an aggressive dog?
