Posted 7 Oct 2022 Hello all from myself and my wife we have a very sad search we need help to find a reliable and compassionate org to rehome our westie. His name is Charlie. He is 10 months of age, registered, received from a good breeder and in perfect health since he had a extensive vet check on friday. (Well we are waiting reults of latest blood tests, but they expect finding nothing) he is agressive to us in our home. We are working with a highly credentialed behaviorist in uk via virtual video consultations. We live in a small town in the harz mountains. We have been working qith training si ce a young pup. We have also taken him to a highly reviewed and recommended german dog trainer (huge mistake which made situation worse) He actually walks on lead fairly well, sits, stays for shorter periods. We are working on down. We have read a million books as well and do e tons of research.. He has been on mutiple vacations with us to the beach in netherlands, up and down both coasts of denmark on a caravan trip, he is our joy and we are devastated. He is super friendly with others - paws up tail wagging wanting to be petted. He cant wait to meet other dogs, even the most savage beast which he thinks will want to play. We live in a smaller apartment 55 sqm so it is difficult to give him space that behaviorist thinks he may need. There are several other dogs in our building that go past our hollow doors frequently making it difficult for him to relax. I have a MS like condition and the stress is not helping my condition...was in the hospital for a week recently with a relapse. WE WANT THE BEST FOR HIM. Both the vet and behaviorist think we should rehome him to a rescue/foster situation. I will not put out a add somewhere asking for someone to buy him or take him as we do not want him abused or used for breeding in a puppy mill somewhere. He needs the right environment. There are several westie rescues in the uk we have spoken to for guidence...they will take him and think maybe he has picked up on my illness while i was away in hospital, not sure i believe it but they have worked with many westies over the years. At the moment we are not sure how he would deal with a ferry transit to uk after a long drive to the port. Anyone know of a org here..i have searched countless times and find zero. Mostly selling rescue dogs so.eone bought from Romania etc. I am not looking for offers from people to adopt him. He needs some special attention. We are devastated that we need to do this and have spent several weeks shedding some tears, sleepless nights to get to the decision. But we want the best for him as well, as he is clealry stressed as well. Thanks i look forward to any info someone might have. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 12 Oct 2022 Hi, I don't have a Westie contact, but maybe a foster here in Germany might be a solution? I got my current rescue through an animal rescue in Hessen, the fosterers were absolutely lovely, I'm still in touch with them, but they still have a dog there (last time we spoke anyway!)...it was through Tierschutzverein Hundehilfe Himterland. I do so hope you can find a solution for him, even though I understand it will be heartbreaking to part with him. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 12 Oct 2022 Hello thank you. if you personally know a contact would be great if you could ask we are trying to work with our vet. We have tried to look for foster or the tierschutz places...absolutely un willing to help...they all assume you just want to get rid of the dog. The situation does not fit the box they have to check. We did find out he is hyper thyroid. Most likely do to expensive bio wet food we have gave him...we have put him on boiled chicken and dry mix as recommended same day. however he is not sleeping and needs to sleep we have tried everything special spaces natural relaxing tablets music etc..of course he needs some real medicatio to help at least until he gets a few days of rest. Dogs need 14 he is maybe doing 8 and never straight through.. The one day he did sleep a lot he was better. Of course this is germany so no medicine just herbal tablets and no answers. We are just exhausted trying to get help for him and are truely ready to give up. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 13 Oct 2022 I do not have any contacts, but maybe those guys can help you Willkommen bei Westiehilfe e.V. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 13 Oct 2022 Thank you so much we will try. We called our vet again this morning and we were told that they cant give him anything...even a small tiny dose of something to calm hi. Unless he is under observation. I told them ok how do we do that... answer we cant because he is agressive. And in the meantime the dog is bouncing off the walls he slept a maybe 4 hours last night. To be honest it would be funny if we were not living this...and the less he sleeps the more agitated he becomes. Of course we were offered another useless herbal option. And we have tried these with no affect. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 13 Oct 2022 I called and they will help thank you so much...lets se how things progess 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 13 Oct 2022 Change to another Vet. I chatted to a neighbour who ended up switching Tierarzt after 10 years ("too long"), and short storey is that the dog could have been treated differently. Said they didn't switch earlier because they didn't realise that the vets could be so different, and the first one was not obviously incapable. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 13 Oct 2022 Short term, I would suggest a muzzle to prevent injuries. Also, tbh, it does not sound like either one of your trainers are helpful in this case. You could take a look here if you want to try someone new: Geprüfte Trainer › Start ins – neue – Leben (startinsneueleben.eu) SinL is a project that deals with dogs with "special effects", e.g. that have killed another dog or that have severely injured people. They train trainers and then recommend those that go through the programme and test. I have met the founders and original trainers at some events and was impressed. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 13 Oct 2022 Actually this was a new vet...much better and did extensive blood work ie finding some thyroid food issue, did a real eye and ear exmin with drops and instruments. The one before blamed us for all his issues. So yes second and even 3rd opinion. We think the behaviorist is good a a few things have worked and has a bachelors degree in animal behavior and works with 3 vet clinics in the uk. She actually spent 3 hours on oriignal.consult when was supposed to be a hour and she follows up regularily. 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 13 Oct 2022 Sad situation. Has your dog had any imaging done- to rule out brain tumour? Sounds alarming, but might be an idea to ask your vet? Any contact with children? Sometimes young puppies can react badly to children's affectionate handling? 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 13 Oct 2022 Sorry to hear about all this. Special needs dogs can really cause stress... I'm glad to see the Westiehilfe people will help. I know this doesn't help your current situation, but please get your next dog from a Tierheim, or even the Westiehilfe people! Why people still use breeders in 2022 blows my mind, so many dogs out there that need forever homes. (I've gotten 2 purebred Chihuahuas from rescue organizations, both of them lovely dogs) 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 13 Oct 2022 He has in the past been with my neighbors young kids with no issues.. In the current siuation we would not take that risk. Allthough as i said he is wonderful.with everyone except us. He got worse after i came back from a 7 day hospital stay for my condition recently. Our behaviorist thinks he may be picking up on my health change and trying to take my role...i know dogs are intuitive. As for dogs dont think we will try again i dont think i can with my changes. In the past all my dogs were found from the street. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 13 Oct 2022 You could also consider - once your better and if it will bring you joy - volunteering for walkies at a local shelter 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Posted 14 Oct 2022 12 hours ago, maxie said: your you're, of course! 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
