Should I take the dog I adopted back?

Question

I adopted a 5 month old shepherd mix yesterday from a dog shelter and he’s been attached to me ever since. He got neutered the day I picked him up (yesterday) and has been extremely hyper! he jumps on everything and tries to run while on a leash and tugs on the leash super hard to the point i feel like I’m choking him. When i put him in the kennel he cries and whines FOREVER. If he doesn’t see me he goes crazy! I work M-F 5:30am-2:30pm and my mom doesn’t want him to be able to run around the house unattended since he isn’t potty trained yet. I’m concerned about leaving him in a kennel with his e collar on for 8 hours. The kennel is for a large dog, he’s about 20-25 pounds small/medium size and the kennel has enough space for his bed, food water and a little area where i places a pee pad just Incase he has to go when I’m not home to take him out. Is this okay? taking care of him and loving him isn’t the problem it’s just the lack of help i have. I don’t want to give the dog back after he’s experienced living with a human who will take care of him but im worried i won’t be able to control him. I talk to him in a firm voice and he listens sometimes but other times he completely unruly. he goes crazy when im not home or not in sight and i work for 8 hours a day What should I do?

Answer 1

You are not ready for a dog yet. If this throws you a loop & you don't know what to do, you are not ready for a dog. All your problems can be solved by training. Lots of training. You need to gain control of the dog & Basic Obedience will give you that control & stop the pulling. If you are not willing to learn how to train the dog, then returning it is what you need to do. BUT, if you return the dog to the rescue you got it from or any other place, your name will go on a list of people not to allow any future adoptions. Dogs being put back into the system usually do not do well.



When you adopt a dog or buy a dog you have to realize that it is a life time commitment to that dog. Dogs are not like trash that you throw away. You have to spend the time to train & exercise, it is a must. All you need to know is online or in dog training books or join an obedience class.

Answer 2

● "Should I take the dog I adopted back?"



How the HELL did you get a dog from any dog-rescue organisation?

And that IS what "I adopted" means - not bought from a scam-artist!



I suspect that most dog pounds would have ruled you out - UNLESS you told them that your mother WANTED a dog AND that she was a homebody. No way were you honest enough to tell such as the SPCA that you are away from home for MORE than 11± hours a day (9 hours AT work from 5:30am to 2:30pm, plus probably 2 hours a day travel to & from work).

I agree 100% with [Jojo]'s last sentence!



NOBODY - definitely including YOU - should be allowed a pooch unless they have arranged to stay home 24/7 for at least the first fortnight.

Take INSTANT leave, or return the dog plus make a substantial donation for messing up the "shelter"s expectation for this pup.



And 5 months is FAR too young to neuter a pooch. It suits vets, requiring much less cutting & stitching, plus incisions heal quickly while the dog is still growing rapidly. But until the gonads have sent their chemical signal to tell the growth plates in the leg-bones to STOP increasing their length, there is a risk of the bones shutting down at a variety of unsynchronised times, with the results that the bones at each joint do NOT fit together smoothly & properly - the long term consequence being arthritis or dysplasia. I consider that no pooch should be neutered before 15 months - DEFINITELY not before 10 months old.



● "When i put him in the kennel he cries and whines FOREVER."



I VERY much doubt that you have supplied him with a KENNEL. My dogs' kennels are each 12 feet long and have a 4 feet long raised sleeping box past that at the end. Plenty of room to piddle-poo without having to lie in it; plus room for a large water dish. And there are airborne scents & sounds to interest the dog - especially when children use the walkway 40 feet north of the nearest kennel - and birds peck in the grass beside the pens.



I'll bet that you have supplied only a CRATE.

Like many others (include actual dogs), I consider crates suitable only for travel and for very short-term safety. And they must be big enough for the pooch to stretch its muscles and lie with its legs stretched out full-length. 11± hours in a row is NOT "short-term"!

Think how YOU would feel if locked in a wardrobe for 11 hours a day!



● "my mom doesn’t want him to be able to run around the house unattended since he isn’t potty trained yet."



Which is why he needs YOU home to DO that house-training (have you n it noticed that dogs do NOT use a "potty"?). If you keep him, forget the cellphone, computer, tv - while he is awake YOU need to concentrate on HIM 100% until he is properly & reliably house-trained.



● "I’m concerned about leaving him in a kennel with his e collar on for 8 hours."



GEEZ, kid! Where DO you get your STUPID ideas from? (And your lousy arithmetic- 8 hours is NOT the time you are absent for.)

Or are you just another of the trolls that Y!A can't be bothered tracking down & banning?



Despite the many many lazy idiots who think that a dog is a battery-operated robot like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYzn_gmFs5w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJoAcEI2PXQ

there are VERY few situations in which an e-collar is justified. There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for leaving its prongs digging into the pup's neck while you are NOT THERE TRAINING IT.



● "The kennel ... has ... a little area where i places a pee pad just Incase he has to go when I’m not home to take him out. Is this okay?"



Woopdedoo!

When did you TRAIN him to use a pee-pad?

Do you even know HOW to train a pup to use something as artificial as a pee-pad? I have never, and never will, buy one.



A pooch in a genuine KENNEL doesn't need pee-pads - it can piddle-poo on the smooth concrete floor of the kennel's run, then decide whether to go into the shade of its sleeping box or stay out in the sunshine.



● "taking care of him and loving him isn’t the problem"



WRONG - those are EXACTLY the problem:

👿 You are NOT THERE to look after him when he has needs for company, exercise, a game, grooming, mental STIMULATION, toileting, TRAINING. 💀 You are UNAVAILABLE for at least 19 hours a day.



🤢 I'll bet you aren't even booked in to a weekly training group to start as soon as his scrotum heals! Only in a class can YOU get coached to become aware of your dog's feelings, intentions, needs and how to get him to obey your wishes WITHOUT you shocking him into muscular paralysis.



● "I don’t want to give the dog back after he’s experienced living with a human who will take care of him"



Which human would that be? YOU didn't even care enough to take a fortnight's holiday to be with him while he was "learning the people" and the "house rules".

You haven't been RESPONSIBLE to this pup. And nor has whoever let you have it.





🤯 You haven't even acted responsibly to the people who attempted to help you in Y!A: In the last THREE YEARS you have not chosen ANY Best Answers. You don't have to LIKE what people tell you - the important thing is that it be BEST at trying help you with a TRUTHFUL answer. And if there hasn't been any such answer inside a fortnight then the fault lies in the way you ASKED the question - so delete that question and lose the points that that "costs" you. Whereas awarding a Best Answer returns 3 points to you.



King Les The Lofty - first pup in 1950; GSD breeder & trainer as of 1968

Answer 3

Take him back. You never should have gotten him in the first place. Shepherds are ACTIVE dogs, puppies even more. They take extensive training to make them good dogs to live with. If no one is willing to exercise and properly obedience train this dog, then he is better off with another family that has time.

Answer 4

He needs EXERCISE, which you're not giving him. This isn't a stuffed toy. You need to understand you took on something that's basically a baby and who is in a new place.



You did no research beforehand?

Answer 5

Yes, if you're not willing to commit/provide or put in the effort, patience, consistency, diligence and time for his basic needs, including daily training, walk/elimination times, aerobic exercise, and mental stimulation, and continual enforcing of what has been taught for the remainder of his life, 12-17 years, which is your responsibility, not the dogs.



Placing him in a kennel is not teaching or supplying for his needs, as that is how he was kept at the shelter, and is no better off now. Perhaps someone else may adopt him that Really Cares and will provide for his needs, should you decide to return him.



Even an already housebroken dog should not be left alone without the chance to be taken outside to eliminate for more than 3-4 hours. Housebreaking will never succeed if no one is there to train it and provide the needed walk elimination times every 1-2 hours until fully trained. Once trained he still needs to be taken outside, minimally 3-4 times daily, 30-40 minutes each time on a set schedule.



Constant supervision, immediate correction when caught in the act, Only contain when no one can supervise, in an easily cleanable area that is cleaned thoroughly using an enzyme product specifically made for that purpose, such as over night while the family is sleeping, making sure he has been taken outside to eliminate just prior to retiring for the night, and immediately upon rising in the morning. Collars should never be left on when not in use, they should always be removed.



Do not free feed, dogs are suppose to be fed on a set schedule, twice daily, am/pm, it will also make the walk/elimination training process easier as average digestion may take around four hours. Water however should be accessible 24/7.



Get rid of the "pee pad"! That only enforces that it's okay to soil indoors, and he will never be housebroken. Dogs eliminate outside, never inside. Why can't your mother help train him and provide for his needs while you're at work?



Obviously "taking care of him" IS "the problem it’s just the lack of help i have." and should have been considered before the adoption. "I don’t want to give the dog back after he’s experienced living with a human who will take care of him", what you're supplying as far as care, is probably the same or less than what he was already getting at the shelter, and he's not any better off now.



In addition to walk/elimination times, he also needs daily aerobic exercise in some shape or form such as running, 3-4 times daily, 20-30 minutes each time, if he has already been deemed healthy, as well as depending on his body condition, stamina/tolerance. He also needs daily mental stimulation, such as obedience training, 3-4 times, 10-15 minutes each time.



Perhaps consider seeking professional help on how to train a dog properly. Many people work full time, some even go to night school, it can be done, but it takes effort on the entire families part. Nor will it happen in a matter of days, weeks, maybe months if you're lucky, depending on the families experience/knowledge and willingness, to put in the effort as needed, as well as depending on the individual dog, who may have ended up in the shelter because the previous family was not willing to put in the time/effort needed, they made the same mistakes as you are now doing, and now you've inherited their mistakes as well.



All dogs Can Be Trained, it takes, experience/knowledge, patience, consistency, effort and time. Wising the best for this dog, and lots of luck to your family as you have a long road ahead of you.

Answer 6

YES take kit back! You NEVER should have adopted as clueless as you are about what taking care of a puppy involves. WTF????

Answer 7

JUST TAKE HIM BACK and tell them that YOU are not suitable for this dog...not that the dog isn't suitable for you.



I haven't even got past the first line or so before I'm just shaking my head.



1. The dog is too young to be neutered but I realise shelters have to be responsible..

2. NO WAY should they have put him out the same day as he was neutered or even for a good few days.

3. NO WAY should he be allowed to run and jump at all if he's just had a neutering done.

4. NO WAY should he be out on a lead the first day or so you get him and especially if just neutered. He needs to be kept calm.

5. NO WAY should he be shut in a kennel for 9 hours ...did you tell the shelter this would happen..

and

6 NO WAY ON EARTH should this poor little pup be in an e.collar (I presume electric and not a buster collar)

7. You should never have taken him on without cooperation from your mum for the hours you are away. Only then would it have worked if she was as keen to have him around and do some training with him at the same time.



TAKE HIM BACK.

Answer 8

Welcome. This is called having a dog.



Take him to a well-run dog training club and work with him.

Answer 9

5:30-2:30 is nine hours, not eight. And that's assuming you have no commute time. That's far too long for a puppy to be continuously crated (and too long for an adult, too). If you can't have someone stop in every couple hours and take him out and check on him, yes, he should be returned.



While I am not opposed to appropriate crate use, this is not appropriate crate use. This would be abuse. It is abusive to require a puppy to lay in a crate next to its own urine and/or feces with no escape from the smell for hours, and, if he tries to hold it for that many hours, he's likely to end up with a urinary tract infection.

Answer 10

I adopted a dog that was HELL ON WHEELS! I knew it when met at the shelter, I also knew I had time to spend with her and feared she would otherwise keep being sent back if I didn't do it. I got her a harness to make it easier to train her to walk, we played for long long periods of time in the back yard throwing the tennis ball and playing chase. It took time, but one day she just snapped out of it and has been trying to repay me ever since. She will do anything for a "good girl". We have been together for 10 years and it has been wonderful.



Yours sounds as if he just isn't used to being in a home and he is excited but also needs some direction on what you want from him. I hope it turns out well for you both.

Answer 11

Either take it back or give it to a friend/relative who will have the time/money/patience to care for it. Dogs are, surprise, a LOT of work. Most people see cute little dogs in the comics, and totally forget that they will actually have a giant eating/poo/terror machine. And, in future, do not get another one.

Answer 12

My answer is a BIG "YES". Take him back.

Everything in your question is just so wrong and negative and this pup deserves to be with someone who is experienced and who can give him the training and attention he needs.

Why on earth did you get a puppy if you work all day, and your mother is not willing to help with him.

The people at the shelter need a good shake up as well by the sounds of it, for not being more thorough in their home checks.

Jmo.

Answer 13

I really wish Shelters, if that's where you adopted this hooligan from, did more CHECKING before going ahead with a rehome. It would avoid heartbreak like this! You'll be away for 9 hours, not 8 (perhaps plus travelling time?) - too long for ANY dog to be left alone and for sure, NOT IN A CRATE with or without a pee pad. As suggested, if this youngster happens to chew on the pad, for starters, he could choke!



This dog clearly needs somebody THERE pretty much all the time through the early days especially if this is remotely likely to work. A Shep.X is BOUND to be full of energy - and if youi allow jumping on and off anything, with his castration only being done yesterday - the wound won't stand any chance of healing properly.



Yes, take him straight back - and have a good long think about whether your current life-style (being away for at least 9 hours and then tired out at the end of the day) is suitable to have a dog right now.

Answer 14

You have a brand new pup, they are little hyper chewing attention seeking piggies that live for'your affection and attention. You can’t store them in a kennel when notmin use, they can spend up,to 4 hours when trained occasionally while you cannot br home but you can’t expect them to br cooped up for 9 to 10 hours a day while you work, that’s animal cruelty.



It takes up to two weeks for a dog to settle in its new home, the dog also needs an outlet to run and exerceise. Hard to do just after surgery but in a few days you can go from a walk to a jog or run. Use a 20 foot length of rope with a snap both tied as well as taped on the end so the knot cannot come undone, have gloves on and hang on, let the pup run around using the whole length of the rope until he settles down a little bit. The calmer you are the more calm he will be, if you stay quiet, not yelling and screaming br quiet and come her constantly his couriousity will get the best of him and he should come to you, if not gently real him in using his name calmly and quietly, then say come while gently reeling him in to you. Praise him and lavish love on him every time he is next to you he will soon get the idea.



It’s stressful the first few days, ask them how long you can keep him before they won’t let you return him, most shelters give you 10 days. The pup may settle in after a couple days and be much calmer.

Answer 15

Sounds like this dog needs a lot of attention something hes never gotten before now hes getting it he cant get enough to kennel him may make him feel like hes in the dog house since you just got him out of that Is there any way you can let him run free in a yard that's fenced to rip and play and get all that engery out and for walking him get a harness not a collar and you will have to walk him a lot to get him trained to walk proper with you not pulling you or jumping about sounds like hes never had any guidance Good luck and please keep the fellow.....

Answer 16

So you got a dog, don't take care of it. don't train it, keep it in a cage, and since you are too lazy to train it and too lazy to take care of it you want to throw it away.



Its as simple as TRAIN the dog but since you never once did that for five months and never house broke it and keep it in a cage it will be better off with a non lazy owner. Your mom doesn't nee to help you. You are an adult and made the choice to get a dog you can't and won't take care of and expect mommy to take care of

Answer 17

So you SLAPPED a brand new to you and your household un-housetrained 5 month puppy who is HELL on WHEELS in a crate (WITHOUT doing any CRATE training first) and you are leaving the puppy for NINE hours a day. What could possibly...... GO WRONG?



OH.... and you have put pee pads in the crate. You NEVER want a puppy or dog to GO intentionally IN A CRATE (that is their BED) and safe area. They are to TELL you when they need to go OUTSIDE, not to "learn" to GO INDOORS. If you use pee pads in a home, & the dog WILL NEVER GET HOUSEBROKEN. It is the EXACT OPPOSITE EVENT (going INDOORS) of what you want.



If you DO NOT have a safely fenced yard or a kennel RUN it can be let out into, to go potty on a leash (if you have a fenced yard) by your mother or a dog walker, then you have NO BUSINESS with a 5 mo shepherd mix. Any shepherd mix is a super HIGH energy HIGHLY intelligent dog. It cannot be crated for HOURS on end, because you are "not available"..... to train it or deal with its BASIC potty needs.



Hire a dog walker, for this week, then hire a dog trainer or look for a evening obedience CLASS taught by a dog training club (not a PET STORE) put it in doggie day care during the day -OR indeed, take it back. You could not have made a much worse choice of a dog, that YOU (and your mother) do not seem ABLE to train, or even adequately handle - to even allow it to potty. Not allowing it to potty is DOG ABUSE. You try NOT GOING to PEE for 8 or 9 HOURS, and tell me how YOU ENJOY that event..... and get BACK to me. pee pads will delay or RUIN any attempts at housebreaking, They are a PET STORE SCAM - ONLY to get your money. They do NOT work!!



WHY would you adopt a older puppy with NO training, and you KNOW is NOT housebroken or crate-trained and who is a WILD hooligan? Yet YOU.... go right back to work, rather than taking a week off to work, with the dog and then, YOU complain. You could have adopted a calmer, fully housebroken & crate trained, ADULT DOG from a breed rescue group (if not the shelter) - but chose NOT to do that. THIS WAS YOUR CHOICE. Deal with it, one way or the other, but BECOME RESPONSIBLE FOR making the choice. Either step up to the plate, or take the animal back.

Answer 18

You have to suck it up and train him on your free time. Owning a dog is like having a kid. He's hyper and he's full of love and he desperately needs to be occupied by a training program and some fun games.