I think you've got the wrong end of what I'm saying! Yes out dogs are pups that didnt get the best start in life and life would be much better for them IF they had had the start the 'experts' suggest. So to prevent further Unsocialised ending up being rehomed we should embrace educating people about early socialization.... And do the best with the ones who have been let down by previous owners.

Hi, he has also already had his heartworm and flea prevention for this month... he'll need another next month. The shelter told me to wait until after ALL his boosters are done.. he has one on the 26th and then another 3 weeks after that.

That is a LONG time to keep a new puppy only in his own yard. Nigredo isn't allowed to drink disgusting water from outside. We don't let standing water sit and there are few threats in it anyway. He is a PUPPY and they have to have special boosters for their parvo/bordatella etc. When he's an adult, he won't need parvo vaccinations and bordatella will be really optional as well.

Hi catrinsparkles. I understand your point. My dog Brownie was a good dog. He DID get socialized well and adored most dogs (all bitches), ALL kids, teens, and cats, and most people (had a few problems with men). Though he was mauled by two pit bulls in his own yard and developed serious late-in-life issues with this breed because of this, he wasn't a ferocious or horrible dog at all.

The other dog I adopted from a crappy owner when she was already 10 years old. I don't blame myself for her issues, though I'm sad I was unable to help her. I would NOT put my dog down because of behavioral issues and I'd never allow my dog Nigredo to get that bad. You don't understand Jade's true life and living conditions. I'd NEVER treat my dog like that! I'm really not as incompetent as you think I am!

I have made mistakes as a dog owner of course, but many people have. But I have learned from these mistakes, you can rest assured. Nigredo is my responsibility and he's my dog. Nigredo got to me at 3 months. He is a friendly, well tempered dog. If I sensed any aggression or ANYTHING from him, I of course would already have found a class or behaviorist or something to take him to.

I truly thank you for trying so hard to help me. I have taken some of your advice! After much of the incredible reading you sent me (and also some I found on my own) I decided that it's pretty safe to take Nigredo out a bit. We went on a short walk on concrete (not allowed in the random grass) and I got to see a few of his true colors.

It is obvious that he's never been on a leash before! I had to "drag" him for a bit. Also, he's scared of passing vehicles. He kept trying to turn and run back home, but after a while.. he got the hang of it and was right beside me walking with confidence. We saw a dog, a little terrier with her owner (dressed in a pink dress etc. so assume the dog was female)... and he looked at it, but no yapping or anything and he came along when I called his name. Good sign!

He's really struggling with his housebreaking, which is irritating. He's already great with recall and he's also learning to put things down when I tell him (HUGE CHEWER). But for some odd reason, he just can't seem to get housebreaking down. All my other dogs got it VERY quickly, so this is strange to me. I got him on the 4th and he still regularly pees inside. He poops outside only, which is great. He pees outside... but then he comes in and after a while... pees inside. He holds his pee and poo all night long in his crate, so he can hold it just fine... so I know he's doing it on purpose.

Just to pull this out, I know you're working hard with Nigredo but I think you are being a little harsh about this. He's 3 months old and has been with you, what, 10 days?! It would be an absolute miracle if he was housetrained by this point. He's not doing it "on purpose", that's not how dogs work and certainly not 3 month old puppies. You need to go back to basics, taking him out more frequently, cleaning the areas in the meantime etc etc. You'll get there.

Of course. You're right. He's just doing so well with everything else.. that I guess it's disappointing to me. I'm never mean to him or anything, but it's frustrating! I've started with a schedule type thing, and I hope that it's better. I just find it odd that he always holds it when in his crate... no matter what time of day etc. but then he'll like pee right on the floor after going outside.

Hehe they are funny little things aren't they. The reason he won't pee in his crate is because it not natural for pups to go so close to their bed area. As soon as they can the will move away from the bed area to go elsewhere.

The reason he will pee as soon as he has been outside is a confidence thing. Although pups don't want to pee in their beds they also don't want to draw attention to themselves by leaving poo and pee where predators could find it and therefore them. It'll all fit together as he gets older.

Yes, I'm sure he'll get it. He's a smart puppy and I'm not going to give up on him. He's still little and has only been here for a short while.

I wouldn't doubt it for a second, you tried as hard as you could with Jade and its lovely to see the pleasure you and Nigredo are getting from each other. Before you know it he'll be asking to go out and you will have forgotten all the puddles.

Remus goes outside mostly but doesn't ask to go out very strongly...he'll wander to the back door. If I don't notice, in our busy house, he'll pee in the floor. when Tonks was a pup it was just me and her and I worked from home, we also lived in a tiny one bedroomed flat with only one way to get out.....she barely had any accidents because I could always see where she was and if she was heading for he front door. Not so simple for Remus with two dogs and two small children now!

hi,after I lost Red I was in pieces,the year before I had lost my Dad,we had a couple of days together.as we hadnt spoken for 15yrs because of marriage.So felt bereft,lived in this derlict static caravan,which gave us a home. A few weeks prior to me losing Red,there were travellers in the area,and on our walk we came to the bottomof the field,couldnt see clearly,but there was a dog tied upthe kids were throwing things and the other dogs were attacking it.I put it out of my mind,because Red was poorly again,he just couldnt get enough Air and would literally collapse, and i would carry him home,even though I was unwell myself,then the day came when he couldnt lift his head and I knew the time had come,the Vet came out.When someone comes in your life no one prepares you for the emptiness or the space left,you suffer real pain.My thoughts kept going back to the travellers,and how Red behaved,and I got it into my head,that Red had shown me,this dog,so went to the travellers site,and this small half starved lurcher just looked at me I could swear they were Reds, a woman came out and swore at me and threw water over me as well as the dog,then a bloke came out,and I asked him if I could buythis dog he spat on the floor,but just stood my ground,in the end he said how much I gave him everything I had which wasnt a lot,about £60,took the money never spoke,so untied the dog,and carried it home the kids followed me shouting,that worried me alot as they knew where I lived,she was a little girl,full of scars I called her Marley,I tried,spent every minute of every day,but even though I took her out,she wouldnt be housetrained,if I had a visitor,she would shake and poo,it was making me ill,she didnt allow me near her.And after my Landlord called around,and she had pooed and pee on every part of the carpet,he said if I didnt find another home for this dog he would have to evict me.I took myself off and just sat cant remember where,and really looked into my heart,and really thought about my actions, but grief is a funny thing I really believed that Marley was Red,not a replacement.so then set out to find her a home,but the dogs trust couldnt help.It was a terrible time,and I was blinded by grief,had no one to talk too. In the end all these stupid decisions I had made about Red bringing him home from the vets after the fire now Marley, it just got too much I took an overdose,because at the time I really believed I had no right to life after being so selfish.But for some reason I was given another chance,and finally really got to know my OH,I had met him with Red .So what I am trying to say is rreally search your heart,because nothing will replace Red or Brownie,and if you takeon a commitment like I tried to do,and it wasnt with the best intentions,you will become unstuck.I appreciate what CatinSparkles has tried to do,but at the end of the day you have to give 100 percent to the new dog,With my pup I know,that she is Faye and really needs me,it took her 8 weeks to show me her tail as she had it tucked out of sight,its the small things that matter so much,but you have to work hard to get one tiny sign,but when you do itsa like all your christmas's at once.I have written thisfrom my heart so sorry if it seems to ramble on but I felt that it was important crystalgirl