Help

Hi, I really need some help, I rescued an 18month boxer cross from a rescue group about two months ago, I was told he was a complete dope who was a lovely chap with no issues, which doesn't now seem to be the case. He is unsocialised with house noises and dogs outside, very sensitive tummy causing diarrhoea every day, very nervous around normal household noises and people outside and new visitors to house. He is just too much for us to handle with too many issues which weren't told about. I have told the rescue several times he may have to take him back and over a week ago I told them he has to go as he is causing too much stress and has too many issues. They have not got any space and can't get anyone to foster him, maybe she will take him in 2 wks. What I want to now is what I can do and is the agreement I signed legally binding. Any advice on how I can get them to take him back by this weekend would be great.

I would get in touch with Dogs Trust or other good rescues that don't put their healthy animals down and see if they have a space for him. If they do I would contact the rescue you got him from on simply state that you are not the correct home for this dog, he needs lots of training and you don't have the knowhow so unless they take him there and then you will have to hand him over to Dogs Trust or who ever.
Dogs Trust are usually pretty good and will have trainers who can work with him and get him to a much happier place and find a him a suitable home, which by the sounds of it would be somewhere with fewer guests, and maybe out in the country side somewhere.

I'm sorry to hear that it's come to this. Do you have a behaviourist working with you so you could try to overcome this dogs issues? Or are you already at breaking point trying to deal with him? I do fully understand that for some they just aren't able to work with a dog with so many issues. And boxers aren't the easiest dog in the world, so powerful and bouncy.

but is the adoption agreement kegally binding?

meant legally binding

I'm not sure, what does it actually say?
Usually they say something along the lines of, you don't actually own the dog, we do, you are just agreeing to care for the animal on our behalf.
Or
If you can no longer care for the animal, the animal must be returned to us.

Either way you are giving them the chance to take the dog back, technically they are forfeiting their rights to it.
Of course if it says they need x amount of notice to take the dog back then you might be stuck.
All that said Dogs Trust might be able to advise you better, they really are pretty helpful.

You can't blame the rescue for being full, they can't just magic up a space for him and they haven't said they won't take him back just that you will have to wait. Seems fair enough to me. I get that you've decided you can't cope but you've managed after a fashion up to now, so you could carry on knowing there is light at the end of the tunnel.
I used to have a Boxer and know a fair few others and don't think I've ever met one with no issues at all, they are not generally calm dogs, they get excited easily, they frequently won't tolerate other dogs and other dogs are not usually too fond of them either they have trouble reading their facial expressions. I would also say Boxers can be prone to the squits, it's not generally diet related although it can be obviously. More likely excitement or exercise related.

hi, thank you. yeah it states that "if for any reason the dog has to be given up it will be returned to them"

I'd write them a formal letter, stating the reasons that you can no longer care for the dog and giving them 24 hours to specify a collection or drop of time otherwise you will contact other rescues.
I'd be contacting other rescues straight away though, so that this lad can get the help he needs sooner rather than later. Can't be a nice life for him having all these problems and being scared.
But yeah I'd only give a dog up to a rescue that has a no kill policy and knows what they are doing, such as Dogs Trust. There are other smaller ones around that are really good too, have trainers and behaviourists that can really help, but I have found the majority of local ones don't know that much about dogs, and their fosterers have little to no training on dealing with dogs, never mind problem dogs. Such a shame.

Yeah just try to remember he's a living breathing creature and not a box of washing powder. They were remiss in letting you have him because tbh your sense of responsibility to him and his well being is zero, you just want rid.

Trouble I think the important thing here is trying to get this poor pup into a rescue which will acknowledge his issues and work with him and find him a forever home with a family willing and able to love him for who he is, not tell them that he's a lovable dope with no problems whatsoever, then refuse to give them any help.
As for the rescue, you have pointed out yourself that they shouldn't have matched up with pup with the OP and that is why I am encouraging the OP to force their hand a bit with relinquishing the pup to another rescue. Maybe I am judging the rescue too harshly, it can be difficult to assess a dog in kennels, or during the honeymoon period, but obviously if they told the OP he's a great dog and didn't make sure the OP was prepared for a typical boxer anyway then they IMO aren't doing a good enough job and this dog is at serious risk of constantly bouncing back.
We don't know the OP or the circumstances and I worry that with being so bold we put them off following any advice at all.
For the OP: please don't take offense, we don't know you, your circumstances, your knowledge or experiences around dogs but I do encourage you to re-evaluate your suitability for having a dog as part of your family. I know you're not asking for advice on this, and I apologise if I have over stepped but maybe after you have found a more suitable place for this dog that you don't go out looking for another.