After 24 hours of examining all my motivations I have come to the following conclusions:
Placing Bonnie would be "easy" but not the right thing for me. I believe I was trying to justify my reasons. There are no justifications other than the interdog aggression (Beth/Bonnie). Presently, that is manageable.
Bonnie is my family. I love her and as a good friend pointed out...her loyalty is to me. So, my loyalty needs to be to her.
When I adopted Bonnie I hoped she would work sheep. When she got a bit older, it looked like she wasn't going to fulfill those hopes. So I adopted Brynn. Now I am working Brynn and Beth...and in a short year I will be working the new puppy. I love each of my dogs for who they are. Love is not conditional on sheepdog work
To be completely honest - I could not live with myself if I were to re-home Bonnie. No matter how many things I say to justify it...I can't. I made a promise to her and to myself to give her a home forever - even if it meant she did not work sheep.
The blog will be changed to BCxFour + 1 More.
Nuff said...
The Freckled Monster stays.
My goals for Bonnie need to change and grow. Life does not revolve around sheep.
14 comments:
bravo, i could never, ever part with my dogs...
Good for you. You never know where your life will be in the future, and maybe Bonnie will fill a niche. My ex agility dog Kylie found her niche doing goose control :)
Well done!
As long as you're happy with the decision, that's all that matters. Sometimes being responsible is hard work!
Hey, our little piece of heaven is called "Four Dog Farm", but 5 border collies and two little terriers are permanent residents ;-)
Good deal! (I love photos of Bonnie!) Placing a dog is an extremely personal issue.
I think it depends upon the dog's feelings as well as the people. I just took back the dog that I'd placed with my mother because although life with my mother would be MUCH better for her, she wasn't happy. She wanted to be with me . . .
So even though I thought she'd be happier in a household where she could receive more attention, I was wrong.
Nothing should ever be set in stone. Dogs are family and their happiness should also factor into the equation too.
That is a decision you will never regret.
The other choice you would always be justifying in your head.
Which is why we just went to "Herd" and stopped trying to use a number - grins.
Awww! Yay Bon-Bon! I've recently started doing Rally with my dogs - I *love* it!!!!
I think it's ok to have different feelings for each dog. I love all my dogs . . . but I will honestly say that my love of Arthur is completely different, for whatever reason. I guess that's what people mean when they say heart dogs, I don't know. But, I think it is ok. The other dogs don't seem to care, we all have fun together. ;)
So happy to read this. "Love the dog you have" - is what I say. They might not be what you had in mind, none of them are perfect, but they'll always find something to teach you! And most importantly they love you for just being you!
After adding a fourth dog to our pack a few months ago the dynamics have really changed. I can sympathize with your thoughts. Amelia has shown aggression to our Chihuahua Daisy and vice versa. It always ends in a heated scuffle, but thankful with no injuries. We have had to concentrate on praising them for getting along together and I hope over the next months it will positively progress.
YEA!
It's a good decision as long as you can all live with it. Too easy for others to sit back and armchair quarterback for you.
I sold a dog to a novice/novice person because he wasn't working the way I wanted and he wasn't happy here. He was much happier in the new home and happy to see me when I came. But you could tell that he loved Jill so much more. He was the man for her.
Right now I've got 2 females who don't get along. The non-working one was a rescue too. We just work with it, keeping them separated as much as possible.
It just depends on you, the dogs & the situation.
How about some more puppy pictures? Please?
Thats a good decision I think. Depending on how close your friend is, you might consider "loaning" her once a week. I know a lot of people with dogs who go to work or on therapy visits with friends of theirs every once in a while. Despite a lack in sheep, its good for every dog to have a job!
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