Need help finding a home for a VERY high-energy dog in Virginia.
February 9, 2011 2:00 PM   Subscribe

It is clear that my friend has the exact wrong dog for her. How can she find a good home for him in Northern Virginia (or anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic). Special circumstances described inside.

A friend and her partner got a puppy about six months ago. Teddy is a high-energy black lab mix, about nine months old now. Let me rephrase that: Teddy is an EXTREMELY HIGH-ENERGY black lab mix. As in, take the dog on a 10-mile hike and he still bounds around the living room all night. His energy level leads to all sorts of problems, including behavioral issues; he simply cannot seem to concentrate long enough for any discipline to "take," and he destroys anything he can (leashes, pillows, couch cushions, etc). A trainer who worked with him said that she thinks Teddy has so much energy to burn that he lashes out, which leads to his destructive behavior. He demands CONSTANT attention. My friend and her partner are at their wits' end with Teddy, and have decided that they must find another home for him.

Given the dog's special needs, it would be ideal of they could find a shelter or rescue agency that had lots of land and encouraged a LOT of exercise. The dog also has special training needs; while my friend has had no luck training Teddy, it is possible that someone used to dealing with large, energetic dogs would be able to make headway with him. My friend would like to avoid giving him to a shelter where he may quickly end up with an unsuspecting family that is not prepared for what they would be getting. While he has not yet attacked anyone, there is a legitimate fear that he could injure a child (or adult) because he is so difficult to control and is so destructive.

They live in Northern Virginia, but are willing to take Teddy anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic (North Carolina to Pennsylvania) that might be able to help him. Does anybody have any suggestions for shelters or people my friend can contact?

(Note: I am NOT looking for suggestions for trainers or training techniques, only possible homes for Teddy.)
posted by arco to Pets & Animals (20 answers total)
 
Response by poster: I should add that they had bloodwork done on him, and everything came back normal, so it doesn't look like there are physiological problems with Teddy that would require medication.
posted by arco at 2:11 PM on February 9, 2011


Call the Lab Rescue group (local or national). His energy level sounds normal for a young lab to me, hopefully the rescue can find him a home with another young dog and active people.
posted by fshgrl at 2:29 PM on February 9, 2011


sounds like a very normal young lab. anyone who actually knows something about breeds would only get a lab if they wanted a dog that was super high energy.
posted by nadawi at 2:47 PM on February 9, 2011


Response by poster: Just to clarify: the trainer, who has apparently worked with labs extensively, says that he is a special case.

I will suggest they contact Lab Rescue in DC, but their site specifically says that they will not accept dogs that have been "people-aggressive." The concern is that he might fall into that category. But that will be for the rescue people to decide.
posted by arco at 2:53 PM on February 9, 2011


While I agree that your friends have obviously gotten the wrong dog for them, I think you/they need to quit thinking and referring to the dog as "special needs". He's not, he's just a normal lab puppy. Seriously. It's ok to admit that they can't handle his energy level, but he's not doing anything but acting like a lab.

Speaking as a rescuer (but not labs), I'd say the best shot is to contact your local lab rescue and see if they can take him into their program. Make sure Teddy is up to date on shots, is neutered, and provide vet records. Offer to bring the dog to the volunteer and make a small donation towards his care while in rescue.

I HIGHLY recommend going through a legitimate rescue rather than rehoming yourself - dogs that are placed through the paper/craigslist often end up in homes that also aren't prepared to deal with them, and the poor dog can end up bounced around before landing in a shelter. Breed-specific rescues are equipped to deal with the traits of their breed and know how to look for appropriate homes.
posted by tryniti at 2:57 PM on February 9, 2011 [1 favorite]


Agree that it sounds like a normal young lab. 'Training', with rare exceptions, doesn't really stick until a dog is at least 14 mos, IME, and if you want 'training', you're better off sticking to adult dogs.

Definitely contact the lab rescues. Also consider posting on Craigslist as a giveaway -- but be very honest about the dog and carefully vet any interested parties. Good animal people do use Craigslist and NoVa has a good supply of horse/farm folks who seek out active-type dogs.
posted by grounded at 2:59 PM on February 9, 2011


As in, take the dog on a 10-mile hike and he still bounds around the living room all night. His energy level leads to all sorts of problems, including behavioral issues; he simply cannot seem to concentrate long enough for any discipline to "take," and he destroys anything he can (leashes, pillows, couch cushions, etc).

agree that he is not "special needs" (as yet anyway). as the owner of another well-known large high energy breed (weimaraner), he sounds like a normal puppy. when i was training my dog when he was a puppy, i had to do it in 5 minute increments. that's just about as much as puppies can handle. his energy isn't the issue here; his boredom is, and that's why he's destructive. he's bored. and probably teething. my dog went thru a stage where he ate everything in site when he was teething. and then he stopped.

I will suggest they contact Lab Rescue in DC, but their site specifically says that they will not accept dogs that have been "people-aggressive.". The concern is that he might fall into that category.

unless you have left something out, i see no evidence of aggression in your description; only fairly normal puppy behavior.

i'm also recommending lab rescue. specific breed rescues are very good with screening potential adopters because of their knowledge of the breed and it's requirements.
posted by violetk at 3:09 PM on February 9, 2011 [1 favorite]


Also consider posting on Craigslist as a giveaway -- but be very honest about the dog and carefully vet any interested parties.

DO NOT DO THIS. please. not the least because your friends do not themselves sound like they would know how to vet for an adopter who can handle the breed.
posted by violetk at 3:11 PM on February 9, 2011 [4 favorites]


Can people stop dismissing this as "sounds like a normal young lab" based on nothing other than a written description? The OP says specifically that "the trainer, who has apparently worked with labs extensively, says that he is a special case."
posted by scody at 3:31 PM on February 9, 2011 [4 favorites]


their site specifically says that they will not accept dogs that have been "people-aggressive." The concern is that he might fall into that category.

Could you be a little more specific about what's caused this particular concern?
posted by A Terrible Llama at 3:42 PM on February 9, 2011 [1 favorite]


I don't have any experience in this, but I have read that many working dogs (search & rescue, bomb, narcotics and arson detection dogs) are picked because they are very high energy. Would the dog trainer have connections to a police K9 academy or somewhere similar that might consider evaluating the dog?

Best of luck.
posted by Agatha at 4:40 PM on February 9, 2011


Is it possible to ask the vet what they recommend?
posted by josher71 at 4:46 PM on February 9, 2011


Where did this dog come from? If he is a rescue or shelter dog, it is normally required that you return the dog if you can't keep him.
posted by biscotti at 5:00 PM on February 9, 2011


Response by poster: The comment about the "people aggressive" concern is a reference to his biting habit, and his lack of any discernible improvement in that area. The trainer apparently said something like "He should have at least stopped biting the owners by now." But, my advice to them was to let the people at the rescue service make that determination and not assume the worst. He could very well just be a really hyperactive example of an already excitable breed of puppy.

The vet was curiously unhelpful when asked for advice, saying things like, "Yell at him more!" and "Try doggie day care." I wasn't there, but the impression I got was that the vet was trying to teach the owners that owning a pet is hard and that they have to keep trying. Both of the owners have had dogs before, and they have put a LOT of effort (not to mention money) into training programs, etc., with Teddy, but they are at the end of their rope.

The advice for the Lab Rescue group is really appreciated. If anyone knows of any other programs in the greater DC area, please let me know!


(And thanks for the gentle reminder to stay on topic, scody!)
posted by arco at 5:01 PM on February 9, 2011


I might contact a local agility club to ask around (google is your friend here). Agility folks can usually manage high energy dogs well, and usually like them. I will also say (speaking as a dog trainer) that what you have quoted from this trainer makes him/her sound far less than stellar. Trainers can say anything they like about their experience level, but I don't know any good trainers who say things like "he should have at least stopped biting the owners" without any actual constructive training advice about how to make this happen, and how to manage the dog so people don't get bitten. I also think that an actual behaviorist or at very least APDT-certified trainer should get involved, also the veterinarian should have suggested medication options, a vet with an interest in behavior should be consulted (a good trainer will be able to recommend someone).
posted by biscotti at 5:07 PM on February 9, 2011 [3 favorites]


The comment about the "people aggressive" concern is a reference to his biting habit, and his lack of any discernible improvement in that area. The trainer apparently said something like "He should have at least stopped biting the owners by now."

It sounds like the trainer may have been referring to "mouthing" as opposed to aggressive biting. All puppies "mouth" to some extent--it's basically a way they play, although it can get kind of rough, and it is something they should eventually grow out of (which is probably why she qualified with the "by now" comment). Do you know how old the puppy was when they got it? Sometimes if puppies are taken away from their mother/litter mates too early, their "mouthing" is worse (the mother usually sort of trains them to understand the line between mouthing and painful biting).

That's all to say that, if he "bites" when he's excited / trying to play, that probably does not really indicate that he's people aggressive. I definitely think they should let the rescue(s) make that determination.
posted by mingodingo at 5:26 PM on February 9, 2011


Also consider posting on Craigslist as a giveaway -- but be very honest about the dog and carefully vet any interested parties.

DO NOT DO THIS. please. not the least because your friends do not themselves sound like they would know how to vet for an adopter who can handle the breed.

I'm going to explain why the CL suggestion is a legitimate option in this case.

1. The dog is a 'lab mix'. Not a purebred lab.

2. Breed rescues are a good suggestion but breed rescues usually put a priority on dogs of that particular breed. 'Mixes' are not necessarily their purview. Most rescues are (1) full and (2) strapped for cash and resources. Placing your 'lab mix' with a breed rescue is not a sure bet at all, probably more like a long shot.

3. Regular rescues, like breed rescues, have been hit hard by the recession and are also usually full and short on resources.

4. It can take a lot of time and persistence to find a place at a rescue for a dog, especially if the dog is not in an emergency situation. Some rescues only take dogs from kill shelters when they're down to the wire for euthanasia. Some only take dogs from within a certain geographical area or of a specified size or age or disability.

5. Craigslist is a mixed bag but the advertiser/seller can control who comes to look at the dog and they can control where the dog goes. While you're putting in the hours on the phone and email trying to find a rescue to take your dog, you can list the dog on CL -- again, being very honest about the animal -- and see if you get any promising replies (and you very well may not get any replies at all, but you're really just looking for the one right situation). If the owners don't trust their own judgment, they can have the trainer present to meet with prospective owners.

6. I've rehomed a number of strays over the years and find CL to be a useful resource, and you almost always need to mobilize all your resources to find an animal a good new home. It's never been, IME, as simple as 'calling the rescue.'
posted by grounded at 8:05 PM on February 9, 2011


2. Breed rescues are a good suggestion but breed rescues usually put a priority on dogs of that particular breed. 'Mixes' are not necessarily their purview. Most rescues are (1) full and (2) strapped for cash and resources. Placing your 'lab mix' with a breed rescue is not a sure bet at all, probably more like a long shot.

this is simply not true. at least, not in my experience. the breed rescues that i have worked with and have had experience with take on dogs which have a mix containing their breed, if that breed is predominant and recognizable in the dog. for instance, with the weimaraner rescue i am involved with, we often take weim/lab mixes because it's a fairly common mix. we take them from all ages, from whatever situation. we also highlight known weims or weim mixes from shelters which lead to them being fostered by someone involved with the organization. usually the foster family has a dog of that breed already, or a history with a dog of that breed. the dogs the rescue get involved with are almost always fostered by someone in the organization until it is adopted. we do everything in our power to help a dog who needs to be placed and i don't know of any instance, in the time that i have been involved, where we turned away—and we are almost always successful in placing our rescues. we also provide the new owners support and follow up. also, this dog is a puppy, and puppies can often be easier to place than older dogs.
posted by violetk at 8:50 PM on February 9, 2011 [1 favorite]


I'd second the working dog suggestion - at least in the UK, some police dogs are "recruited" as rejects from elsewhere precisely because they are high energy.

I'd also get a second opinion from a labrador specialist. With respect to the trainer, these things are a matter of opinion, and particularly a lab rescue person will have seen more than their fair share of "problem" and "perceived problem" dogs.
posted by MuffinMan at 5:51 AM on February 10, 2011 [1 favorite]


Don't limit your search geographically. Get on Petfinder.com and send his pic and stats to any lab rescue group you find. Post it on Facebook and ask your friends to repost. If a group is really interested, they can find a way to arrange transport to almost anywhere. Obviously, it's easier if the dog is local and purebred, but not being close by or being a mutt does not automatically eliminate a dog from consideration.

I would definitely get a second opinion on the dog's temperament from another trainer or a couple of different evaluators from different rescues. I've transported young labs that I could barely control that turned out to be angels in the hands of the right kind of handler.

Keep trying! If he's a happy healthy young dog in general, someone somewhere will want him.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:45 AM on February 10, 2011


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