From commentor William F:
As you can see from the pictures, Richie is a dog (I think a Shih-Tzu and Lhasa Apso mix) with a LOT of character! In October 2007, I adopted Richie from Small Dog Rescue of Princeton, NJ. I was a single guy, looking for a small and loyal friend and Richie provided that. However, I am his 3rd owner (and he is only 8) and he spent several years at the shelter. The abuse he received prior to me has come out in small bursts and has been a very low cost of ownership, but unfortunately, with my fiancee now being pregnant, his jealousy has gotten out of control. Unfortunately, I am now in the position of trying to find a new home for this incredible dog. I know I can always bring him back to the shelter, but he would do so much better with a caring owner who can give him the love and attention he deserves.
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While he is generally calm and relaxed with me, and would be great with a single older owner, Richie does not share well and would probably have accidents (and potentially nipping) if he had to share a home with another dog or small children.
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This is a very sweet, mistreated dog in need of a new home and if any of your readers live in the New York City area and are looking for a companion, they should feel free to email me at [email protected] to discuss meeting Richie and seeing if they’d be friends. For the right owner, I’d be willing to help with the cost of caring for Richie.
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Any thoughts or help is greatly appreciated.
(Reposted from yesterday because I think the little guy got overlooked in the crush — AL)
Violet
I hope Richie finds a good home. Thanks for reposting this, AL.
Jenn
I think there was someone in MN on the last thread who was interested. Perhaps there’s a way to caravan him northward? Sadly, I’m on the other side of the continent, so couldn’t sign up, but have done it from time to time out here, & it’s worked nicely.
wonkie
Only one comment?
Usually little dogs are relatively easy to place. I’m having trouble responsidn supportivley to this situation –full disclosure, I prefer dogs to kids–because I don’t see the possiblity of thhe dog nipping the child aS THAT BIG A DEAL. Lots of worse things are going to happen to the kid during the course of growing up: falling out of trees, bike accidents,enumeral skinnned knee incidents, getting knocked senseless in a play fights with the neighbor kids. All those things happened to me and I’m a girl!
This is a little dog. It is more likely that the kid will hurt him than vice versa.
So my thought is get professional help on how to intorduuce the dog to he baby and beprepared to put limits on the baby’s behaior when he/she gets to he toddler stage and starts tormenting the dog.
WHich probably all sounds heartless and dismissive of your concerns for the child and I apologize for that.
13th Generation
I can hear my wife now: “Awwwww, can we get him?”
But we are a ways from NYC, and we still have our aging Shih-Tzu, but I sincerely hope you find a good loving home for him, where he can spend the rest of his days.
Keep up the good work A.L.
Svensker
I’ve emailed a friend in NYC who lost her long-time doggie friend a few months ago. Who knows?
Is there no way you can get training help for the dog to acclimate him to wife and baby?
William F.
All, thanks for the help, I really appreciate it.
I know that behavior training often works, but we are just not willing to take that chance with our child as Richie has shown that he will nip children before if they are aggressive in his space.
I turned to this community first as I know what dog lovers there are here, I’ll soon be turning to local dog stores and the ASPCA as well. It’s important to me that we find him the right home, which unfortunately will not be mine for much longer.
Gina
There’s always a way to get pro training help. If that hasn’t been tried, then it should be. If you really don’t want to bother, then yes, finding a new home is kinder. If the dog is a biter, you’re not doing anyone any favors though.
Hillary Rettig
please try the Shih-Tzu and Lhasa Apso rescue organizations.
he’s a sweetie, and if I didn’t have a dog I would take him in.
Lisa
Do not bring him to ASPCA. He won’t make it there with his issues. I too have adopted from small dog rescue. Most of the dogs that come in are dogs that other shelters would have put down or are about to. The ASPCA has a low threshold for nippers or biters. I know I worked there for years. You very well may send him to an untimely death. Best of luck to you and him. We are wishing him the best.
Price Geoffrey
This is an opportunity to tell a relevant dog story: My friend owns a giant pit bull, who is friendly as hell indoors and in the fenced-in backyard with the exception of when he sees any other animal, when he will freak the F-out and bark and act so aggressively that my friend once said his dog would kill another animal. When they walk, which is often, the dog pulls him along: not so bad, but noticeably. I walked the dog once and made the dog walk beside or behind my legs; dog didn’t like that, but did after a tenth of a mile. I just wouldn’t wove if he pulled. I asked my friend:”Who is the boss in your pack?” He answered that he was. I said, “If you saw a person walking with another dog and wanted to go over and see that person, what would your dog do?” He said, “try to kill the other dog.” He’s my friend, my wingman, so I didn’t push the point.
This posting is exactly the same situation. A dog that understands who provides the structure and who is a calm leader will never attack another animal or person. This dog doesn’t need to be adopted; the owner needs to figure out a few basic things about pack leadership. I know how sexist and anti-female some commenters have said Cesar MIlan is, but just watch a few episodes and see how often this type of thing comes up. Dogs don’t need unconditional love that is anthropomorphizing and infantilizing (i.e., cooing in their ears, sitting on your lap all day, letting them do whatever they want, leading you out doors, and so on). They need to know who runs the pack, they don’t need yelling or hitting, and they will respond as perfect companion animals.
Of course, I don’t intend to offend any of my fellow Ballon-Juice friends and allies. Dogs aren’t children. They are animals. Treat them like anything but dogs and they will act out of character.
asiangrrlMN
Aw, poor baby. I hope Richie can find true happiness one way or another.
Jenn
@Lisa:
Yeah, and unfortunately, the threshold now is even lower than usual, with people giving up their pets because of the economy, they’re absolutely overwhelmed. I echo Hillary’s suggestion to try breed rescue organizations. Some outfits are pretty strict on “the dog must be local” criteria, but others aren’t at all, so I’d not feel shy about contacting rescue groups in a multi-state region, rather than concentrating solely on within-New York City. I got my recent rescue from a breed rescue group – the nice thing is that these groups are run by absolute fans of the breeds (and breed-mixes, as is mine), they know the quirks of the breed, and a lot of places have them fostered out of folks’ homes, so it’s often not a case of sending the dog to puppy jail.
Good luck! Scritches to Richie!
Elisa
You should try either Eve’s Sanctuary or Stray From the Heart. They are both great rescue organizations. Also, see if there is a specialize Shitzu rescue group. Many breeds have those.
Or you could buy a muzzle and invest in about 10 hours of supervised training.
Janet
I have a 5 year old male shih tzu and 2 cats. I am in Virginia. Are you seriously saying that this guy can’t get along with other animals? I would be interested but why do you feel the way you do?