powerfulgazelle Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 Hoping to call on the collective wisdom of the boards... *This is a friend-of-a-friend thing.... Friend of mine in the Atlanta area has a coworker who adopted a BC/Aussie mix from a shelter. The owner has a husband, kids and NO previous dog experience. Dog has been with family a few mos, I believe, and things are, shall we say, going very badly. Dog is now banished to the basement....owner it at her wits end, you know the story... Friend is a very good dog-person...and trying to help the coworker. If coworker will allow herself to be helped...are there any folks here in the Atlanta area? I just rec'd an email from my friend, but it sounds like this dog has a nice start down the path of a miserable existence followed by whatever comes next (rehome, rescue, shelter, PTS).... I'd like to at least point them down a good path. Thanks in advance for any help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSmitty Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 I'm not sure what you're looking for. A trainer or someone to take in the dog and re-home it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerfulgazelle Posted April 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 I'm not sure what you're looking for. A trainer or someone to take in the dog and re-home it? Sorry---I'm trying to multitask too many things at one time...I wasn't very clear. I am not sure at this point of the owner's plans/intentions....as I said, friend-of-a-friend thing. On one hand, the owner was asking my friend (who has a small, old spaniel) what to do to stop the dog from jumping up, peeing on the couch---a whole variety of bad, escalating behaviors. Friend's first answer, obviously, was along the lines of "Um...training?". OTOH, my friend indicated that the coworker seemed more interested in the idea of the dog "magically" changing, rather than anything that involved change on the human's part....so I am venturing a guess that outcomes other than "Owner gets a clue and educates herself, her family, and trains dog" are a distinct possibility. I am not sure why a shelter would have adopted out a BC/Aussie to someone with no dog experience, but they did. What I am wondering is: Is there anyone here who knows of either good trainers they'd recommend in the Atlanta, Ga. area, or, rescue resources for BC/Aussies in the Atlanta, Ga. area (in the event that the owners do not wish to pursue the sensible course and instead pin their hopes on "magic"). ETA: Friend just emailed me again to clarify...she indicated this (this particular person owning a dog, esp a high energy type dog) was a bad plan (in her opinion, and she sounds spot-on) from the get-go. Dog was adopted as a "pup, but not a baby", is still less than a yr old. Owner was relating to friend that she was feeling pressure to get dog's behavior issues fixed b/c the date after which she could no longer return the pup to the shelter was approaching. My understanding is that this date has now passed. Friend would like to pass on to owner some specific info to help her make a responsible/better for the dog than what the dog has now decision...and thinks having some specific resources in her area might move the owner to action, rather than letting the dog languish, ignored, in the basement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshine Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 I'm in the Atlanta area, if I can help in some way let me know...if they are in north Atlanta, I highly recommend Alchemy Dog Training...ARPH aussie rescue may also be able to help or point them in the direction of a trainer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerfulgazelle Posted April 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 Hey, thanks! Do you know, are either of these resources easily Googled (I'll check in a minute...) or do you have any more specific contact info? I'm afraid, by what my friend has shared about the owner's statements, that dog will end up in rescue/shelter, likely as not. But, maybe, they would commit to training. One can always hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theshine Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 Here's the websites...the dog training place is really reasonably priced imo... www.alchemydogtraining.com www.aussierescuega.com I know the aussie rescue website has a page for private owners trying to rehome also, if it comes to that. I have no idea what their policy is on owner turn-ins, but I've dealt with them in the past and they are a good group. I'll check and see if I have the email address for the lady I spoke with...I'll pm you if I can find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerfulgazelle Posted April 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 I have passed those resources on to my friend, who has emailed the owner. Thanks so much! I hope it helps. Sometimes, I think, just having a concrete starting place--a number to call--helps move them to action rather than continuing to contemplate their belly-button and worry about how large the problem is... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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