At wit's end (a bit long)

[gr8dame]

 

[kathryn]

Oh Stella, why would you think that anyone would lay into you for this.  As I see it you did what was best for your pups and keeping them safe and happy with you.  I have a fence fighter and we are still having issues with it and now Shiner has started fence fighting too.  I have tried the positive approach to trying to stop it and it works for about a minute for Kaila but not at all for Shiner. The only thing that I have found that works to effectively stop the fence fighting is if the dogs have access to the house and me if I'm inside.  Then they ignore the neighbor dogs and play happily with each other.  Usually involving chase and tag through the open window.

[chaosndestruction]

awww Stella I hate using the shock collar too but sometimes it's needed. We have a DT Good Dog waterproof collar (Arisha likes to swim in the water troughs). And Since she's husky/malamute she has the i'm not listening to you...i do what I want attitude...and well that wasn't too much of a problem until we couldn't get her to stay on our property. Our collar is no worse than getting shocked by the electric fence and it has a vibrate setting so we can warn them first.

I've had to recently start using it on Keela because she sees no wrong in going into our neighbors fields and has started some how wiggling her 60lb @ss under our front gate into the road. She's the best dog and comes when called so i can't really punish her after I yell at her to come and she comes running at me. I figured the best way to stop this would be to put the dreaded collar on. So far it works...when she gets shocked she runs straight to the house and we haven't had any problems with her leaving the yard anymore.

As I see it I'd rather have to give her a shock and get her to learn not to do a certain thing rather than having her killed because she was thought of as a threat to the neighbors horses/cows/alpacas.

[critter crazy]

i think you did the best thing that you could have. it has kept you and your baby togtether, and that is all that matters. If it works go with it. 

[PennyK]

Its called "tough love" and with dogs or kids, its gonna break our hearts.  You did what needed to be done, no appologies needed.

[aggghgmom]

Yep add me to the list I have one of the collars also.  I also tried it on myself ours goes to level 4 and I tried them all - it kind of felt like those hand buzzers that people used to use to shake hands.

Harley had one because he was a poop eater and my hubby was SO grossed out he wanted to get rid of him.  We tried the things the store sells, msg, hot asian cooking oil - he really liked that one!  But the collar stopped the bad behavior in one day!!  I rarely put it on him anymore but when he starts mounting my daughters friends I put the collar on - he behaves better - silly boy I don't even have the remote part near me it is in the closet and he still behaves better with that collar on.

So I think you did the best you could for your baby and the a peaceful resolution to a difficult situation.

Randy & Harley

[princessnmi]

I think I might need to get one of those for my kids and my husband. If they work that quick on the kids I'll be in heaven  You did what you needed to do in order to keep your dog safe, noone is going to blast you for that.

[Nicole]

Oh, Stella!

If you weren't such a goo dog mama in every way, maybe we'd think about it. hehehe! NOT! You're awesome, Stella! You clearly love the pups more than anything and only did it as a last resort to keep your guys safe.

Now...can't you put one on Dale? Everytime he looks at boobs...ZAP! hehehehe!

[Stacey]

Add me on the naughty list!  I had to buy one for Remmy, the Jack Russell I used to have.  I lived on base and was given the same option because of Remmy's constant barking!  He would alert me to the presence of oxygen!

Don't feel bad, it is a much better fate than the alternatives for you and Stryder.  I did what I had to do, when faced with the decision, and so did you.

[schelmischekitty]

sorry it came down to this but at least the boy wasn't debarked or re-homed! if i was him i'd be glad you did the collar rather than the other two options.

[EllieAndBlu]

Stella,

You are an amazing mom! 
I know it broke your heart to use the collar. I admire you for being strong enough to do what you felt best for Merlin, esp. with such an agonizing decision to make! You did what was necessary to keep your boy safe and sound and that makes you a caring and loving mom. I am glad the collar worked... and with what sounds like little resistance from the big guy.

Rachel

*modified for spelling*

 

[bluskygirl]

I read this this morning... I just wanted to say that I understand where you were coming from too.  When it comes down to the safety and well being of your animal, you have to do what it takes to make sure they're safe.  No one will ever blame you for wanting to make sure that nothing bad happened to one or any of your "babies"!  My friends Chocolate Lab Nate was barking all night long just like what you described and they finally did exactly the same thing.  I watched all teh guys try it on and then bark at each other (LOL... I would have given ANYTHING to have had a camera with me that night), and all agreed that it was more a startle factor and unpleasant than anything else. Anyway, I just wanted to add myself to the list of BPOer's who support you!