So Sad
I’ve returned my new puppy to SPCALA. :( Mr. Echo wasn’t the right fit for my family. In many ways, he was the best puppy anyone could ask for. He walked well on the leash. He was house trained. He crate trained quickly. We was pretty good with most people. However, he wasn’t good with other animals. Our main goal was to acquire a puppy who was extremely social with people and other animals. Unfortunately, Mr. Echo wasn’t the right pup.
Mr. Echo never got along with Ezra and Blackie. I’ve dog-sat, and it normally takes a day or two for the cats to sit in the same room as the dog. This never happened. Every time Mr. Echo saw either cat, he violently lunged toward the cat. We had to keep the cats in isolation.
We tried to start socializing Mr. Echo with other dogs. A few friends on the block offered up their animals. Each time a dog would try and say hi, Mr. Echo violently lunged for the other dog. It was really scary.
We hoped he could be trained and sought help from a professional trainer. She normally works Pit Bulls that need rehabilitation. Over the phone, she agreed with our assumption. Teresa took Mr. Echo to her house for an evaluation. All did not go as planned. He went after all three of her dogs including a four year old pure bread Pit Bull. She’d never seen this type of aggression in a puppy. Puppies are supposed to be submissive to older dogs. As they grow, they could become more aggressive. Therefore, any puppy aggression can normally be curbed through training. She theorized that Mr. Echo had been weened way too early; a mother is supposed to acclimate the puppies to each other. This process teaches the puppies to be submissive. Her best recommendation was to return Mr. Echo to the SPCALA.
Of course, both Teresa and I were devastated. We’d already developed a strong bond with the little guy. We tried to ignore the fact he was part crocodile, but it just couldn’t be avoided. We really wanted a dog who could hang with other dogs. We look forward to afternoons on Dog Beach.
In the end, we did what was best for Mr. Echo and us. We returned him to the SPCALA. They agreed with our trainers evaluation. They’re going to attempt to train him and place him in the right family. Said family would be one without other animals, and the family wouldn’t want to socialize Mr. Echo. We know they’ll do their best, and he’ll have a great life.
So, the search continues. Our trainer has offered to visit shelters with us to help evaluate puppies. In time, the immediate pain will subside. Mr. Echo will always have a special place in my heart. I know, one day, he’ll make another family as happy as we were.
