She did what?!?
What a rotten jerk (doing my best to be pc here) People like her make me want to beat them. But I can’t say I’m surprised - two of my rabbits were found in a box in a dumpster when they were babies. My cat came from a home where the owner’s fav game was to get drunk & kick the cat. My Sugar Gliders were yanked out of their cage & dropped in the floor for cats to chase at their former home. The list goes on & on. This is why I work with animals b/c there are a large number of people out there who suck!
Not sure if this might help but with our dog (75 lb great dane mix), I let him outside but with the back door open and a child gate up. That way he can come inside to his kennel or, like he does most of the time, lay down in the hot sun on the bricks! We do have a large fenced yard and he is able to chase the squirrels and the mice/moles that live under the deck but he is so much happier out there. When he is inside because it is cold out there, he will follow me from room to room, stare at me for absolutely no reason (he has food and water and does not need to go outside) for 20 minutes or longer. It is like he can not relax completely. But when he is outside, he is much more comfortable, like he knows he belongs out there.
Good luck with this, I think we can all understand that what you are going through, hopefully you and your family can figure what is best for everyone soon!
I know, I read it. I was just agreeing with you and making my own point at the same time.
I know. I’m so pissed about it, but what can I do? I told her that she should have taken them to an animal shelter or animal control at the very least instead of leaving them to fend for themselves. She said “I tried, none of them would take them”, which I believe is total bull. Just so wrong… they were house cats, inside only. They don’t know how to fend for themselves. They were all declawed too. It makes me cry thinking about it. :verysad:
Anyway, sorry for thread-jacking, Jessica! I hope you find a solution, and if you need to give up the dog, just make sure he goes somewhere that he’ll be taken care of. 
Ha! No problem. I was going to go on a rant about the neighbor but figured I’d try and be nice :teehee: I need to run up town to mail a package and go to the bank, I’m going to walk and take John with me. I just get tired of constantly having to entertain him, you know? And when I’m working all day on the house I’m flipping tired. That’s why we got the 3rd dog, because he plays with John. Our other one wants nothing to do with him. But it seems lately he’s built up a tolerance to the playing and what used to wear him out doesn’t anymore. Maybe it’s just nice spring weather hyperness?
She would not be my friend anymore.
I’m with you Letah, I’d have to say adios to that one for sure.
Easier said than done. She’s only my friend because she’s married to one of my and DH’s long time best friends, who may as well be my brother. I was his best man at their wedding, he is also DH’s boss, and my mom’s boss. Seriously, there’s no getting away from her. But I don’t have to like or accept what she did.
Oh believe me I understand. I just think someone with that kind of callous disregard for life/quality of life and who could abandon de-clawed cats like that could do something similar to a person.
OMG Silver! I am having a hard time accepting that your friend did that to cats that can’t defend themselves. :verysad:
Jessica - Does your dog chase a laser? Our dog loves it! We shine the light on the carpet in front of her and she runs to the end of the room and back…repeatedly. :teehee: Its how she gets her exercise a couple times of day.
I know of someone who got this barking silencer and said it works great!
http://www.ultimatebarkcontrol.com/ds_Pro.htm
Yeah, he’ll chase a laser, the other dogs couldn’t care less. Prob have to do that the next 4 days, rain and more rain in the forecast. I took him for a long walk today, got home and he went nuts running thru the house and wrestling with the new one. Holy cow I wish I had an ounce of his energy!
Eat his food.
Hahaha! At first I was like what?!?! :whoosh:
Jan,
Thanks for that link!
I decided to bring BarkBusters in. I’ve only heard good things about them and this will be our last ditch effort to get this family under some sort of control! I talked on the phone with her for over an hour and or first session is on Tue the 20th, not a moment too soon!!! :woot:
YAY! :cheering::woohoo: That is great news! I hope that they are able to help you with John.
Thanks! Yeah, John is the main PITA but thinking back Rose, our first dog had issues as well, John just really over shadows them. So, we are training all the dogs. I can’t wait to have control back, it will take so much stress off me and my husband.
That’s great! Good luck!! 
I have no clue what Barkbusters is, but good for you!! I hope this works for your family.
Good Luck! 
Jessica - I’m so glad you called in Barkbusters! And you’re dead right, the best way to go is to get them to look at the whole picture - that’s not just what other pets are around, but the living/lifestyle/housing/bed places… etc.
Will have fingers crossed for you and hope that you find their methods (whatever ones they use) useful!
Keep us updated please?!
El.
Sounds like a great move. My friend has been having major issues with her Golden Retriever she got as a puppy and the problems had been escalating to the point that the family was becoming afraid of him. He bites if you take things away from him that he’s not supposed to have. She couldn’t even get him to walk quietly on a leash. She has 5 grandchildren as well. She called in an animal psychologist to evaluate the family and the dog. It was recommended that if she wasn’t willing to put in the training time to put the dog down.
She has been working very hard on the training techniques she was given and the dog is making a huge improvement. They start structured lessons next week and I think that the dog and owners will be fine.
I think a lot of problems are caused by the fact that we don’t know the proper response to behavior we don’t want and don’t reward the behaviour we do want.