I know I might get shamed. But I think I bit off more than I can chew and the main reason I don’t visit shelters. 2 yr old male super sick with pneumonia. Spent 1200 in vet bills. I work long hours. I just didn’t want him to die in there and he’s such a good boy and very mild mannered, non reactive, friendly. He’s awesome. But I’m so in over my head. He peed in my room when I decided to let him explore the house a bit. I didn’t even notice. He’s still super sick obviously I got him yesterday. He keeps figuring out how to get out of his kennel area I set up , I think I fixed it but we’ll see. I love him but man I think I effed up. My anxiety is through the roof. I’m thinking about just calling this fostering and getting him better than trying to find him a good home. I can’t see myself doing this long term. I’m not taking him back to the shelter but I’m really worried I’m gonna have a freaking break down. I was not prepared. Please tell me things will get better. ❤️🩹
Get a crate for him. It will be your best friend. It's going to take the dog a while to settle in, and you won't have an idea of his real personality until he physically well and established.
That is a pretty big undertaking but I will say it is very good of you to do that for this dog. As others recommended a kennel is probably the best idea. Get some puzzles and chews for him if he’ll be in there for a long time. After a short while I’m sure he will be good to free roam as they are pretty chill once they get out of their adolescence phase. Being as he is already 2, once he heals up I’m sure it won’t be long till he’s comfortable and knows what you want from him (potty outside not in)
Speaks volumes about your character that you’re willing to help this dog through their potential end of life. If it is too much I would start looking around locally on Facebook, next door, etc to see if you can find someone with the means.
I will say it is always difficult getting a new dog let alone a sick one, but if you persevere and give him a comfortable place to heal you may just end up with the best dog you’ve ever had.
Pneumonia, a 1200$ vet ill and a kennel escape artist in one week is a lot for anyone, so go easy on yourself. calling it fostering while he heals is a reasonable plan, and the pee in your room is the least of his crimes lol
Things will get better probably, but it takes time and patience. Yes, you may feel like you've taken on more than you can handle, but if you manage to put this in the right perspective, it's doable.
Let's skip his vet bill and illness for the time being, as that might be under control in a short while after the vet visit and (I assume) meds.
Look up the 3-3-3 rule for adopting dogs. It'll help you understand some things that could/will pop up sooner than later.
Let me tell you about the time adopted a 3 year old Rotty girl from a shelter. The drove me completely crazy for just over 6 months. She caused hundreds of euro in damages and was a lot to deal with. She had her food, walked out into the living room and peed right in front of me. I tried taking her out immediately after having food, spent up to an hour outside doing walks, begging her to pee outside, nothing. We get back inside and... Yep, she does it again.
However, I can tell you after those 6 months, she turned out to be the best and sweetest girl you can imagine and we were able to give her a great life for a few more years and she's missed a lot.
Would I do it again? Yes. In fact, we adopted a new dog after she passed, and that too is a shelter dog that has new found a forever home.
Hang in there and feel free to post/ask more. You are not alone.
Sounds like my cooper. Had had heartworm and was in his teenage stage after his first year of life being full of neglect. I spent about 6k total getting him professional training and vet bills and he escaped his crate a couple of times as well. For a while last year, I could have written this post myself.
Fast forward to today, he and my girl are my best friends in the whole world and I can’t believe I ever thought of rehoming him.
Please hang in there, OP. And thanks for being a good person and helping this puppy. He will thank you and reward you in time
I have a foster right now. It’s been about three months so he finally settled, but for the first 2 months he was peeing in his crate, trying to hump all my other dogs, just couldn’t settle. I call him my wild child. Now that he’s settled I’ve figured out what obedience commands he knows, what we need to work on. Just signed him up for a tricks class.
I have a strong feeling that you if you can persevere through the adjustment period, and his sickness, you will end up with the most rewarding relationship ever. Rotties are special and even more so when rescued and offered a second chance. This dog will love you like nothing else can if you stick with it. Give it a little more time. No shame if you cant. Just getting him out of the shelter is wonderful of you.
Our Rottweiler we rescued attempted to kill our other Rottweiler several times. Thankfully we were able to stop them fighting. Both trying to assert dominance. We reminded them we’re in charge. It took a few months and they had a great friendship. Our other Rottweiler came down with cancer shortly after the rescue. He was only 7. The rescue is great as an only dog for now but he does get socialized with other dogs and has been great. They just need to acclimate to the new environment. Also, some are high energy so a daily good walk or run helps.
A little pee here and there is nothing. I feel you on the pneumonia thing, my guy had it at 16 weeks, bad enough he was in the emergency vet for 5 days, in ICU, total was > $7K - thankfully pet health insurance (props to AKC insurance) covered over $5K.
He's now a 4 year old, 120 lbs male Rottie. He's been housebroken since a little pup, but he would still pee in the kitchen once in a blue moon, where we trained him with newspapers. Same spot. Usually overnight. Sometimes I wonder if he sleepwalks.
We recently moved to a new house, he's been perfect.
2 days ago, I'm sitting in my new home office downstairs. He comes downstairs, looks at me with this serious look on his face, looks around, walks over to where my laptop case is on the floor and decides to lift his leg.
I mean, seriously, dude...
It's like he's gotta pull my chain every few months, some how, some way.
found as strays and 4 months old. 2 years later our rott would get out of our yard and just hang out in the driveway until someone came home and it was time to go back inside 💔 2 years gone now and golly do I miss his sweet face
It will get easier. I remember feeling like this when we got a puppy. Relax and thank you for saving his life. Go to the pet store and look around. Get him a nice big bed (might need to order on Amazon), a big crate at tractor supply and let him heal. He will be your best friend in no time.
Hey, I know it’s hard, especially him being sick, but don’t give up yet.
My girl isn’t a rescue (we wanted to but we weren’t able to find a cat friendly rottie), but she had chronic UTIs for the first few months we had her, it took a year to toilet train her and she cost us a lot in vet bills. It’s very frustrating but I promise, it does get easier.
It’s okay to cry, it’s okay to feel stressed, it’s okay to be down about it, it’s okay to experience puppy blues, even if your rottie isnt a baby. You got him for a reason, you connected with him, it may not be clear to you yet but with time and consistency, you will have your best friend forever. Dogs need time to settle in, keep in mind he’s also sick, he is probably very scared and adjusting still. Give yourself some grace because it is very normal to feel overwhelmed with a new pet, especially when illness is involved. Keep at it, it will be okay.
The 3-3-3 rule works. 3 days to unpack, shelter as much as they want to help is scary for. 3 weeks to see they are living with you and 3 months to see who
They are, I don’t have it correctly but you get the idea.
I adopted a shelter dog shortly after my Rottweiler passed. The dog was so angry, he was ripping things. He got sick too but the shelter had a clinic and I brought him there. Months later he is fine.
I wish you luck making your decision on this dog.
Try to understand where he is now is new and he needs to get used to it and soon it will be home to him.
One day you will look back and be so happy everything worked out. Everyone that takes a dog whether a new puppy or rescue it takes a little time…even if you moved somewhere new it would take time to adjust or start a new job.
YOU GOT THIS IT WILL GET BETTER!!!!!❤️❤️❤️
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u/mtepete 6h ago
3 days, 3 weeks and 3 months will all be milestones for him getting used to his new life.
He will figure it out, he just needs time. When they are sick, potty in the house is not uncommon.
You will figure it out too. Once he is better, you both will get in a routine
You did a great thing