Please Help us with our dog

Question
Patt,

Thank you for your advice. I have a few more questions to ask if you would be so kind to answer these questions I would appreciate it!
1. Do you know where I can start to find him a GOOD home and make sure it's a good home? Buddy is a changeling dog and I want to make sure he is going to find a home where they will love him and keep him.

2. How should I go about this with my daughter? She is going to be heartbroken? Even though he drives us crazy we DO LOVE HIM.

3. What type/breed of dog do you recommend for our lifestyle and us?

Thank you I hope to hear from you soon.
God Bless you
Rhonda



Followup To
Question -
Hello,
First of all I would like to tell you that it really touched me that you are so loving and giving to dogs. We have a 15-month-old Border Collie/Shepard mixed. We had him (Buddy) since he was 3 months old. We got him from the Shelter. He is VERY active and has the personality of Dennis the Menace he is ALWAY getting into something. We can not sit down and have him out of his crate without chasing him or yelling for him to stop. I am a single mother and live in a townhouse. I do not have a fenced in yard. I love Buddy very much and don't know what to do. He is very independent and extremely intelligent. He wants to call the shots. I took him to obedience class at Pets Mart and it didn't help. I feel he would really be happy living on a farm and having a job to do and being outside. My daughter (9 years old) is always battling with him. There is constant confusion in the house. I don't know what to do. Like I said we DO love Buddy and each week I keep hoping something will change. I have tried to do different techniques in training read books etc. I am at the end of my rope. Please help. Also he is crate trained and at night when I had my mother stay with us she slept downstairs and he slept out of his crate and DID NOT pee in the house. Well she is gone now and the other night i let him sleep out of his crate and he peed again. I don't want him to sleep in his crate overnight. Please help! Thanks

Answer -
Hi Rhonda
First of all the Border Collie mix is too much dog for you.
They need tons of things to do like learning to herd sheep, cattle, etc.  They love to work and when bored it is hard to train them for the home.  They are outdoor dogs period.
I would find him a home on a big farm where he can roam and learn to bring in the cows, etc.  It is instincts to learn naturally and love it.  This is what I recommend rather than having a real problem with trying to  make a house pet out of an outdoor dog that needs to work.

Kind Regards
Patt
WWW.SCHREKNHAUS.COM

Answer
Hi Rhonda
Actually finding a good home might be a real challenge for you when you all love the dog, but you also must ask yourself: How do I keep this dog happy?  How can I give him the proper amount of exercise daily he needs?  How can I train him to do what he loves to do or most Borders do is Herding?  Or Agility?
Start your daughter off the same, explain to her what I am telling you and that you will find a proper more fitting pet for her to enjoy more so.  Tell her that Buddy needs a Farm Home to run on all day.  He needs alot more attention and exercise than we are giving him, he needs training that you know nothing about.  She might understand more than you think so?  Just explain you will find her another.
What I suggest is stay away from the Terrier groups.  They are hiper most of them?
U might want to visit a good shelter and adopt a mix of Poodle and Beagle or any mix that does not require tons of exercise and training.  Now, all dogs need some training and a LEADER AND BOSS to look up to and learn right from wrong.  But, just not speciality fields like Agility, Herding, etc.  
Even with a Shepherd mix for Intelligence, they do not require alot of exercise.  If you adopting one just take your time and I think Beagles are sweet pets.  U might find a nice purebred waiting, make sure it has been Temperment tested with a child, food, dogs, etc.
Do not get one over 8 months old.  If anything try and get a puppy to raise your way.
Keep a box of toys in one corner and tell the pup that is your box of goodies.  Leave our things alone, they do learn English and do respond to loving talk of like it is a child, not dog talk.  I talk to my dogs all day long while I work in my rock garden or with puppies, the adults are so smart and great they know exactly what I am saying.  I adore my dogs but I raised them Pat's way and it is special for I do things alot different than most Breeders, How many Breeders can let 5 Bitches run together and with a litter of puppies, they let people and kids in the whelp rooms to visit with no bickering.
So, try what I am saying and get back to me
Get a large card board at Wal Marts, cut into 6 by 10 and make posters of dog for adoption and write your demands on a good home with lots of room to run, etc.  Ask for a reference from somebody and a vet if they owned before.  If not interview the people and ask questions, I can tell over the phone if the person is sincere.  Watch that they look u in the eyes when answering not dropping heads in lies.
Ask what they will feed the dog?  If they will vet it yearly?  Who is your vet ask them?  Get a full address, phone number and ask that they contact you every 3 months for a while as to how the dog is adjusting.
Act professionally and kindly but firmly about who gets your pet, tell the truth that he needs room, training and love also.  Always be truthful, up front with people and answer their questions best you can honestly.

Kind Regards
Patt