About Rubble

Rubble is normally super sweet, great with my son, loves giving and receiving attention, loves walks (although not too long and will pull in the beginning), does pretty well in the car, have never jumped our 4 foot chain link fence (will run out the gate though) and really likes other dogs. I'm heart broken that my home is not right for him at the moment, but I really need to do what's best for him and my family right now. He recently bit me (see below for details), and as a single mom of a 5 year old, I just can't give him the time and attention he needs. The incident happened when he didn't want to go in his pen, and unfortunately it's something I need to do sometimes because of how much energy he has, and what little time I have to run it out. His pen is literally baby play yard, and he does stay in it despite being tall enough to step over it! Bite details- I was trying to get him in his pen, when he bit my right hand. It went a little numb, swelled a little, but wasn't bad. I tried again to put him in his pen, and he got my left hand. This time it did barely pierce the skin, swelled, and is bruising. There are 4 spots that slightly broke skin, and they are about the size of a ball point pen. Medical attention was not needed, bandaids were not needed, and to be very honest, I don't think he meant to hurt me. He doesn't know how big or strong he is, he just really didn't want to go in his pen at that moment. Normally he doesn't fight me, he goes in with zero force necessary. I'm not sure why Tuesday was any different, but this is why I can't have him around my 5 year old. I have contacted close to 80 rescues/shelters so far the only place that will take him is the Humane Society, and they said he may get put down. I do not think he should be put down for this! As a single mom, I can't be everywhere and can't have my eyes on the dog and my 5 year old son at all times (think bathroom, shower, cooking dinner, etc). My biggest fear is that my son will do something to irritate Rubble (hug too tight, flop on him too hard, start playing too rough), and Rubble will do something similar to what he did to me to get him to stop. As a full grown adult, I can take it. But my 5 year old son cannot. Rubble is literally more than twice his size. Rubble will do well in a home with kids (my son really is his best friend), but he needs someone to devote time to him and running out his energy and that can work on training him better than I could. He know and obeys sit, paw, leave it, heel, and off (sometimes). He knows but ignores down (for lay down), and sometimes off. I want to stress that I do not feel scared of Rubble, and I do not believe he is an aggressive dog. He simply needs more time than I can devote to him.

St. Louis County
St. Louis, Missouri