From Marley's current home: Marley's a border collie, blue heeler mix (aged 4) who has been with me since October 2021, a wonderful friend and companion, but things have gotten increasingly difficult for me, my family, and for him over the last year or so. We live in a home now with my wife, our two sons (ages 9 and 7) and we have a new baby on the way, it's starting to make me really nervous that things are going to get even worse and possibly dangerous for us.
When it was just Marley and me, things were okay. We had our routine, we lived in our small apartment together, and I quickly became his person…which was good for a while, but once my now-wife and I started dating, and especially when we moved in together, Marley became extremely overprotective of me—to the point of being aggressive with Kylie (never with the two kids though). He would be constantly “on guard” and try to get between us if she and I ever hugged or sat by each other on the couch. He would perch up outside my home office and he’d freak out if she tried to come down the hall towards me. We installed gates around the house to basically confine him to specific areas and prevent him from getting super protective of spaces in our home (namely, wherever I was at at the time). It helped for a while, but lately, this seems to just increase his anxiety. He never relaxes, constantly paces around and around the house. If I move at all, he jumps up and runs towards me and just overall freaks out. He's already a very hyper-reactive and energetic dog. With the baby on the way, and with us living in a small home, we are getting nervous that not only will his protectiveness over me and his general anxiety get worse, but we’re scared that his reactivity and energy will be harmful to the baby. What if someone knocks on the door and we forgot to close our indoor baby-gate and Marley jumps up and rushes at the door and tramples the baby laying on the floor? What if later on when the baby is starting to learn to walk, Marley blasts passed him and knocks him over, breaking an arm or a leg? What if Marley does not take to the baby when we first bring him home and bites him? All of this is simply adding to the overall baby-coming anxiety. Not only that, but it is just draining my mental energy. There is literally no quiet in our house. Marley paces and paces, his nails and paws clacking and pattering all the time. He will not leave me alone, no matter how much energy I get out of him. He is constantly on-edge, he is very possessive to the point of growling at my wife and jumping at her if she walks towards me. It is just not good and as much as it pains me to say this: I almost think that rehoming him would be the better, safer and more humane option for all of us. Not only would it tamp down on our stress/anxiety at home, but it would also prevent us from having to constantly be worried about Marley interacting with the baby for the next 4-5 years; most importantly, Marley would have more freedom to be a dog…he could have a larger home, with no kids, or maybe even work on a ranch/farm and run and be free to live his doggy life. I am devastated and scared to even be thinking and saying this. And it is just making me feel so depressed, I can’t even bring myself to research the best options or ways to go about even starting this process. I just needed to get all of this off my chest in a safe place.
Marley is an energetic, loyal and intelligent dog. He LOVES to play ball and can participate in fetch ALL DAY if you let him. He gets most excited when he sees you grabbing his leash and loves the outdoors time he gets on walks. While not the most cuddly boy (he loves to give hugs and get belly rubs, but he prefers to lounge and nap on his own space, not snuggling on the couch with you), he DOES sleep very well and is crate-trained. He is not an aggressive or mischievous dog; he can be left alone for 8-10 hours and not tear up the house or ruin the carpet. He loves to be around his "person" and can become protective of them...he enjoys running free and playing with dogs, but does best meeting new animals at a dog park or somewhere he can feel independent and not leashed. He is friendly and excited to meet new people, after the initial hesitation and wariness of course. Introducing new people to him by having them give him treats or play ball with him will be the surest way to his heart. Marley will keep you on your toes because he LOVES life so much, so he is best suited for someone who is active, patient and ready to dedicate a lot of time to having this best boy by your side.