Puppy bonded to me not owner
 

My male Yorkie fathered 6 pups who all have forever homes. The pups are now 17 weeks old and doing very well. I fostered 2 of them until their new owners were able to take them home. During that time I potty trained both of them to use the outside grass and wee-wee pads. The 1st one left at the age of 8 weeks but has returned to visit on several occasions and stays with me for as long as a week or 2. She makes the adjustment when she returns home and is doing very well.

The 2nd puppy originally stayed with me from 8 weeks old to 15 weeks old. The family just wasn't able to take her home until then. After 2 days I went to pick her up because she was not eating or interacting with the owner and she was relieving herself on the carpet and floor, eat the blinds and damage some furniture. I kept her for another week and she ate well and used her potty training skills that I had taught her. I then returned her to her forever mommy and she ate very little and continued to pee and poo on her floor. (She has never destroyed anything in my home)

Needless to say, she is back with me and I don't know how to get her to bond with her new owner. When she's with me she's very playful and rarely has a house accident. Her favorite playmate is her dad and she licks her food dish until every crumb is gone. I'm thinking she's bored and lonesome at her new home and just can't seem to bond with her new mom. In her new home she is the only pet, no children, and mom works all day outside the home.

How do I help this little pup? We have even discussed shared custody where the dog would spend most of the week with me and sort of visit her for a few days each week.:confused:

Is there a way the new owner could work with you and the pup in your home for a period of time? Have her feed the pup and do your routine with the pup with you there, maybe over a weekend and then try to transfer her to the new home? Or vice- versa... you go to the new home as the new owner does the puppy duties, you're there for support? Or do like a doggie daycare?

I've adopted 4 older dogs and they've all had their own issues, but with a lot of patience, understanding, compassion and perseverance they all made the transition in their own time.

Sounds like it is not a good fit for this pup, not the right home. If she is bored and lonely, I don't see things improving. Would the woman consider a second puppy?

The new owner needs to spend time with the pup. Also set up a small area for the pup to be in. They need to start from the beginning, like every new mom

Seems like the issue isn't the puppy, it's the new owner.

Paypal Address
 

Hi, I have erased my emails and don't have the correct address to mail your money. I purchased some items that we discussed earlier this morning. Please send paypal address .

Julia

Thank you all for replying with some great suggestions!
 

@KJC, Your recommendation is what I'm attempting to do. I have her for a few days and try to work with the mom and pup to be sure she is propering caring for and interacting with her. She really loves the dog but it just isn't working. We have a session today we'll see how it goes. Keeping her is almost causing more problems because the dog is so attached to me and shuts down when she leaves me and goes home. At my home the dog is very independent, finds her wee-wee pad or goes outside all by herself. She plays and does everything a puppy should do but she isn't distructive.

@MAXIMO, I'm trying to remain hopeful even though I've suggested to the owner that this may not be the dog for her. I think she waited too long to take her home and in the interim the dog attached to me and her personality isn't allowing her to bond to another person.

@VERBENA, For the potty issues, I told her that she needed to start with the basics just as I did, using the crate and confinement and a watchful eye. She works long hours so this isn't happening. She is definitely bored and lonely because in my home she has 3 playmates. The primary one being her dad. She is very distructive at her new home.

@JEZEBEL, So true!

@JULIA HOWARD, don't have a clue what you're talking about. You must have sent message to me in error.