agree 100% and if your sister has a problem with it tell her to come get the dog, I bet that will make her change her tune in a hurry.

Considering all that you have going on, have been thru with your Mom, your sister, your sister's other dogs....I think what you're trying to do for Kouk is pretty amazing. It sounds like you care about Koukla, and that your first preference is to keep her...?

What about having a behaviorist come to your house, assess all of it...they may have really good ideas. Even people here at YT have wonderful advice about training, but I don't know if it'll apply to this situation. I would love to hear how Kouk does; I hope things turn around for you. :love:

Like Linda said, no respectable rescue would take this dog unless the real owner would surrender her over. And I think that'll just cause a complete rift in that family. And from the looks of it, there's been enough heartache with the Mom passing away that there needs to be an end to the drama.

I think someone already mentioned this, but for now I think a play pen or restricted area may be the way to go. Does she have bulley sticks or things to keep her occupied (at least while your home). Is she treat and food responsive for training? With the food aggression, is she aggressive towards you, or your dogs??

In addition to my last post, I agree with others that it's obvious you care about the dog and really do want to help it. However, it also seems you're short on cash, which means you probably can't afford to be hiring a dog behaviourist or trainer. That's why I suggest re-homing. Your sister could take the dog, but sounds like she ALREADY re-homed it without actually calling it that. I think you have every right to re-home this poor little pup again, hopefully to a family or person who has the time and resources to help it find a happy and balanced life.

I did not suggest a behaviorist for the same reason: financial. They definitely don't come cheap. The one we have used in this area is around $300 for the evaluation.

She is older than I thought she might be. Sounds like she just has not had much structure.

Not sure how aggressive she is since she has not broken skin. Sounds like she is just trying to play "boss". I have seen pups do that...and they are much easier to work with than those that actually bite.

I just hope you can find a solution for her....either finding another home, consulting with a behaviorist or winging it yourself which does seem a bit daunting. I wish I lived closer to you...I would try to help out. I have a special love for problem children.

I have no experience with this type of thing, but I did want to wish you the best of luck. I hope you guys can figure out something. :)

I've done wonders with other dogs before, but I run a department alone, and with Lola and Sammy they are pretty independent and well potty trained. They play with each other and have run of the apartment when I'm away. I taught Lola to be independent and OK with being on her own. I never worked this much before, but there's a hiring freeze at my job and I'm the only in my department (besides my supervisor who doesnt do a damn thing and takes days off all the time without telling me.) I am going to talk to my sister and present the idea to her. I can't legally do it without her consent. I hate the idea of her with animals because 3 of my dogs have died due to her negligence. My corgi years ago died of a heart attack from extreme heat exposure, he was 25 and I was out of town. We both lived with my mom. She left him outside in 110 degree weather for 4 hours without thinking to check on him. The other two are very recent and were left outside and starved. I won't return Koukla to her, but I WILL have her officially give her to me before I make a choice. I don't want to give Kouky up but I don't see much choice.

Oh and Koukla is one of the rescues my mom and I ended up keeping. We ran a shelter back home out of our house. It was small but we took in, foster, trained, and found forever homes for 30+ dogs in my lifetime. I can work with her, financial isn't too bad since I've decided to trim the fat from my budget anyway. I just haven't had the time to help her. We got Koukla at 4 weeks old, she was dying and the original owner was my friends foster mom, she didn't want to take care of her or pay the bills so we took her. I bottle fed then spoon fed soft food to her. I love her to death, shes only been away from me for a year or so. My sister in all honesty is a selfish person who I don't wish on anyone or anything. I put up with her because I have to. I don't allow her in my home and don't trust her as she has stolen from me. The work issue is a whole other rant that I think I'll post about on another thread. The work issue is really REALLY pissing me off. If I can get back on normal hours and find an x-pen I can make this work. Bless you guys for your advice and concern. I love her and I don't want to see her leave my family, seeing as my family has been broken up enough in the last year. Dogs are very much family to me.