I feel sick even thinking about it, but for everyone's safety i feel it may be best. My foster has a meet and greet this weekend and if he doesn't get adopted, or does get returned, I don't feel safe bringing him back here.
I feel so much guilt because the behavior he is exhibiting is truly nothing aggressive or bad. I know why he's doing it, but my home is not the safe space where he can unlearn the behaviors.
He is young, a year old. Very mouthy, and jumpy, with low impulse control. He is dog social but has stressed or scared my dogs away so I've not been able to integrate him. He is too unpredictable to have him out with my youngest, but so far he's been ok with my older age 8.
This week I had him on a walk off leash on my property. He has lots of crate time since he can't be out with others, so I know he has pent up energy from this. He was sniffing and I kept walking along the trail, passing him. He ran up behind me and lunged at my calf and bit it. He has jumped and been mouthy on my arms and elbows before but it's never hurt me. This hurt bad and I was even wearing jeans. I said no and then he turned and tried to get my arm and was super jumpy. I grabbed a stick as I was honestly too scared to bend down to grab the toy. Luckily he took the stick and ran off. Once at the house I put him in the crate.
I let the rescue know that he did this and it barely scraped my skin but only because I had jeans on and that it did bruise. I know this was overstimulated behavior and low impulse control and not true aggression.
But after a month of having him and struggle bussing I'm at the end of my rope. My kids can't play outside when he's out. None of my dogs can trust or like him at all because he lunges and tries to bite them.
But this rescue is small and has no backups. I also feel like I would be failing him again by passing him off. But I don't know what to do! I know this behavior is trainable but it feels beyond my time and knowledge to help him. The rescue cannot afford to board and train. I know one person would have to take him, but doesn't have the room either. I just feel so sick because he's been such a sweet dog just needs a little work is all but I feel I've failed him. He was facing euthansia for kennel space and so obviously given up on twice by humans already. I don't want to fail him and want to see it through but I just don't trust him or feel safe with him anymore.