First, I am not a lover of big dogs. Nothing that can put their paws on my shoulders and be as tall or taller than me. I am 5ft. I like well trained dogs and small.
OP says the dog doesn't get along with other dogs. I will assume Mom has moved in with OP and Moms dog doesn't get along with OPs. OP should not put up with a dog that disrupts her home. Our neighbor had a German Sheppard who was over protective of his wife. Anyone getting near her the dog became aggressive. They had to find it a new home. Maybe this is OPs problem. Or, Mom needs to be placed in an AL. To have an animal in an AL you have to be able to care for it.
I'm sorry but I have to disagree. If a dog needs to go it doesn't need to be the Mom's dog. Mom has already lost enough in a short period and has less coping capacity than a fully functional adult living in their own home.
I think giving up her dog would be so hard on your mother, and might fracture the relationship you have with her.
Ask yourself this: would it be harder to deal with a mother's anger and animosity for giving up, or taking away, her cherished companion, or finding a way that she can keep it?
If there are teenagers or responsible younger children who would like to earn some money, that's an option. Contact your neighbors or your local Senior Center to ask about this.
Brownies, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts (I forget what the younger ones are called) might have some interest in earning pocket change for animal care. I haven't dealt with them in years, so I don't know what badges could be earned, but it might be a possibility for dog walking and care.
A 1.5 year old dog is still young, and could benefit from obedience training. Would you be willing to do that to try to make the situation work out?
What kind of dog is this? Sometimes smaller dogs can have "little dog syndrome". And did she get the dog as a puppy?
I assume she's living alone; do you visit regularly, or are you out of town? Does she have anyone else to help her, and what role do you play? All of these issues could factor into the protectiveness the dog has, and how/if it can be trained to be a good, responsible companion.
Before taking any action to supersede her rights, think long and hard about what might happen to your relationship with your mother if you take her pet away from her.
I am 65 and one of my greatest fears is that I will have to give up my dog. Some (most) days she is all I have. She is protective of me, large and strong. I would be heartbroken and devastated if anyone decided I must give her up. If I had to give her up, my life could very well take a nose dive with no reason to “come back up” from it.
Does your mother’s dog get along with people? She is still a puppy and it takes some dogs, like Labrador Retrievers longer to settle down than others. Has any effort been put into training or socializing the dog? My dog went to dog daycare and loves other dogs. If she gets along ok with people, can you hire a dog walker? Can you put forth the effort to contact a rescue and ask them to help you help your mother to keep her dog? Is there family who can help? With determined effort, progress can be made. I’ve seen it done.
Your profile says nothing about Mom. Does she have Dementia? Does she live in her home or an AL? Such a hard decision.
See if there is a "no kill" shelter near you. The one my daughter volunteers for has had some dogs all their lives. Be truthful. You need to surrender it because Mom can no longer care for it. It does not do well with other dogs and is protective. They need this info to be able to adopt it out to the right people.
First, I am not a lover of big dogs. Nothing that can put their paws on my shoulders and be as tall or taller than me. I am 5ft. I like well trained dogs and small.
OP says the dog doesn't get along with other dogs. I will assume Mom has moved in with OP and Moms dog doesn't get along with OPs. OP should not put up with a dog that disrupts her home. Our neighbor had a German Sheppard who was over protective of his wife. Anyone getting near her the dog became aggressive. They had to find it a new home. Maybe this is OPs problem. Or, Mom needs to be placed in an AL. To have an animal in an AL you have to be able to care for it.
Ask yourself this: would it be harder to deal with a mother's anger and animosity for giving up, or taking away, her cherished companion, or finding a way that she can keep it?
If there are teenagers or responsible younger children who would like to earn some money, that's an option. Contact your neighbors or your local Senior Center to ask about this.
Brownies, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts (I forget what the younger ones are called) might have some interest in earning pocket change for animal care. I haven't dealt with them in years, so I don't know what badges could be earned, but it might be a possibility for dog walking and care.
A 1.5 year old dog is still young, and could benefit from obedience training. Would you be willing to do that to try to make the situation work out?
What kind of dog is this? Sometimes smaller dogs can have "little dog syndrome". And did she get the dog as a puppy?
I assume she's living alone; do you visit regularly, or are you out of town? Does she have anyone else to help her, and what role do you play? All of these issues could factor into the protectiveness the dog has, and how/if it can be trained to be a good, responsible companion.
Before taking any action to supersede her rights, think long and hard about what might happen to your relationship with your mother if you take her pet away from her.
Does your mother’s dog get along with people? She is still a puppy and it takes some dogs, like Labrador Retrievers longer to settle down than others. Has any effort been put into training or socializing the dog? My dog went to dog daycare and loves other dogs. If she gets along ok with people, can you hire a dog walker? Can you put forth the effort to contact a rescue and ask them to help you help your mother to keep her dog? Is there family who can help? With determined effort, progress can be made. I’ve seen it done.
See if there is a "no kill" shelter near you. The one my daughter volunteers for has had some dogs all their lives. Be truthful. You need to surrender it because Mom can no longer care for it. It does not do well with other dogs and is protective. They need this info to be able to adopt it out to the right people.
Good Luck.