Family As Friends and Making Hard Choices

I still have not found time to photograph my new cards but maybe tomorrow or Friday if the rain and wind stops. It's still so cold here too altho I had hubby turn off the heat because I am here alone and my quilts are fine and a lot cheaper than the gas company. I spend all day perusing the Yellow Pages trying to find a few roofers to give me estimates. The whole housing market is bad here-so the fringe people (painters, roofers, cabinetry, etc) have taken a beating too. I got not one phone pick up so emailed several to see what is up.

I found this card in my archived file. I can't even remember anything about it. It's a printed acetate overlay that is attached to a card with several odd pieces of card stock. I inked the edges of the card stock to distress a bit but jeez, have no idea how long ago it was made.

I think I need to go do some heavy thinking. I am not having a lot of luck with the dog I adopted back here . I have to decide whether he will be going back to the Humane Society . He does not respond to me at all. Unless I have a cookie. I have tried every possible thing (the dog whisperer is not working with him either) but I cannot even walk him on a leash or take him in the car as he is too hyper and won't obey me-he is at least a year and a half so not a puppy. He is a little better with hubby but not by much (and hubby is not here much anyways). I have never failed with a pet-until now. I think Jackson needs a larger expanse of land (a farm maybe?) , and a "job" like keeping the vermin away. I am afraid to even have kids around as he is so strong and could hurt them (not on purpose but because he is so so strong for a 55 pound dog). He barks at the birds, squirrels and anything that moves for hours and I am waiting for the cops to shop up with a noise violation. Even an obedience collar is not working (and I vowed I would not use one) .

He has all his shots and is neutered. He has heart worm meds for a year (all dogs in Michigan should have this). His own special sleep cage and sleep pillow with blankets. I spared no money on toys and top of the line food and he gets a lot of attention. He is a beautiful dog and is very intelligent. I can tell him to go get a certain toy and he knows what it is and picks it up. But when I tell him to come, or stay in the family room or any simple thing that requires I being the boss-it's no go. I find myself crying in frustration and I have bruises all over from trying to grab him and force a submission. He doesn't respect me as the head of the pack. And good boy Marley is showing frustration as Jackson will not let him be still at all.

Jackson has also eaten anything not tied down outside-my table, a pot of flowers, the mulch bags (all over the yard now) and the cover around the deck. All my hostas are dead as are the chicks and hens and several bushes he ate. And when I tell him no inside (I don't want him upstairs at all), he lifts his leg and wets on my coat, books and just missed my bag with laptop. He is healthy-so what is going on?

I feel like I am failing him---and myself. But what do I do? I don't want to hate him or resent him and I find myself slowly falling that way. Any ideas?