We went and met Beau yesterday.

Dave and he bonded almost immedately.  He's a beautiful dog, and he's good natured and friendly.

But is our home going to be the right home for him?

We don't think so.  Because he bonded with Dave so fast I wonder how he's going to take Dave leaving for a deployment (which is going to happen again in about 6 months).

He aslo displays some behaviours that, while he's not malicious when he does them, concern me because we have Henry and the kids. 

He nibbles.  He nibbled my neck and left a bruise, and Dave's sporting a purple mark on his arm where Beau nibbled him.  He also mouths.  We knew this beforehand, but it wasn't until we sat with him yesterday that we realised just how frequently he does it.  It's almost a constant thing, and when he mouths you he does so quite firmly.  It's the kind of thing that could probably be trained out of him with some effort, but in the meantime....I have children to think about.  Kids who aren't as strong as Dave and I, and who have the potential to suffer a serious injury from a dog who doesn't mean any harm and who just wants to play.  That would be a life ending event for Beau.  He'd be labelled as a 'biter', and he'd never be placed with a family after that.

So, we talked about it almost all of last night, we slept on it, and this morning we made the decision to tell Beau's foster mother that we couldn't adopt him as we had hoped. 

I've shed tears over it, and it breaks my heart to have to say 'no'.  But I promised myself when I went into this that I'd always keep Beau's best interests at the forefront of my mind....and I have.

So, no Beau for us.  That makes me sad.