Cocker Spaniel, Children and rehoming.

[krisleeds]

Hi,

I'm new to this board - and am looking for advice 

We've had a cocker spaniel - Ripley - for 18 months, he's KC, neutered and chipped.

However, in the last month we've just had a baby and are finding it increasingly difficult managing both.

We're contemplating rehoming him, but its a bit of a wrench and want to make sure we've done everything possible first.

I walk him as much as possible - he does pull a lot which makes it dangerous for my wife and a pushchair

He's pretty active, but has never been trained properly and can be a bit of a nightmare leaving 'presents' on the kitchen floor in a morning.

We moved him from a cage to a dog bed in the last few months.

Can anyone please give us some advice as to how we should perhaps approach this?

We are, understandably, concerned as to how he will be with the baby - so far he's been fine - sniffing a lot as they do.

Our main concern is that we don't leave him alone in the room where the baby is.

I'd like to get him trained, but is 18 months too late? Plus there's the case of its being expensive?


Also - IF we rehome him, it has to be somewhere good for him.

He's a really good dog, and ill cry my heart out if we have to rehome him 


We just need to be able to control him easier...

[henryjack1dogs]

Hi,

Congratulations on your new baby!

As a mother of 3 and a owner of two cocker spaniels.  

I would re-introduce him in to a crate if he his leaving deposits over night for you.  Dogs generally don't mess their sleeping areas and if he's in his crate that restricts is space a little, ensure he's not eating to late in the evening and making sure that last opportunity for him to relieve himself is as late as possible.  Life is very busy when you have a new baby and those precious first few months are a whirlwind of busyness

You can balance this out but a young cocker of 18 months probably needs maybe a little more time than you are giving it right now.  Good off the lead exercise, some mental stimulation games to wear that young brain out.  He's probably wondering what this little cute bundle is doing here and why are they getting lots of attention.

It is never too late to train but this takes time, patience.

You are right never leave a dog with a young baby and hopefully over time things will settle and you will beable to manage the two.

good luck and enjoy your new bundle
good luck

I also recommend a K9 bridle  for the pulling, instantly stops them pulling.  Fab!

[8 Hairy Feet]

Is that your dog on Gumtree
Leeds?
steffxxx

[krisleeds]

Yeah, it is - a proper wrench putting him on there...


Thanks for the advice - keep it coming - i want to do all i can to keep him - but i want to make sure its right for all concerned.

[8 Hairy Feet]

Please I beg you to take him
off Gumtree it's really not the
right place ... If and I do mean
if you have to re-home him a proper
dog rescue will help getting him to
the right place ... I can assure you that
putting him on Gumtree will not
Sorry if I'm coming across as harsh
but it's something I feel strongly about.
steffxxx

[JennyBee]

I agree, please, please take your dog off Gumtree - he could end up anywhere . I hope you will get the advice you need (HenryJack already has posted some great info), there are several people on here with young children who will hopefully also post. If it turns out you can't keep him, it is important to go through the proper channels where he will end up in good hands. I've heard some really horrible stories about dogs listed on sites like Gumtree, in my opinion it's just not worth it

[krisleeds]

Ok, i've deleted him off there - you're right - he nearly went somewhere last night from a repleir on Gumtree, but i pulled out at the last minute as i couldn't face it. 

We've already decided that if he goes, its to a friend/friend of a friend or a reputable owner.

I want to keep him and i will work hard. But i have to make sure that my new son doesn't suffer a lack of attention.

[supergirl]

Yes Gumtree is not a good place for dogs, as you have no guarantees to the honesty of the person that rehomes him and as others have said there are some real horror stories.

There are quite a few specific spaniel rescues around if you have a search on the internet.  Search either
NESSR,  - Northern English Springer Spaniel Rescue
CAESSR, - Cocker & English Springer Spaniel Rescue
NWESSR - North West English Springer Spaniel Rescue
SYESSR - South Yorkshire English Springer Spaniel Rescue

While many of the above specialise in Springers they also take Cockers spaniels as well - and you will be able to rest easy knowing that he is in experienced hands.  The rescues will home check prospective homes as well as vet check them if they already have dogs (check with their vets that their dogs are vaccinated and properly cared for).  Some of the rescues will foster dogs in private homes until a suitable home can be found for them, so the dogs are never put into kennels - the dogs can be assessed and the right home matched to the right dog.

Its never easy when faced with a difficult decision, just hope that you find a suitable alternative.

[piph]

Ok, i've deleted him off there - you're right - he nearly went somewhere last night from a repleir on Gumtree, but i pulled out at the last minute as i couldn't face it.  

We've already decided that if he goes, its to a friend/friend of a friend or a reputable owner.

I want to keep him and i will work hard. But i have to make sure that my new son doesn't suffer a lack of attention.

Phew - what a relief!!! If you do end up having to rehome him then Many Tears do a great job - they are based is Wales, but I'm fairly sure that they take dogs from all over the country.  http://www.manytearsrescue.com

[saffysmum]

You are probably gonna think I'm pretty horrible but I think the best thing you could do for your dog is find him a fantastic home.  You obviously don't have the time or inclination for him(reading into the fact that he's still not trained by 18 months) so he'd be better off with someone who does.  I think you missed your chance to be prepared for the baby arriving by training him properly and now don't have the time or expense??

Can you not contact his breeder?  They might have a waiting list?

[Helen]

Is he working or show strain?

[JaspersMum]

Can you not contact his breeder?  They might have a waiting list?

Many sales contract state you should contact the breeder if you are looking to rehome, might be worth a call to them to find out if they can help rehome Riley!

It's hard work devoting time to your new baby and covering a young dogs needs. Both need 110% dedication so you need to be honest with yourselves as a family whether you can cope if he stays

[wendall]

Have you looked at the dogs trust training videos, they are very good and free.

[krisleeds]

Thanks for all the advice.

When i say training is expensive, i don't mean that we can't afford it - but we do need to find a reasonably priced training programme that has good results - are some better than others? - however i'm fully aware that's reliant on the amount of effort everyone puts into it!

Don't get me wrong, he's not feral 'untrained' - he probably just needs training up in some areas - especially when people come round to the house, he can be quite manic for a 5-10 minutes.

I'm contemplating putting in the graft and giving it a go to see if we can keep him.

[Jane S]

Kris, could you answer the question about whether your dog is working or show strain please? The answer could make a difference to the advice you receive so it is important to know

Thanks