Please help - not sure if this is normal and at my wits end...

[aliceandlouis]

Another one here who has been following this thread but never felt I had anything useful to contribute to the discussion. 

Michelle, you have my huge admiration and I would like to send hugs and support to you and your family.  To have come to the decision you have has not been easy for you and it is clear that you have put Daisy's needs first - with the help of your Working Cocker Experts I am sure that she will end up in a home where her genetic talents will be put to good effect and she will be able to fulfil her destiny.
 
In the meantime I cannot begin to imagine how difficult the coming period will be for you and your family - lots of hugs coming your way, much support from so many here on COL and maybe there will be a time in the future when you will all be able to consider having another cocker in your lives.
I wish you all the very best 

[PennyB]

We wanted a pet who would fit into our loving and active family life not us fitting into hers

Am afraid sadly that is what you may have to do - while there's always compromise with some dogs you do have to go that little bit further and you have to fit into hers a little more as well.

[Ninasmum]

I too have followed this thread but don't feel qualified to comment on working cockers & your very difficult situation. 

I just wanted to let you know i really feel for all of you, at what must be a heartbreaking & very brave decision.     

I am sure with all the help you are receiving a perfect home will be found for Daisy. 

Thinking of you & Daisy. 

[Karma]

I'm heartbroken for you and your family, but full of admiration for the fact that you have made this selfless decision for Daisy's benefit.

It's so hard to come out and say that you can't offer the right home to a pet you have bonded with... but it really is the sign of a dedicated owner, and I'm sure Daisy will find the perfect home for her.  You have been really brave to post your dilemma and eventual decision on here, and I truly hope everyone reading this can see that you aren't just washing your hands of a problem but genuinely putting the needs of Daisy before the your own.  I will be thinking of you and your family as you go through this difficult time.

And I'm sure the perfect dog for you is out there, just waiting for the right time to make themselves known to you....
 

[JennyBee]

I am so sorry you have had to make this difficult but brave decision, I can't even begin to imagine how hard this is for you - sending big hugs to you all

[bajoleth]

I'm heartbroken for you and your family, but full of admiration for the fact that you have made this selfless decision for Daisy's benefit.

It's so hard to come out and say that you can't offer the right home to a pet you have bonded with... but it really is the sign of a dedicated owner, and I'm sure Daisy will find the perfect home for her.  You have been really brave to post your dilemma and eventual decision on here, and I truly hope everyone reading this can see that you aren't just washing your hands of a problem but genuinely putting the needs of Daisy before the your own.  I will be thinking of you and your family as you go through this difficult time.

And I'm sure the perfect dog for you is out there, just waiting for the right time to make themselves known to you....
 

Couldn't have put it better myself. Please don't beat yourself up about your decision because you have made the Right decision for yourselves and more importantly Daisy. She will be happier for it and you won't end up resenting her. I really hope that anybody unsure as to whether to buy a Show or Worker will be influenced by your thread as as far as I can see you did everything right but still ended up in this heartbreaking situation. I always say to anyone who asks the question Show or Worker, if you want a family pet go for Show, if you want a dog that you are going to work get a worker. Unfortuately there are some breeders willing to sell Workers to familys and I really don't think that they should.
All the best to you and your family at this inredibly difficult time but as I say if your story makes another family/ individual make a more suitable choice then it won't have been for nothing, Take care, Jo

[Annette]

I have only just read this thread. Wow, what a heartbreak for you and your family. You sound fantastic and I wish we could have helped you to a solution which was happier for you. But I admire you so much for putting Daisy's needs before your own.

I also want to say that, in the main, you have had some wonderful help, advice and support from COLers and I just want to thank them for not jumping on any bandwagons.

I so hope that you will find the perfect home for Daisy and then the perfect pup or older dog for yourselves. I am sure the right dog would have a wonderful life with you.
 

[mlynnf50]

I totally agree with Karma and the rest of owners that have offered there support,  Please don't beat yourself up over this problem I think you have made the correct choice for the dog even though this must be heartbreaking for you, and you have been such a responsible dog owner putting the needs of the dog before yours.
I hope in time that you find peace of mind and find that important little dog for you and your family. My love to you.x

[waggytails]

I'm heartbroken for you and your family, but full of admiration for the fact that you have made this selfless decision for Daisy's benefit.

It's so hard to come out and say that you can't offer the right home to a pet you have bonded with... but it really is the sign of a dedicated owner, and I'm sure Daisy will find the perfect home for her.  You have been really brave to post your dilemma and eventual decision on here, and I truly hope everyone reading this can see that you aren't just washing your hands of a problem but genuinely putting the needs of Daisy before the your own.  I will be thinking of you and your family as you go through this difficult time.

And I'm sure the perfect dog for you is out there, just waiting for the right time to make themselves known to you....
 

Totally agree with Karma. 

[Hurtwood Dogs]

Michelle, I think you've done the right, thing heartbreaking as it is.

I wish you lots of luck finding her a new owner

x

[fizzyntiffy]

  to you Michelle xx  Such a hard decision, & heartbreaking for you and your family.

[elaine.e]

I've been following this thread but without being able to contribute anything useful as I have show type Cockers. I just wanted to say that you've had to make an incredibly hard decision and it really sounds like you're doing what's best for Daisy.

Big hugs  to you and your family at this difficult time.

[Ben's mum]

  I am taking responsibility for my decision and I am not blaming anyone else and rest assured this is something which will cause me heartache til the end of my days .

Please don't beat yourself up too much. It is so so sad for all of you that you have had to reach this decision, but it sounds like you have given Daisy a wonderful start in life, excellent socialisation with children, some good basic training and love and cuddles to enable her to be a warm and loving dog.  If you were a puppy walker for someone like guide dogs you would have been given 10 out of 10 for what you have done for Daisy.  There are a lot of pups out there that do not get such a good start in life, so you should be proud of yourself for what you have achieved.  You are also giving Daisy what it sounds like she needs now, access to a knowlegable working home, again there are many people who would have not done that and perhaps ended up with an unhappy dog, she is young enough to adapt to a new home where they will be able to work with her.

I know you will all be heartbroken and miss her like crazy, but I hope you can take some comfort from what you have achived, its scary to think what could have happened to her if she had gone to a different sort of home.

  to you and your family and I hope that when you are ready you find the right dog for your family as it sounds like you have so much to give for one lucky dog out there   

[SkyeSue]

  I am taking responsibility for my decision and I am not blaming anyone else and rest assured this is something which will cause me heartache til the end of my days .

Please don't beat yourself up too much. It is so so sad for all of you that you have had to reach this decision, but it sounds like you have given Daisy a wonderful start in life, excellent socialisation with children, some good basic training and love and cuddles to enable her to be a warm and loving dog.  If you were a puppy walker for someone like guide dogs you would have been given 10 out of 10 for what you have done for Daisy.  There are a lot of pups out there that do not get such a good start in life, so you should be proud of yourself for what you have achieved.  You are also giving Daisy what it sounds like she needs now, access to a knowlegable working home, again there are many people who would have not done that and perhaps ended up with an unhappy dog, she is young enough to adapt to a new home where they will be able to work with her.

I know you will all be heartbroken and miss her like crazy, but I hope you can take some comfort from what you have achived, its scary to think what could have happened to her if she had gone to a different sort of home.

  to you and your family and I hope that when you are ready you find the right dog for your family as it sounds like you have so much to give for one lucky dog out there   

I couldn't have put it better myself...I can only echo exactly what Ben's Mum said.
The right dog for you and your family will definitely come along, you can rest assured about that 
You have done your very best for Daisy, and I admire you so much for being able to give her up, for HER sake.  to you and your family.

[MegandMolly]

So sorry to hear that you had to make the painful decision to let Daisy go to live in another home,  to you for the bravery (and heartache) that you have had to find to make this decision.  I hope when hearts have healed you are able to have another dog to complete the family