To consider rehoming dog

I’m not saying that?!

Same as saying all have separation anxiety

That was a previous poster, who was arguing that you can’t prove that anxiety comes solely from poodle side.

my point is that the dog being discussed on this thread is a cavapoo and therefore descended from cavalier King Charles spaniels which were bred to be sat on humans laps.

This is very different to working cockers, which were bred to flush out game, and my point is this may be why this cross breed is so prone to anxiety compared to my half working cocker spaniel who could not give a shit if I go out for a few hours, and often looks visibly relieved to be left with the sofa to herself for an afternoon.

”Spaniel” is a very broad category of dog with many sub groups, and to say that they’re all “working” dogs is an oversimplification.

I’ve seen the papers in it but in practice, and for future options, no brainier. I don’t think any entire dog should be wandering about for no reason. Or indeed female. If you out to rescue they will neuter for sure. Before rehoming. So I would be trying it for sure.

Or less hormones that make him territorial and aggressive?

This would be the first thing I did. Before anything else. For a start, nobody needs to be breeding from that dog.

but honestly, why was it not done immediately when it could be?

You were talking about crossing I believe or blaming poodles..

Both spaniels and poodles are working dogs (though cavaliers were bred more as companion dogs) very intelligent, high energy, highly strung, prone to anxiety, also both can be nippy. That’s why crossing them causes problems. I’ve know a few with these same issues.

I don’t understand what point you are trying to make. This thread is about a cavapoo. The category of cavalier King Charles spaniels is the relevant category of spaniel to be discussing.

You cannot be serious! Can't believe I am having to spell this out but here we go:

cocker spaniels, springer spaniels, field spaniels, water spaniels - all examples of breeds that were bred to work.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were not bred to flush game, retrieve, herd, guard, or do a defined job. Their primary “role” was companionship and they have been bred to be wired that way. Lap sitting, following, attached little companions.

I think you have a good chance at rehoming him but via a dogs home / rescue. I would speak to some and see what they think (not sure where you are based but think like Battersea dogs home, the dogs trust, there may even be a cava poo specific rescue). He’s a very desirable breed and may do well in a quieter house with fewer visitors and no children. Plus people who take rescue dogs know they are signing up for a dog with issues so it won’t come as a shock. I would consider a second opinion on the medication from the vet (sorry more money) if you do keep him - it doesn’t make sense to me that medication wouldn’t help him based on what you’ve described, he’s clearly generally anxious - although I’m not a vet! Good luck and no you’re not being unreasonable, this dog doesn’t work for your family and you’ve given it a good innings xx

one category

I’d say that you need the services of a clinical behaviourist. Not just a regular one as you’ve tried that, but a veterinary professional who can prescribe medication alongside a program of behavioural work and who specialises in behaviour modification

If your dog is insured, a referral from your vet may be an option and would then be covered under your policy.

Cavalier King Charles spaniels were bred to be companion/lap dogs. A different temperament to a working cocker or springer.

While I do agree that PTS might be the final and only option I’d try other options first. First up I’d change vet as you don’t seem to have been given much support nor have all the options been explored despite your clear desperation. Next I’d neuter him. It may not help but it might and you’ve nothing to lose. In conjunction with this I’d try the meds - as one PP said they do work for some dogs and again you’ve nothing to lose. Next revisit some of the abandoned training. You’ve also been given a walk through from another PP how to crate train very gently. Another idea is to get stooge visitors to come round and feed your dog to build trust. When kids are out they arrive and enter calmly, ignore his barking and other antics, sit quietly for a bit then start throwing small treats on the floor for him then closer and closer to them.

If after a while there’s no improvement try and rehome. Try rescues but you could also call the breeder and see if they have any ideas or if they’d take him back. Your dog might be a lot better in a quiet home with no children. Anxious dogs and children are a very bad mix. A lot of breeders won’t place a puppy in a family with small children because they get the puppy all riled up, then it gets nippy, then they bring it back saying it’s bitten someone. Ive had two litters of puppies and the only one that came back to me was one that went to a family with three lively boys and a too busy mum. I rehomed her in an all adult home and she’s great now.

I don’t necessarily think it’s SA - dogs were bred to be man’s best friend and we don’t live like that now and underestimate what they need

Spaniels are working dogs!

I think he would be rehomable,it might just take a while.

6 years ago we had to give up a dog, he was a rescue but was very anxious around my dd, so much that he went for her a few times which led to us having to take him to a rescue. It was hard to find a rescue to take him and the place we got him from refused to have him back. He was a lovely dog but needed to be in a child free household and with another dog to help his anxiety. He was rehomed after a month to a child free household.

It sounds like the main issue for you is that it’s limiting your children having friends over and it’s now causing you anxiety…which the dog is probably picking up on? In a house with a single person or possible an elderly couple he may be fine? I often see dogs on rescue pages that state ‘they need a home which doesn’t have lots of visitors’, so I do think there is hope.

It does not!!! Why do poodles get scapegoated all the time. This really irritates me, incorrect info gets spouted and repeated and people end up ill informed.

Many many breeds are prone to Separation Anxiety. Including your poodle, but it is not a uniquely poodle thing.

Spaniels, especially cavalier king charles , are also prone to this. They are famously people oriented, velcro dogs. They were literally bred with the purpose to sit in laps and follow their owners around.

Look up any dog breed and it will likely say "prone to separation anxiety". It is a dog gene thing, not a poodle gene thing.

They’ve been through about 5 - they don’t always have the answers that are workable - some behaviouristbthenwselves will recommend PTS

They’ve been through about 5 - they don’t always have the answers that are workable

I could have been you 10 years ago including the constant rows with my husband who felt I was defending the dog rather than trying to diffuse the situation. Ours could also be reactive/aggressive when stressed which was a real worry. We tried absolutely everything over 5 years including a top behavioural psychologist who was very honest with us. The rescue centre we had got her from eventually agreed to take her back and she was placed with a foster family in deepest Wales. It seemed like a good option but they kept trying to rehome her which always failed. It was very distressing and I honestly think it would have been kinder to have her PTS.
I was so distraught at taking her back but I did not realise how stressed and constantly on edge I was until she was gone.
I know it feels horrendous and cruel to ‘get rid’ of your dog but you really have done everything and it sounds like she is just not functioning and is miserable.