To consider rehoming rescue dog due to negativity from neighbours?

Just to add, if the dog smells so strongly that people notice it when he is outside in the open air, this really sounds like something you should ask the vet about. I've never come across a dog that has a strong smell that is noticeable outside. Perhaps he has a skin problem and perhaps this is also why he is itchy.

Yes, it is very annoying for neighbours to comment on it, but if the issues were bad enough, I think I might drop a comment, just to get reassurance that the owner realised it was something that needed vet attention. The important thing is for you to make sure the problem is investigated, then you can easily reassure well-meaning over-anxious people like me .

For the skin/itching/eczema/smell I suspect an allergy. It's really worth exploring. It sounds like my dog, who struggled with the above for ages, poor thing, until we finally found the right medication for him. Life changer! Not only his skin is better, no more scratching and smell, but he is also muuuuuch happier, less nervous and barky, less worried/nervous around other dogs and people. I really wish we'd found his meds earlier tbh. Worth exploring.

Sort the barking dog out. As someone whose neighbour has a dog with separation anxiety that fucking barks and cries constantly throughout the day then I would be making that a priority to sort first. It’s fucking selfish to your neighbours and cruel to the dog.

Your rescue dog actually doesn’t sound a problem tbh.

Your neighbours sound quite mad as you describe them. Given the inherent unlikelihood of this type of group insanity, I do wonder whether what you are describing accurately reflects their comments/feelings or if you are just projecting - maybe out of a sense of inadequacy?

If you do not love or like this poor dog and don’t want to care for him then that’s one thing. But to re-home because of these strange neighbour issues would be cruel and silly- lots of alternative suggestions above.

I have to say- what will happen when the day comes (as it almost certainly will) when your neighbours for some reason indicate a degree of irritation with your children?

Get a long line for him in the garden. He still has complete freedom but wouldn't be able to get far beyond the garden boundaries.
This is a weird take on life to think rhe easiest option is to get rid of a pet you have had for many years because you are worried about what people think

The biggest issue is the dog escaping from the garden. It isn't unreasonable for the neighbours to have commented about that. The problem is the escaping, not the neighbours.

It is also not unreasonable for the neighbours to complain about the excessive barking. As I understand it, the neighbours have wrongly assumed the lurcher, rather than your other dog, is to blame, but why does that matter?. If it bothers, you, just tell them which dog it is. And, more importantly, do something about the excessive barking.

As for the comments about smell and itchiness, provided you are following your vet's advice for dealing with these issues, why can't you just say that you are doing what you can about it? Plainly, the neighbours are worried about the dog's welfare and just being too intrusive with their concerns. I'm not sure why that would have anything to do with the dog's breed, or why their questions would be a reason for rehoming.
Do you really feel that people dislike the idea of having a lurcher around, out of a kind of snobbery about breeds? That would be extremely weird.

When did he last see the vet?

Not sure where you buy his flea treatment but over the counter/online ones do not work. You need to get it from the vet. It may be thst his itching is purely flea allergy, as you say he always seems to have fleas. Please do not rehome him, he will break his heart to lose his home again and he may not be able to weather it psychologically this time.

So he's 9/10 years old? Rescue centres are full to bursting, the chances of him being adopted into a perfect home are slim, so just bear that in mind when your thinking of giving him up, he could spend a heck of a lot of time in kennels.
I imagine your neighbours think its this one that barks, which will almost certainly be what's annoying them. Its very antisocial to have a dog barking all day. A smelly dog escaping very occasionally isn't really a problem for most.
Get some professional advice on skin/smell. This can almost certainly be improved with correct diet and treatment

You need to train your barking dog. That would drive neighbours crazy.

Your poor dog deserves better

This.

who cares what other people think about how your dog looks or smells? It should be down to what you and your family think.

Come on, you need to do better.
Take your dog to the vet to discuss why he is itching all the time, that’s not normal, and it’s not good enough to not resolve this issue for the poor dog.
You think your neighbours judge him for being a scruffy lurcher, start sticking up for your dog for goodness sake.
Be the person your dog needs you to be.

If the dog is still itchy, I would take him back to the vet. There are treatments for dog skin problems just like for humans. There are even veterinary dermatologists.

for the garden, could you not install some sort of barrier inside the hedge? I’m just brainstorming, but bamboo fencing, chicken wire, construction fencing, etc, could all be put up temporarily and taken back down. They would not be perfect fences, but two imperfect barriers would be better than one.

He barks all the time. Actually my other dog is the one that barks all the time while he is silent, I will give him that he is not a barker.

What?! That makes no sense.

Maybe you need to get rid of the other dog. It would be the barking that drove me mad. Could you not put chicken wire around to stop him escaping from the garden? And go to the vets about the skin/fleas/smell.

Move! I’d move rather than give up a pet, but your other doggie needs training re the barking, have you sought help?

Tell the neighbours to fuck off and step up for your dog. First of all, the dog needs to see a vet. Constant fleas is not ok or even particularly likely. Have you given up on this dog since your life changed?

Honestly it sounds a bit like your life has moved on since you got him (kids and a pedigree you prefer) and you can’t cope anymore. If that’s the case be honest and rehome through a proper charity like Lurcher link.

Our garden has a thin hedge so we put chicken wire around it and cable tied it to the hedge branches. Our dog also had really smelly itchy skin but it wasn't eczema, it was a chicken allergy and went away completely once we fully removed chicken from their diet. Maybe worth trying. Our vet also prescribed a shampoo that doesn't irritate the skin, so we use that when ours really needs a bath

I'm a big fan of scent games for dogs, and most breeds love it. I'd try incorporating some scenting into every visit to the garden - it'll help make the garden a positive fun place and put his focus onto you rather than escaping, and can be done on a longline if need be

Tell them he's a rescue and he's been through lots etc lots of people love a rescue story..

They sound like they'd judge and moan over anything though, who tells someone their dog stinks!
Back to the vet for some type of skin care or ask chat gpt for recommendations as not cleaning his fur fully will make his skin worse and irritated from bacteria and mud etc surely.
Perhaps you could use Coconut oil and brush it through then rinse it off
Or a goats milk natural soap from Holland and Barratt etc something more natural and less stripping. There must be options.
Ask landlord for help securing the garden or if they'd be opposed to some type of temporary fencing or chicken wire situation

Practice being more assertive and having answers to petty complaints

Hyacinth Bucket.

Can you section off a bit of garden for him with temporary fencing- look up the sort of thing people put up around touring caravans, for instance.
A dog indoor playpen might be nicer for him than a crate. He sounds a good boy to tolerate a crate so well.
What does the vet say about his itching? It might be an allergy, diet etc.
Don't be bullied by neighbours into getting rid of him. Can't you tell them it's Posh Dog who barks, he definitely does not have fleas etc.

It's not fair to you, or your dcs and most of all the poor dog to try and rehome him now, at his age, when he has finally found a family to love him.

A Cockapoo is not a 'pedigree type' dog as it's a crossbreed of the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle (usually Miniature.) So it's ironic - are rather pathetic - if owners of Cockapoos are looking down their noses at your crossbred Lurcher. Your dog doesn't look "feral", he looks like a lurcher, they all look unkempt, which is a part of their charm.

With regard to his occasional escapes, all you have to say is that you gave him a home as an adult rescue dog and that this habit was established when you adopted him. It's something you've worked on and now it only happens occasionally.

Your dog is loving and much loved and there is no way I would even consider rehoming him. Who cares what the neighbours think assuming they do infact think this way?

In addition, he's 9, the chances of him getting a new home are very slim. He has a stable home with you. It would be cruel to rehome him.

Give your head a wobble.

Sounds like you have horrible neighbours problem than a dog problem, nothing wrong with your dog apart from eczema and... being a dog!

Just tell them "thanks ill take your opinion om board" and file it away in horrible neighbours opinions mean f%^& all and get on with life.

I do that when naggy lady tells me my dog with amazing recall shouldnt play fetch in the local park in greenspace with no one around but her and her judgementalness.

It's not the rescue who barks it's superdog ca

The neighbours would probably prefer you to rehome the one that barks tbh. That’s most likely why they give you dirty looks. What do they care if the dog is scruffy or smells a bit. Re escaping I’d make a run by putting a fenced area inside the hedge.