Will we need to give our first dog up?

[iguesss]

This may be a bit long so please bear with me.

We got our first dog last January. We put a lot of research into it and I read three books as I'd never had a dog before (DH had lots though). We've spent a lot of time trying to train our dog. Unfortunately she still tries to run away when she can get out the gate (if I leave it open by accident or she manages to open it) and is a LOT faster than us. She also barks like mad when people come in or leave the house and having a guest is nearly impossible because m, despite trying everything, she doesn't stop barking. She's definitely strong and sometimes nips. We can't leave the room if she's in with DC (for the loo) and I don't let her near DC2 (4mo) as she's just too temperamental. We had this dog from puppy for context and bought her.

This is where it gets harder. We rescued two puppies two two weeks ago, for various reasons. They've been very good and easy enough to train but they're small dogs so maybe that's why. Dog no1 can't be in the same room as them as she attacks them, every time.

I don't know what the solution is at this point. It's not fair to give dog no1 away but I don't know what else we can do? She's not safe around the kids or other dogs and I have failed training her to be calmer and not to bark so much and to not run away. What do I do?

@TreacherousPissFlap the two pups are King Charles Cavaliers and my first dog is Jack Russel crossed with Springer Spaniel.

A word of warning if you keep the 2 pups. Littermate syndrome is very real (even if the two pups arent related) so you may be in for worse trouble when they hit puberty!
The problems with your adult dog can be worked through with a qualified, positive reinforcement behaviourist.

Yes, you've got too much on your hands there. Maybe ddog1 needs a quieter home with no children or other dogs. It's not fair to keep her if she's not happy. Give her to a dog rescue for rehoming.

@Monsterdogs if the issues can be worked through then that would be amazing.

Try board and train with The Packwalker. For all of them...

m.facebook.com/thepackwalker/

@MINItrawler 😂😂😂😂😂brilliant

The first dog is very trainable, you just need good advice

How much exercise are they all getting?

Yes, hilarious @mamaofboyss

wft😊 - two small children, a dog you can’t control and two new puppies.

If you have only had the puppies for two weeks, you could look at it as fostering. Puppies will find a good home. Talk to a shelter.

Your original dog sounds like she is still young and full of energy. Have you tried obedience school? How often is she walked, she might need more exercise than she is currently getting.

A Jack Russell crosses with a springer is going to be a very energetic dog, which needs a lot of exercise and stimulation. I don’t see how you can look after the dog properly with the others and a newborn.

Contact a decent rescue to take the puppies. Ask them to recommend a qualified behaviourist.

Your only other reasonable option, if you can't face the actuality of dog ownership and training is to contact a rescue to take all three dogs and never, ever get another pet.

Jack Russel crossed with Springer Spaniel.

Jack Russell Terrier - independent-minded, stubborn as all get out and high energy. Needs loads of brain training and loads of excercise.

Springer Spaniel - needs loads of brain training, very high energy, all spaniels can be a bit neurotic therefore anxious.

You probably do not have time to train your first dog and give it a good life.

personally OP, i would treat the 1st dog like a new puppy, and begin training from scratch. start crate training (info on how to do that here), and put him into the crate when you go out/have to leave the kids. most dogs nip, and they do grow out of this. whenever they nip/try to nip, say 'no.' firmly and move away, not giving affection/acknowledging them for the next 2 minutes. then, stroke them calmly and carry on as normal. in terms of the barking, when you have people over the dog is either getting overexcited or nervous. i would take this time to settle them in the crate in a secluded area, before inviting visitors in. do this training with your puppies also, but have their crates in seperate areas.
you need to secure your garden, and make sure the dog cannot open the gate by themselves. putting a lock on the gate will stop this. for the pulling, are you using a harness? if so, switch to a dog collar.

A novice owner cannot train three young, working breed dogs at once. It's simply not possible. All the websites and snippets of advice in the world won't make a dot of difference. OP needs to reduce the number of dogs to one. As the first dog is bonded to her and the puppies aren't and are still at a very adaptable age it is fairer to rehome the puppies.

A bit surprised you chose to get two more dogs before sorting out the first one. Number one rule is to be the Alpha, the leader and everyone else is above the dog in the hierarchy. With the mix your first dog has I am not surprised you have a hand full as those two breeds are highly active, one being a hunting breed and the other is a retriever breed. The aggression you describe can be traced to the Jack Russell side, and adding more dogs to the mix is an incredibly bad idea. Re-home the pups as they will find a good home much easier than your first one. I will also recommend that you try to tire out your first one with activities, searches, retrieving and start working on focusing on the behaviour you want your dog to have(positive re-enforcement, quiet dog=treat/cuddle/good dog, no jumping=treat/cuddle/good dog aso) . Start the day with throwing some goodies (meat-type items, chopped into small but edible sizes) into the garden so FD can use his/her head from the word go. Throw balls and treats for retrieving them back. Join agility classes maybe? These are some tips along side the tips for an behaviourist.

Give the puppies back to the breeder and train the first dog you bought. Get some professional help in.

OP needs to reduce the number of dogs to one. As the first dog is bonded to her and the puppies aren't and are still at a very adaptable age it is fairer to rehome the puppies.

Totally agree right number of dogs for OP’s situation is 1.

However - Dog 1 might be better in a different household that can properly meet its needs. It’s only a year old itself - it will rehome quickly.

A KC spaniel is probably the right sort of dog for OP’s family life. A well-trained one that has time put into it.

OP if I were you I would a) find an APDT behaviourist and b) get them to help you rehome 2 dogs. Take their advice on which one to keep. Train remaining dog with help from professionals, not just books.

A bit surprised you chose to get two more dogs before sorting out the first one. Number one rule is to be the Alpha, the leader and everyone else is above the dog in the hierarchy

No, it's not. Alpha theory was disproved years ago by the very man who coined it in the first place (David Mech et al if you fancy educating yourself).

OP, please for the love of all that is good and holy find a decent rescue for the puppies and ask for help with the older one. Real life help. As proven above internet help can cause more harm than good.

And do not try using pack theory/alpha theory on dogs and neurotic as Springers and JRTs. That's just asking for someone to be bitten.

Your first dog isn't yet two. It can be sorted out with help. It will be w lot cheaper than having 3 unmanageable dogs.

If you can't cope with one dog, don't get another two

I was trying to write a sympathetic post but actually I can’t. You have done a piss poor job of raising one dog and then added two puppies to the mix and are surprised you’re having problems.

People like you (who I see regularly in the rescues I work with) make me utterly despair.

Jack Russel crossed with Springer Spaniel.

That’s really not ideal for a novice owner!

We have four dogs, are very active with them and they are all from the Sighthound group. We are experienced dog owners of many years and wouldn’t have a Springer no matter how cute they look because of the high energy.

What idiot sold you that particular mix? I’d be looking to them for help.

Frankly OP I'm lost for words. We all know this disposable pet culture goes on, but to see somebody so baldly come out with it on a public forum is breathtaking.

You've received the advice you need. You need a decent qualified trainer to look at your situation. The trainer we used for DDog3 cost a shade over £200.

You then need to heed their advice (since you don't seem to be listening to anything you've been told on here) You had no justification for getting the puppies. You say you rescued them, but you could easily have passed them to a shelter - there's no law that says if you rescue an animal you need to keep it.