To rehome my dogs?

[toughdecision]

I've NCed for this and apologies in advance for the rambling nature of this post. Am trying not to dripfeed.
DD is 8 months old. My dogs are 9 years old and I've owned them since they were 8 weeks old, they are 5 months apart in age.
One of my dogs has growled and challenged my DD on a number of occasions, she's never bitten anyone before (she has mouthed me when she was a lot younger, when I was grooming her as she hates it. I don't groom her now at all, I send her to the groomers every 2 months for a short clip to keep her coat in check). I'm worried she might bite my DD although she has shown affection towards her as well at times.
I have been removing my DD when the dog has growled/challenged and locked the dogs in their sleeping area. I spoke to a behaviourist at a shelter this week and she said I shouldn't remove my DD as this is sending the wrong message to the dog, that what she is doing is okay, she says I should leave DD where she is and correct the dog's behaviour by banging 2 saucepans above her head and this will show her I'm pack leader. I tried banging a biscuit tin when the other dog was barking incessantly and she did stop but my DD was sobbing because the noise was so loud.
I'm very nervous about not removing DD as I do feel it's putting her at risk.
I'm waiting for the shelter to get back to me as I'd want them to be rehomed together as they've never been apart from each other for longer than a few hours if they are at the groomers separately or at the vets.
At the moment, they don't have much of a life. They spend a lot of time in their sleeping area because of the growling and they never get walked anymore as I can't manage them and the pushchair on my own (I have to go down steps to get out of my house and they are very unruly on the lead) and my DH doesn't feel they need to be walked as they're quite sedate breeds and he thinks they're happy [sceptical]. They used to spend all their time being fussed and loved, now they're just being told to constantly move or get in their bed.
But when I look at them, I can't imagine them not being here or with us, they've been our babies for so long.
I've talked to friends and family in RL and I'm getting very mixed opinions, they all know how we feel about them.
DH doesn't really want to rehome but feels that it's making me very stressed out (which it is) and it would take away that anxiety for me.
I really don't know what to do. I feel guilty for keeping them as their quality of life has decreased as they never get walked anymore and they confined a lot of the time but then I also feel guilty if I rehome them that I've not tried hard enough.
I also can't rehome them separately or get rid of one because they are very attached to one another, when we do take them out if one of us crosses the road before the other and they're separated, they are desparate to get to one another. They are in excellent health for their ages and although they are unruly on the lead, they are small dogs and are very affectionate and friendly (apart from the growling dog with my DD).

What breed are they? I'm only asking because I cannot think of a single breed that doesn't appreciate a walk

I am with WorraLiberty on this.
There are not many people who are going to take on two 9 year old dogs.Let alone two dogs that pull on the lead as well.
The less you walk them , the more they are going to growl at your DD.
Have a look online for techniques if you are short on money.
Watch dog borstal online if you want tips because they usually have dogs who pull on leads and they can sort it within hours.
Can't you let the dogs out whilst your DD is in bed etc?
You and Your DH need to get off your bums and walk the poor animals, if you ever want an improvement.
If I can take a 5 and 7 year old plus a double buggy and a large dog out for a walk I am sure you could do it, the more you do it the easier it gets.

Another one here that doesn't understand how you are not able to walk the dogs with the push chair. It is perfectly possible to do. Infact the more you do it, the better you will become at it. Dogs will be more relaxed and easily to handle at home.

I loved it when DD was in her chair. We would go walking for hours, in all weathers.

Now I'm up with DD (3) at 6.30am to make sure the dog has a good walk before we go to work/nursery, same again in the afternoon and evening.

I would NEVER rehome my dog just because things were getting difficult. I'd find a solution no matter what to make sure my family stays together. Dog is a massive part of our family.

I should also say that sometimes Dog growls at DD. Sometimes she just wants a bit peace without a 3 year old screaming and running around her. I try to teach DD how to behave around the dog and the dog has her "safe" place to go when she wants it.

OP you can make this work if you want to.
and the behaviourist you spoke to is rubbish and making things worst!

I have suffered the challenges of walking two large dogs and a small baby whilst DH works away 4 nights a week. Slings and carriers help, though are not great in the rain. Sometimes I just drive (however far) to somewhere where ao can park right by the entrance to a park/ green space where they can be let off the lead pretty much straight away. I appreciate I am lucky to have a car. But at no stage would "never" walking the, be an option.mi have missed a couple of days (DD v poorly, heavy snow) and felt extremely guilty when that happened.what does never mean? How often a week etc? Your dogs are waaaaaay more likely to growl/ be aggressive to DD if they are I adequately excersized.

Suzys - erm why would anybody get rid of a cat because they had a baby? Was it a special baby eating breed of cat? Or is it that we treat "pets" as disposable pieces of shit to be dumped in shelters for other people to take care of.

"the breed book we read when we got them which said that following us around the house is adequate exercise"

I'm surprised by this, but I don't know anything about small breeds. As a dog owner though - the walking thing, it's not just about exercise - it's being outside, being able to sniff, to follow scents, to walk through grass, to experience things outside of the home....even if their exercise needs were satisfied inside (which, I have to admit, I'm highly doubtful of) you would still need to take them outdoors.

a breed book that said following you around the house is significant exercise for your dogs? Err, what breed are we talking about here? Furbies????

It's not just the physical element of a walk that dogs enjoy, it's the sensory stimulation of fresh smells, outside air, other dogs, stuff... The mental exercise it gives them is equally vital. Even 45 mins outside would make them calmer and more manageable - it must be so frustrating for them being shut out of all the places they used to be allowed to go.

To answer those about where the dogs toilet etc, they do go outside, in our garden and they have access to it whenever they want. When they are confined they are behind a stairgate in our kitchen, DD on the other side.
I will try to rehome the dogs myself rather than through the dogs trust. They get very agitated when separated, they have to go to the groomers together as they can't be left on their own at home.

onebigwish sorry, x-posts!

20 minute stroll - seriously? you can't manage that with the pram?

My dog gets 20 minutes off lead in the morning, up to an hour off lead at lunchtime and 20 minutes in the evening. I realise he may be spoilt but really, do you never get any fresh air?

FOR GODS SAKE DON'T REHOME THEM YOURSELF. You mean putting an advert on some shitty website like pets4homes, or gumtree and some idiots who cannot be arsed to properly research a breed and an animal and its requirements will grab your dogs for £20 and then dump then in shelter in 12 months.

Your dogs are badly behaved on the leash because they are not walked enough. If you walked them more then they would improve in ALL aspects of their behavior.

You need to walk them by yourself - in the evening after DD is in bed or early morning. I can almost promise you that the lack of exercise / stimulation is the root of your problem.

I generally try to be a nice person but people who can't give a shit about their animals because they have a baby are worthy of contempt.

My dog is a rescue dog - he had only spent 3 days in the shelter before we chose him. He is still haunted by those 3 days 13 years later. He was 7 months and had been starved in a backyard, so it wasn't like he was going into the shelter from luxury. You want to put your 9 year old dogs who you profess to love into a shelter where they will most probably have to stay for life, or be killed.

Anyone who has had dogs for 9 years would know what a ridiculous idea it is to stop walking dogs and bang loud pans over the head of an already confused dog.

Unbelievable.

You could tie them to the pushchair on walks...oh never mind. I give up.

Another vote for the importance of mental stimulation. Our dogs get bored if we repeat the same walk too often

They are shih tzus. They are not confined behind the stairgate when both of us are here or when DD is napping upstairs.

OP- I've reread the thread and apologise if I have missed an answer but what breed are they?

OP do not under any circumstances try and rehome your dogs yourself. Dogs rehomed privately are increasingly turning up seriously injured or worse having been used to train fighting dogs. People who source dogs for this reason can be very convincing and turn up with their wives/kids too. Or for all you know, the person you sell/give them to could get as sick of them as you are (after all, they won't have 9 years of emotional attachment) and rehome them after a short time. If you do rehome them, then take them to a no kill dog rescue or Dogs Trust, but know that two other dogs will die because of that.

Why not take some responsibility and actually make an effort to walk your dogs and train them?

Cross post - even little dogs love to walk

Agree with pet-insurance cost. Our dog is 9 now and due to various previous injuries very,very expensive to insure. We have cancelled our insurance but are putting the same amount we used to pay monthly (before she reached the 'magical' age of 9) in a separate account. We found a £20 note in an old winter coat the other day and have put that in aswel. Just trying to build up some reserves in case she needs to see a vet.

Please try and find a way to exercise your dogs and to give them some attention. It's just so sad to think they have all of a sudden been cast aside like that.

What time does your DD wake up/does your DH go to work? Is there a way you could walk them before anyone gets up? If you dress warm enough there's nothing as exhilarating as an early walk out by yourself with your dogs. It would do both you and your dogs the world of good.

You cant walk shih tzus on the pram ?

If you can't manage a 20 minute stroll with them and yet take your child out in a pushchair AND LEAVE THEM BEHIND I am not at all surprised things are going wrong.

Walk them. There is no excuse good enough for neglecting them. Love them a little more and they will be much happier.

If you can't manage 2 at a time with a pushchair, go out twice and take them one at a time. Or go out when your DH is at home with your child.

It is not difficult to do.

they are shih tzus and you can't manage to walk them with the push-chair??? are they on steroids??