Has anyone ever got rid of a dog and then regretted it?

[AutismMum21]

PLEASE BE KIND.

I know these threads can bring out the worst in people so please don’t kick me when I’m down.

I have a 2 year old dog, had him since a pup. He was honestly the most well behaved puppy ever - crate trained from day one, no accidents inside unless unwell, never chewed or destroyed anything etc. However he has now regressed during his ‘teenage’ stage and is honestly a nightmare.

He doesn’t listen to a word you say, he is running out the front door into the road (he has a gate across the kitchen but has now started jumping this so pretty useless), he is lunging at every dog we see on walks to the point where I don’t want to walk him anymore, jumping all over the furniture, walls and guests whenever someone comes over.

He is a cross bread and a bit of a nightmare to train as of late because nothing motivates him anymore to actually listen to the command you’re giving him.

I’ve honestly got to the point where I’ve given up on him - I dread waking up to him every morning and it’s honestly the biggest shame because I used to absolutely adore that dog before this all started happening but he just triggers the entire household and it’s pushing me to breaking point, I feel mentally and physically unwell and drained.

Has anyone ever got rid of a dog and then later on regretted it?

I really am starting to consider it as one of my options because of the toll it’s taking not only on me but the whole house but my biggest worry is once everything has settled down it would be the biggest mistake of my life getting rid of him…

@ThisSpunkyBird that's really sad. Try not to blame yourself it sounds like you thought you were doing the right thing.
Big hug

Op go easy on yourself and don't pay too much mind to all the unhelpful, negative posts.
If you exhaust all options and decide to re-home, go through a rescue. As much as people up thread are saying they are overwhelmed, that's what they are there for. And it's more beneficial for the dog to be rehomed to someone who's been vetted and up for the challenge.
I think if you've tried everything and the dog is having a negative effect on the family and their mental health then there won't be regret, probably just relief.

Your dog is at the worst age, and in six months may well be calming down and become less challenging. I know a lot of people who have considered rehoming their dog around this age, and a couple of years later they are all wondering why they could ever have thought such a thing. I would try consistent training, neutering and lots of lots of patience.

I have rehomed a dog. I had two dogs and they were just too much for me on my own and I had stopped enjoying being a dog owner. Both were great dogs in different ways. One had a rather overpowering personality and completely dominated the more timid one. When I decided to rehome, I wasn't sure and I started off just seeing who might be interested, and a wonderful family turned up who gave my dog all the love and attention that he deserved. I had more energy and enjoyed dog ownership again, and my remaining dog got to take the huge space his personality required! So, it doesn't have to be a negative thing to rehome, but take the responsibility yourself to find him a good home, don't just dump him in a rehoming centre. Your dog deserves better than that.

We have a cockapoo with separation anxiety and tried chemical castration before having him neutered as we didn't want to make him more anxious.

Our boy is 3 and a bit now and I was at breaking point with him around 18 months.

I love him to bits and he's wonderful but not perfect but I'm so glad I persevered. I agree about cockapoo comments though on results of crossing the two breeds. Good luck OP with what you decide.

Neutering should calm him down. Without being neutered, he's more at risk of testicular cancer as he ages and isn't being used for breeding

Yet another idiot spouting "it's a dog". No one who thinks "it's just a dog" should ever get one.

She may not be going to shoot it but trying to rehome a dog when there are so many other selfish idiots trying to do the same is likely to condemn it to being killed anyway

My mini poodle was challenging, just had him neutered age 4, it's made a big difference, he's a lot calmer.

@mydogisthebest I've got 5. Bite me.

It is a dog though? The OP sounds like she has a lot on her plate and I'd personally put an anxious child over an anxious dog any day of the week. I grew up rurally where dogs were...dogs. No one would have ever compared them to a child.

OP in your shoes I'd explore a couple more options and then it is of course perfectly possible to responsibly rehome. We were expats for a bit and people had to rehome dogs all the time- maybe it was impossible to ship it to the country they were going to; they wouldn't have appropriate accommodation or the dog wouldn't cope in the new climate (huskies to the Gulf etc). Dogs all found new homes, weren't miserable in the wrong kind of set up, all good. You sound thoughtful about this.

This is now considered a myth. Neutered males are actually at greater risk of cancers and other poor health outcomes. Neutering may be an appropriate choice for some behaviours, but that decision should be carefully weighed up against all factors - neutering can actually contribute to some negative behaviours, and create greater physical health risks. If neutering was so advantageous for health outcomes, we'd have it for humans.

That's fine. But rescues and rehoming centres are currently jam packed. There are literally no spaces for more dogs.

We need to spay and neuter as there is a tsunami of stray dogs in many countries in the world, also this country is facing an unprecedented dumping of lockdown dogs as per the OP’s.
The last thing we need is to bring anymore unwanted dogs into this world.
OP wanted to breed from this dog, hence not having him neutered and claiming it would make his anxiety ‘worse’.

Ok - if you do choose to rehome the dog you owe it to him to do it properly.

And that means finding him a proper rescue space.

What do I mean by a proper rescue space?

The dogs are kept well- even better if they go into foster where their behaviour can be accessed, basic retaining done and matched with the right home.

The rescue provides full rescue back up - this means that if whoever your dog is adopted by can't keep them for any reason - the take the dog back

The rescue homechecks and has a rigorous process for vetting adopters.

They take a full history of the dog, with full disclosure about all its behaviours and issues and make sure potential adopters know this

Unfortunately not all rescues are really rescues. It's unregulated and there are a lot of unscrupulous people who claim to be rescues but will just take a dog and sell it to the next person that walks through the door.

Real rescues are full to bursting at the momen - because they do things properly.

Guess what they are full of? Teenage dogs, brought in lockdown that are now branded tearways. A hell of a lot of cockerpoos. It makes me... let's go with sad.

Finding your dog a good rescue space will take time, commitment and patience. Not as much as training the dog but still quite a lot. Please do that for him.

I wish, wish, wish that the "breed" had never been invented (as so does the person that invented it) because they look cute and it spawned a tsunami of evil breeders who sold them to people who had no idea what type of dog they are getting - just look cute and sound fancy.

But it's too late for that.

You might some luck with spaniel breed rescues. Spaniel Aid and UK spaniel rescue.

Please please for the love of god do not post on Facebook, gumtree or the like. You will have no way of vetting people. The unscrupulous "rescues" also trawl Facebook for free dogs, offer to rescue and them, keep the dogs in squalor or worse until they can sell them on.

Sure it's a dog not a human, but when you got the dog you took on responsibility for it.'s not the dogs fault.

All teenage dogs are a pain. Cookerpoos are know for being particularly bad. Because it's a mix of 2 working breeds and they need a job. Cockers are bred to go all day flushing out birds. They go stir crazy if they can't express their instincts.

You'd be better off with a gun dog trainer than any of the ones you've used.

I've fostered dogs like yours and there is generally nothing wrong with the dog that consistent, patient training, time, lots of time, enough exercise and mental stimulation won't fix. Plus neutering.

I'm a dog person through and through. I've had 14 fosters over the last 5 years and I've got my own lab and I'm just about really to commit to a working cocker. A dog like that is a lifestyle choice and that choice is serious training for years and years.

Cockerpoos are not for the faint hearted and are a really bad choice for first time family dogs.

But here we are.

If you are in the south east - let me know or DM me - I know a lot of the rescues and might be able to help you find a reputable one with space.

Ignorant post? I'd say a post talking about 'getting rid' of a dog, is über ignorant. But yes, re-home asap, poor dog. None of this is his fault, he deserves better.

Sure, but you don't have to rehome through a shelter. You could do it directly. Maybe give SpanielAid a call?

@Neriah that's the best logic I've ever heard. If neutering were beneficial for the health of dogs, we do it to humans.

Yep. I mean I dunno why I thought otherwise. I stand chastened.

I really don't understand how people are supported here when any human relationship breaks down - divorce, going NC with family members (I'm sure the reasons are excellent and it is necessary for safety or mental health or whatever) but the moment anyone has reached the end of their tether with a dog or cat they are expected to work on it, to get training, take responsibility. Sadly relationships break down. And that can include relationships with animals as well. It's never happened to me with a dog but I have two rescue dogs who found themselves rehomed as older puppies (different breeds/families) through no fault of their own with zero training. I'm so glad their previous owners weren't guilt tripped into keeping them and they are a much loved part of our family.

I don’t want to breed him - I don’t want the hassle and I don’t need the money - so stop acting like you know something that isn’t true, get a grip.

Wow at the final paragraph. You don’t need permission from mn to rehome the dog op.

Clearly you take priority. Let the dog go to someone who will love him, just rehome responsibly.

Although this, ai do actually agree with 100%

This 👆🏼

We rehomed privately to a home that she's far, far happier in.

My mental health was so bad, I don't regret it at all.

We stay in touch. She's having a blast, and I'm not on the brink of a breakdown anymore.

Do what's right for you all OP. Best of luck.

@GreekDogRescue if you did actually have any knowledge about dogs rather than just what you believe in your own head you would know that it’s the hormones that helps give the dog confidence and taking that away in the form of neutering in dogs that have anxiety can make that even worse - even sometimes causing them to become fearful aggressive.

i’m pretty sure my experienced and qualified well recommended vet knows more than you on the subject so please feel free to take your neutering lecturing to another post.

Yes double this. But I think it's because a lot of posters like dogs more than people.

I can see you’re taking the comments on board op. Just so you know, mental stimulation is as tiring and important as physical stimulation. I have a highly strung cockapoo with a decent sized garden and another dog to keep him company… not that I’m suggesting you get a second dog. My cockapoo likes to experiment / make things move / make noises eg lift the lid on the small bin in the loo up and down, thwack the rack on the ironing board etc. I also have indestructible tennis balls in the house and plenty of toys.