To re-home our dog

[Centipedeswellies]

We are an animal loving family. We have 2 cats, a horse, 2 alpaca, hens and a dog. We have had previous dogs. Our current dog, a springer is well trained, well loved. I'm home a lot as we run holiday lets on our land and I have another business where I can be around. We have 2 preschool and one primary school age child.

I've always rescued animals from here, there and everywhere. Only the dog and horse were bought, everyone else arrived by hen rescue, cats protection, neighbours, rehoming groups etc. I love animals and don't give up.

However.... Our springer is 6, We walk him loads, he's well stimulated, he's well trained. But he is very reactive. He bit my wife a year ago when she tried to move him out of the sitting room, she just reached for his collar. He had previously growled and snapped but not bitten. He's been on anxiety medication since he was 2 or 3. We noticed he wouldn't settle, growled when approached if he wasn't happy and snapped if you tried to take of his towelling coat etc. he has to be sedated for vaccinations and it takes multiple vets to even get near him. He bit me too about 6 months ago when I tried to get him out from under the table. Tonight I was playing with him and he suddenly, growled then lunged to bite, he backed off and then lunged again.

We have 4 year old twins and a 6 year old. My mum instinct says that the dog can't stay as I would never forgive myself if he hurts our children. However, it goes against every grain in my body.

Have you tried a highly qualified behaviourist? They could help the dog but also you to understand the dogs body language better. Theres often cues before lunging/growling that we can easily miss if we don't know them - the dog is trying to tell us they're not happy with the situation but if we don't spot it in time their response escalates. I'd urgently look into these avenues before rehoming or PTS as hes obviously much loved, but agree you cant let it go unresolved if he's at risk of biting.

@Rainbowstripes amazing!

OP I know exactly how you feel, although our dog has a longish bite history. The anxiety can be chronic pain related too, it really needs a big picture approach to understand what’s going on. Your dog deserves this chance. Ours was already receiving pain relief so we thought it was “just” anxiety related but the vet behaviourist saw it all as a piece in a way that we, experiencing it as a household and interpreting it from our subjective perspective, couldn’t

It may simply be his early accident + this environment with lots of animals & children doesn’t suit him and makes him anxious.

It’s quite possible that a rehome as an only dog with an experienced owner and a bit of behavioural training may make all the difference.

I hope the MNer can help.

Rehome the dog. It is clear it shouldn’t be around children. It’s unbelievable that this is even a question for you. Your children are the utmost priority. Your feelings shouldn’t even factor into this equation.