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To want to re home our 10 month old puppy...

457 replies

intheloudhouse · 10/05/2021 10:15

We got a cockapoo last summer. He's a nice natured dog and house trained quite easily but he just causes me so much stress.

I have a very active 4 year old and I'm currently 20 weeks pregnant with HG so most days moving from the sofa is an effort at the moment.

He chews all DS's toys, all of my underwear to shreds (he gets it out of the washing basket) he terrorises the cat, (we have to now feed the cat on the kitchen table as he eats her food) goes into the bins and rips everything up that's in then, he annoys DS and steals food from his plate, he constantly jumps up on the back of the sofa to look out of the window and bark.. when DP is away I can't even go and stay with my parents for support as he hassles their elderly dog.. and quite simply I honestly don't have the energy or headspace to be able to give him the love and attention he needs at the moment with me being so unwell and then obviously I'll have a baby too in 5 months.

DP will not have any of it that I want to rehome him. He says he would rather get rid of me first. But it's me that's left with him while he goes out to work or for meals or days out with his friends on a weekend!

I just don't know what to do.

Message from MNHQ - please do read all the OP's posts before commenting as there is more to this thread than initially appears and the OP is in need of support. Thank you.

OP posts:
Staffymumma · 10/05/2021 10:43

As others have said he sounds bored and needs more attention and training.

If you don’t feel you can provide him with the home he deserves then I don’t think you’re unreasonable to rehome, but please don’t let him go to just anyone.

Greenmarmalade · 10/05/2021 10:46

I think you are wise to want to rehome the puppy, and I completely sympathise.

With a young child and newborn things won’t get any easier, and you’ll have your constantly separate dog from baby.

At this age, people will be queuing up to offer him a home. Approach a decent dogs home like dogstrust. Don’t sell or rehome over any online site or small dog rehoming charity.

Give your husband a decision: he takes over all care of the dog, including puppy daycare, or you rehome.

For now: can the puppy mainly live in the kitchen with a stair gate, then with you in the evening? Is he crate trained?

MajesticWhine · 10/05/2021 10:47

Get help. Get a trainer in to help you cope with the more difficult behaviours. And maybe get a dog walker to take him when you don't have the energy. If DP insists on keeping the dog then he can pay for the extras. Doggy daycare is another option. It does get better OP. My cockapoo is 2years old now and she's very chilled. This phase won't let forever.

Greenmarmalade · 10/05/2021 10:48

The dog will be fine if rehomed soon and it’s a very popular breed.

Don’t stress about it- you already have enough to cope with.

Shmithecat2 · 10/05/2021 10:49

Does the dog get walked every day?

mumto2teenagers · 10/05/2021 10:49

This makes me so sad. Did you really not consider the training a puppy would need when you got him? The behaviour you describe sounds typical of a bored untrained puppy.

You say your DP walks him a few times a week, are you also walking him? How much exercise is he getting?

Your DP refuses to consider rehoming him so what will you do because it isn't fair on you or the dog to keep him in the current situation. When the new baby arrives it will only get worse.

I think you have 2 options.

  1. Invest time in training your dog properly. I would recommend booking an appointment with a behaviourist, they will be able to determine what the dog needs and then you need to decide whether you and DP are prepared to put the time and effort in.

  2. Rehome the dog, but if you do this please please use a rescue and don't list him on gumtree.

Blacklampshades · 10/05/2021 10:51

I’m sorry, I know you feel awful as you’re pregnant but why did you consider a puppy when you most likely considered a baby too ( unless surprise pregnancy)
Did you do any research at all?!? Was it all the cute lockdown puppies you saw on fb that made you want to have one too?
Puppies are hard work, harder work than babies I found. You need to put some effort into and train him not rehome him because he’s too much hard work. You wouldn’t rehome your child if it was too much work it wasn’t what you expected!

SomewhereInbetween1 · 10/05/2021 10:53

House trained does not equal trained and it's a common stumbling block for a lot of owners.

Your poor dog sounds stressed. They are likely aware that they are not wanted in your home, especially if all they ever hear are negative reinforcements from you and your husband in response to them acting out. Do they receive any praise? Any positive attention?

You're have a lot on and in your position I would rehome, but please please learn from this. It's heartbreaking to see how many people think having a dog is easy and it's not. Neither you or the dog ate benefitting from this arrangement and I think both of you deserve to be in an environment that fulfills your needs.

SpiritAndSpice · 10/05/2021 10:53

All the wrongs about getting a dog without really understanding what one needed or being prepared for it aside - it is cruel to keep the dog for life in a home where no one has time for it and it's not really wanted anymore.

You've already done this dog a wrong by taking it in the first place. Don't compound it by hanging onto him, wasting his life or (even worse) keep him until he's too old to rehome succesfully and then decide you cannot cope anymore - because the neglect of proper training means he's bitten the kids etc.

Either you are in and you all work together to give the dog what he needs - so drastic lifestyle and effort changes are required. Or call it now and rehome properly (i.e. through a charity, not just selling him on to try and get some money back etc).

yodaforpresident · 10/05/2021 10:55

poor dog

Figgygal · 10/05/2021 10:56

How often do you walk the dog he sounds bored
Agree with others you need to get him properly trained there’s plenty of videos on YouTube you can look at if you can’t get to a class

humblesims · 10/05/2021 10:57

I dont think it's helpful to berate the OP for her initial decision to get the puppy, it's done and the question now is the future. Raising a puppy is really tough and I think loads of people underestimate that and it doesnt require everyone piling in to point that out, I think the OP has owned that. The question now is what is best for the dog. Yes, rehome it while it is still young and easy to train or your DP can take over the responsibility. If he is serious about 'you or the dog' then I'd LTB.

CaraherEIL · 10/05/2021 10:57

Get a laundry basket and a bin with a lid for a start.

ginoclocksomewhere · 10/05/2021 10:58

@Brokenpencilsarepointless

You got a lockdown dog because you were bored and didnt bother to train the poor thing. His behaviour is a reflection of the way you and your partner have brought the puppy up.

You chose to get a dog. It's a commitment of 10+ years. The most basic of those commitments is training so do it.

This. Poor dog.
Bells3032 · 10/05/2021 10:58

honestly if you had a young child and planned to have a second you were unreasonable to get a dog in the first place. puppies are unruly and a three year old (i am assuming as your DC is now 4)does not understand how to interact with a puppy properly. Your DH should also be helping out more but if this was your choice its your responsibility.

If he came from a good breeder they may be able to take him back and rehome him for you. if not then please make sure you rehome him through an organisation that can do home checks etc and don't just sell him over the internet

TheSeventeenth · 10/05/2021 10:58

Could you try a dog walker or borrow my doggy if finances are tight? That way the dog will get some stimulation and you some dog free time? www.borrowmydoggy.com

Bananahana · 10/05/2021 10:59

The dog deserves better, if you rehome make a HUGE effort toy find it the right home. And get him spayed first, to protect him. There are bad people out there.

therocinante · 10/05/2021 10:59

Untrained, bored dog in 'acting like an untrained, bored dog' shocker.

Poor bloody thing. Rehome the dog with someone who will actually take care of it.

Greenmarmalade · 10/05/2021 11:04

Stop having a go at OP! She’s got HG and will not have the energy to do anything else for the puppy. Her partner is the one who should be stepping up- who goes out all day with friends rather than looking after their child and his pregnant partner with HG, let alone the dog!

Rehoming properly is the kindest option. It’s a brave move, not a cowardly one.

Blossomtoes · 10/05/2021 11:04

@therocinante

Untrained, bored dog in 'acting like an untrained, bored dog' shocker.

Poor bloody thing. Rehome the dog with someone who will actually take care of it.

This. And I’d put money on it being replicated countless times. The rescue centres are going to be overflowing with poor dogs in the coming months. It’s heartbreaking.
LadyWhistledownsQuill · 10/05/2021 11:04

Your dog sounds bored and undertrained. How did you expect puppy ownership to work? Like toddlers, they don't turn into nice, well mannered beings with no effort.

He chews all DS's toys, all of my underwear to shreds (he gets it out of the washing basket)

Put the toys and underwear out of his reach - preventing the behaviour is highly effective.

Has he got chew toys of his own? Dogs, particularly young ones, need to chew - and it's a naturally calming activity.

he terrorises the cat, (we have to now feed the cat on the kitchen table as he eats her food)

It's totally unrealistic to think that a dog will leave the cat's food alone. They're natural scavengers who cannot possibly be expected to tell the difference between their own food and something else's.

Putting the cat's food in a high location the cat can reach but the dog can't is entirely par for the course.

Is there anything else the dog is doing to terrorise the cat, or is it just eating cat's dinner? If there's any chasing behaviour, you need to give the cat lots of high escape points, and use baby gates the cat can walk through but the dog can't to give the cat some peace and quiet.

goes into the bins and rips everything up that's in then

Again, you need to manage access. Either keep the dog away from the bin, get a bin with a dog lock (SimplyHuman often include this feature) or put weights in the bottom of the bin to stop the dog tipping it over (if the dog needs to tip it to get in - this is the method I used with my small dog; he's now forgotten that bin raiding is a "thing").

he annoys DS and steals food from his plate

So, begging at the table with some theft too? Manage access during mealtimes, but you also need to teach some commands such as "leave it", and a settle. Invest in a Kong, fill it with food (wet food, smear of peanut butter, etc. etc.), and give it to your dog during dinnertime so he has something else to do.

he constantly jumps up on the back of the sofa to look out of the window and bark..

Close the curtains, or use window film, so he can't see out.

when DP is away I can't even go and stay with my parents for support as he hassles their elderly dog..

Find a dog home boarder. They have to be council licenced nowadays so there should be a list for your local area.

What training have you actually done with the dog?

How much exercise is the dog getting? Have you trained recall so he can go off lead? As the saying goes, a tired dog is a good dog...

You really need some sessions with a dog trainer - one that exclusively uses positive reinforcement methods. Avoid any that use the words alpha dog / dominance / pack leadership / balanced as it's a good sign of someone who is 20 years out of date and scientifically illiterate. APDT is a gold standard qualification for dog trainers (NB literally anyone can call themselves a dog trainer, so this is important) and they have a directory at apdt.co.uk/find-a-trainer/

00100001 · 10/05/2021 11:06

@intheloudhouse

House training wise he is good, had very few accidents recently. It's the chewing, the destructive behaviour and just his amount of energy I can't handle at the moment with being unwell, and it's me who's left with him.
he;'s not being exercised enough.

Tell DH to walk him more often. If he's so desperate to keep the dog he'll have to for go his weekends with the lads and walk his dog.

aprilanne · 10/05/2021 11:06

I will not berate you no point it's done the dog is here but a cocker spaniel is a very active dog and poodle jealous what a mix .better rehoming while still young but do it through a reputable charity .they may ask you to hang onto dog saves the kennels .but think you far better with your cat to be honest .

CuriousaboutSamphire · 10/05/2021 11:07

He chews all DS's toys, all of my underwear to shreds (he gets it out of the washing basket) he terrorises the cat, (we have to now feed the cat on the kitchen table as he eats her food) goes into the bins and rips everything up that's in then, he annoys DS and steals food from his plate, he constantly jumps up on the back of the sofa to look out of the window and bark.. when DP is away I can't even go and stay with my parents for support as he hassles their elderly dog.. and quite simply I honestly don't have the energy or headspace to be able to give him the love and attention he needs at the moment with me being so unwell and then obviously I'll have a baby too in 5 months. If it is any help, this is the worst he will ever be, and it wil be over before your baby arrives. Everything on that list is not an error by the dog but by you and your family.

  • toys and clothing should not be available to the dog
  • the cat should have a safe space
  • the food is boredom. You need to feed the cat safely and get a bin with a lock/weight on it (that will also stop him trying quite quickly)
  • barking at the window is either boredom or an over reaction to a perceived threat
  • hassling older dogs is what puppies do

You sound so demorlaised. It's not really surprising, puppies are a lot more trouble, need a lot more interactin than most people expect and 10 and 18 months are, aparently, the age at which many puppies are rehimed - believe me I thought about it too!

Having said that, if your OP is no help and has said he'd rather get rid of you first then neither you nor the puppy are being well supported and maybe rehoming both OH and the puppy would be appropriate!

Your OH gets one more conversation and he either steps up and your family has quite a drastic change in every day behaviour, or the dog goes, for its own good.

But mostly I'd be telling OH how fucking ridculous he is being and his lack of support, interaction with the dog is the problem. It's a living animal, not a pretty decoration and he needs to buck up!

And I say that as the prime carer for our monster. My own DH has very little daily interaction, did no training, takes him for very few walks and hardly ever has him alone. But that is because he works away a lot and the dog was always going to be mine, first and foremost! I bought him, he is my 'problem!'

rookiemere · 10/05/2021 11:08

It does sound like rehoming through a proper channel is the way to go. I would have a discussion with your DH first though. If he wants to keep ddog then it's on him to be primary carer on evenings, weekends and holidays. After a month of that, he may be keener to explore rehoming.

There are all sorts of options both paid and unpaid to get help and additional support, but basic issue is that you're not really in a position to commit to one and unlikely to be for a number of years. Therefore the kindest thing to do is allow the poor dog to live in a home with people who do have time for it.

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