How does rehoming a dog effect children?

[LeoTheLateBloomer]

DD is 18mo. She worships the dog (a 6yo lab), but I'm a lone parent and I just can't do it anymore. It's not fair on my poor dog that he always comes last in the pecking order and I've come to the (very difficult) decision to have him rehomed .

The problem is my ex. I've given him the opportunity to say he'll have him, but he's in no position to do that. He has started saying that he's concerned about DD, that she'll lose the one constant in her life (), will forever be traumatised and never forgive me.

My argument has been that if I do it now, she'll forget him more quickly than if I leave it another year. (Not that I want her to forget about him completely, but she'll stop asking for him sooner.)

Could anyone reassure me that DD will cope? I was planning to take her away for a few days when it happens so that she's not waiting at home for him to come back.

Any advice would be most welcome. TIA.

I didn't want to come back to this thread, and I see it has a gone a bit pear-shaped.

OP, I'm sure your dd is young enough to get over the loss of the dog. When I posted it truly wasn't just with regards to the dog's welfare. I thought that you were obviously feeling bad about having to give up your dog. As a dog-owner (no, not a rampant dog zealot, as some here would like to paint everyone who posts in the doghouse) I immediately thought about how I would feel in your position, and so I thought I was trying to help you see some benefits of keeping the dog and thought others were also genuinely trying to see if there was another way for you.

In return, I was told that basically I was irresponsible for having dogs and toddlers walking together- c'est la vie.

I'm sorry if anything I posted made you feel bad, and I respect your decision to rehome the dog if you feel that, all things considered, that is the best option. But it will be hard- on you. All the best.