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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Considering rehoming my dog

151 replies

Smirna · 14/02/2023 16:33

I had a lovely small dog for many years. Cuddly, friendly, placid. Sadly she died. It left a hole in my life so I got a new puppy. Same breed, same breeder.

New dog is horrible. She’s a year old and still chewing things all the time. Still peeing and pooping in the house sometimes, she just isn’t getting the message about going outside. She’s very barky and constantly barks for attention. If I’m eating she barks beside the table. She wants to play all the time and barks at me to join in. If I ignore her she starts clawing at me. I do play for a bit but she hassles me constantly. I end up locking her out of the room so I can work or watch tv. When I come home she leaps around and runs in circles, she won’t cuddle me or let me pick her up. If someone is eating she’s in their face trying to snatch food. Kids are always crying because she’s taken their food. Even if we’ve just been for a 30 minute walk she’s still bouncing around and playing when we get home, she won’t lie down.

Basically we are not a match in terms of energy levels. My previous dog was ideal, two short walks a day and a bit of playing with toys, then she lay down. So I purposely got the same low energy breed, but this dog is not low energy. I’m considering rehoming to someone who wants a more high energy dog. I feel awful about it but I just don’t have the energy or time to play with the dog the amount she wants.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 15/02/2023 08:45

Anyone who doesn’t have more than an hour to spend on their dog each day shouldn’t have one. Each dog is different. You can only work with what you have. This dog needs more training and exercise/stimulation/brain games than they are getting. Do that or rehome. What breed? Worth going to breed specific rescue if needed.

FurAndFeathers · 15/02/2023 08:57

AngelDelightUK · 15/02/2023 07:43

What breed is she?

I currently have a dog which is a breed I’ve had all my life - my parents used to have them too - and she is the hardest dog I’ve ever had. You’d never have another of that breed if she was your first, and she sounds very similar to yours.

Feel free to pm me and we can talk. Have you tried a water spray bottle for when she barks? I only have to show mine it now and she stops. Frozen kongs for enrichment and to keep them quiet are good too, as is a good bone

Oh lovely - your dog is frightened of you and responds to threats.

what a fabulous relationship model 🙄

Original poster

Smirna · 15/02/2023 09:06

I let the dog out while I get the kids ready, then after the school run she gets a walk. But she’s biting my feet and grabbing my clothes from the second I wake up. Previous dog never did this. This one just has too much energy. I can’t walk her until after the school run.

OP posts:

Mindymomo · 15/02/2023 09:07

If dog is still peeing and pooping in house, you need to go back to basics with training and spend time teaching dog to be calm.

Soubriquet · 15/02/2023 09:12

Smirna · 15/02/2023 09:06

Yeah cos it’s not the same dog!!!!

Its a completely different dog that you haven’t bothered to train because you expect it to be exactly the same as the old dog.

GuyFawkesDay · 15/02/2023 09:16

Your dog is bored.
You need to train it.

If you can't be bothered to, then it's a you problem not a dog problem.

devildeepbluesea · 15/02/2023 09:19

Fuck me every post just makes it worse and worse.

I have a small, young dog. He gets an hour of HARD exercise each morning, a quick walk around the block at lunchtime and then at least another hour’s walk (often more) in the afternoon. We play with him and he gets lick mats and so on to keep him occupied if I’m busy. He has 2 walks with a dog walker each week for socialisation.

I work full time (mainly from home) and have a DD. I manage. You’re just not prepared to put the work in. So yeah - re home the poor thing, you are NOT what he needs.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 15/02/2023 12:57

Smirna · 15/02/2023 09:06

She's a puppy! They need way more stimulation and exercise than an older dog.

If you genuinely can't walk her until after the school run then you need get up earlier and do some training or play some games with her so she's occupied.

She sounds bored out of her mind.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 15/02/2023 13:00

AngelDelightUK · 15/02/2023 07:43

What breed is she?

Your dog being scared of you is nothing to be proud of

Dozycuntlaters · 15/02/2023 13:24

The only way you ca guarantee having a low energy dog is to have a stuffed one. And of course it's not ridiculous to expect to walk a dog for an hour, that would be my bare minimum, my girl usually gets an hour and a half to two hours walk everyday. I work my day round the dog to make sure she can have her walk, and if I couldn't do that then I wouldn't have got her.

You do sound like a very disengaged dog owner. What do you expect the dog to do, be happy with a 30 minute walk and then just sit there like a good doggy demanding no more attention? There is so much more to owning a dog than a quick walk every day, and your dog is biting at your feet and grabbing you clothes because he is desperate for your attention, even if it means being naughty to get it.

I actually think you should return the dog to the breeder if you can. You sound like a pretty shit dog owner who can't be bothered to put the training in, the training that would ensure you have a really good dog and a happy dog.

I notice you've avoided the question of what breed your dog is.

Stellaris22 · 15/02/2023 14:15

Dogs don't always enjoy being picked up, her not letting you cuddle is a clear signal.

Also interested as to the breed, can't be a cockapoo as those aren't low energy. Cavapoo? Dogs aren't clones and there's no guarantee of similarities in temperament based on just being the same breed.

Small dog does not equal low exercise needs, look at a greyhound compared to a spaniel.

Could you afford a dog walker at least if you're unwilling or unable to put in the work?

If you do rehome, please do it to a rescue and not for cash. Don't get another dog.

ivfbabymomma1 · 15/02/2023 14:21

What breed did you have and what breed is the new puppy?

I have had (and still have 2) chihuahuas all my life. They are the perfect breed for me/imo and my god it was a shock when we got a standard Dachshund. Love her to bits but she was definitely a lot more work

inthedoghouse2 · 15/02/2023 14:22

What breed and what current age?

Have you forgotten what puppies are like?

Maybe you weren't ready for a new dog?

You can't replace your old dog with an identical replica.

SettingPrecedents · 15/02/2023 14:41

You tried to replace your old dog, but you can’t do that. Your new dog is it’s own self, stop comparing it. It doesn’t sound there there are any issues beyond what a decent amount of attention and training can solve, so either you put the effort in to train properly - again, forgetting what your old dog was like and instead concentrating on the actual dog in front of you and its needs - or you rehome.

ViburnumFarreri · 15/02/2023 15:16

Why won’t you answer the multiple questions about her breed, @Smirna ? People could give better advice if they knew this.

If you’re not able or willing to give her any more time, exercise and attention than you’re giving her at the moment, then have you asked the breeder if she’d have her back? Rescues are chock full of unwanted, often untrained dogs at the moment, thanks to people getting dogs during lockdown.

Didiplanthis · 15/02/2023 15:42

I've just rehomed a 1 year old dog who wasn't what his previous owner who had him from a puppy 'expected'... as a result I now have LOTS of work to do with an incredibly anxious unsocialized dog . But he is an amazing dog who with time and patience will turn out just fine. His previous owner loved him and meant well.. it just all went horribly wrong as she wasn't prepared for what he turned out to be and couldn't cope. There is no shame in admitting its not worked out and rehoming yours. I agree the puppy sounds understimulated and under exercised, and I actually don't think you should get another puppy.. an older dog might work out OK for though. You are both better off if you admit this isn't working for either of you. Neither of you are making the other happy and I don't think you have the bond to want to put the work in to make it work now. The dog I have rehomed is the same breed and similar age to my existing dog but personality wise they are like chalk and cheese. New boy much higher physical exercise needs, my girl doesn't care if she goes for walks or not but needs lots of playing with and mental stimulation... this is a bugger as requires a lot more effort from me meeting both their needs but I can see why you are frustrated, even if I think you are taking it out on the dog unfairly.

Cut your losses, re home, re group... and don't get another puppy, but I don't think you should never have another dog. You sound like you could give the right dog a great home, but not a puppy as you really don't know what you are getting and you aren't flexible enough to cope if it's not what you wanted.

been and done it. · 15/02/2023 15:52

Viviennemary · 14/02/2023 16:56

I don't blame you for not wanting such a badly behaved difficult dog. But will anybody else want it.

Only badly behaved because of lack of training. Poor dog.

LifesABotch · 15/02/2023 16:06

Sounds like your young dog is simply under-stimulated and isn't trained, and if you don't have the time or inclination to exercise and train her appropriately, then rehoming would be best for her. Lots of rescues are full, though, so please be prepared to keep her until a reputable rescue has space. And be aware that untrained dogs like this are annoying to a lot of potential owners and she might end up moved from home to home a bit, I'm sorry to say.

Original poster

Smirna · 15/02/2023 17:12

She’s a Shih Tzu. They aren’t particularly active dogs. The Kennel Club suggests up to 1hr of exercise per day, which is the most I can physically handle with my disability. I picked a Shih Tzu because its exercise needs match what I can manage. I’ve had 3 previous Shih Tzus which were all happy with 2x 30min walks per day plus a bit of play in the garden. So I don’t know what’s gone wrong here but this dog just won’t settle, even after a walk she’s still bouncing around. I thought she might grow out of the barking and hyperactivity but she’s a year old and showing no sign of calming down. I take her for a walk then I have to put her out of the room so I can work because she won’t stop clawing and biting at me. And I can’t put a coat on her because she rips it off. Never had this problem with any other dog.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 15/02/2023 17:14

She isn’t your other dog. She needs more. Give it or rehome the poor thing to someone who can spend more than half an hour at a time with it.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 15/02/2023 17:15

2x30 minutes a day is very little exercise for any dog - yes, shih tzus aren't the most active breed in the world but they still need a decent amount of training, exercise and stimulation.

If you physically can't offer anymore walks then maybe think about hiring a dog walker or sending her to daycare a couple of days a week.

Floralnomad · 15/02/2023 17:17

You keep saying about your other dogs and breed standards but none of that is actually relevant to the fact that this is the dog you have and it requires more training . If you are not prepared to train it then give it back to the breeder and let them find it a home where someone will appreciate her for who she is .

MavisFlump · 15/02/2023 17:20

Ihatethenewlook · 15/02/2023 07:56

Your update has left me gobsmacked. I wouldn’t trust you with a goldfish. The problem with people like you owning dogs, is that to train a dog properly you need to be at least as intelligent as the dog 🙄

^^This 🫣
I honestly don’t know where to start after your updates, absolute bill….
You certainly don’t deserve to own a dog, that’s for sure.

MavisFlump · 15/02/2023 17:23

And all the Shiah Tzus around here are walked for miles not 5 minutes when you have time.
The two I regularly meet walk for a minimum of 2 hours in the morning and are game for anything.

Original poster

Smirna · 15/02/2023 17:28

Who on earth has two hours to spare every morning? Sorry but that’s ridiculous.

OP posts:

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