Re-homing a dog

[SiousieSoo]

Hi everyone

I know this is a sensitive subject and I hope it does not upset anyone. My dad has a lovely red cocker spaniel, she is almost two years old. It has become increasingly obvious that he is unable to deal with her as she requires a lot of walking and exercise. I think that it might be better all round if she is re-homed but we would want her to go with a loving owner who would take care of her. None of us could bear her being sent to a home with someone who did not treat her well. Do you know how rigorous the process is for rehoming a dog with Battersea Dogs Home or the Dogs Trust? Do they perform due diligence on the owers and continually monitor the dog's living arrangements to ensure that they are being treated well? Are there any sanctions if they give the dog away or are no steps taken? Does anyone have any advice on the best way of doing this? I have not spoken to my dad about this as he would be so upset at the thought of doing this, but I am just exploring potential options at the moment. Would be very grateful for any advice.

Some of these comments are upsetting and harsh. My dad has had a stroke, this is why I am considering this. He now really struggles with movement and she is a lively dog who pulls on the lead. I didn't think I needed to explain every little detail but please be assured that I have carefully considered all options. You have no idea how difficult this will be. She does have a walker who takes her out but she needs more than one walk a day and he cannot afford any more than the current arrangements. It is not cruel or controlling, and neither should I be told to fuck off. It is inappropriate to go out of your way to make such assertions about a situation or a person you know nothing about.

Anyone who knows anything about working cocker spaniels know that they are a very very lively breed. She is a beautiful, intelligent dog and this is a potentially heartbreaking situation to be in.

No one told you to fuck off and there are helpful suggestions here. Providing more info like you have now done would have been helpful

Nobody told you to fuck off

One decent walk a day should be fine for a working cocker alongside mental stimulation and plenty of company.

@margotrose This is what a poster said to me, she literally said I would be told to fuck off! I know the dog and she needs more than a walk a day. Even when she is at home she needs to be taken up and out a lot into the garden. It is getting too much for him unfortunately.

AllTheChristmasMovies · Today 09:36

If my child was talking about rehoming my dog like this, they’d be told to fuck off!

I have a working spaniel. One long walk a day and a shorter one in the evening with lots of brain games to tire him out. Could any family members help out with the shorter walk? Dogs (even spaniels!) can be trained to walk to heel, but unless they are trained maybe a halti or other head type collar would be beneficial.

Toys we have at home are bowls for food like this:

H&S Slow Feeder Dog Bowl - Slow Eating Dog Bowl - Interactive Feeder - Slow Down Feed Dog Cat Feeding Bowl - Pet Bloat Stop Dog Bowl amzn.eu/d/9s46NvR

Also Nina Ottoson toys, hiding kibble around the living room, even cardboards boxes with toilet tubes in so they can forage and sniff.

If you feel it's important to your dads emotional well-being to keep his dog with him then I'd like into all the above.

If you feel rehoming is the best option then I'd go for a breed specific rescue.

Why do you think I want to steal the dog? This is a ridiculous thing to say. I want nothing but the best for the dog but it is not fair on the dog either to be with someone who cannot give her the stimulation she needs.

I have explained that my dad had a stroke and his movement is restricted, it has had other affects with regard to his brain and speech but the movement is the key issue.

@SiousieSoo , a rescue such as Battersea will check out people who adopt but they do not continually go back and check on the dog or call up to do so . It’s obviously a better way of rehoming than just selling the dog but there are no guarantees . Your best bet would be to contact the Cinammon trust and see if they will help with either walking and keeping the dog with your dad or perhaps taking the dog into their foster system . With their foster system the dog belongs to them but lives with a family .

Hi thank you that is really helpful. If they do not continually check on the dog then that is a big concern for me and I do not think that re-homing with them would be an option. None of us could bear the thought of her being passed onto someone else. I will contact the Cinnamon Trust as the fostering option does sound like it might be something we could work with.

@SiousieSoo that's not telling you to fuck off, though.

It's a myth that working dogs need hours of exercise - what they really need is good quality exercise and lots of mental stimulation which can be done indoors at home.

So, feed all her meals from slow feeders or puzzle toys. Scatter biscuits in the garden for her to sniff out. Teach her the names of her toys, teach her how to settle and go to her bed. Teach her lots of calm activities. It will exhaust her much more than any walk will.

I will check these out thanks. She is very intelligent and so maybe these toys might help with the mental stimulation. She was trained when she was bought as a puppy but I think her natural instincts take over when she is out. Also when she is off the lead he cannot run to get her and it is a worry if he cannot find her when she goes off in the park.

Also good chews like antlers etc can be helpful at teaching a dog to settle.

Also worth bearing in mind that the dog will pick up very easily on emotion and changes in routine that may unsettle them and they may possibly show this in undesirable behaviour. OP you know the situation best but do consider if with some support from family the dog can stay with your dad.

Seeing as the situation I am in is the one which warrants a fuck off in the eyes of the poster then I perceived this to be told to fuck off. Anyway that is not important I just want what is best for the dog. Thank you for these suggestions I will check these out.

Without the back story it just looked like you wanted to take the dog with no real logic or reason. I think explaining your dad had had a stroke in the first post would have helped stop responses like that.

I work with dogs including multiple working spaniels and all hours of exercise will do is make her even more physically fit. Mental stimulation is key in helping working dogs stay calm - you could also look at natural chews for her.

Chewing is a naturally relaxing activity for dogs and should help her switch off and relax after a walk or a particularly stressful situation. Good luck!

You don’t have any guarantee that anyone who rehomes her will be caring. They can do as many checks as they like but wrong uns know how to play the system.
I wonder if your dad wants his dog rehomed or this is something only you want.
If you are desperate to rehome then ask friends and neighbours that way you can keep an eye on things.
Do not put her into kennels. That would be cruel.

Yes my dad does live alone but he has a carer come in once a day and he also has a dog walker who takes the dog out once a day. I know this situation is so upsetting all round for my poor dad and the dog 😓. I am very grateful for all the advice on this thread, and this is what I wanted. I could not even bear to look at the websites for Battersea Dogs Home and the Dogs Trust it is too much.

If dog is running off whilst off lead and that is an issue in of itself for any owner let alone one with mobility issues, then I would restrict the off lead walks to the dog walker.

Something your dad could practice both at home and in the park (on a long line) would be a whistle recall. 3 short pips on a whistle for dog to come back and be rewarded with a treat. Your dad could sit on a bench in the park and practice this (and of course a sofa at home!)

I know it is a problem with her. She goes off exploring in the park as she loves it but there have been times in the past when she did not come back and it was stressful trying to find her. This is a good tip, I am now thinking the dog trainer which we used was not very good as she did not give advice like this.

Another thing I've just thought of (my dad also has mobility issues) is to contact your local stroke support groups and see if a dog walk is something they offer - even someone to go with your dad to the park and help him walk his dog.

Would a mobility scooter for your dad be a possibility OP? It would be a fairly easy job for a dog trainer to teach the dog to trot alongside.

Fair enough I should have included that information at the outset but the whole situation has become so stressful and upsetting that it is hard for me to say it sometimes. I did not know that about the chewing and I also was not aware that the mental stimulation was so important. I know she does love foragig out in the garden she really comes to life and so if we can introduce things at home to replicate this then I think she would love that.

Another place worth contacting is the Cinnamon Trust - they can help with walking and care for the dog while allowing it to stay in its home.

Have you spoken to the Cinnamon trust? They may be able to offer practical help.

re. Rehoming then spaniel aid are excellent.

But unless both are really struggling then I’d look at support to keep the dog in the home.

I have thought for a while that a mobility scooter might be beneficial. We would need some adjustments made to get a ramp etc. And I think the doorway would need to be widened.

No I had never heard of the Cinammon Trust until somebody else had mentioned it in the thread. I have a list of things that I need to look into now which at least gives me some options.