Only dog lovers will understand

I know just how you feel @Sarnia.
We've had springer spaniels for years, and now have a bitch with her sprocker (cocker x springer) son. They are generally adorable, but you do get the odd one. Have you thought of adopting an older dog, where the personality is already known? You can at least be happy that you didn't have to have him put to sleep.

It is heartbreaking to have to do this; it can feel like failure but you have really done the best thing for everyone. I wish you the very best of times with your new dog.

We had a rescue red spaniel many years ago that after a year started to bite and snap. It was sad for us when the vet said it had a brain problem and couldn’t be cured. Sadly she was put down.

As a trainer/behaviourist of over 45 years,I’ve often seen this behaviour. It is not uncommon in Cockers I’m afraid.
Rehoming was best for you and your dog.
You may wish to try Caveliers. They have a great temperament. Some suffer with health issues,so make sure that both parents have been tested clear.
If you wish for a rescue then I suggest that you find one that fosters dogs in a home as dogs behave very differently in kennels.

While it is a good clear necessary decision that doesn't make it an easy one, I am so sorry, buthe will be happy with his new hoomans...Perhaps Rescue a dog, so you can meet them and get to know them before deciding? Good luck and much love and respect xxx

A sad but sensible and understandable decision. I feel for you.

I’m so sorry for you and, as a dog owner/lover know exactly how you feel. You have made the right decision though and when you have time to process your loss, you will take comfort from that. You could possibly consider getting another dog? Do some research and choose one that is known to be good with children or perhaps a rescue dog where they know their personality. Good luck and I hope you feel better very soon xx

It’s important that the dog is in the right place. You did the right thing

So sad for you that you had to do this, but you obviously went to great lengths to resolve the issue before you rehomed him. You have done absolutely the right thing by both him and your family.

So sorry to read this …I’m a dog lover and it’s heartbreaking…but I think you have done the right thing…especially when there’s children in the house….I’m a firm believer dogs can never be trusted 100%…….we had two dogs then rescued another two…….that was hard work….we have just one 16 year old Cairn terrier now….always been a lovable dog …but lately he’s become aggressive at times….but only me and my husband so we can manage the situation….and dogs only got one tooth…..and we know he won’t be here much longer so we just take a day at a time.

Re-home not rename! Blooming spellcheck.

Reading these histories reminded me of dogs belonging to the parents of an old friend. They lived in Wales and had Sealyhams and hairy Jack Russells. 5 in total. 2 were sisters. These would fight each other a lot and one morning they woke their owners up by fighting on the bed. One of the owners moved to a different bedroom and one sister slept on each bed.

It was great fun walking down the lane to the beach with them all charging everywhere and playing.

Indeed you did the right thing, however much it hurts. Dogs are family, you gave your dog a better life.

You have done the kindest thing for the dog Sarnia and a new owner will rename him knowing he has particular needs.
It’s very important to match breeds and temperaments of dogs with owners who can accommodate them.

You definitely did the right thing and you know that yourself.dogs are wonderful companions when your on your own

Maybe, Sania, but you did the right thing. I speak with experience of my son’s docile, friendly springer spaniel who always sought out one of his boys to snuggle up to. But one evening while the family were watching television the dog suddenly turned and ripped DGS’s mouth to the bone. He’s had to undergo numerous opertations to repair the damage inside and out. The thought of what might have happened if there hadn’t been anyone to rescue DGS or if the dog had got hold of his neck is to terrible to contemplate. Be grateful you had the warning before anything fatal occured.

Sometimes there is no alternative but to give up a dog for the good of the dog and the family. When I was about six years old my father arrived home with a cocker spaniel puppy much to my mother’s disgust as she was never a dog lover. He was very highly strung and used to rush upstairs and jump on my bed first thing in the morning, I was terrified of him. Soon afterwards my father went away on a residential course leaving my mother to cope with the puppy who had worms as well as the problematic highly strung behaviour. We kept him for a while but his behaviour was very difficult and neither my father nor my mother knew anything about caring for or training dogs so he was re-homed to people who lived on a farm but I remember clinging to my mother the day he left and we were both crying, I still remember it 72 years later.

Our little dog is protective of us too but he has never bitten anybody, he is a cross between a cairn terrier and a poodle. I understand how you are feeling but perhaps you could eventually consider a rescue dog, I believe lurchers and greyhounds make lovely family pets.

Sarnia, well done for realising your pup wasn't going to work out. So many people go for Spaniels at the moment but these are classed as 'working dogs'. My brother has one but he's hyper all the time (the dog, not my brother). Even though he gets a good walk twice a day and if I'm speaking on the phone to my brother, the dog is constantly barking for attention.
Sarnia, don't give up if you really want a dog but do a lot of research about the different breeds. In fact you might be better with a 'Heinz 57', mutt or mongrel (whatever you call them) from a rehoming centre. Ask them if the dog you like keeps getting rehomed and returned. Find out as much as you can and also about if a certain breed is prone to certain health problems which could be very expensive. Good luck, and I hope you find a suitable one soon.

I have two rescued West Highland Terriers. I live alone ,so they both had time quietly to get used to the change. My 3 granddaughters were also all at school so although they made a fuss of them they were old enough to understand the boundaries. My 2 Westies now go one primary school as therapy but are always supervised by my daughter there. They always expect people in the street or park to speak to them and are happy to be good. No jumping up.

We all live and learn. You did the right thing by rehoming him, however upsetting it is .
How would you have felt if it had been your GC that had been bitten ?
Spaniels can be hardest dogs sometimes to have as pets as they are working dogs and unless you are prepared to put a lot of time and effort and training into them, they need to be homed with people that have had experience with the breed, however cute they are.
Don't give up on having a dog. Please either go for a breed that is renowned as a family friendly breed, such as labs or visit a place that rehomes dogs that knows about the behavior and history of them.

Feel your heartache, but you have done right by him and your family, he now has a quieter environment and people who are able to cope with him and his ways. It would have been terrible if he bit someone in your home again and had to be put to sleep!!
I have a 14 year old cocker and she has been food obsessed all her life but thankfully not nasty with it. And I have a Romanian rescue who is not food obsessed although loves her grub and has other issues. They are all so different so please don't feel you've failed, in time try again and maybe with a mixed breed a good old mongrel. Remove food and toys and give back as part of his training from day one... Chin up.?

muse

I'm so sorry you had to say goodbye to your dog. They quickly become part of the family.

Perhaps in time you might consider another dog. Three years ago I decided the time was right for a pet and a dog was my choice. I adopted Mya (a four year old rescue dog). The rescue centres are brilliant. They assess the temperament and behaviour of the dogs and you get to meet the dog on a few occasions at the centre. Mya had not been trained by her previous owners but the centre said she could still be trained, even at 4 years old. I worked with a canine behaviourist too as Mya and myself needed help with recall training. That's Mya running off not me ?. Now she is such a faithful, lovely tempered dog that hates leaving my side. I'm glued to her too.

I do hope you try again.

That is such a lovely message.

sounds like you did the right thing,it is good that you found someone to take him. I had a dog many years ago that started biting,we tried everything ,to no avail, not until he bit our new born baby did we have to do the unthinkable.It broke my heart as he was a lovely dog in so many ways and would not bite me.
but the constant stress was no good for anyone,even my most loved dog.

I'm so sorry to hear about this, but as others have said, it was the right decision. I have a cocker spaniel, my fourth, and has proved to be quite difficult. He loves people, but isn't good with some other dogs, especially puppies, and sadly for this reason, he has to be walked on the lead. On the plus side, he's loving and affectionate and good withchildren, although we have a lot of unwanted barking which can be tiresome. I do hope in time you get a more suitable dog, but in the meantime my thoughts are with you.

Congratulations for finding the dog another home.
Unfortunately I think I can remember years ago reading of problems with spaniels, I think it was to do with solid coloured animals. Whether this was a problem through bad breeding or some other cause, I can't remember.