Help before we rehome our dog (over-needy due to new baby)

[Pferdestarke]

If the dog is causing stress, do the best for you and him by rehoming. It sounds ridiculous but we have no children and recently re-homed our cat as he was so high maintenance. Constant crying, wouldn't go out, stting in the bath, hissing at us for no reason.

He now lives at a re-homing sanctuary with another female cat in his outdoor pen and is different again. We send in donations every few months and have updates on his progress.

It's far easier without pets.

[jimbouk]

Walking a dog and a pushchair at the same time when tired will not be easy for your wife, suggest you take him for a walk either at a crack of dawn or in the evening.
No it's not easy but you keep your dog.... And it does get easier!

[bexVN]

hora said:

bexVN said:

I remember you asking for advice when you first brought baby home.

It is very likely I suggested a DAP diffuser (or dap collar) and Zylkene did you try these.

I also agree re routine. Is your wife walking him daily?

Yep and he was fine after a couple of days of looking bewildered and shocked. Never used the DAP's (friend at work gave them to me). In the house move though I was a furious whirlwind of binning'

On a hunch here but I don't think she is walking him recently. Its a touchy-subject as she feels too tired etc. I'll ask her nicely though.

It's the best thing she could do as part of a daily routine, it was something I was doing between early morning and mid morning feeds (Until I broke my elbow!!! now I can't walk dog and push pushchair at same time) I always felt better for it even when I felt too tired to be bothered sometimes. Even if she only manages 20 mins to start with.

[Silent1]

Soovy said:

Dogs and babies don't mix.

Sorry.

Sorry Soovy, but you're wrong.
I was brought up around dogs and from the age of 0-7 we had rottweilers (proper big ones, not these stupid labrador sized things) and there was never a problem.

People who don't know how to deal with dogs and babies don't get on

[bexVN]

hora said:

I was brought up with a Corgi. Thing used to follow me around biting me. My mum used to say its because I was goading him.....until she realised it was a evil little st

Sounds about right for the majority of Corgi's!

[Mrs Grumpy]

If he is not getting any physical or mental exercise then he is probably bored witless! 'Difficult' dogs often turn into perfectly well adjusted happy dogs with the right attention.

BTW - 'Alpha', dominance and pack theory were disproved around 20 years ago now I think, and were based on flawed research anyway.

[Shannon Mac]

Is he restless when the baby is by any chance? It could be his way of letting you know the baby needs seeing to if this is the case

Perhaps give him his own space, if a separate room isn't possible could you get him a nice big crate with a cover over? Not to shut him in, but to put his bed in so he can go and rest in there out of the way at will.

Can you afford a dog walker, perhaps once a day? That might take the pressure off your wife for a while.

[Superficial]

Pferdestarke said:

If the dog is causing stress, do the best for you and him by rehoming. It sounds ridiculous but we have no children and recently re-homed our cat as he was so high maintenance. Constant crying, wouldn't go out, stting in the bath, hissing at us for no reason.

He now lives at a re-homing sanctuary with another female cat in his outdoor pen and is different again. We send in donations every few months and have updates on his progress.

It's far easier without pets.

Sounds like the cat had a lucky escape, let's hope your children don't end up being too 'high maintenance' for you!


OP, it sounds as though the dog has had to contend with a lot of change recently; moving house, new baby, perhaps even having your wife around in the day. He probably doesn't know what's hit him, as others have said try to get some exercise into his routine so he can vent some of that energy. I would advise you to enlist the help of a qualified behaviourist, knowing exactly why he is behaving like this will help you to overcome it with him.

[bexVN]

Good luck I hope that helps but it is important that he is not being ignored during day completely. I make sure Jimmy gets some attention when our little one is napping. He only needs a few mins (assuming he is not asleep which he does a lot ) of fuss or play. I also make sure I don't tell him to always go away when I'm with Oscar I'll let him have a nose/sniff first then ask him to lie down.

I am sure we have had it easier because of Jimmys breed but keeping him included has played it's part.

Let up know how things go. I hope your wife will feel up to walking him soon. I'm really missing all that at the mo

[littlegreenfairy]

Can you attach a lead to the pram? No idea if it is possible, but it just came to me.

[ali_kat]

littlegreenfairy said:

Can you attach a lead to the pram? No idea if it is possible, but it just came to me.

& hope that the dog doesn't chase cats/other dogs/cars

[BlackVanGirl]

To be honest, your dog's needs haven't changed, he is basically being neglected. I mean this as a statement of fact rather than any criticism.

Very clear choice: either you (as a family) take steps to make sure that he gets enough walks, attention etc. at home, or let him go to someone that will. Hopefully it's not going to be too difficult for you or your partner to start giving him proper regular walks again. In the short term if as a family you're really not coping, consider paying your neighbour's teenager to walk him or something.

[littlegreenfairy]

ali_kat said:

littlegreenfairy said:

Can you attach a lead to the pram? No idea if it is possible, but it just came to me.

& hope that the dog doesn't chase cats/other dogs/cars

It's only a little one isn't it?