she wouldnt be allowed to keep him - when you adopt a DT dog, you sign an agreement that if you are no longer able to look after the dog, you must return it to dogs trust, and not pass it on to friends or family. so it would only be a short term meassure.


i agree lol! we did think about it, but didnt want to end up in jail for selling the kiddies on e-bay!

She may be allowed if you explain your situation and she goes through the formal adoption process. If it works out they will be more concerned about the welfare/happiness of the dog I believe.

Fingers crossed it works out for you and your dog JR, it must be heartbreaking to feel you have to give him up.

Maybe after a little break you could try slowly reintroducing your children to him, while he is staying with your friend..maybe in an open area like a park or Field, where they might not feel so intimidated by him...

You might find that them missing him being around overcomes their fear of him a little...I hope so

Good luck with it x

thank you thats what we're hoping for too

Hi JR

Strikes me from what you've said that there's nothing wrong with the dog and nothing wrong with your family - it's just that the 2 don't go together!

Having a rescue myself they do have anxieties which can be with them for years which can mean they are not suited to living with small children.

Maybe staying with your friend will help but if it doesn't then please get the dog rehomed sooner rather than later as the older they are the more difficult things can be.

It's not a failure on your part but you do need to recognise when the time is right to part

Firstly I point out I do not have a dog -

Is it not possible to have him see a behavioral expert ?
See if they can calm the doggie down ?

thank you, yes, if this does not work, we will have him rehomed. one last try at chilling him out seems worth it though


he's seen the behaviourist at the dogs trust, and we have been working hard with him. but the second we stop the activity - to make dinner, tend to the children, sneeze, anything! - he's off again. unless he is receiving CONSTANT reassurance and attention at the moment, he is nervy and jumpy and runs pel mel round the house, knocking children and toys and everything else flying in his wake!

had him out for 4 hours with friends dog on friday, they got on marvelously! so we're takin them back out for a few hours on sunday, then leaving him there a few days to see if that chills him out a bit ... really hope it does

It sounds as if the dog does well when he's with the other family, but I can't see how it will change his behaviour when he is back with you? As it's the fact of having another calm dog around (and presumably no kids) that is 'settling' him.

I know you are trying to do your best for the dog, but I suspect any to-ing and fro-ing is going to unsettle him. It would be best to get him into a stable environment as quickly as possible - if your friends are willing to formally adopt him, and the DT agree, it would be ideal. But otherwise he needs to be returned to DT asap, as the more 'homes' he has, the more nervous and agitated he will become. I hope this has a happy outcome.

i agree with you, but i also think that the time away will do him well - he's very settled at my friends house (constant text messages flying about tonight!) and is comfortable with her dog and the rest of the family. if we had the option to get another dog to keep him company, as we have discussed but decided not to do as its just not practical or financially viable, then that would help him imensley. but we just cant do it. a bit of respite - for both us and the dog - seems to be doing him the world of good and is giving us the oppertunity to think and talk long and hard without his big soppy daft face melting us.