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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, you're not going to get a lot of support on this board for rehoming the dog.  People feel very strongly about not giving up a dog when you have children.  I used to feel that way too but now one of our dogs is getting increasingly unpredictable in his behavior - he's always had issues since we adopted him and training and medication have only helped a little bit.  Now we're expecting and I can see us having to make a difficult choice about what's best for him in the future.

If you aren't willing to do training or other interventions to keep the dog or these methods haven't worked, please contact a breed specific rescue.  Springer spaniels are pretty desirable dogs so the breed rescue probably has a list of people waiting to adopt a dog.  Those rescues tend to be incredibly stringent about where the dogs are placed so your dog will be put in a good home.  [/quote]

I'm an animal person, raised kids with a dog (from birth), cats , a rabbit, etc
I would not in a million years have an unpredictable dog mixing in with my kids. The dog is either 100% with my kids and any neighbor kids coming over or into the yard. Yes I supervise my kids and taught them how to behave with the animals but stuff can happen and the dog needs to know that it's his/her job never to hurt anyone. 
I got that 100% dog from a bad animal shelter - it is possible.
If a dog isn't reliable with kids you should find him another home. Seems like the dog would be happier too.

I've seen springer spaniels mixed in with kids a lot - they seem to be a great family dog. They are pack animals - if you can't let them be part of the pack you should let the dog find a home where the people can do that.[/quote]

I'm the PP you quoted and, unfortunately, unless we see a real turn around with his behavior with the more intensive training we're doing now (we've been working with him all along but pregnancy pushed up the urgency), we've agreed we're going to rehome him.  I never in a million years thought I'd be in this position, I always thought I was solidly in the a dog is a permanent decision, you don't rehome them camp.  Now, faced with a dog that has been so resistant to efforts to train or socialize him, I'm finding myself needing to reevaluate all that bravado I had before we adopted him.  He was so shellshocked when we adopted him that none of his behavior at the shelter or in the first few days after we brought him home prepared us for his real personality.  Now we realize he was practically catatonic at the shelter in comparison to his normal, at home behavior.

I've volunteered at shelters and worked with rescues in the past and I know that we would need to make that decision BEFORE anything bad happens, no rescue is going to take a dog with a bite incident on their record, even a little dog like ours.  He dislikes and distrusts children so intensely and he's only 4 years old so it's not like we'll be able to keep him separate from the child until he's passed away.  He'd honestly be so much happier with a quiet adult only home than he would be with a child in the house.   I guess, writing this out, I already know what we need to do.  We just love him so very much and I'm having a hard time coming to terms with that.[/quote]

Each dog is different just like people.  Some breeds and lines are generally going to be that great family dog and others....   Stray kids came in our yard and I was petrified about what my dog would do.  No jumping on them and he just walked along next to them -very gentle.  Not even 1 at the time but 85 pounds.  Sees little kids on walks and just sits or lays down for petting.   [/quote]

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