Pregnant and dog troubles!

I have a 2 yr old male English Springer Spaniel and he is stressing me out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me and my partner both wanted a dog, but we had very different ideas of the type of dog. I wanted an older dog- maybe one looking for a retirement home. A calm dog that is more then happy to just lie at your feet. My partner on the other hand wanted a puppy. Neither had the time or patience for a puppy, but he wouldn't listen to me. So he went out and got an 8 week old springer!! The most hyperactive dog there is!!!! I was not happy...

2 years on, I'm pregnant and I cant stand to be around the dog. Just the sight of him gets me angry. I've never been happy having this dog in the house, but since being pregnant its even worse. He is constantly in the way, and moaning more then usual. He constantly steals things (though this isn't new). We can take stuff out of his mouth no problem, he's never been an aggressive dog. But lately, he has bitten me on the thumb and turned his lip up at my partner. He's constantly barking at every little thing.

Bottom line- I want the dog gone.

Problem is he is the centre of my partners world. I have always come second and I'm sick of it. I try telling him how stressed out the dog is making me, but he just laughs. When the baby comes it's just gonna get worse, because that dog will get no attention whatsoever. I'm the one who has to feed the dog, I'm the one who has to find the time to walk him 3 times a day. He'll take him out on the weekend, but it doesn't add up.

The dog has always pulled and eventually we got a halti. But he still pulls and the other day he tugged so hard I felt it in my stomach which scared me.

I don't know what to do, I'm really at my witts end...

crikey this does sound stressful. Your partner, is being most unhelpful it seems.

This is just me, but i would contact a springer spaniel rescue organisation for advice, regardless of whether your partner agrees. And see what they say. Then tell your partner what is going to happen.

I would usually be totally against giving a dog up to a rescue, but if you can't handle him now, and your/his frustrations only seem to be getting worse, then you have to do whats best for your and your babies health.

Bluntly, a dog is important in a family, but does not come before people or babies. If your partner doesn't agree then he is in the wrong.

I think its probably ultimatum time. Someone needs to get a hold on the situation and either work on training the dog to not bite (!!??) and act calmly, or some other solution. If your partner isn't prepared to step up and do this, then you've every right to demand the dog goes.

You poor thing, good luck.

There is so much I could say but I will try to bite my tongue.

Suffice to say this should have been considered long ago, especially if you wanted a baby. Your dog is a member of the family and,as such, should be irreplaceable. A dog is a lifetime commitment and to hear that you hate and want rid of him infuriates me. The work of training should have been put in at the outset and, with that and the right exercise, he should be maturing into a fantastic dog. Instead it sounds as if he is miserable, unfulfilled and bored.

The very least you can do is find him a caring home where he will be looked after as he deserves.

saying what someone should have done is no help. It seems like the partner needs the earbashing, not this lady.

Not being in control of any situation is very stressful, which is not healthy for anyone, dog included. From the information this lady has provided, it seems like her intentions were good. Perhaps some suggestions as to how to help might be more use?

it does sound like the dog is getting frustrated, i know springers, and they are a lot of dog to fulfill, this lady is pregnant and in need of some support, with a dog that has bitten her, and a partner who is not helping matters. I'm sure she can well imagine peoples opinions on giving a dog up, how about someone offer her advice on how harmony can be acheived? I think giving a dog up is pretty awful too, but sometimes i reckon its better for the dog to find a good new home sooner rather than later, when things have got worse, and the dog will find it harder to settle and relearn things. A springer rescue will give her good advice.

For starters.... How about paying a dog walker to exercise the dog really fully once a day, so that he doesn't pose such a danger to you walking him the rest of the walks? And really work on the walking to heel thing? Springers are good at it, if they are getting enough 'nose time' elsewhere.

Good luck.

hanneroon said:

saying what someone should have done is no help. It seems like the partner needs the earbashing, not this lady.

Not being in control of any situation is very stressful, which is not healthy for anyone, dog included. From the information this lady has provided, it seems like her intentions were good. Perhaps some suggestions as to how to help might be more use?

it does sound like the dog is getting frustrated, i know springers, and they are a lot of dog to fulfill, this lady is pregnant and in need of some support, with a dog that has bitten her, and a partner who is not helping matters. I'm sure she can well imagine peoples opinions on giving a dog up, how about someone offer her advice on how harmony can be acheived? I think giving a dog up is pretty awful too, but sometimes i reckon its better for the dog to find a good new home sooner rather than later, when things have got worse, and the dog will find it harder to settle and relearn things. A springer rescue will give her good advice.

For starters.... How about paying a dog walker to exercise the dog really fully once a day, so that he doesn't pose such a danger to you walking him the rest of the walks? And really work on the walking to heel thing? Springers are good at it, if they are getting enough 'nose time' elsewhere.

Good luck.

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That's a very sensible reply. I feel so sorry for this person, springers are such hectic dogs and need loads of exercise and attention. As the partner decided on this dog he really should have taken on the training etc. Too late now.

I would just contact springer rescue, explain the situation and go from there. It's no good keeping a dog you cant live with, no good for you and no good for the dog.

Good luck, I hope you can sort this out.

I feel very sorry for the dog . My advice would be find a rescue who will take him and give him the chance of a happy life .He doesn't deserve this level of dislike just for being what he is .

Thanks for your help hanneroon.

I would just like to say that this dog is noway mistreated! He has a 45 minute lead walk in the morning, and and hour run around the field off lead in the afternoon and the same in the evening. He is on the best food money can buy, and is kept up to date with all boosters and flea and worm treatments. He is played with when he is at home, and taught new tricks all the time to keep him stimulated. I may hate this dog but I try every single day to make sure he is happy, because I hate the idea of giving a dog away, but I am not prepared to put my baby at risk of being bitten.

hi kesslete. I didn't think you were mistreating him i was imagining him as a bit of a handful. All springers are!

I think i understand why your frustrations about the dog are causing you to get a bit irritated (hate? ) by his presence. Keeping a springer fulfilled is real job and a half. And even when excersised properly like yours, they are still mental... They can display extreme repetetive behaviour that it seems there is not enough time in the world to deal with. Please note that this isn't them being wilfully awful, but a matter of their breeding, they are bred to be able to do the same thing all day long, and will entertain themselves by flushing imaginary game, or leaping around and around and around. Where's the off button eh?

I don't see this situation as totally irreversable, he's just getting to maturity now, so if you are able to calm him down he could turn into a lovely family member. Lots of hard work though... And with your anxiety about the baby, and the fact that dogs are very intuned to our emotions, i'm imagining you and he are in a bit of a catch 22 situation. There are calming techniques you can use to train your dog, so he can have crazy time, and time for relaxing. Sometimes this is more valuable than teaching them stimulating tricks.

It sounds like the dog is yours rather than your partners , if you are the one walking him, regardless of the relationship your partner and the dog have. So you are the one that has to set the rules. The dog will be happier for it.

As i said before, ultimatum time... You are in control of this situation really, you just don't realise it. How long have you got before the baby arrives? Is the dog neutered?

Good luck!