Please don't judge me!

[Libra Gran]

Many of you know the story behind my adopting our sprocker spaniel, he was my bosses dog bought for her Daughter.He didn't have the best start in life being left for hours on end while they schooled/she worked. I adopted him thinking I could be the one to give him the best and happiest life.He had many issues for which we paid a dog behaviourist to come and advise us on, he has separation anxiety (no surprise) and booking a holiday for the two of us has been a minefield. I flatly refused kennels because of his anxiety probs,and finally a friend's Daughter has agreed to look after him for the duration of our holiday.This presented a new set of problems as we are used to his peccadillos and built life around this eg: make sure all doors are closed,leave music playing when we went out,put on his therapy jacket to calm him down when visitors arrived, ensuring gates 1/2/and 3 were firmly closed behind us. Leave nothing you didn't want destroyed firmly out of reach and the list goes on.But today hubs was what I can only assume was being pre occupied with a Doctors appointment due at 4pm and was lax and tardy closing the gate to the garden,the dog got out and at the end of our long gaden between us and the road of houses behind is a lane full of undergrowth and for a spaniel nose to much to resist.We calculated he was gone for 3 1/2 hours with occasional sightings with me hiding in various locations,but if he saw me was spooked and off he went again.The worst part is if he ever gets to the road and this is what happened. To cut a long story my neighbour (thank god) saw him,chased him up our drive and trapped him between gates one and two.I have war wounds from trying to block of various areas he could gain access to. So I sit here broken hearted as the decision is now made to rehome with, I have contacted a sprocker rescue site via FB and am waiting for someone to contact me.Bramble is loving,funny,so so sweet with the kids but this desire to abscond is one thing I cannot conquer, we have tried every trick in the book,read every book. I am absolutely broken hearted as I love him to pieces but there is no other way out of our problem.There are very experienced sprocker owners out there,and this sprocker assist is marvellous at matching the correct home with the dog.It is going to break my heart to say goodbye,but I must. I am now at my wits end and feeling that once again I have failed.

[Nanto2girls]

Oh Libra, you certainly haven't failed.You have done your best for him, and you can't do more than that.Memories of him will stay with you forever, and he will know he was loved.

[Oma]

Libra you have not failed at all you did everything you could the fact that you have realised you can do no more for him is a brave decision and best for him , he needs someone who is more experienced with Sprockers and who maybe has the area around them for him to run free but safe , just think if he had gone onto the open road he could have been killed . you cant live in a prison in your own home worrying all the time in case the gate is left open . Sometimes you have to admit defeat that does not mean you have FAILED in any shape or form . Its because you love him and want the best life for him ,sadly that isn't with you. You have nothing to beat yourself up about . It will be tough but you know its for the best xxxx

[Bizzy Lizzy]

The fact that you took on a dog with serious problems in the first place says a lot about you Libra. Many would not have wanted to attempt a creature with terrible behavioural problems He will get out again if you do not take action now and then you will never forgive yourself when he is seriously injured or killed on the road. Today was a warning that you have to make a hard decision.

[Nana]

As I posted on FB earlier, Libra, you must be heartbroken. Like others have said, you haven't failed. Sometimes things just don't work out the way we hope in life. You've both certainly tried your very best. I'm so sorry it's turned out like this for you.

[Gemini]

You loved him and did the very best for him, Libra. No way have you failed. He needs a new home where he can't abscond, which is sounds as if he will get. ((HUGS)) to you.

[Grauntie Mag]

Just think of the outcome if he caused an accident on the road....no, don't. As lovely a dog as he is, you do not need this stress LG. He is for a different kind of home and owner which it sounds hopeful he will get. Well done you for making a very hard decision.

[Daisy]

Libra - you haven't failed. The person who failed was his original owner who enabled these problems to develop. You and I have talked at length about this sort of thing, and I know how hard you have worked to help him. They are not the easiest of breeds even without Bramble's poor start in life. You've loved him, cared for him, done everything - and more - to help him, and now the best help you can give him is to hand him over to a Sprocker specialist. But I am sure he is a lot calmer and more socialised now than he was when you got him. You've given him a 'leg up' in life and I know I couldn't live with the thought that my dog could get onto a busy road. I think escape is just in some dog's DNA - Clyde is out through the front door if he gets half a chance and off across the road, but we live in a cul de sac so pretty safe. But Rusty who was his litter mate wouldn't have dreamt of running out of the house like that. It's just the way some dogs are!

I know you will be heartbroken, but you are doing the kindest thing and you have already done so much for him. And GM makes a good point - if he caused an accident you would be saying "…if only …" Nobody could have done more. xxx

[Elisi]

I know your heartbreak LG and so will my DD. We had the same with a lovely dog called Sandy, from a rescue centre. We held onto her for a year, until she broke free one last time and caused absolute chaos and we had to admit defeat. We had tried everything, dog training, the lot. We took her back to the rescue centre. I still have photos of her.

One day she got free. I was taking her for a walk with my DD who was 14 at the time. I opened the car door slightly as it was hot, and I was trying to put her lead on and she escaped and ran into a field of sheep.

She began to hound them and circle them and cause mayhem and it was lambing time. A lady came out of her house and warned us the farmer was coming with a shotgun. Several people tried very hard to get hold of her but she was in another universe!

The farmer arrived and told us bluntly he had the right to shoot her and we had 5 minutes to get her. We were about 20 people by that time! We circled and managed to run her to ground.

I was exhausted when we got home. I worked full time and I knew I couldn't keep going through this. Even the professional dog trainers could not handle her.

I just hope eventually she found a home. So you see I am very empathetic and I feel for you deeply LG. X

[Enfys]

So sorry to hear this, LG, but his problems were there before he came to you. It sounds as if you have tried so very hard to help him but as everyone else has said, he needs somewhere different where he cannot escape. It must be so stressfull for you and you are doing the best for him and no way are you a failure. DD has a lovely ESS, he is very good but would be off like a shot if he could.

[Avo]

It is sad, but you have done your best for the little chap. We had to let one of our dogs go because he bit several people he had 'fear aggression'....sometimes we just have to accept that the dog is not suitable for us. Be brave, you have done the right thing.

[Daisy]

Elisi, what a nightmare for you, and for your DD. The farmer did well to give you time to catch her, and you must have been terrified. The last rescue dog we had was a border collie cross and he'd been a city dog. It took me months to train him not to chase livestock on the Forest - it was what he was bred for after all. We got there in the end but it was nerve wracking and I know several people who can't let their dogs off the lead because they chase the ponies. 😒

[Plantaholic]

Shame this had to happen, you gave him so much love.

[ZIZI]

oh dear, thinking of you. You can only do your best and if you think he would be better elsewhere then it is the right decision.

[Clover]

So sorry Libra. You've done your absolute best and I know that you adore that dog.xx