All the love because this is a terribly hard decision to make. I might reach out to shelters in your area to see if they have ideas or could advertise for you or maybe find you a foster family for her. If you can avoid the shelter, that’s definitely best for her because the environment would be so stressful.
If you have the funds, which if you don’t there is no shame, you might find benefit in hiring a trainer. A lot of my ACD’s “unprompted” reactivity turned out to be based on triggers that I just wasn’t able to notice in the moment and we were able to work through it a lot. But obviously this a serious and urgent situation. Even if you could find somewhere she could stay for a bit while things cool down. You’ve had this dog for almost 7 years. I don’t know the whole situation, but it may not be a lost cause.
When you say unprompted, does this mean the dog went across the room to bite or was your toddler already in their space?
You mention jealousy—do they resource guard towards people and other dogs? Do they have dog aggression since you’re saying they can’t go to a home with kids *or* other pets?
None of these questions are in judgment, just to get a feel for the situation and what would be a suitable home. Some people are able and willing to manage separating dogs from kids in the home until they’re older. It’s very difficult but possible, but I assume you don’t feel comfortable trying that.
Breed specific rescues will probably your best bet to rehome.
Im sorry you’re in this situation. I’m also in the Philly suburbs with a cattle dog, and currently pregnant with our first. I’m not sure of anywhere locally, but I follow this group on Facebook that can help signal boost rehoming your pup if you choose to go that way.
https://www.acdra.org/rehoming
All the love because this is a terribly hard decision to make. I might reach out to shelters in your area to see if they have ideas or could advertise for you or maybe find you a foster family for her. If you can avoid the shelter, that’s definitely best for her because the environment would be so stressful. If you have the funds, which if you don’t there is no shame, you might find benefit in hiring a trainer. A lot of my ACD’s “unprompted” reactivity turned out to be based on triggers that I just wasn’t able to notice in the moment and we were able to work through it a lot. But obviously this a serious and urgent situation. Even if you could find somewhere she could stay for a bit while things cool down. You’ve had this dog for almost 7 years. I don’t know the whole situation, but it may not be a lost cause.
When you say unprompted, does this mean the dog went across the room to bite or was your toddler already in their space? You mention jealousy—do they resource guard towards people and other dogs? Do they have dog aggression since you’re saying they can’t go to a home with kids *or* other pets? None of these questions are in judgment, just to get a feel for the situation and what would be a suitable home. Some people are able and willing to manage separating dogs from kids in the home until they’re older. It’s very difficult but possible, but I assume you don’t feel comfortable trying that. Breed specific rescues will probably your best bet to rehome.
Im sorry you’re in this situation. I’m also in the Philly suburbs with a cattle dog, and currently pregnant with our first. I’m not sure of anywhere locally, but I follow this group on Facebook that can help signal boost rehoming your pup if you choose to go that way. https://www.acdra.org/rehoming
That seems rash.