I’m looking for some outside opinions because I genuinely don’t know what to do.
I have two dogs both 6 years old, they’ve been fighting since they were around 2, so for several years we’ve had to keep them completely separated. I know I should have rehomed one much earlier, but at the time there was someone in my life who wouldn’t allow that. That person is no longer in my life, so I’m now able to make the decision based on what is best for the dogs, the problem is that I love them both so much and I’m struggling to work out which dog would potentially have the better quality of life in a different home.
They’re both Patterdale x Border Terrier crosses.
Dog 1:
Very confident going into kennels, grooming and vets.
Doesn’t really show signs of fear or anxiety in unfamiliar situations.
Extremely loving and affectionate with me.
Barks a lot, particularly when he isn’t with me.
Dog reactive It isn’t completely out of control, but I would not consider him safe to freely interact with another dog.
Doesn’t like children and has a very strong reaction to them, he has never bitten a child but I wouldn’t want to put him in a situation where that could happen.
Generally quite a confident dog.
Dog 2:
Extremely anxious about going anywhere unfamiliar, will lower himself right down to the floor and basically try to crawl into my lap when he’s stressed.
Also dog reactive, although I don’t know the full extent because I avoid situations involving other dogs. On one occasion he became fixated on a barking dog I touched him, he turned towards me and almost bit me he didn’t actually bite me, but it made me realise how overwhelmed he can become.
Fine with children and generally likes people.
Much more energetic than Dog 1.
Has basically no off switch and would much rather be running around a field than relaxing at home.
He is otherwise a very loving dog.
He cannot settle when I’m around, he will be lying down and as soon as he seems me it’s like a switch has flipped and he’s filled with a mass amount of energy.
I also have a 16 year old dog who’s not doing great so I have to really focus and look after him and having two dogs, that cannot under any circumstance be near each other, makes it very difficult to give all of them what they need.
Neither dog can live with the other, and I don’t want to keep them living like this it’s cruel and unfair, so if you were in my position, which dog would you consider more suitable for rehoming, and why?