Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some good advice as we have a very tough decision to make.

We found Ralphie - a bearded collie cross at our local cat and dog shelter around 2 years ago. We absolutely fell in love with him, and after a few walks decided he was the dog for us.

At home he quite quickly became difficult on walks, pulling very hard all of the time, lunging at passers by, snapping and mouthing ankles. When off the lead he's jumped up and been quite aggressive to men walking by. He also very regularly bares his teeth and growls at our children (they behave very well around him but they only have to pass by for him to behave this way) this obviously worries us a great deal, I adore Ralphie but have to put the children first.

We have put every effort into helping Ralphie, reading numerous books, visiting a behaviourist and seeking advice from various places as I am a great believer that his problems are not his fault, they are our responsibility to sort out.

However nothing has had a lasting effect on him, he now pulls so hard on his lead that he makes himself sick - we've tried stopping whenever he pulls, changing direction when he pulls, haltis, harnesses, different leads, everything!...not looking for a quick fix but something that will help long term.

His aggression (which stems from different things depending on who you ask) seems to be getting worse and I am so scared that eventually he will bite somebody and we'll be forced to have him put to sleep.

After 2 years I have run out of things to try, we are not experienced dog owners and are now left wondering if he needs somebody who has more experience - and more importantly no children.

I don't know if I could bare to part with him but thought I'd get as much advice as I could before thinking about what to do.

If we decided to find him a home, how could I ensure that the person was going to be experienced and care for him really well? - and do you think that the right person could help him with his problems or at 3.5 years is he stuck in his ways?

Any advice would be really appreciated, I have no idea what to do.

Jen x