Sometimes a dog isn’t for life - that’s actually okay

Dogs aren’t always for life. And that’s actually okay. ✌🏻

In the ideal world, we’d all get the dog that best suits our lifestyle, planning for a full life with that dog with a fairly secure situation that can provide for them. Our lifestyles would never change. Our goals would never change. Their needs would never change. And we’d never see a dog rehomed.

✨ I’m an advocate for doing everything we can to ensure our dogs are living their best lives with us. ✨

But we live in reality. And people who shame other people for making the tough choice to rehome a dog are generally living in a fairly privileged and/or ignorant bubble. That shaming might make the commenter feel better, like they’ve accomplished something, but in this real world it’s pretty rare that it actually makes the person keep the dog. Usually it just puts the person off rehoming publicly, driving them to less public measures - the pound, an overloaded rescue, or euthanasia in some cases. Who’s the winner there? Not the dog, that’s for sure. 👎🏻

Having been in the rescue world for many years and rehomed so many dogs I’ve actually lost count at this point, I can tell you that most of the stigma around rehoming comes from us humans putting our own issues on the dogs. Most of the dogs actually settle in within a day or two, then are just stoked to be hanging out with their cool new person living in the moment and in most cases - living a better life than they ever could have in that previous home. Rehoming was the best thing that ever happened to them, and most never look back.

I’m also not ashamed to say I have rehomed a personal dog myself. When I went from full time bull farming to dog training in a pet lifestyle, my working huntaway (pictured) didn’t want to retire yet and really struggled with the lifestyle I was now able to provide on my tiny lifestyle block. So I found her an amazing working home where she got to continue what she loved in the lifestyle she craved. That was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make for a dog and many tears were shed. But when I saw her return to her happy working self I knew it was the right one. My situation had changed, her needs had not.

🌟 So that said, valid reasons for rehoming could include -

1️⃣ We can no longer care for the dog to the standard they need.

Dogs are expensive in time, energy and finances, and even if planning ahead and sticking to the basics sometimes it’s just beyond what is genuinely possible for us despite all best efforts. If you haven’t been in that situation, be grateful for that - not judgemental.

2️⃣ Our lifestyle has changed in an unforeseen way and no longer suits this dogs needs.

Whether that’s moving overseas to pursue a job in a country where this breed isn’t allowed or is unsafe to fly to, whether it’s a relationship break down, maybe it’s a high needs child or other relative who has now come into the picture. We have a duty to our dogs to give them a great life and ensure they’re taken care of. We don’t have a duty to martyr ourselves or our families in order to ensure that’s only with us, when rehoming somewhere more suitable is also an option.

3️⃣ The dog themselves is now more suited to a better environment. I run into this a lot in the training world.

Maybe the dog was bred to be a working dog, but isn’t really suited to that role due to drive levels, physical challenges or other and would be happier in a pet home.

Maybe the people didn’t do the homework they probably should’ve - they can’t change that now as much as they wish they could, but they can find the dog a better life going forward.

Maybe the dog was a working farm dog who has now retired, and rather than being stressed stuck home in the kennel listening to the other dogs work or running themselves into the ground trying to keep up with the younger ones (which dogs will do!), they’d be better enjoying the sunshine as an only dog on a small block - pottering around doing the odd bit of manageable work to stay fulfilled.

Or maybe the dog was brought in as a breeding dog to add much needed new lines to the gene pool in their particular breed/role while being so well cared for, has now finished their breeding career and is ready to go be someone’s number one pet getting doted on vs being one in a big pack where attention will always be split.

Yeah maybe they could stay - but if there is a more suitable home where they’d really thrive vs just existing, who is benefiting from holding on to them? Certain peoples feelings and egos getting to make snide commentary from their glass houses, but definitely not the dog.

4️⃣ You simply no longer want this dog and would rather rehome it.

If this is a pattern of behaviour acquiring and getting rid of dogs when it gets tough without thought then I have strong feelings on that. However if someone just genuinely doesn’t want the dog anymore, chances are yeah - that dog would likely be better off with someone else where they will be a better match, and well done making the effort to find them that home. What’s shaming you for that choice going to do - best case scenario, keep the dog in a lifestyle neither of you really enjoy for the rest of their life?

🌟 We absolutely do have a duty to our dogs to make every effort to give them the best life possible. This includes doing our research ahead of time for the breed and what having a dog involves, it includes putting the training effort in to the best of our abilities (here to help if that’s you - there’s so much we can do to help you and your dog live better lives together!), and it includes thinking ahead to what our life might realistically look like in the future (bearing in mind that life can throw curveballs out of nowhere!). Dogs are living breathing animals reliant on humans for their wellbeing, and we need to take that seriously.

🌟 We have a duty that if we are rehoming, we are upfront about any challenges the dog has, not rehoming anything dangerous (the perfect female-only home in the wops where the severely human aggressive dog will never see another human being doesn’t really exist!), and fully vetting any future homes to ensure that our dogs will be living the best life they possibly can. Some dogs are really tough to find the right match for, so this can take time. We also have a duty not to add work for already overworked rescues and shelters wherever possible - they’re a back up for dogs really needing their support, not an easy out for our responsibility.

🌟 But we do not have a duty to martyr ourselves or our dogs wellbeing simply to be able to say we didn’t rehome them. No one wins in that situation. Provided you are doing this responsibly - it’s 100% okay to put you and your dogs wellbeing first, even if that means your dog goes and lives somewhere else. 🌟

And as dog lovers and decent human beings, we also have a responsibility not to be an asshole on the internet when in most cases we are only seeing the very surface of what’s often a very complicated life situation with a lot of other factors at play which you are not privy to. Most people are not out here just rehoming dogs for fun, demonstrated by some of the devastating rehome I’ve been privy to. If you see a legitimate welfare issue or problematic pattern of behaviour, report that to people who can actually do something about it. If you really want to help a dog being rehomed, put your hand up to offer practical support whether that’s through sharing a post or offering a home. Don’t make the situation worse with your 2 unneeded cents.

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⭐️ If you have a dog where behaviour is the big reason you’re looking at rehoming, please consider reaching out to a trainer. If you’re in the Waipa or Hamilton, I’d love to help you. Hello@wolfedogs.nz