Thinking of Rehoming..

[SarahsFable95]

I have a 5 month old GSD mix, I joined the site because gsd was the only side I knew of. I haven't posted much, but still have been helped a lot by everyone.
Right now im having trouble on thinking what to do. Fable is the joy of my life, and I love him to death. But im trying to think whats best for him. Unfortunately, we're in a family situation where we are going to have to travel from Texas to Kansas quite a bit. Our smaller terrier mix, is older and loves to travel. But Fable being a puppy, I dont know if it would be good for him. Staying in hotels might be difficult as he gets older, if they have a weight limit. I really wanted a dog, to do therapy work and agility with. But, Ive started to think maybe Fable isnt my soulmate ):
The main question I have is, if I rehomed Fable. Would it be wrong to get a smaller breed right after? (after the family situation was over, of course)
It kindve feels like I would be betraying my boy. Trying to think with my brain and not my heart. Which is slightly hard when he sleeps like a little clown this very moment.
Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
-Sarah

[doggiedad]

you can travel with your pup and there's places
you can stay with a large dog. if you do rehome (get rid
off) Fable i don't think you should get another dog.

[chelle]

Originally Posted by SarahsFable95

I have a 5 month old GSD mix, I joined the site because gsd was the only side I knew of. I haven't posted much, but still have been helped a lot by everyone.
Right now im having trouble on thinking what to do. Fable is the joy of my life, and I love him to death. But im trying to think whats best for him. Unfortunately, we're in a family situation where we are going to have to travel from Texas to Kansas quite a bit. Our smaller terrier mix, is older and loves to travel. But Fable being a puppy, I dont know if it would be good for him. Staying in hotels might be difficult as he gets older, if they have a weight limit. I really wanted a dog, to do therapy work and agility with. But, Ive started to think maybe Fable isnt my soulmate ):
The main question I have is, if I rehomed Fable. Would it be wrong to get a smaller breed right after? (after the family situation was over, of course)
It kindve feels like I would be betraying my boy. Trying to think with my brain and not my heart. Which is slightly hard when he sleeps like a little clown this very moment.
Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
-Sarah

Mmmm so your only issues are: 1.) He might not like to travel/might not be good for him to travel and 2.) The motels may have limits on dogs. ??? Are these your ONLY issues?

If they are, they're non-issues, IMHO and not a good enough reason to get rid of him. Was this a new development since you brought him home?

My oldest dog, from 12 weeks until a year or so, was raised running around this country in a tractor/trailer. Was it hard at times? Sure. Potty training was a real joy, but you're past that. Exercise was the toughest, but there are fields, there are rest areas, there are places and if you run similar routes a lot, you learn where those places are. If you're in a car, you have far more latitude as to where you can go, so you can try some dog parks along the way, if that's something you and the dog like... I guess I'm just saying, this is a do-able thing.

I found Super 8 motels were almost always very dog-friendly. (And although my dog was smaller than a GSD, I don't recall ever once being asked about my dog's breed, weight, etc.)

PS - eta - Travel is an *incredible* social experience for a dog. The dog that I talked about above can deal with anything - she's literally seen it all, all over this country, people, you name it. To this day, I can pack her right up in the car and she will acclimate to any trip, no matter how long, no matter what motel we stay at, no matter what I throw at her and I credit that, in large part, to that first year of her life.

[katieliz]

sarah i am going to say this to you in the kindest way possible. always listen to your "feelings"...it feels like you would be betraying your boy because you are. and he could not possibly be the joy of your life and you could not possibly love him to death (and i have to say i have always detested that expression), or you could not possibly think of rehoming him. all this stuff about what is fair to him is just a bunch of hooey, what is fair to a dog is to have a home where he is secure and not an inconvenience when life circumstances change and travel is necessary. it sounds like what has happened is that you made a mistake in getting a larger dog and now you're trying to justify getting rid of him. rehoming a dog in the current economic climate is very difficult but it might be able to be done, even done safely, but it takes a while and alot of effort to make absolutely sure he is not going somewhere to be a bait dog or a research dog or used for food overseas. he does deserve a home where he is secure, no matter where the circumstances of his guardians take them. it is your responsibility to either give him that security or work your tail off finding it for him somewhere else. require and check references, including vet references. don't give him away for free. do a home visit. admit you made a mistake and stop trying to tell yourself this is for fable's own good. please.

and do not get another dog.

[DharmasMom]

So you are already thinking about the dog you will get after you rehome the dog you currently have?

[LissG]

Originally Posted by katieliz

sarah i am going to say this to you in the kindest way possible. always listen to your "feelings"...it feels like you would be betraying your boy because you are. and he could not possibly be the joy of your life and you could not possibly love him to death (and i have to say i have always detested that expression), or you could not possibly think of rehoming him. all this stuff about what is fair to him is just a bunch of hooey, what is fair to a dog is to have a home where he is secure and not an inconvenience when life circumstances change and travel is necessary. it sounds like what has happened is that you made a mistake in getting a larger dog and now you're trying to justify getting rid of him. rehoming a dog in the current economic climate is very difficult but it might be able to be done, even done safely, but it takes a while and alot of effort to make absolutely sure he is not going somewhere to be a bait dog or a research dog or used for food overseas. he does deserve a home where he is secure, no matter where the circumstances of his guardians take them. it is your responsibility to either give him that security or work your tail off finding it for him somewhere else. require and check references, including vet references. don't give him away for free. do a home visit. admit you made a mistake and stop trying to tell yourself this is for fable's own good. please.

and do not get another dog.

agreed.
we can't make this decision for you and there's nothing anyone can say to make it any easier for you to decide. honestly in my opinion, you took on the responsibility of this baby, this child. you brought him into your home, you are responsible for him. to me animals are like our children. would you get rid of a larger child and then get a dwarf child right after cause it'd be easier to travel with them? i've travelled with my GSD Wolf all over and he LOVES it. there are always hotels that accept him, i always make sure I have time for HIM regardless of where i am/whats going on.

[Stevenzachsmom]

Originally Posted by SarahsFable95

I have a 5 month old GSD mix, I joined the site because gsd was the only side I knew of. I haven't posted much, but still have been helped a lot by everyone.
Right now im having trouble on thinking what to do. Fable is the joy of my life, and I love him to death. But im trying to think whats best for him. Unfortunately, we're in a family situation where we are going to have to travel from Texas to Kansas quite a bit. Our smaller terrier mix, is older and loves to travel. But Fable being a puppy, I dont know if it would be good for him. Staying in hotels might be difficult as he gets older, if they have a weight limit. I really wanted a dog, to do therapy work and agility with. But, Ive started to think maybe Fable isnt my soulmate ):
The main question I have is, if I rehomed Fable. Would it be wrong to get a smaller breed right after? (after the family situation was over, of course)
It kindve feels like I would be betraying my boy. Trying to think with my brain and not my heart. Which is slightly hard when he sleeps like a little clown this very moment.
Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
-Sarah

Wow! You love him to death. He's the joy of your life. But NOW you're thinking maybe he isn't your soul mate. ?????? Seriously? Cut the crap. You simply don't want this dog. Yes, you have failed him. Yes, you are betraying him. Do NOT get another dog.

[Freestep]

People are laying on the guilt and shame pretty thick here.

I think the issue here is that you made a mistake in getting a big dog. When you get a dog, you should be ready, able and willing to make a commitment to him. Of course, circumstances change, and sometimes it becomes impossible to keep a dog. I'm thinking, losing your home, terminal illness, that sort of thing.

Your situation makes it not impossible, but very *inconvenient* to have a big dog. You can travel with a big dog, it's not that big a deal, it just takes a bit more doing. Traveling with a puppy is harder, as you're dealing with potty training, destructive chewing, barking, all the things that puppies do. But not impossible.

If you are honestly overwhelmed with your situation, having to travel with a big puppy may be more than you can handle. Maybe you didn't anticipate this, and things were much easier when you got the puppy, and you figured you could handle it... but not now. I hate to say "you should have thought of that", because as humans, we can't possibly predict everything that could happen... but it doesn't sound like you made a real commitment to this dog. Therefore, it was a mistake to get him in the first place. You want to rectify that mistake, but it feels somewhat akin to putting your own child up for adoption.

I'm not going to rake you over the coals for rehoming him, but it will be hard to do. There are soooo many GSDx in shelters, they are a dime a dozen. Finding a good home will be something like a needle in a haystack.

Getting another dog after you rehome this one? Another big mistake. Don't do that.

[RocketDog]

You mentioned your dog is a mix? He likely will be smaller than a typical GSD, unless he's mixed with another large breed. Plus, if a hotel asks you what breed he is, to possibly "ban" him, you can honestly answer "a mix".

When I was 21 I got a shepherd mix puppy. He grew up to be huge. (Mixed with malamute I think--although there is quite an interesting back story to that). I NEVER ONCE entertained giving him up. And at 21, I was hardly settled...I moved all the time, to this college and that, in and out of various states...I always always found housing. It was either me and my dog or we looked elsewhere. He lived to be 10, I got married and had my three kids, and he was a dream dog with them.

The answers above sound tough, but they're true. It can most certainly be done if you wish. If not, please do not get another dog if you rehome him. They are a lifetime commitment, unless the circumstances are dire, and it doesn't sound like they are. Good luck.

[SarahsFable95]

Size was never a problem until now. Everyone is really stressed, and he seems to be making things more stressful for them. I cant take him in a hospital, and staying in the hotel for too long worries me.
And wanted to say, I am only 16! Fable is everyones, but he gravitates toward me more so my mom gave me the job of making the decision. So the post was more of what my mom told me earlier. I am trying to sugarcoat it to make myself feel better about this. Its a really hard decision to make on my own.