When my husband's work schedule changed at the beginning of the month, I seriously thought about re-homing Jackson. DH has worked out of our home since before we got Jackson last year. He was always here to let him out, play with him during the day, etc. Then in order to not lose his job, he had to make a lateral change at his company and go into the office every day. It killed me that Jackson would have to be kenneled during the day (he has a tendency to eat the carpet when he isn't kenneled)...I wanted him to have the time and attention and exercise he needed. My husband and daughter would have none of it...they have really stepped up helping me out at home so that I can spend more time with Jackson at night, going for our walks, playing ball, etc. I still feel guilty, but I love this crazy goober so much, I can't imagine my life without him.

 

Depending on the situation, yes.

We did it with Max, a Shep/Rottie X. He was not allowing my 2 other dogs to eat and was picking fights with both King (in my av) and Shiloh my female shepX. Max was given to a farmer who needed a big dog to keep people from stealing gas out of his tractors, etc. Max wasn't an actual guard dog, but the mere presence of a large dog with a big bark was enough to make people think twice. My fil knew the man, and drove by to check on Max frequently. I wish he would have had a camera the last time he went by. He said Max was looking healthy and happy and was rolling in something that probably smelled "wonderful" to him.

 

I am actually in the process of rehoming one of my rescues. He was a foster that I have had since he was a week old, and he is now just over a year old. My local AC (who I was fostering him for) would have killed him at 9 weeks old becase he had hematomas in both ears, and trouble with his eye sight (which has cleared up now). He is part cattledog,and it is starting to coming out and he is tryig to "herd" the other dogs (which is really ticking them off). But I am being careful enough to make sure he goes to a "working" home. I have also rehomed two other puppies that I found wandering the streets.

 

I got my Dal Sydney from a rehome. Sydney was finished to her championship, and was not going to continue competing for BOB or Group Placements. She had 2 litters, the first when she was 2 years olf and the 2nd when she was 4 years old, and was not going to be breed anymore. With other dogs in the home, not many compared to most breeding programs, like 5 or 6 including Sydney, Sydney was not getting as much attention as her owner thought she needed. While the current show dogs where out pretty much every weekend getting lots of attention at the shows, Sydney was at home. And Sydney DOES NOT get along with females! She absolutley hates other females and in particular one female in the house she would never get along with.

So I dont see how someone can say rehoming for any reason (even like Sydney's or the original poster's) is wrong. Sydney gets TONS of one on one individual attention with me, long hikes, walks, swims, training classes, toys, etc etc, where at her original owner's home, she was crated and rotated with other dogs. I think the a person needs to take a look at what is better for the DOG, never mind being selfish and thinking about how much you will miss the dog.

BTW, I see Sydney's original owner at shows all the time, and Sydney doesn't even remember her! She just acts as if she's just some stranger who is saying hi!

 

Kelly, good story! Nice to see you back on too, we have missed you and Sydney. Or at least I have missed your posts if you have been posting all along!

 

I guess we try to keep it at 2 dogs just so we don't have to rehome. I know some people that have about 6 dogs that are always having dog fights and unfortunately they are very bad dog fights.

We wouldn't want that plus two is about all that I can be sure get the appropriate time for training, exercise, etc.

It's a tough decision.

 

Originally Posted By: JKlatsky I know I got a lot of crap from people who knew and loved our dog. She was a really nice dog...but they didn't live with her. By definition all her problems were when she was left alone...otherwise she was a model citizen. I also had a puppy at the time which prompted even more HOW COULD YOU outrage. But you know, you've got to be in somebody's shoes before you can judge.

I may find myself in almost exact situation very soon... And I know I will get the same what you did from people we know, from family and probably on this board as well.

 

Oksana, I assume you are talking about Yana. It would be wonderful if someone else could take her with her issues. Good luck is wished for you and her.

 

Thank you, Qyn. I just don't know what to do, I think I don't have enough skills to manage Yana. I put two years of work into her, no kidding, I was really working with her every single day and tried everything what I could find available.

Right now I start to believe that our home is not the best place for her, she needs a place where there are no changes and no people around, and I just can't provide that environment for her because then she'll be happy and I'll be insane. Because it's not just everything about the dog but there are also to consider myself, my family and Anton who starts picking up bad habits from Yana so they can't be on public together.

I just hate to find myself in this situation because I love her so much. The worst thing for me to realize is that I knew that Yana was a mismatch for us after probably 2 weeks we had her but I believed that I just needed to work harder with her and everything would be fine. Two years down the road nothing changed, the only thing changed that I became very disheartened and feel like a failer and blame myself.

Sorry for the long post ...

 

Oksana, I know where you are coming from. It is much harder when there are other family members to consider when you have a "difficult" dog ("difficult" is not the right word) plus the fact that a dog with any issues is always going to find it much harder to be placed elsewhere.

I am aware of how much you have done with and for Yana and applaud you for that. Other than understanding your dilemma, I have no advice to give only empathy.

Again,

....

 

Me too, I have witnessed first hand the care and work Oksana has put into Yana. Yana can be a sweet dog but she is not stable and is not going to be stable. She needs a home where someone has the set up to manage her strictly.

She made me take notice the first time I met her. She made my husband step back too and he is pretty savvy.

If Yana needs a new home to be safe that that is what needs to happen. I applaud Oksana for the effort she has made with her and for understanding that she may not be able to provide the place Yana needs. It takes more of love to let a dog go that you love.

You have my support in this.

 

When I went looking to replace Bravo I fell in love with Skye. You know the scenario...a pack of dogs out playing and ONE comes straight towards you, curious, obvious intelligence present, quick, eager to please...I'm Skye's 3rd owner.

At the same time I saw Terra...hiding behind the pants leg of the trainer. I knelt down and she peered around him. I sat on the ground and he brought her over to me...she put on the skids, did not want to meet me. I layed down and she came over and reluctantly sniffed.

I took both...I could not leave Terra where she was, I couldn't afford two dogs, but there was no way I could leave her behind.

My goal was to find another home for her, but 1st I had to house break, and that took a good 8 months. She was terrified of most everything...shaking out a dishtowel in the kitchen freaked her out.

After being with me for a year an opportunity presented itself. She went to live with a friend who'd been robbed. She blossomed at his house. I realized by being away from a dominant female for the 1st time in her 4 1/2 yrs. her personality had a chance to develop. I visited her several times a week. It was very satisfying to see how happy she'd become. She loved where she was! Then, unexpectedly my friend's step-grandaughter needed a home. She's a great kid, but came w/bird, turtle, cat and a witchy dog.

I brought Terra back to my house...within 4 months it was obvious that being around dominant Skye was erroding Terra's confidence. I found another great guy who needed a watchdog. I went over everyday at lunch time to let her out. She was always happy to see me and had a great set-up in this new home. Terra really liked the guy and she was doing well at his house when the Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis hit and I had to put her down...That was hard.

The one consolation I have is knowing how happy she was, and how confident she'd become.

 

We should not judge what you did. You did it out of love for your dog. You gave them to a good home, now make peace with yourself. Do not beat yourself up for a decision you had to make to keep your dog safe and happy.

 

I have rehomed a dog for the good of the dog. I took in a mother and her 3 puppies. Found homes for all of the puppies and was going to keep the mother, we named her Lady, she was a beautiful cream color dog, maybe has some collie in her not sure will have to find a picture of her and post it at another time.

I become attached quickly to animals. This was not a good home for Lady, while she was a great dog, My older dog Bandit at that time was an aggressive dog, my fault, didn't socialize her like I should have, our fault and we deal, dealt w/ it.Anyway, Bandit wouldn't let Lady eat, no matter how I tried to feed them, Lady was getting thin, and wasn't happy. Found her a great home and she is doing wonderful!

Had I known then what I know no, not sure what I would have done.

While I would like to say I wouldnever rehome again. Can't say I wouldn't. You just never know till you are in that position, whatever it may be. And you can come up w/ every "answer" in the hypo questions so you woudn't rehome, but again you just never know till you are in that position.

 

I once was facing the possibility of being homeless, and yet I could not give up my dog. Instead I made arrangements for a place for her to stay in the event that we did become homeless, which never happened. I also lived in an old broken down motor home for 2 yrs before because I could not give up another dog I had. On the flip side, my current GSD was rehomed to me and I am grateful every day for his former owners courage and her love for this guy to give him to someone who could spend the time he needed and love him as much as I do. Every time I faced uncertainty in my life, the love from my pets has always gotten me thru. My commitment to them has always prevailed and we have always landed on our feet

 

At the risk of coming back here and enduring more harsh comments. AT lease some, most people were very kind!

I wanted to add to this thread of my recent experience of trying to rehome my Jack Russell Terrier Bruno.

If anyone is seeking advice from this thread. I want you to know, it is OK to rehome.
BUT do not do it out of desperation. Also only do it if the dog is going to a situation that is better than the one the dog is in. Stick with breed rescues for assitance.

I know it is getting rough right now to find homeless pets good homes. So right now it would be very hard to rehome.

I got overwhelmed and desperate enough to take Bruno to a new shelter, I thought could rehome him. They did in one day.

I never took his tags off. I thought he might need them. I just could not bring myself to remove them.

He escaped from his new owners. (I found out Bruno was placed in the inner city where there are many strays). The women that found him said he had been running with the pack of strays. He stayed one night with one of the women who had taken in many animals. Her neighbor helped her get a hold of me.

I had not slept or ate for a week at the guilt I felt at not doing the proper thing by Bruno..finding him a good home or waiting for assitance from a rescue.

After getting the call and saying I was on my way to get him. I was overwhelmed with tears.

He had been HOME since last Thursday. We are doing well. We are in contact with the Omaha JRT rescue for assitance.

We are recommitting to him, with all we have. We have to start over gaining his trust again.
We are taking him to a JRT sporting event open to all JRT's. Where we will meet the JRT rescue woman, so she can personally meet Bruno. I am hoping it will be a fun day for him, and maybe something he will be good at.

I know some of you may feel we do not derserve another chance.

Just know Bruno does...and he is in very good hands. I understand things better now, I will never do wrong by him again. I have learned a lot from this.

I also will not come back here for advice on him. This is a GSD board. I will go to the Omaha JRT rescue. If you have KIND advice, please PM me. Thank you for your support.

 

no. i couldnt do it. i don't see what other home would be better for my dogs. I mean its not like I cant afford owning them or anything. i

 

Jack is my second GSD that I got after my first GSD (the second dog I've ever owned) passed away. Hans was the definition of a perfect dog, protective when the time came, calm in all situations, VERY VERY quick learner, loved performing, it was almost as if he understood English and understood me.

I definitely got Jack way too soon after Hans' passing and I find myself comparing Jack to Hans all the time. Jack is much more stubborn and not so quick on the uptake. He also has some aggression issues which are very frustrating at times. Sometimes I just feel like giving up and at one point I was telling myself how much I hated Jack and how I wished I never got him.

I found my frustration was what was holding me back and what was preventing him from being all he could be. I was trying to hold training sessions while I was frustrated and he could definitely tell. He performed very slowly and didn't have the happy GSD face I'm sure you're all familiar with.

I don't think I could ever ever rehome Jack, if I were physically unable to care for him any longer my family would care for him. As long as I am able-bodied Jack's staying with me for better or for worse... In the end, with dogs, you make a commitment to them for life, I would never fail Jack like that and I know I'd live with immense guilt and regret if I did that to him. I love Jack!

P.S. With the training, I now stop immediately when I feel I am getting frustrated and I ALWAYS end sessions on a happy note where I give him a command to something he always successfully performs (jumping for a treat or "paw") so he is always waggy when we finish. I believe I read that advice here, thanks!