Feel so sad that I've had to rehome my dog to my parents

[elm26]

I've had him for 9 years, he is a sprocker spaniel and the most amazing, loyal, beautiful natured boy. He is well trained and has never caused us any issues.

He's been with me through multiple miscarriage, anxiety and depression. He's been by my side through it all and I love him so much.

Ever since our 1 year old DD was born, he hasn't been himself, he stopped playing, stopped bringing us toys, he mopes around and seems genuinely sad.

He is always gentle with her, I don't let her hassle him, she is allowed to stroke him when we say she can but he seems permanently stressed by the general chaos of the place, the noise, the toys. He has his own corner with his crate, bed, food and water that DD isn't to go near.

I noticed that when we visit my parents on the weekend (they adore him and take him on holiday with them for a week a year, he also stays some weekends if we have plans that means that we will be out of the house for more than a few hours), he starts his playfulness again, he takes himself out to the garden and lays in the sun (we have had to move into a first floor flat for the foreseeable), he is bouncy and playful again, the dog I used to know. As soon as we are home, he reverts back to wanting to be left alone, not interested in his toys etc.

So, my parents offered to rehome him and I've broke my own heart here agreeing to it because he is so much happier. He gets peace and quiet, he gets a garden, he gets undivided attention. I feel so guilty, sad, lost without him but I know (think?!) I'm doing right by him. He is getting old, he has arthritis, I just want him to spend his last however many years happy. We will still see him every weekend, we will be having him when they go abroad etc.

Have I done the right thing here? My heads all over the place.

This is lovely OP, you 100% did the right thing even though it must have been hard. My DGM has a rescue dog who us very nervous around the children because her previous (elderly) owner refused to rehome her even after becoming too frail to care for her. She ended up in a dog shelter anyway after the owner died, but it should have happened years earlier and she would have been a much happier dog if the owner had done the right thing at the time.

ETA: I meant your update is lovely, obviously not the original situation in the OP.

It's really hard OP, but you did the right thing.

We have our dog through similar circumstances, except we didn't really know her beforehand, so she took a few weeks to settle. It's been fine since and that was about 8 years ago.

But your dog is going to people and a home he already knows, and you will still see him regularly.

Can I just suggest that as these are your parents and you will still have a lot of interaction with the dog, that you have a clear discussion about potential vet fees and insurance costs etc.

Lovely update and you are a shining example of a responsible dog owner who has acted in the best interests of your pet, not on what you wanted emotionally.

Sounds like you, parents and dog all now have a best of worlds. You get to see dog regularly, knowing it's happier and back to its goofy self, they have built in dog sitters and dog has a great home and lots of people that love it.

You done the right thing, he is safe and loved.

I have a sprocker spaniel too, she is adorable.

Think of it as a dog share.

@Createausername1970we still pay for his insurance and pet plan at the vets (6 monthly health check up, vaccinations, nails trimmed, worming and flea prevention) and they pay for his food, toys etc. this was agreed by all of us ☺️

Thank you everyone, it’s reassuring to have confirmation that we did the right thing x

Glad you had a discussion.

My friend rehomed her mum's dog when mum went into a nursing home. 6 months down the line the dog needed an operation and the bill was eye watering, even with insurance in place, as the total payable far exceeded what the insurance plan would pay out.