To wonder why so many people rehome their dogs

[Lifeisinteresting]

Recently I've seen multiple need to rehome my dog because I have a baby, changed jobs, moved house and find it lazy and frustrating. A dog should be for life not just until it suits.

It's a shame people feel bad for putting their pets needs first and rehoming when necessary. Those who say they never could, you've never reached that point and you are fortunate.

I'm always grateful my old dogs ex owner came to their senses and allowed us to take on his dog who he was not caring for at all.

I’ve been lucky enough to have known and had some wonderful rescue dogs who have had brilliant lives despite difficult starts so it’s not always disastrous.

I think sometimes rehoming is the right decision for the animal, especially after a baby... as the dog or cat cannot cope with sharing their home with a baby.
Maybe with better preparation they might have coped, but for example a thread in the last few days... the cat was used to undivided attention and ruling the house. Add something even needier then something has to give.

Honestly, people don't give enough thought or planning into having actual human babies, so it's not shocking that they dont with dogs. And I thoroughly believe that rehoming a dog is generally the right thing for the dog, but I do get very frustrated when I see posts saying 'me and my boyfriend got a dog and then we broke up and I've got noone to walk the dog and can't afford a dog walker so I'm rehoming' i just think it's basic common sense, if you want to be a pet owner, to sit down and think for 30 seconds about what your plan would be if your circumstances changed - BEFORE you get the dog. Especially if you know you can only be a responsible pet owner by relying on others, whether that's paid or unpaid? It irritates me. Some people genuinely fall on awful times - unfortunately there are quite a lot of people who are just irresponsible parents and pet owners, who don't do the slightest bit of 'disaster/what if' planning before they make a commitment to a child or an animal. Surely that's one of the first things you do when you decide to make a commitment?
I'm not talking about real wildcard stuff, but so many people don't even seem to do basic 'what if I lose my job/what if me and my partner break up/what if my mum can't do lunchtime walks anymore' stuff!

I know people think MN is down on doodlydoos but I think this does demonstrate the issue.

people getting a doodle are usually first timers. They aren’t looking at breed traits, and how the dog’s personality is going to fit with their lifestyle. They see a fluffy teddy bear dog, or meet a lovely cockerpoo in the park, and think yes I want a dog just like that.

not realising that crosses can’t and won’t breed true. You have no idea what you’re getting. Especially when you’ve got a high energy, intelligent dog like a poodle crossed with a manic spaniel. They often have intensive grooming needs, rather than the “non shedding” coat that appeals.

then add in nearly all are farmed or byb and they won’t take a pup back if it doesn’t work.

@Daisyvodka it’s the lack of basic considerations that get me

@Whatsgoingonherethenagain and that’s part of the problem lack of research.

@Letsgoforaskip often they do go to better homes.

I do think it is better to admit defeat in a way and rehome your dog. Give them a chance to find an awesome home. Better to do that then let them suffer or be neglected.
In some cases, rehoming is a the best thing to do.

I think part of the problem is the rise of back street breeders who sell way cheaper than ethical breeders. Ethical breeders will consider behavioural traits as well as other important considerations which means dogs from them are more likely to fit what the owner was after. Ethical breeders will also take the dog back in case of any issues including life changes so they’re protected from having to enter a shelter. Also social media portrays dogs as the final piece of a ‘happy family’. But again I’m not sure the correct breeds are chosen meaning more than should get returned usually for being hyper or neurotic/destructive behaviour.

Also unfortunately many of the working breeds are very aesthetically pleasing which causes the wrong owners to get them especially like the Aussie shepherd, GSD, border collies, spaniels.

Given almost everyone has internet on their phones, people are in more of a position to be educate about how to make a sensible choice - including if they should even have one but here we are, people just bloody mindedly wanting what they want to the detriment of the poor animal ultimately.

Id agree with this. When I bought my current dog from a breeder I was asked more questions and held to a higher standard then I was when I had my own baby!!

Our lovely dog was rehomed to us after a relationship breakdown and his owner ended up in a city centre flat with an enormous miserable young dog. I am forever grateful for her giving him to us and every year he sends her a Christmas card with an update on his adventures. He is 9 now and she loves hearing from him!

I have seen the dog regret frequently in my friend group over the years.

what usually happens is kids really really want a puppy. Dad researches a little and decides he wants a trendy, expensive dog. Usually mid sized breed and high energy (lots of huskies and working cockers). A lot of ‘jokey’ comments from them that they don’t want a hand bag dog.

about six months or a year in dad and kids lose interest. Mum is left doing all the work. Dog then only responds to mum beciase that’s where he gets food, walked and cuddles. Kids get annoyed.

Lots of reasons and they sometimes lie about why when handing them over. I foster for a rescue and have had about 15 dogs here in the last 3 years. The one right now her owner died suddenly, 2 of them the owners had to relocate overseas, several had more than one dogs and they were fighting, a couple were just dumped in a park, one had been used for breeding and they wre done with her - they just chucked us the lead and slammed the door in our faces. But some of those reasons may not have been true as people are often embarrassed/ashamed about getting rid of their pets

Too many people get dogs based on their looks over their temperament - it really pisses me off

Life isn't straightforward. We can't always predict the future. Don't judge, one day you might have to do something you never imagined you'd do, or that you judged others for ...

I emailed the breeder with an enormous epic about her dogs, her lines, dogs 5 or 6 generations back that I’d known and how my previous dog fit into her pedigrees. Also the breeders I’d got childhood dogs from, who she knew as the show world is fairly small.

then I went into the breed issues and how I’d had them before and dealt with them.

i probably terrified her tbh 😂. I was that child though, when we got a puppy I went straight to the library and read everything ever published on the breed. Plus a couple of racehorse biographies 😂

anyway she got back to me saying I’d pretty much answered every question and if I was interested she had a 6m old puppy she was retiring from show because he didn’t enjoy it. And here he is next to me 😂

Yep my mum volunteers at an animal shelter at weekends and she says they are full to the brim with all sorts of pets looking for a new home. It doesn't bode well for people raising children if they throw the towel in with their pets.

So we’re looking for a puppy just now, I’ve rejected 2 breeders so far who had red flags that made me think byb.

whilst looking I came across the usual sad rehoming posts but one stuck out, two sisters, one has just had a litter one pregnant. Apparently relationship has broken down, pups for sale too, those poor dogs. If the owner really cared for them they’d be going to a breed rescue not being advertised at £800 and £1600 cash machines.

Im looking for a puppy due to having cats I cannot risk a rescue even if they say they are good with cats.

I agonized for years over getting a cat. Wanted to make sure I could give enough time and care to a pet. I ran though a lot of scenarios. I even have a home lined up for her in case I die!

I appreciate life changes - but a lot of reasons given are predicable. It doesnt take a genius to work out it’s hard to find time to walk a high energy dog if you have a baby. Or it’s expensive to kennel a dog when you go on holiday. Or dogs can get sick and vet bills are expensive. Or some breeds need training. Or if you rent and move around a lot it can be hard to find a landlord that accepts dogs.

people seem shocked by the most obvious facts.

I agree. I follow a lot of rescue pages and the reasons are ridiculous. Moving abroad, deciding to foster so the dog has to go, relationship breakdown, new baby, new allergy. It’s awful & the rescues are bursting. Not to mention these poor dogs, some elderly, being turfed out of their home. They do get sad, they do get stressed and they do wonder why they’re not with their family.

My belief is it’s death do us part and that’s it. Nothing elae would make me rehome my dog. Think about how you’re going to manage to care for this dog for potentially 15 years bwfore you commit to it.

Of course we can judge! It’s an open forum. It happens all day long on here. I can honestly say with certainty that I won’t be rehoming any animal unless I get dementia or die. Everything else will be worked round.

I had to rehome my dog. When we took him on we had done our research and knew we could handle the commitment, time and energy wise and financially. He was the best dog ever and he had a really good life with us. Then I found out my stbxh was up to his eyeballs in trouble and had been leading a second life and my marriage broke down. He couldn't keep the dog because he knew he was going to prison and I couldn't afford to keep him and put food on our child's table plus I was temporarily homeless as a result of stbxh actions so I couldn't find anywhere to live that would have accepted him. He went back to the breeder who I still keep in touch with and I'm so grateful to them for taking him because I know they'll look after him well but it was absolutely devastating and I miss him every day. So many things I will never forgive my stbxh for but putting me in a position where I had to say goodbye to our dog is top of the list.

I don't think it's fair to make blanket statements and label people lazy, people's circumstances can change without it being foreseen. I had genuinely zero idea what stbxh was at, i wouldn't have been with him if I'd so much as suspected.

When I worked in a rescue most of the dogs coming in from owners were complex situations, the rest were sadly from puppy farms and their medical needs were unsustainable.

Also just to say the breeder who took him on has no idea of the complexity of the situation- as far as they know it was just that our circumstances changed because obviously there was an open investigation happening and I couldn't bring myself to talk about it. So just because you're seeing a dog being rehomed doesn't mean you're getting the full reason why. Obviously some people are naive or irresponsible but you don't always get the full picture.

I think some rescue centres tell fibs. My dog went through two homes before me and I 100% understand why they both gave him back!