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The doghouse

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Original poster

Do dogs get over being rehomed

22 replies

Anxiodogo · 01/04/2023 18:04

I am not a dog person so idk how they cope. Do they "get over" it fairly quickly, always assuming they are going to another loving pet home.
My main frame of reference is books about dogs, ie Call of the Wild where he adapts to lots of owners and becomes loyal to each
My dog is 2 and I am having marriage/divorce issues which mean I possibly have to rehome him (via his breeder who is optimistic she can find a new owner)

OP posts:

OldTinHat · 01/04/2023 18:16

I rescued my old ddog when he was 3 after a marriage breakdown. He'd stayed with a foster family for a few weeks and then came to us. He was a joy! Showed no distress or pining. I knew the foster family, so always say he found us because they had many dogs to stay over time but my old dog decided he wanted to live with me and my DC.

He was the best, a perfect gentleman, and I miss him every day!

I'm sure if you decide your ddog will have to be rehomed through no fault of his own, if your home has been calm and stable, then he'll find someone to love him with no issues. Go through a respectable rehousing charity though.

Zwicky · 01/04/2023 18:19

Mine was under a year old and he settled in immediately. He didn’t seem distressed at all. I think he would struggle in kennels if I had to re home him but I don’t think he would struggle to settle in another home. He boards in a house occasionally and is fine there.

BiteyShark · 01/04/2023 18:36

I think the actually rehoming to a loving family is fine and they bond to their new owners.

However, I think staying in kennels waiting for a new home is extremely stressful so if you can rehome to a rescue that fosters until a forever home can be found that would be preferable.

QueenofLouisiana · 01/04/2023 18:41

Mine was two when he was rehomed with us, he’s an ex-racing greyhound. He took a while to settle into being a pet, living in a house, being the only dog.

Looking at him, sprawled on his toys and tucked under a blanket…I think he’s adapted. 😁

Windingdown · 01/04/2023 18:44

We rehomed our dog when she was two after the her original family no longer had time to look after her due to a new baby. Within an hour she was chasing around having fun in the back garden, she ate normally from the outset, curled up on the sofa in the evening and by bedtime it was as though she'd been with us forever. She's a very loving and gentle dog and a decade later we still adore her. I'm sure your dog will be just fine.

YellowHatt · 01/04/2023 18:50

Waiting in kennels is undoubtedly very stressful. Going into a loving home environment is the better option.

A family member took on another family member’s dog. The dog sees the original owners about once a year and is always absolutely overjoyed to see them, has never forgotten them. But is also happy in the new home.

onlyoneoftheregimentinstep · 01/04/2023 19:10

We've had two rescue dogs. The first was a bit snappy to begin with, but soon settled, the second just walked in happily and settled immediately.

Sapin · 01/04/2023 19:14

There’s some pretty good research by Clive Wynn in his book Dog is Love that suggests that yes - dogs are wired for love and will basically love anyone. We aren’t that special although we all want to be.

Original poster

Anxiodogo · 01/04/2023 19:28

It's reassuring. No kennels hopefully needed- and I would rehome only via the breeder.

OP posts:

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 01/04/2023 19:36

They certainly do cope.

I walk numerous rescues and they're all thriving in their new homes.

MissingMoominMamma · 01/04/2023 19:39

I’ve had four rescue dogs. All settled really well. Good luck.

TeenLifeMum · 01/04/2023 20:33

They generally love anyone who feeds them and gives them attention

Violethayes · 01/04/2023 20:36

I think they do adjust but I took a dog in after a friend of a friend had to rehome due to a divorce. We bumped into his previous owner at the beach and the way he reacted to her brought a tear to my eye he was so happy. I think they adjust but maybe don’t forget. He was very happy with us till he died a few years later.

bumpytrumpy · 01/04/2023 21:00

I think dogs live in the moment. If they're a generally happy & settled dog then put them with a new happy & loving family and they'll likely be fine.

Mine happily stays elsewhere with friends and settles no problem

Bridgingthefeckingmassivegap · 01/04/2023 21:11

They don't forget but they don't let that hold them back either (unless original home has been traumatic I guess).

Our rescues have all settled absolutely fine, our last old girl was 12 when we got her because her owner had passed. She'd spent 12 years with the old guy before us, hated kennels and was in for a while because of her age, before we found her. As soon as we had her home she had a new lease of life!

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 01/04/2023 21:12

We adopted our lovely dog (now sadly gone) direct from his previous family who were moving abroad. The first few days he was definitely unsettled but within a week it was like he had always been with us. I still miss that fella, best boy.

ProbablyDogNappersHunX · 02/04/2023 09:05

Mine was on his fourth owner when he was younger than your dog, with very little training and inadequate socialisation.

He's always found life a bit stressful (even going prematurely grey!) despite my best efforts, but to be honest I think that has at least as much to do with the lack of early socialisation than it does with being repeatedly rehomed as a youngster.

Every so often he goes and spends a week with my parents, which isn't so different from a rehoming from the dog's point of view. He's not traumatised by that either - though I did do some careful introductions before he went to stay for the first time. Much like going to visit the grandparents, he gets utterly spoilt.

If you can, I would ask the breeder who identifies a new owner if they can come to visit DDog, go out together on a walk together, and visit his new home together. It will be better for the dog; a gentler introduction, and you'll be able to tell them all about your dog's quirks, the words you use for training commands, and so on.

bondsy · 02/04/2023 09:15

We rehomed our dog after he was kept for breeding. He took a few months but after that I think he forgot his previous 'home'.

We changed his name as soon as we got him and he responded to his new name almost instantly too.

Soxford1 · 02/04/2023 10:20

Your dog will be fine. Definitely agree with doing it through the breeder.

Handsnotwands · 02/04/2023 11:38

Our dog came to us at 8 after his previous owner died. He’d been very loved. For the first few months he was happy enough, nice to have around, kept to himself quite a lot.

after about 3 months we realised how much he’d changed. Total snuggle bug. Very communicative etc

He obviously was adjusting to his new life but it didn’t take long for him to settle in and learn to trust and love us

we’ve kept in touch with the best friend of his former owner and she adores seeing him so happy in his new life. She said when we first met DDog and her that she thought he’d like living with children and he does. He adores the kids. So he came from a happy, good home but loves his new but different life with us.

Choconut · 02/04/2023 11:44

It depends how sensitive/anxious the dog is to how long it takes, but they'll get there eventually. I rescued 2, one was at home the minute she walked in the door, the other took a few months and was quite unhappy and unsettled for a while. I think 3 months is pretty normal though.

Spanielsarepainless · 02/04/2023 13:51

My best friend's rescue Labrador never looked back. She called him by his new name, he hopped in the car and that was that.

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