A new discussion on rehoming

[wolfsoul]

I thought the thread about Kodiak was getting a litte overwhelming and side-tracked. I thought maybe we could start a new thread to have a discussion about rehoming dogs -- a HEALTHY discussion, no bashing please! Agreeing and disagreeing is allowed, but let's keep it nice -- remember, we all have our own opinions and no one is right or wrong. :)

Visa was rehomed to me. Her breeder had just moved into a new house, her family was growing, she was getting engaged and trying to concieve...On top of that, Visa was a freak. She'd have parvo as a puppy, and everyone knew, so she never recieved any socialisation. She was the freakiest Belgian I'd ever met in my life. Visa was now two years old and at her worst -- with everything going on, her breeder did not have time to do the intense socialisation and training that Visa needed. She worked long hours and had children at home she needed to spend time with. She "lent" her to me so I could have some training experience before geting my own pup. I fell in love, and that was that. She now had a home that would be good for Visa because I had the time to resocialise and retrain her. Visa is now a normal and well-trained dog, very good with people and situations. If she was still with her breeder, in such a busy household without the time to resocialise her (much harder than just socialising in the first place!), she would still be a wreck.

I never did agree with rehoming dogs until a dog was rehomed to me. It made me feel special to think that I could provide a BETTER home than someone else. When I rehomed Candy (the little Belgian I was really considering keeping), I had an offer from a place on 10 acres needing a high drive destructive dog for Search and Rescue and drug/bomb detection. They told me all about their place amd training, and in my heart I wanted to give them VISA. I felt selfish hanging on to my dog, knowing that their home would be an even better home than mine. I realised that even though I was a better home than her breeder's, there was always another better home, and another. Obviously I didn't give them Visa, but I thought in my head, if I ever had to, I wouldn't feel so sad if I could find a better home than mine. I managed to get out of the mindset that no one could take better care of my dog than me.

I've seen so many rehome situations that worked out so well for the dog in the long run. When my boss rescued a very neglected sheltie, and after months gave him to her sister, the turn-around was amazing. He needed a different environment and he got it. My friend kept a really aggressive dog who attacked any stranger who came near, and trained and socialised him for a year. He got minimally better and she finally rehomed him to some people who lived way up in the boonies, away from strangers. They loved him and he lived a normal life there. Another friend really wanted an obedience dog -- she trained and trained for it and the dog just didn't have fun, but she LOVED herding. Since herding wasn't readily available to her, she gave her to a home in another province that herded constantly, and now she's a herding dog.

I don't like the idea of someone getting a dog and giving it up because "it smells" or "it drools" or "it chews things." (Though anyone who is considering giving up a dog for these reasons should not have a dog anyways). But sometimes I feel the dog's best interests are really at heart. If it's a dog that needs more time than the owner can provide, or needs special training the owner can't afford, then I say it's selfish to hold on to the dog because you love it -- give it to someone who does have the time and money. Situations change -- sometimes we do have enough time and money at first, but something happens and then we don't. Now I certainly do not condone giving a dog to a shelter or rescue. I think that if your dog needs a new home, you should find it yourself. Your dog, your responsibility to make sure it is well taken care of, even when you are finding it a new home.

That is how I feel about rehoming. :) Hope I don't offend anyone. Feel free to add your opinion, just be nice, and keep quoting to a minimum! :)

[animal_rescue]

I wholeheartedly agree with you. I believe that in the dog's best interest is it better to re home them. I think it's more cruel to keep the dog and not give them enough attention or the help they need, than it is to find them a new/better home that can give them what they need.

[Kfamr]

I believe there are VERY FEW valid reasons for rehoming an animal.

My dogs are here with me for life.

[agilityk9trainer]

I think your post wasl well-stated, Wolfsoul. People who are against re-homing don't understand the need nor the benefits for the dog. I have never re-homed a dog, and it would be very difficult for me to do so. However, I don't point fingers at those who do. (Again, with the understanding that the reason for the rehoming is a valid one, as Wolfsoul has pointed out.)

[CathyBogart]

Dusty was a dog that a friend of ours saw abandoned on the freeway. He was a senior cocker spaniel, overwieght, with mediocre vision. After a few hours, it became apparent that her two energetic Boston terriers were WAY too much for him to tolerate, so he came to live with us. Dusty was a great dog, but he hated kids. After he had bitten twice, one bite narrowly missing their eye, we decided he had to have a home with NO kids or other pets, whatsoever.

After searching around, we found a lovely retired couple who had no grandchildren and had lost their elderly cocker the year before. Dusty thrived under their care, lost weight, had a cataract removed, and never bit anyone else for the rest of his life. Last time I saw him the vet estimated him at 15 years old but he still had a sparkle in his eye and a bounce in his step. I regret that we weren't the home he needed, but I don't regret finding him that home.

There ARE reasons that dogs just will not work in certain homes, though most of the reasons I see dogs surrendered for in the shelter where I got Jasper are NOT what I consider good reasons.

[applesmom]

Wow!!!!!!!!!!! Great post wolfsoul....

How can we have a discussion when you've already covered it so beautifully? ;)

Every time I look at a photo of our Clover, I'm thankful that her breeder was open minded enough to think of Clover's welfare and also forsee the joy that she could bring to our family.

Like you, I've known many dogs that were re-homed with great success. I'm sure Visa's breeder made the same agreement with you that Clover's breeder did with us. If for any reason we couldn't keep Clover she would have gone back to her. We made the same agreement with Rick when he took Buck. Wild horses couldn't have pried either of those dogs from Rick or I, but it was comforting to know that if the unthinkable happened they would have had a safe and secure home.

[Giselle]

I agree with Kay. I don't believe there are many *valid* reasons to rehome a dog. Of course, you can always rehome a dog to a better home, but, like you said, there will always be a better home than the one before. However, that's like trying to find perfection, which is like a glass ceiling, IMO.

Giselle would love a home with multiple greyhounds, miles of jogging, and daily visits to the dogpark, but I can't possibly provide that. Is it to her benefit to rehome her? Possibly. But the home who takes her in will most likely be unable to give a home to a much needier pup. I personally don't think that that's ethical. As long as the dog is happy, healthy, and well taken care of, I don't see a reason for rehoming.

In the case of the obedience dog who turned herding dog, I'm not sure if I would agree with that. It's clear that the dog loves herding, but I'm sure the dog would love companionship much more. This is why I don't agree with some breeders who purchase a dog in hopes of showing it and then rehoming it when they realize it can't be shown. Dogs are our lifetime responsibilities. Not breeding machines. Not obedience machines. They're ours for life. We owe it to them to provide love and stability.

[cali]

I think it depends on what the person does with their dogs. for example if a person just has dogs for pets, then I agreethat there are very few exuses for rehoming, but valid reasons DO exist.

the the person has working dogs however its a completly differnt story, there are people who rely on dogs for their livelihood, for example a sheep or cattle ranch, not a small hobby one, but a real working one where the rancher makes his/her living from the operation. those dogs are working animals, they are sometimes pets too, but they are working animals FIRST. if they cant do the work required of them, or "earn their keep" then they cannot stay, simple as that. the owner is out in the feild all day with the dogs that can do the work, that leaves the incaple dogs sitting inside a kennel neglected from dawn to dusk. these people cannot "make time" when their work day is 12 hours long. now that said there ARE farm FAMILIES that keep retired or otherwise incaple dogs as pets, but these are families or couples, NOT single ranchers.

then there are serious sporting homes. I am not refering to homes that get their pets involved in sports,or hobby breeders.I am refering to homes who get their dogs FOR sports. be it sleddogs, flyball, racing or conformation. these are homes with people who travel virtually every weekend for trials and races and shows, and during the weekdays they practice for trials and races and shows. if a dog cant cut it for whatever it is the owner does with the dogs, then that dog just winds up left behind, practicly living with strangers hired to come watch that dog during shows. curing pratice and prep times they are left again because the owner needs to focas on the dogs that are actually racing or showing. if the dog isnt up to snuff then they should be rehomed with someone more suitable to the dog, that can give them the time they need.

[DrKym]

I agree that the original post got way off line, and this thread is much needed.
I assume that everyone here is here because we love our companions, that being said I may vent a bit, I apologize way upfront to any one I may offend.

I bred, showed, trained and loved Rotties for nearly 22 yrs. Made a name for myself and my kennel. Big Deal. I am in Foster/Rescue because I felt (please understand these are my feelings not an opinion or judgement) that I had inadvertenly helped with the overpopulation in shelters/rescues. Yes I had a contract, yes I kept up with pups etc. The fact remains some ppl drop out of sight. Divorce, re location, deaths etc. Were some of my babies in those shelters? I don't know.

I DO know that the babies I have here, mine and the fosters, have a chance.One that maybe I denied my own pups, or maybe their new owner did.

I firmly believe that as humans we want to be THE place for the dog we so love. Sad fact is maybe we aren't. It hurts to admit we aren't infallible. It hurts to think we aren't everything to them we promised to be, maybe they really cannot handle kids, maybe our husband really is allergic. Maybe the animal just really likes being anywhere but with us. We hear it in many posts..how many times have you seen pics with the caption this isn't my dog but she/he is here every day????

I believe that we all learn and grow by putting others (including those of other specie) ahead of our own needs and wants. No one has the right to judge another. We all have a right to our opinion, but those should be delivered with the same kindness and compassion that our companions have taught us. We should take a lesson from those we train. Forgiveness is easy, tolerance is key and in all things love what you do and love who you are with.

ok done.

Kym

[critter crazy]

I have had to rehome pets and it sucks! I hate to have to do it, but if it is best for the animal, than why not?? Like last spring when i lost my job, i had to re-home my horses. That just about killed me. I was so upset for months, and it still bothers me, but i know that hey are better off with someone that can gve them what they need. I have had to re-home a few dogs in life as well, they just didnt get along with the entire family, or what not. I havent done it because i was bored of the dog, it was because it needed to be done. I have also rescued ogs, an found them new loving homes. Sometimes it just needs to be done. But no matter what, it sucks, i hope I never have to re-home another animal. But no one knows what life will bring them, so you are never sure.

[dukedogsmom]

I'm guilty of slamming people in the past for rehoming and that was wrong. I believe there are reasons for it. And he's not a dog but I rehomed my horse late last year for HIS benefit. I wasn't going to the barn hardly at all. Now, he lives across from the barn with a man who lavishes attention on him every day. That's what he deserves. If it's in the dog's, or animal's best interest, then they should be rehomed.

[agilityk9trainer]

Obviously, you haven't worked with either unmotivated obedience dogs or highly driven herding dogs, or you wouldn't make that statement. Some herding dogs LIVE for herding. They care more about that than anything - including their people. It is the one thing in life that they adore.

I have a highly driven agility sheltie. He LIVES for agility, seriously. About two years ago, I injured myeslf quite badly. I was out of agility for a year. My agility sheltie went into deep depression. Normally a bouncy, spunky, barking dog with a huge, constant twinkle in his eyes, he became a sullen, depressed animal. He wouldn't sit by me like he normally does at night. He would just lay at the end of the sofa and look emptily off into the distance.

As much as I didn't (and don't) want to admit it, my companionship couldn't lift my dog's spirits. Games, toys, Kongs - all the things that usually make him happy - weren't working. He was in deep depression.

My solution was simple. I had my friends train and run Aslan at agility trials for me. I didn't rehome him, as I was going to return to agility in a year. Once he returned to the sport, his spirits immediately improved, and I had my dog back. If I were never to return to agility, I would have had a desperate choice on my hands.

Moral of the story: Working dogs LOVE their jobs. They can't live without their work. Giving a herding dog a herding lifestyle is a blessing. You're right. We OWE it to them to provide them what they need, and these working dogs NEED their work. Depriving them of it is nothing short of mental abuse. Those who have never owned such dogs understandably do not know the drive for work behind these animals. Those of us that have owned them understand it perfectly.


{QUOTE}
In the case of the obedience dog who turned herding dog, I'm not sure if I would agree with that. It's clear that the dog loves herding, but I'm sure the dog would love companionship much more. This is why I don't agree with some breeders who purchase a dog in hopes of showing it and then rehoming it when they realize it can't be shown. Dogs are our lifetime responsibilities. Not breeding machines. Not obedience machines. They're ours for life. We owe it to them to provide love and stability.[/QUOTE]

[cali]

much agreed K9, as a person involved in BCs I can say that without a doubt a dog that grew up working sheep or cattle or whatever will NOT be happy with just companianship. working dogs often live in kennels when not working, and they are not deprived of anything. if anything those dogs have the most fufilled lives of all, they LIVE to work, not because the handler wants him too, they live to work because they WANT too, give a BC thet works for a living the option of remaining a kennel dog that works every day or being a companion and they will choose the kennel every time.

[Twisterdog]

wolfsoul, excellent post. I agree with everything you said.

I have seen probably every possible scenario of re-homing in my decades of shelter, rescue and foster work. Sometimes it is for a valid reason, and sometimes it is for such a stupid, selfish reason that I have very much wanted to choke the person.

But, the fact of the matter is, if someone doesn't love, care about and want a dog, the dog is better off in a new home. If someone doesn't want their dog anymore because it got too big, doesn't match the new couch, whatever stupid, selfish reason it is ... the fact remains that those people no longer (if they ever did!) love and want the dog. That dog would be better off in a better home. I'm talking about a "perfect" home ... no home is perfect. Mine certainaly isn't. Dogs don't want perfection. Dogs want love, time and attention. If they aren't getting it where they are, they would be better off somewhere else, where they WILL get it. Better a dog is re-homed to someone who loves it and will give it the attention it needs, than spending the rest of its life tied up outside, alone, because it sheds on the couch, for example.

I have personally re-homed one dog. This doesn't include the dozens upon dozens of rescue and foster dogs, some of them long term, that I found homes for. Those dogs came into my home with the sole intent that I would find them a forever home. But, I re-homed a Siberian husky that I got with the intention of keeping. My sister talked/guilted me into taking the dog from friends of hers that were moving and couldn't/wouldn't take the dogs. My sister took one of the dogs, and wanted me to take the other. My sister and I had been on bad terms for years, and had only recently begun to cautiously mend fences between us. I didn't want to jeopardize that, I had room for another dog, he was a beautiful dog ... in short, I took him for all the WRONG reasons. He was never a good match for my household, for umpteen reasons. One of my customers had Sibes, loved the breed and had decades of experience with them. He had a dog sled, acres of land, etc. He mentioned one day he would love to get another Sibe. I mentioned I had one that wasn't thriving with me. It progressed from there. I gave him the dog. The dog lived out its natural life ... sixteen years ... blissfully happy with this man. Josey became his favorite dog, he told me. It was an almost perfect match.

No one is perfect. Things happens, mistakes are made, lives unravel. I certainly am not a proponent of willy-nilly rehoming on a whim. I have seen far, far too many homeless animals for that. But do I think re-homing is ALWAYS a bad thing? No.

[tikeyas_mom]

I somewhat agree.. I think BEFORE buy/adopt a dog, you should consider all of the positive and negitive scenarios that Could/might happen in the future.. A responsible dog owner should make sure they have a solution to all the problems that might arise BEFORE they even consider bringing a puppy/dog home..
Dogs arn't meant to be tossed around like used clothing, they need a stable pack mentality.. But there are some sinarios that do arise that are unavoidable, like when my mom and dad decided it was a good idea to add another Female Siberian Husky to our family a couple of years ago ( when we only had Tikeya). Our Malamute had gone to the rainbow bridge a year before, and they thought it would be nice to add another husky to the family, since we wern't greeving anymore.. '
They bought a red female sibe, thinking her and Tikeya would be best of friends... Well after Makiya went through her first heat, she became very agressive towards other dogs.. We got her spayed and she was still very agressive, Fighting with Tikeya any chance she got (Even in the house), at one point the two girls had $300.00 worth of damage between them, my family never had alot of money so we couldn't afford the constant vet bills from the girls scraping..
So my parent decided to rehome Makiya to some friends of ours.. We were all VERY sad to see her go, we all cried for months.. But she was safe, happy, and Tikeya was safe and happy as well.. We added Oscar (Male, shih tzu)to our family shortly after Makiya left.

Baby (Great dane) was rehomed to us when her owners couldnt bring her with them to Alberta.. Aparently a relitive had died, and they needed to move there.. they didnt want to sadate Baby on the plane, so we took her in.. I am so happy we ended up with her, but although they did not want to let her go, it was what was best for her... I think that somtimes crazy crap happens that you cant avoid it, and you need to find a new home for your pet...
BUT in the case of a dog getting tossed out because it wasnt a good enough at "it's job" is just like getting rid of a dog for chewing/peeing in the house/ not bringing you your paper... It's just uncalled for.

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

I don't think rehoming is always bad either. My family had (what I think were) valid reasons in the past for rehoming, and friends and family agree. I don't agree with rehoming for petty reasons that would just take a bit of training (ex: the old "He jumps on people", "He shreds things", "He barks too much" excuses). But often I think rehoming possibly is for the best depending on the situation. I agree with many points made above, and I agree with almost everything you said, Jordan.

[applesmom]

Dogs that are carefully selected from reputable breeders for the purpose of competition and don't turn out to fulfill that promise, aren't the ones that wind up dumped in shelters and breed rescues. The overwhelming majority of rescue dogs come from careless pet owners who fail to spay and neuter their pets and BYB.

By the time it becomes apparent that a potential competition dog doesn't have what it takes; the owner has far too much emotional investment in that dog to just take it and dump it for someone else to worry about. The rehoming process is never taken lightly, is always handled personally and the prime concern is the welfare of the dog.

The ones to be upset with are the ones who purchase on impulse and dump on impulse.

[agilityk9trainer]

There was a huge discussion a few years back in the agility community about rehoming. Some of the World team level type trainers and instructors had rehomed dogs that weren't working out in agility. Many agility competitors rose up in arms over this. They felt you should show the dog you have, and not rehome dogs that weren't turning out to be agility prospects. Many people said they would boycott the seminars of these particular trainers.

Personally, I understand the need to rehome a dog that doesn't live up to it's competition promise. These dogs do come from reputable breeders. They are rehomed carefully and with great forethought. Some agility enthusiasts live in areas where they are limited on the number of dogs they can have. In order to do these people's jobs, they have to have agility dogs. Whether people like it or not, agility instructors reputations are tied directly to their dogs. When you have a retired dog at home, a dog in the sunset of his career, and you get a new dog that turns out to hate agility in a city that only allows three dogs - you're really between a rock and a hard place. Your livelihood depends on your dog's performance. In this instance, I can see rehoming the dog to a great pet home where it won't be subjected to the stresses of competition, which it doesn't like.

On the other shoe, I did hear a rumor that a Nationally known agility instructor was buying whole litters of BCs, and then keeping the one that turned out the best and rehoming the others. If this rumor is or was true, than this is definately wrong, and this trainer should rethink his/her philosophies.

I had a trainer who got a sheltie for agility. It had come from some great agility lines, but as it matured, it became apparent that the dog really didn't enjoy it's work. It was, however, a perfect pet sheltie. Sweet, calm, no-drive. Great for a pet home...not great at all for an agility home. The sheltie was rehomed to a family with children who loved that little dog. The dog was so happy. It was sweet to see. The trainer got a BC this is to this day tearing up the agility rings.

[Ginger's Mom]

I agree with many of the things Giselle and Tikeyas_mom have said, and they have probably said it better than I could. Of course a dog should be rehomed if it is abused, neglected, or otherwise in jeopardy. It should not be rehomed because it has become inconvenient to take care of the dogs needs. There are many things that can happen in a 15 year period that are unexpected and unpreventable, that makes a person unable to care for the pet that they love; in those cases the dog should be rehomed rather than put in jeopardy. The main point to remember when bringing a dog into the home is that you are now responsible for that animals health and well-being for maybe 15 years of longer, if you are not willing to make that commitment, don't bring the dog home.

[cloverfdx]

I believe that a dog is for life and not disposable. Having said that is the dog truly is not happy living in it's current home then rehoming would be better than a depressed dog.. after problems have been worked on.

One of my biggest 'hates' is people who think these precious souls can be thrown away and replaced by the next cute pup that comes along ;). We dont see many rehomings of sporting dogs here... i know a few dogs who were bought for Flyball but will never compete because of chasing problems but they are still loved and trained as much as their competing 'siblings'.

[borzoimom]

I have only rehomed a dog once- that was a imported shepherd, that had no clue with children, I had a 5 year old, and also didn't act like a 'pack member' but rather spent the entire time trying to be the alpha- in a house that was already established. He went to live in a single dog home, and adored. ( I am sure people thought I was crazy for placing a fully trained adult healthy dog..)
Galina came here for training orginally- to see if I could do something with her. Galina was afraid of larger dogs- actually most of the Borzois regardless of size. She only played with the whippets, and when too big to do that safely anymore, the breeder started looking at options. Had she not been drop dead beautiful, she would have been spayed immediatly, without trying.. Her favorite previous game at the other house was " dodge the borzoi"... Bringing her here- with a owner constantly at home, only one other female Femka that was spayed and smaller, and of course- having her brother- the one she use to play with all the time as a puppy, made a world of good for her. She went from leash trained, but would drop to the ground around another borzoi or bigger dog- to a big show off in the ring. I credit some of it to my positive show training ( I teach the dogs- they are God in the ring! Everything is JUST BEAUTIFUL in movements), but also- quite frankly- I believe she came out of her shell so quick because of her brother Zubin. Zubin isnt afraid of a thing- NOTHING- and no one or no dog is a 'stranger' to him..
I have 2 out of 4 dogs that were the product of being rehomed- Femka and Galina.. ( Femkas story will break your heart!). Galina however- as a result of working with her, training her, and mostly letting her figure out - another big dog is FUN(!!)- I got the benefit of a beautiful show bitch, and silly companion..
I am not sure if we had gotten to the end of that first month with Galina- had there not been obvious improvement what would have happened- would she have stayed still or not- it never got to that point. I actually rather doubt she would of, as I was thinking about this last night on applesmom question. The main reason she stayed is that she is such a perfect playmate for Zubin. Femka is starting to show her age- and Zubin is so much bigger than little Femka. Typical young male puppy- with lots of " Bravado" - Femka and Zubin do not play that much- not like Zubin and Galina-. And Galina starts the games more than Zubin.
One more thing here- I obviously had shepherds for a very long time- and at least half were committed for police work etc. However- although it was hard to see them go when they entered into training- although they were my pups- my approach was more like " fostering a seeing eye dog". They had a job to do, and I was proud my dogs could do it. In a state where Malinois are used more than shepherds for this type of work- to me it was pride to put the shepherd back into the fields they use to excell at. Did I cry when my 8month-12 month old left for their " career"- yes- was I proud- MORE SO!