*Ideal Companions does not condone any form of judgment or bias on any
individual based on their living circumstances or choices therein.
How do you recognize when it's time to consider rehoming your pet?
In recent months, a rather large hot button topic around the internet has been the people that give away a dog - usually on usedeverywhere, or craigslist. Sometimes the reasons are a little weak, some times they're valid. The thing there is, many people have unforseen life events, sudden financial problems, or other issues, and no one should have to field judgment because of those problems. Today, we're talking about when it's best to admit you and your dog are not the right pair - and when it's time to send your dog onto another home.
1) You Cannot Fulfill Their Basic Needs
Sometimes, life gets so busy that our duties elsewhere fall by the wayside. Be it medical, or otherwise, sometimes owners become unable to satisfy a dog's walking needs, a dog's play needs, or a dog's training needs. If you're always finding yourself without time or ability to provide your dog with ample exercise and training every day (especially outside your home area), then it's time to rehome your pet. We all love animals, and we all want to believe we can do what's best for your dog - but if you dog needs four to six hours of exercise a day and training on top of that, and you can only provide thirty to fourty minutes of both, you're not being fair for your dog, and you're depriving him of a critical, basic need. It is important to be fair to your pet, and give them the life they need - not the one that holds them back. If you're more often finding your dog becoming bored, frustrated, hyper, or unmanageably crazy and you cannot fit in anything more for whatever reason, it's time to be fair - its time to let your pet go to someone who can.
2) When You're Unable To Properly Manage Dangerous Behaviour
Sometimes, when a dog becomes very aggressive, dominant, or excessively hyper or destructive, and an owner doesn't have the time, energy, or skill to manage these issues, it's time to admit you're not the right human for your dog. There is nothing wrong with passing your pet on to someone with more experience with your dog's issues and selecting a breed that more matches your lifestyle, energy, and skill level. Many people see this as giving up, giving in, or letting go - that's not accurate. You're allowing your dog to flourish where you are currently unable to get them to.
3) Your Family Is Unbalanced
If your household had many different personalities, that can be worked with. However, when people in your family are undermining your rules, or are not doing everything they need to do, or possibly are even intentionally hurting your dog, it's time to rehome. It is never fair to an animal when a home is unbalanced - and it's abusive to allow a dog to remain in a place where someone is intentionally undermining you, or worse, trying to hurt you or your dog.
4) You're In The Wrong Place In Life
It's fine to pursue your own needs - in fact, its important. But, when those things are getting in the way of being a good dog owner, and it's causing change in your dog, sometimes we have to pick - and if life is too important to make those dog-safe changes, we need to rehome our dogs. Sometimes, having a child or an elderly family member move in can cause priorities to change - and that's better than okay, its good! But the dog is often left by the wayside - and your kids have to come first. There is no shame in admitting your kids, or mom, are the priority. We never think things like kids or parents could get in the way or being a great dog owner - until you find yourself overwhelmed. It's best for your dog to go to a home where they can better attend to your pet.
5) Sudden Medical Issues
No one ever wants to stop being able to care for a pet - but it's even more heavy on the heart when it's because of a medical problem in yourself or someone you love. Sometimes we have to focus on ourselves, our physical or mental health - and that's unfortunate. It's best if you have to dedicate that kind of time to yourself or someone else, that you give them your all, and let someone else take time with your pet.
