Is it ever ok to rehome a dog?

Often, I'll see people talking about a "forever home" (or furever 🙄).

The ideal absolutely IS dogs landing in the right home where they're living their best life and are their human's best friend.

The best way to accomplish this, IMO, is to do some solid research before choosing a breed, being realistic about what you want AND what you can provide, then working with an awesome breeder to be matched with the right pup.

I do think the matching is a crucial piece. Within every breed and within every litter there will be a range of temperaments and energy levels and a variety of personalities. The best chance of a forever home is the right match.

I use a combo of my nearly 24 hrs a day experience with my pups including watching them in a vast array of different experiences  + an independent temperament test + expert conformation evaluations to match the right puppy to the right home. Both sides of the equation should feel ĺike they've won the lottery!

And what if it's not the right match? Or life changes and your home is no longer allowing your dog to live its best life?

Its OK to rehome a dog.

As the human animal bond continues to evolve and dogs are given ever greater status as our family and best friend all rolled into one, our knee jerk reaction is to be appalled that someone could consider rehoming their dog.

And that makes 100% sense. These remarkable creatures we share our lives with deserve to be *cherished*. But this deep love of dogs and desire to see them in forever homes has morphed into shaming people who rehome their dogs.

Sometimes.....rehoming is not just ok, it's the right thing to do.

Please note....I said rehome. Not dump at the shelter. Not abandon. Not sell on kijiji. I'm using "rehome" as short form for: carefully choose the home where this beloved dog will shine, be valued, and live their best life.

Those of you who have worked with great breeders for your dog? There's a good chance your breeder has a clear and strict policy that if your home is no longer the right place, the dog goes back to the breeder. My contract sure does. No matter what, no matter when, my puppies will always have a home where they were loved first.

I love my dogs more than anything in the world (sorry Brad). I can't imagine the sheer desolation of them not being in my life. So how can I say I think it's OK to rehome?

A friend summed it up the best when she said "there's nothing wrong with rehoming when it's in the dog's best interests". The dog's. That's who I'm focused on in this equation.

Breeders placing retired dogs in loving homes where they'll be the focus of attention instead of keeping all their older dogs and splitting attention between up and coming show dogs, breeding dogs, new litters, and the whole retired household? Yeah, I can see how that's in the dog's best interests.

Good breeders are placing their retired show and/or breeding dogs with the same care that they place their puppies. Striving to find that right home. That best chance at a forever home. (Side note, the same people who vilify breeders for placing retired dogs will jump on breeders for keeping "too many" dogs 🙄).

Dogs not getting along after months of training and work? Envisioning crate and rotate for the rest of their lives and opting to find the right fit for one of the dogs instead? Yeah, I can see how that's in the dog's best interests.

Dramatic change in your life that changes your income or available time or living situation in such a drastic way that you no longer feel you can appropriately care for your dog? Yeah, I can see how that's in the dog's best interests.

Most every other relationship in our lives is considered forever until it no longer as serves both parties well. Marriages end. Long-term relationships dissolve. Friendships fade away. We change. Life changes. Sometimes you need to reevaluate your situation.

I'd rather see someone responsibly rehome a dog than keep a dog and have it languish in a crate for most of the time. Or be unable to afford appropriate care. Or cause a level of stress to people and dog that isn't healthy for anyone.

So, it's OK to rehome a dog.

What about those people who sell dogs when they're no longer valuable to them? Send old dogs off to new breeders instead of finding retirement homes? Give up as soon as something is challenging? That's not in the dog's best interests, it's in yours. Shame on you.

Rehoming a beloved dog will be heartwrenching. Toxic dog book will come for you. But if you're doing it for the right reasons, what's best for your dog, then that's all that really matters.