How to support your dog’s mental health, when you know you’re not the right person to do it.

Recognising that your dog is not a good fit for your lifestyle, living situation, and family is an incredibly emotional time to navigate. I recognise that it takes a lot of strength, courage and honesty to come to this point, and always recognise that it is a selfless option to consider. It can also be a very confusing space to navigate, and consider what options are available to you. 

First, I recommend considering whether your dog is a good candidate to rehome. There are several behavioural challenges that can be improved, or even resolved in a new living situation. Some include:

• Aggression between two familiar dogs in the home.

• Fear towards children (if rehoming to a child free home)

• A highly active dog whose needs cannot be met in the current home

• A dog with health/medicating needs that cannot be met in the current home

• A dog who was purchased for a certain intention (eg service/assistance dog) whose personality does not suit the role.

• A dog with separation behaviours that may be managed more easily in another living situation.

Ultimately, behavioural problems that have predictable triggers that can be better controlled in a different environment, a new environment could be just the thing that’s needed.

For dogs in these situations, there are several ways to approach rehoming.

1. List your dog privately. There are many websites where dogs can be advertised. Legal requirements should be followed carefully (eg listing the microchip number) 

2. Contact the breeder you purchased your dog from. Reputable breeders almost always are interested in supporting dogs they have bred. Your breeder may be able to house your dog and help with rehoming.

3. Contact the rescue you purchased your dog from. Many rescues will have a good understanding of the dog’s needs, and may be able to help with rehoming. 

4. Contact a private rescue. You can find a list of private rescues online - I often recommend looking through PetRescue. You may be able to find a breed specific rescue that will be able to help potential adopters to see your dog. In some cases, you may be able to continue to ‘foster’ your dog until a home has been founded.

5. Surrender to a shelter. Gone are the days of grim shelters with high euthanasia rates. Shelters often have specific behaviour teams, liaise with rescue groups to organise foster, and may have resources to provide your dog specific support.

6. Find a kennel to house your dog in the short term. This can give you a mental break and some distance to help you decide what the next steps are for you.

What if I know my dog is not a good candidate for rehoming?

Unfortunately, there are several behavioural conditions that are likely to be exacerbated, or continue despite rehoming. Some include:

• Aggression towards people

• Aggression towards other dogs

• Severe escape behaviours

• Severe mental health conditions

• Any behavioural condition that has caused significant injury to another person or dog.

Often these behaviours are extremely unpredictable, occur at high levels and escalate quickly. In many cases we may have tried several treatment plans without much success.

While it’s extremely difficult to consider, dogs that are experiencing severe behavioural issues that result in aggression that could harm a person, are not appropriate to rehome. The safety of other people, the community, and importantly the individual dog needs to be held to a high standard.  When dogs are suffering from extreme, intractable mental health disorders, we can draw parallels with terminal medical illness such as cancer or liver failure. While the behaviour may be managed, it will not be cured. For this reason, behavioural euthanasia is something that needs to be discussed. I consider behavioural euthanasia to be true relieving of suffering in dogs who are extremely unwell, rather than an ‘easy’ way out.