It must be hard for a dog parent to even think about rehoming a dog. But you must have thought it through and concluded that this is the best option for both of you. It is not uncommon. You need to “know that you’re not alone. More than 1 million households have to rehome their pets each year, often due to financial circumstances, says Matt Bershadker, president and CEO of the ASPCA,” PetMD writes.
Usually, dog owners make such a decision when they know their dog is not getting enough time, attention, and care because of their busy schedules or other issues.
Whatever the reason may be, you are here, and you want to find out all things about rehoming a dog in a manner that must befit your dog.
Let’s dive in and find out how to rehome a dog.
How to rehome your dog?
1. Creating a profile for your dog
The first step in rehoming a dog is to create a profile for your buddy.
Make sure that you add every detail about your dog in that. Don’t overlook a single piece of information, or else your dog would face trouble while getting settled in a new home.
Here are some things that should be included in the profile.
- A cute picture, of course—it is a no-brainer.
- Basic description: Breed, age, height, color, and hair coat, etc.
- Daily routines: Feeding time, playtime, defecation time, and sleeping time.
- Medical history: Any allergies, ailments, sensitivities, diseases, etc.
- Behavioral aspects: Is your dog happy, snuggly, and fun or is it a little aggressive? Does it get along with kids or other pets?
- Be candid while creating the profile.
Now that your dog profile is ready, it is time to find a perfect owner with whom you would have the confidence to keep your pet friend.
2. Finding the new home for your dog
The most important thing you need to find is a new home for your dog that perfectly matches its needs.
You must be thinking, “Obviously! As if I didn’t know that”
But here is the catch. How do you find the right house for rehoming a dog?
You have the following options
- Your contacts
- Dog stores
- Dog daycares
- Pet groomers
- Animal rescues
- Non-profit humane societies
Out of these options, you have to choose wisely. Make sure that the person who is adopting your dog meets all the requirements. It’s better to make a checklist of questions and then choose the new owner based on marks. We encourage you to be a strict interviewer.
- Are they committed to having a new dog and intend to adopt it for longer?
- Why do they want to adopt your dog?
- Can they easily fit the dog in their home?
- Do they have a lifestyle that can ensure your pet’s needs—and happiness?
- What is the temperament and overall nature of the new pet parents—that is, are they aggressive or easygoing?
- Do they already have other pets at home? If yes, do the owners know how to get their pets used to each other? Cats and dogs living together is not an uncommon phenomenon. All they would need is the right guidance on how to do that.
- Can they manage to give your dog time and attention?
Most pet rehoming agencies use detailed questionnaires while finding a new home for your dog. After finding a suitable home, they would notify you. But if you are doing the job by yourself for rehoming your dog, the above questions can give you an idea about properly evaluating the new owner.
While assessing new dog owners, you’d get a fair idea of whether the person is right for your buddy or not. Visit the place where they intend to keep your dog and see if that suits it or not.
Tap yourself on the back for finding a perfect new parent for your dog! Now, everything is all set, and you need to get your buddy ready for his new life.
Here is how to prepare your dog for rehoming.
3. Preparing your dog for rehoming
At this step, you’d have feelings of guilt and relief.
But remember, you are doing this because it is in your dog’s best interest. After all, it is better to rehome your dog instead of keeping it caged at home, ignoring its needs.
You can do the following to prep your dog for rehoming
- Give your dog a nice bath.
- Comb its hair, clip nail, clean ears, and brush its teeth.
- Take your dog to the vet for a checkup.
- It is preferable to have it spayed or neutered.
- Prepare a goodbye box and put all his favorite toys, treats, food, sleeping mat, and anything you think it might need in the new home.
Give it a goodbye kiss, wish it luck, and take it to the new owner.
After rehoming your dog. Keeping Pet advises you to keep an eye on how your dog is doing at its new home to satisfy you. But don’t bother the new owners by calling or visiting them frequently.
Often dog owners ask about how to rehome an aggressive dog. The answer is all dogs are rehomed in the same way. However, while making a dog’s portfolio, come clean about all the behavioral issues so the other person is well aware of what he or she is bringing into his or her home.
That was all about rehoming a dog!
If you enjoyed this article, you might like more of what we have. Keeping Pet has all you need to know about Dog Training, Dog Care and Feeding, and Dog Health—as they say, it is all about dogs! Get the best advice from dog experts, read the experiences of pet parents with their furry friends in our newsletter, and much more. And yes, rest assured, we won’t spam your inbox.