As a behavior consultant and trainer, my primary goal is to help families work through their dog’s behavior to help them achieve behavior modification, set up management, ensure the dog’s needs are being met and more. I’ve helped thousands of dogs overcome issues their guardians thought were impossible – fear of strangers, separation anxiety, resource guarding, growling at toddlers and more. But, as someone who specializes in fear, aggression, reactivity and separation anxiety, I also know that sometimes the resources needed – emotional, financial and otherwise, to accomplish long term behavior modification is sometimes not possible for that particular family.
It looks like this. You dreamed of adding a dog to your family and you finally did. But, your dream didn’t turn out the way you thought it would. And now you’re sad, conflicted and aren’t quite sure what to do. You’re likely getting lots of advice, perhaps conflicting and none of it feels like you’re making an educated decision. Perhaps you’re experiencing judgment from those who disagree with you. Please remember, nobody else is walking in your shoes, living your life with your circumstances and nobody else has the right to pass any judgment on you or your decisions.
It may be controversial, but sometimes a particular dog just isn’t the right fit for the family and this creates quality of life issues for both the humans and the dog. Shaming or guilting people who are already in difficult situations will not make them feel better, be productive or help the dog. We can throw all the shoulds and coulds and woulds at people like “you should not have gotten a puppy” or “you should have extra money saved up for medical issues” but in the end, these things are accusatory, classist and don’t do anything to help the dog or the family when they need help.
Why might someone consider surrendering, rehoming or making other decisions about their dog? Well, there’s plenty of reasons.
Maybe your dog has unexpected behavior issues and you don’t know how to resolve them. Perhaps your family is experiencing a financial or other type of hardship. Maybe your dog was a cute puppy but is now an angsty teenager and you feel unprepared and overwhelmed. Maybe your family is now adding a human baby and you’re worried about how your dog and baby will live together. Maybe your dog has aggression issues or is even a threat to public safety. Or, maybe the shelter or rescue wasn’t transparent or did a poor job matching dog to home and the dog you got just isn’t what you thought you were getting.
What now?
Well, if any of this sounds familiar, you’re in the right place. Getting professional behavior guidance at this time is critical, not just for your dog’s welfare but so you can have peace of mind in your decision, knowing you’ve truly given your dog the best chance at life with you. I’ve put together my Top 10 Suggestions To Consider Doing Before Surrendering Or Rehoming Your Dog, just for you. Download it today. And if you want more personalized one-on-one counseling, you can schedule a special consult here to talk through your own situation.
As a multi-credentialed behavior expert, a rescue advocate and volunteer for over 2 decades and a former shelter trainer, I can help you navigate these difficult decisions and help you find the right choice for your dog and your family. If you choose to rehome or surrender, my guidance can help ensure you’re setting your beloved dog up for success moving forward. Don’t you and your dog both deserve this?
If you are struggling with these tough decisions, I have a special consult, just for you here. If need help with training your fearful, aggressive or reactive dog or have any other issue, you can schedule your training session here!
Wishing you peace in your decision,
