We have an awesome Old English Sheepdog who is not getting enough attention. Sometimes we have thought about sending him to a farm where we think he will be happier. We love our doggie but in the last year (since the baby has been born) he seems to be getting more and more anxious. Recently he was hit by a car....he bolted out the front door which he NEVER used to do.
I sent an email to a local sheep farm and asked if they were interested. They said they were!
I am wondering if there is anyone who gave their dog a new home but was still able to visit him?
Overall did you feel relief? Sadness? Regret?
He's my first dog so I'm a little torn. On one hand I feel like I might be giving up on him and on the other I feel a bit like I am keeping him from his natural element of wide open space. (We live in a tiny place by the beach)
I so appreciate all of you responses. Thank you!
I need to fill some of you in on the history of Harry. We purchased Harry when we lived in rurual East San Diego. Because of financial reason and the need to be closer to family, we had to move. Life happens and we have done our best with Harry. I think part of his frustration is he did start out with alot of open space and then we changed location. I believe we have done the best we could have given who we are as a family....Life happens and we did plenty of research before we bought him. We wanted a pup who was great around kids, which he is.
For the record, Harry is getting walked twice a day and we have a small fenced yard. And still he is getting pretty anxious....that's why I think he needs more. We are self employed and Harry is around us all the time. Not crated all day like many many dogs are that live in the city. So for those of you who feel that we should have done more research, etc....we did! But you can't predict the future and my families needs are more important than those of my dog.
Life happens and sometimes ya gotta make some decisions. It was not possible for us to stay in the country....
I like the idea of taking him for a few visits before we make a final decision. Thanks Everyone!
Sheepdogs are working dogs.
They are smart and need activity, companionship and they have a natural herding instinct.
Especially if he's going to be a herding dog, he'll be working a herd closely with the farmer and they thrive on it.
I've been to sheep dog trials and the dogs just love their work.
Let him adjust and bond with his new family for a long while before visiting.
Nobody else is there with you to see everything that is going on. You are the only one who truly knows what is best for your dog, none of us do.
IMO you need to do what you feel in your heart is best to give him the most out of his life. If you think letting him go to a farm will make him happier and a better fulfilled life then that is what you should do.
About visiting him that is something you are going to have to work out with the farmer.
Its a huge change to a family when a baby is born. It affects everyone, including a pet. But also remember the first year of a babies life is the most time consuming. Once they are able to become more independent it gets easier. Do you think that once your little does become more independent you will be able to give your dog more attention? If you do then maybe put it off for now taking him to the farm and see how things work out for a while longer.
Just remember as long as your choice is from your heart and thinking of your loved pet to better his life and happiness when you make your choice then it will never be the wrong one.
I agree with Rebecca -- no one can know what's best for your dog or your family since we're not there. I would look not at what your dog is "losing" (your home) but rather what he's gaining. Is the farmer going to give him a loving home with lots of space to run, play, and work? Or is he going to be chained to an outside dog house and used primarily for herding? Are there other dogs already there? And if so, are those dogs also primarily work dogs? Or would those dogs be new family for him as well?
I'd be asking more questions about the farmer and his intentions.
I've never re-homed one of my dogs. I felt that when i made the committment to adopt them, I faced that responsibility for 12+ yrs and I would stick to it. I've done this through 2 dogs who have now passed on and currently have a 13 yr old with cancer and we are making sure he is comfortable in his last days.
We can't answer this question for you. Did you think about how big this dog would get, the amount of exercise he needs when you got him and the fact that he would not be in his "element"? The first year after a baby is hard on everyone, including pets.
The farm sounds like a great place for him to run and work, however, he will be coming into a new situation where pecking orders will take place with the other dogs on the farm. What is the farm like? Will he get love and affection or will he just be a barn dog and work?
If you do choose to let him go. Please do not adopt another pet until your children are older and you are all ready for the responsibility of pet ownership.
We are not in your shoes and cannot give you an answer. You have to do what is right for you and your family and only you can make that decision. Of course it is a difficult decision.
I think that if the dog is not getting the attention he deserves then you should find him a new home where he can get it. I will also say this, do not get another dog until ALL of your children are at least 8yrs old and you can divide your time better. I also think you may have neglected to prepare your dog for incoming baby and may be helped with some anxiety assistance (talk to your vet) and the proper care and attention (can you do this?). Dogs are effected by the changes of new baby, hearing a baby cry can be very upsetting to a dog and they all deal with it differently. My dogs WERE prepped for baby, I had a soundtrack of crying baby and other baby sounds and walked around with it, left it on in the nursary and our room etc so they could react and I had time to correct their reactions. They were so WONDERFUL and READY for the actual baby when he came home. Their reaction to the crying was to pace back and fourth or to sit at my feet waiting for baby to be happy again. Then, if I was sitting they wanted to see said happy baby. Our dogs were very protective and loving about baby, even though they lost out on some extra time too, but again I spent my whole pregnancy preparing them for their life changes, not just the human's. There were many things that we did - I just gave the crying baby example as that tends to be a big issue.
So, I think you have two options ... make time for your dog, talk to your vet about a temporary help with the anxiety and maybe hire a dog walker/sitter to help with the extra attention or the farm that is happy to find a place for him.
Good luck with your choice, only you can make it and only you will deal with the natural consequences.
He would be happier at a farm IF the people would treat him well. Under any circumstance, do not hand your dog over, before you check this farm out. It would not be right by the dog to know that this is a safe, loving place. If this is a farm, they might have open to the public days. You could visit your dog then. But remember, it wouldn't be YOUR dog anymore, and you wouldn't be able to treat him like that. He probably wouldn't treat you like that, either. it would probably be easier to not visit, in reality.
Yes, you will have sadness and a little regret. You were not able to give the dog what it needs, so that would be natural. However, you could move on knowing you did the best thing for the dog. A sheep dog would not be happy in your home, and you made him happy. That's what you should focus on, because doing the right thing is not always easy.
In the future, I encourage you to learn about dogs. Learn about their needs (walks every single day, for any dog you would get, even the smallest,) temperament, breed, health issues, etc. Get behavioral training and socialize them. I have a feeling if you knew about this breed, you would not have chosen it. This is not a tiny beach house candidate. This could be a valuable learning experience, and really help you pick the perfect pet next time. That way, you can enjoy your pet from day one, and you don't have to worry about their happiness! Having dogs is wonderful, but having the wrong dog can be very difficult.
We gave our dog up agter about 2 years of having him. We got him when my son was about 9 months old and he wasn't suppose to get big - well, he basically doubled in size. He was very hyper and needed a lot of room to run and always wanted to play with other animals (which we did not have). We didn't have a fenced in yard, but he would break off of his lead and jump into our neighbors fenced yard to play with their dogs, any chance he got to break out of the house - he would. Giving him away was the best thing for us. He went to home in the country, with a big yard and privacy fence and two other dogs. I don't get to see him - and I still miss things about him, but I occasionally see the people we gave them to and hear he's doing great. They were able to give him the room & attention he was craving.
Good Luck...it sounds like a wonderful opportunity for your dog and you should be happy in knowing that he will be happy there too.
When I was younger, I dated a guy who had a dalmation. He loved that dog, and while the two of us were working in WA at one point we adopted a second dalmation from a rescue center. She was a total freak, but we loved her.
Fast forward a year, the guy and I broke up. He took Smudge (his dog) and I kept Abby. 14months later - I had move out of the house we rented with a yard (I couldn't afford it alone and it was in a bad neighborhood) and was living in a small apartment. I was dating someone (who is now my husband) and we were talking about buying a home together (and getting married and starting a family)... and how we felt that Abby wasn't fitting into our current or future life - even though we both loved her. She was not getting the exercise she needed in my apartment (even though we walked her 3 times a day) and she would not have been a dog to have with kids/babies.
So - I called my ex (who now lived in rural CO) and we met him in NE and gave him the dog.
It was one of the hardest things I've had to do...
I felt sad and had some regret - I really did love that dog - but in the end relief was the biggest feeling I had. I felt better because I had guilt everyday going to work and leaving her alone in my apartment. I had guilt because I couldn't afford a rental house with a yard for her. I knew that my ex would love her, give her everything she needed, and keep her well - which of course he did.
I say - if you are thinking about it - it is probably the right decision for your family
Good luck!
I'm a dog lover though haven't had to do this. I think it depends on the farm and its owners... As someone said, will the dog just be a working dog with no affection from the owners or do they also consider the dogs pets? If it's the latter, sounds like a good idea... When your baby is mobile, you'll be chasing after him/her and I think have almost less time for the dog. If you can ease the dog into the farm a bit ie: go there with him at least 4 times and hang out some, let him get to know the owners etc. seems like a pretty good idea to me.
I would not do it.
I would do everything I could to make it work.
The reason I say this is no one will care for your dog like you do.
My mom gave our dogs away when we were young & I have never forgotten it. I've regretted it so much.
I would get creative & try to make it work.
Can someone you trust, walk the dog for you?
Can you put in a quasi fence?
How about a huge dog pen for when you absolutely needed it.
I hope you keep him. I would take him for you but I have hit my limit of rescue dogs. My husb has put his foot down. Keep us posted. PM me if you need ideas! Best of luck.
I do not have a dog. I have never had a dog or any other animal. (we do have african dwarf frogs, that live in water, but that doesn't count). I just wanted to say how nice I think it is that you are willing to give up your dog with the hope that your dog could be happier somewhere else. It is really sweet that you are thinking about his needs. It sounds like, from responses about your type of dog, that he needs to run around and be free. I'm sure you will be sad that he is gone, but if you could visit that may help.
