Re-homing your dog is not a decision that should be taken lightly.
By re-homing your dog, you are taking a chance of your dog:

• Being abused by it's new owners
• Being neglected by it's new owners
• Being re-homed by the people you gave the dog too
• Ending up in a shelter
• Being euthanized or put down
• Contributing to the overpopulation of pets in the USA

The truth is that most dogs who find themselves re-homed by their original owners will end up being re-homed over and over and over again, until one day, they end up in a shelter and are put down.
Pet experts agree that there are times when re-homing a pet is not only acceptable, but also necessary for the well being of you, your family and your dog.
This article will examine those reasons and explore other venues you can look into before you take the plunge into re-homing your dog.
Some of the most commonly acceptable reasons for re-homing your dog may include:

• The dog has bitten a person and drawn blood
• Because of health issues you can no longer care for the dog
• You've been forced to move and can not bring the dog with you

Many times, owners will become confused and frustrated by the behavior of their pet dogs.
Some of the most common reasons for re-homing their canines are:

• The dog is too hyper
• The dog doesn't listen
• The dog isn't trained
• They flat out don't want the responsibility anymore
• It's too expensive
• It just 'isn't working out'

And like the first list, there's more that could be added to this list too.
Don't allow these reasons to be a last resort for your dog.
With a little training and some TLC, you can have a fantastic dog who does less of what you don't like, and more of what you love.
Re-homing is stressful to a dog, and for good reason.
Imagine how you would feel if you were shuffled to and from other people's houses through most of your life.
Domesticated dogs need stability, and they cherish the bonds between themselves and their humans.
Before you re-home your dog, you should make sure that you have exhausted all of your resources and that you have done whatever is in your power to be able to keep the dog.
First, ask yourself WHY you want to re-home your dog.
If you're re-homing your dog because of a behavioral problem, such as barking, digging, jumping up, or things of that nature, then re-homing your dog is not a solution.
These are things that dogs do, and they must be taught that it is inappropriate to do these things when living with humans.
This requires spending some time training your dog.
If you don't feel that you're up to the task, or if you need some guidance on how to go about it and where to start, then consider hiring a dog trainer.
If that's not an option, then at least consider doing some research for yourself so you can work with the dog to give you the behaviors that you want and do less of what you don't want.
Second, if you're absolutely going to re-home the dog, then set up a list of questions so you can interview the dog's new owners.

• Why do they want the dog?
• What other animals do they have?
• Have they had a dog before?
• What happened to it?
• Do they have the finances and time to care for the dog?

You may even want to find a questionnaire from a responsible breeder to use as a guideline when re-homing your dog.
Third, turn your attention to no-kill shelters and rescues.
Let the rescue know that you are trying to re-home your dog and ask if they would be willing to help you with the process.
Each rescue has its own standards when it comes to re-homing, so you may need to call around before you find one that will work with you.
Fourth, it is NEVER acceptable to drop your dog off at a parking lot, field, or any place else where it has to fend for itself.
This is abandonment, not re-homing.
It is a terrible thing to do to your dog.
Remember, re-homing should always be the last resort when it comes to your dog, not the first one.