To rehome or not

yashokumar · Post by **yashokumar** » 12 May 2008, 16:47

Hi folks
I am in a bit of a quandry and would welcome suggestions.
I have an almost 2 year old male GS whom I adore. However I am being offered a secondment for a year to a place called Huddersfield. It means long hours and unfortunately my wife is also going abroad for a training course in a few months time.
I have worked very hard with my lad and he is very well trained in agility/obedience and trials standard. He is patient with all kids, yet is able to hold his own anywhere. Aconfident dog he is very well socialised, gotten over hang ups of car travel and travels all over with me he is perfectly comfortable with fireworks/gunfire etc. he has also had a stint as show dog and gone BOB and numerous 1st prizes in addition to ribbons from obedience ring events. I don't know what to do for he is the smartest dog I have ever trained and with a fantastic temperament, he is one of those once in a lifetime dogs. I considered whether I could leave him with someone for a while and pick him up after my secondment but this has its own problems as he may end up confused and upset :?: . I am not prepared to kennel him for long periods as he thrives on companionship. The timing sucks... it is a great career advancement for me but would mean I lose the one of the best dogs I have ever had.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
Yash

Sarah · Post by **Sarah** » 12 May 2008, 17:58

Personally i wouldn't rehome him. Would you give a child away if it didn't fit in with plans?

EnzoFerrari · Post by **EnzoFerrari** » 19 May 2008, 09:37

HI Yash,

I can understand your heartache. I personally couldnt do it! I have a 8 month old Giant and he means everything to me (and my OH) he's currently a lot of work, as he just entered the naughty age and I sometimes get near the edge of loosing my patience ( he seems to have a hearing problem in certain situations

). But I love him to bits and could not give him up ever again. And I know the work will be worth it in the end...
I understand sometimes a unwanted situation comes up and leaves people like you to decide.
Is there nobody you know who can look after him during the week and you can take him on the weekend? Will you be moving to Huddersfield for that year??
Have you talked to the breeder maybe thay can help?

Steffi

susie · Post by **susie** » 19 May 2008, 10:10

A hard decision I'm sure. Several years ago I had the chance to work at our head office in Finland. I would love to have done it but I had my Irish Setter and he came first. No contest, sometimes things have to be declined or postponed for those we love.

Your GS sounds a fabulous dog, I hope you find a way to keep him or you will miss out on all those great years you have ahead of you with him.

Good Luck.

Maureen · Post by **Maureen** » 19 May 2008, 10:32

Hello Yash

Huddersfield is a lovely place for long walks. Have you thought about a dog sitter whilst you are at work? Not ideal but better than losing a loyal companion.

Maureen

vivy · Post by **vivy** » 19 May 2008, 12:19

Maureens idea seems a great one, there must be some dog sitting services in Huddersfield, they are everywhere now :lol: Wouldnt be a hard decision for e though, my two come before anything

paula · Post by **paula** » 19 May 2008, 14:11

I feel for you Yash. We had the same dilema when we went to South Africa and leave our x mastiff and little whippet behind it was heart breaking so much so that i was on the verge of staying in this country. However very good friends of ours said they would take the dogs to stay with them and if we decided S Africa was not the place for us they would return them to us. Once abroad there were several occasions when i wanted to get the 1st plane home. But regular letters from our friends told us of the boys progress and how they had settled. We saw them 3yrs later and they knew who we were but never tried to leave with us. We returned overseas and aquired 2 GS A Dashund and a little x which my son rescued from down a drain. Sadly the Dashund died but when it was time for us to return to England the little x was in poor health and it was advised we had him put to sleep. If he had been in a fit state he would of returned with us as i could not go thro the heartbreak again.
I do hope you find a solution as i know how hard it is :? :?

Mud Mops · Post by **Mud Mops** » 19 May 2008, 18:39

I had a similar position when I moved in with my OH (we had been married a year but I wouldn't move from Devon and he wouldn't move from London, highest wage won) We had a dog walker who came in twice daily to see to the dogs and it worked out very well.
That would be the way I'd go instead of rehoming and there are lots of dog walkers around (good and bad so be careful if you decide on this route!)

EnzoFerrari · Post by **EnzoFerrari** » 20 May 2008, 13:22

@Mud Mops

you picked a nice spot to rejoin with your husband

I love the Peak District...

yashokumar · Post by **yashokumar** » 20 May 2008, 21:51

Thank you for all your suggestions and comments. Appreciate all your suggestions. Dog walker sounded nice but would mean it was someone else who was spending the time with my dog rather than me, not the same

. I have had to take a good hard look at what was most important for me as the doggies are part of the family, looking at the sad state of events in Burma and China and guess had an epiphanic moment. Much as I do enjoy my work my family is the reason I work. I have decided to put the career advancement on hold for now. It is more fulfilling to be greeted by an enthusiastic dog!
Cheers
Yash

Jools · Post by **Jools** » 20 May 2008, 21:54

im sure you will make the right choice yash.......when times are hard it is good to be welcomed by the dog

Mud Mops · Post by **Mud Mops** » 28 May 2008, 18:15

Yashokumar,
I put mine on hold too (combination of kids and dogs) and haven't had any regrets (OH has though!!)
EnzoFerrari I love this part of the world (nearly as much as where I lived in the hills in Scotland) great dog walking country .
Fancy meeting up with the gang here for a walk?.

EnzoFerrari · Post by **EnzoFerrari** » 29 May 2008, 21:24

Mud Mops wrote:I love this part of the world (nearly as much as where I lived in the hills in Scotland) great dog walking country .
Fancy meeting up with the gang here for a walk?.

Nothing beats the Badische Land! Black Forest , Swiss and French Alps and the beautiful Rhine valley just round the corner 8) 8)

walk with the gang, sure, anytime from when we back off holiday

Enzo would love to rumble round with someone same size then him