How do I know if I should rehome my puppy?
The sudden loss of freedom and lifestyle restrictions of raising a young dog can trigger deep emotional distress and resentment, even when you are already attached. Constantly worrying about how the puppy impacts your life, your schedule, or other pets makes it difficult to see a winning scenario, leaving many torn between guilt and the desire to rehome while the dog is still young.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since September 2026.
- This comes up 26.1× more often in r/puppy101 than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
How do I know if I should rehome my puppy?
- 1having a roommate let the puppy out during the dayDid this help you?
- 2rehoming the puppy back to the breederDid this help you?
- 3relying on the older dog to defend herself and teach the puppy disciplineDid this help you?
- 4Test how the puppy handles the sling and new stimuli beforehandDid this help you?
- 5Prepare to abort and go home at any signs of fearfulnessDid this help you?
- 6Ensure another adult is available to supervise older kids if applicableDid this help you?
- 7Hiring personal trainersDid this help you?
- 8Enrolling in group puppy classesDid this help you?
- 9Using puppy day camp trainingDid this help you?
- 10Leashing the puppy full-time inside the houseDid this help you?
- 11Considering private rehomingDid this help you?
- 12trying medication like ProzacDid this help you?
- 13confining the cat to a single room during adjustment periodsDid this help you?
- 14bringing the puppy to a local shelterDid this help you?
- 15putting information on file for when the puppy becomes availableDid this help you?
- 16exploring temporary stay or foster options through the shelterDid this help you?
- 17getting a second pet for companionshipDid this help you?
- 18Taking the dog on long 'decompression walks' in nature on a long line to allow free sniffing.Did this help you?
- 19Making the dog sit and focus on the owner for a minute or two to recenter when they get overstimulated on walks.Did this help you?
- 20Using flirt poles, frisbees, and fetch to teach impulse control while releasing energy.Did this help you?
- 21Hiding food puzzles around the house for all meals to provide mental enrichment.Did this help you?
- 22Attempting behavioral medications like gabapentin and trazodone.Did this help you?
- 23Simply holding out and waiting until the dog reaches 2 years of age, when they naturally begin to calm down.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I’m just starting to question whether this is realistically going to get better or whether we’re simply not the right fit for her, especially as I think about having kids in the next few years.”source ↗
“Is taking him trick or treating in my sling a crazy idea? He will be 11.5 weeks old”source ↗
“Teenage labs can be exhausting. I fostered one once and she's the only dog I ever had difficulty settling down.”source ↗
“We never considered rehoming her, but we were at wits end many times. I think around 2 she started to relax, but still needs to get her walks and stimulation.”source ↗
“I haven’t figured out anything that will consistently regulate her. We do puzzles for all of her meals that I hide around the house for her to find.”source ↗
“My 15 month old lab would be a nightmare without these. Regular on-leash walks and high intensity exercise does not compare!”source ↗
“I’m kind of stuck and wanted to get some advice on my 4.5 month old puppy.”source ↗
“I’m a fairly independent person and I think the loss of freedom is hitting me pretty hard, I know it will get better as she ages but I think a part of me will always resent how much my life needs to revolve around her despite how attached I’ve become.”source ↗
“I’m kind of at a loss and have been crying on and off all weekend, I don’t think there’s really a “winning” scenario. What would you do?”source ↗
“I have an 11 year old dog that is my main concern.”source ↗
“I'm concerned that older puppy bites as his jaw grows will hurt her.”source ↗
“I want to re-home him now when I think he has a better chance.”source ↗
“Unfortunately, this puppy was a rough fit from the start.”source ↗
“Every day I come home and my partner is exhausted and spent.”source ↗
“Even I’m having trouble bonding with her and have reached the point of considering rehoming which I never ever thought I’d consider.”source ↗
“My question is.. is it worth trying Prozac on him? It will cost us money we don’t really have, space we don’t have, a lot of work, and stress. Do I only want to try Prozac to prove I really tried everything?”source ↗
“Am I being selfish? Does he just so clearly want to go live with one or two adults and no one and nothing else????”source ↗
“Would sending him away to live with one or two humans devastate him? Would he miss us? Or his brothers?”source ↗
“How do you know what to do in times like these!? 😭😭”source ↗
“I try my best but I think she's depressed with me because I'm depressed.”source ↗
“She is alone a lot, never wants to play, barely eats, etc. She used to be the opposite. She seems more like her old self around other people.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 11How to tell if stray kittens need to be rescued
- 59How do I know if getting another pet is a mistake?
- 3Should I surrender an injured stray cat or let it go?
- 4What to do when local animal shelters won't take a stray dog?
- 4How to bring an outdoor cat inside when family objects or you have pets
- 2Should I take my pet with me after a breakup?