Why this is so freakin’ hard
Getting a puppy disrupts every part of your life. They require a ton of attention. You don’t get much sleep, all your daily routines get screwed up, and your free time evaporates.
You want to make sure you do this right, but an internet full of conflicting advice has you second-guessing your every move.
Add your pup’s obnoxious behavior to this mix of self-doubt and sleep-deprivation, and you have a recipe for something I like to call:
It usually starts 3-14 days after you bring your new puppy home.
5 signs you’ve got a case of WTFWIT:
Your brain has hit the panic button. “I’ve made a terrible mistake! Abort mission!”
This is why you’ve found yourself tempted to get rid of the dog, even though you NEVER thought you’d be the kind of person who would get rid of their dog.
It’s sometimes called the “puppy blues,” but that’s far too cute of a name, imho. It doesn’t capture the true essence of the experience. Because it’s not “gee! I’m feeling a little blue today.”
It’s “oh god, what the FUCK WAS I THINKING.”
But anyway, don’t worry. You’re not alone. This happens to many of us puppy parents. It’s usually worse for first-time dog owners, but it can affect even the most experienced dog people.
Okay, that’s a bit dramatic. But see, the cultural narrative is that getting a puppy is endless excitement and joy! A fuzzy little bundle of love who wants nothing more than to be your best friend!
We get bombarded with that message our whole lives.
And then you get a puppy, get slammed with a bad case of WTFWIT, and find yourself not happy at all. You’re just doing a lot of work for a tiny demon who screams, bites, and maybe doesn’t even seem to like you that much.
And that’s when you think that something must either be wrong with you, or wrong with the puppy.
Nothing is wrong with either one of you.
The truth is that puppies are cute for a reason: so we don’t kick them out when they drive us insane.
For the vast majority of us, raising a puppy isn’t non-stop fun. It can really suck for a while.
And that’s normal. It doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong, and it doesn’t mean it’s too late to have that beautiful bond you were hoping for.
Accepting a Puppy Back is Part of the Role of a Breeder
Typically, a reputable breeder is tied to their puppies for life — contractually they typically require any puppy that needs to be rehomed to be returned to the breeder no matter the age of the pup! This ensures that the puppy or dog will always have a safe place and the breeder will do their best to ensure they do not end up in a shelter or otherwise poor housing situation.
In fact, if you are researching breeders and find one that does not have any stipulations on what happens to their puppies post-8 weeks, then this could be a red flag.
Responsible breeders are very careful to avoid contributing to the overpopulation of shelter, poor breeding practices, etc. by carefully vetting buyers and requiring them to sign a detailed contract that typically includes a return police and a spay/neuter clause. A breeder who is not concerned by these issues is likely one that should be avoided.
When it comes to refunds or reimbursements, each breeder structures their contract a bit differently. Make sure you read your new puppy contract thoroughly before signing. First, the timing and reason for rehoming is an important factor.
Is there a significant problem with your new puppy or are you rehoming your now adult dog due to personal circumstances? If your new puppy has a significant health issue or other condition that makes him an unsuitable family pet, then your breeder should be willing to refund you in full for your puppy.
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In this scenario, some breeders may offer to cover vet bills and/or replace the puppy with another healthy puppy. With reputable breeders these circumstances are rare as a puppy from health tested parents who has already been checked over by a licensed veterinarian is highly unlikely to have any major health issues that would be cause for a return/refund.
Still, there are some unusual situations that can pop up so it’s important for you as the buyer to know your breeder’s policy regarding such a situation. Reputable breeders who genuinely care for their pups should be willing to take an unhealthy puppy back and give it the necessary vet care needed.
If you have had your puppy for a while and are facing personal circumstances that make it necessary to rehome your dog, it is still imperative to reach out to your breeder. Not every breeder’s contract is the same, but the most common way for breeders to structure the return or rehoming of a puppy is to refund the buyer based on what the breeder is able to resell the dog for minus any costs incurred such as transportation or boarding.
The age of your puppy or dog will be a huge factor when it comes to resale value. Adult dogs generally sell for less than the cost of the same breed of puppy. The reason is that most families prefer to start with a puppy as they tend to be blank slates in many ways so most families prefer to train them appropriately from the beginning rather than undo potential bad habits of an adult dog. And did we mention puppies are exceptionally cute?
While your adult doodle is likely to sell for less than his original cost, there are definitely still families out there willing and eager to take on an adult dog. A reputable breeder will invest just as much time in vetting a new home for a returned dog as they would when carefully selecting a family for an 8 week old puppy.
Training is another factor to consider. If your dog has basic house manners and a sound temperament, he/she will be easier to resale and the breeder will not have to factor training costs into the rehoming equation. If your dog does have some significant behavioral issues, your breeder should still be willing to take him/her back and utilize trainers and other resources in the area to get your doodle back on track.
A responsible breeder is never willing to “throw away” a dog that they once so kindly and carefully raised for two months so do not be afraid to reach out to your breeder even if it is a less than ideal situation.
In any scenario, a breeder’s goal should be finding their past puppy a good, safe home at a fair market value, doing their past to compensate you, the original owner, accordingly.
Hopefully we have convinced our readers that contacting your breeder is definitely the place to start should you need to rehome your pup. However, we also want to caution our readers to not jump to this conclusion too soon, particularly if you have a young pup. We do our best to educate and prepare our puppy parents, but it is still not uncommon to receive frantic emails or calls from our puppy parents during the first few weeks of owning their new doodle.
It is important to sort out if you are feeling overwhelmed because of common issues related to puppyhood. If you are feeling at the end of your rope with your pup, it is important to consider what factors are contributing to your frustration and give careful analysis to whether or not they will be remedied with training and/or the natural development of your dog from a puppy to an adult.
In many cases, our puppy parents who were among those to reach out with frantic pleas for help with potty training, frustration with nipping, etc. are often those who turn out to be the biggest doodle enthusiasts.
What are my rights when buying a puppy?
If you bought your pet from a shop
When you buy a pet, your consumer rights are the same as when you buy any item or product. This means you might be able to get a refund or a replacement pet from the shop if your pet gets ill or dies soon after you bought it.
Should You Rehome Your Dog? I did…
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