That's what I'm thinking. I'm not understanding why this can't be done?

When you go into getting a dog, it's not really fair to get him used to a new home for 1-2yrs and then take him back. You've gotta remember that this other house has another dog and playmate as well and I'm sure he will be depressed when taking him from his house. Dogs adapt fast so I'm sure going to the new home won't be the problem, it will be you taking him back. I know that even we visit my dads house and stay for 2 nights (he has huge fenced in yard, inground pool, 2 other dogs, more people living there) and we get back home and Jackson, for the first day, is often depressed and just wants to sleep and go under my bed because it's not as great over here lol. After a day or so, he's over it, and that was only from a 2 night stay in another place, not a year.

I am a college student. Been at local community college for 2yrs now and living at home. I am hoping to get into a 4yr university next year. But when I got a dog, I committed to him 100%. I would never/could never leave him for those lengths of times. I will never live in a place that doesn't allow him. Period. I accommodate my life and my schedule for his sake. If you had a child and decided to go to college, you can't just drop your kid off with someone for a year, so I would never do it to a dog.

Great post!! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

It is not uncommon for a dog to be fostered while an owner has an illness or cant take care of it. I really believe dogs live in the moment. However if you could find accomidations that allow you to keep your dog while you go to school that would probably be for the best

There's a member on YT who cares for the dogs of our servicepeople, who have been called away for 1-4 years. I will try to find her... she states all dogs remember their owners and I don't believe they've ever had a problem when the dogs are taken from her to return to their original owners.

So I think that your plan would be fine.

Here's one of her threads:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...ot-forget.html

Hope this helps...

But what about the yorkie's second owner? If Cody won't forget Danielle, then he won't forget the new owner either..

So is it not possible to go to a community college for the first couple of years (this would be a way to get around the rule some universities have about living on campus for the first year or two) and then tranferring and getting an apartment?

True... why does he have to forget? He may never see the trainer again, so that's not too important. The argument here is will he remember his first owner who will be returning to take him home.

Same thing happens when one moves to a new residence. The dogs don't know why they're in a new place. They find new favorite spots and develope new routines.

Granted, having to leave one owner to return a year or two later is not the ideal situation, but I don't think it will scar the dog for life or anything like that.

All my dogs came to me at 2, 3, and 5 years old. Two came from the pound, two came from breeders who retired them. They are all fine, even the one that had head/behavioral problems when I got her. The 5 year old (now 13) had 4 different homes with 4 different owners before mine. None of them lay around pining for their previous owners. They're too worried about what they're going to eat, and when they're going for a walk, who has what toy, and who is in which bed!

Its not impossible.
I would certainly do this if it is an option at the time. Again the OP is just an option. I'd much rather have an apartment with a roommate, or get into my absolutely DREAM college out-of-state that does indeed except pets.

However if this is not possible, it seems it would be best for him to go live with my friend.

I actually mentioned that I will more than likely be going to community college for the first year or two on the 1st page I believe. ;)

Again this is just an option, there are many ways this could go. Depends where I go and for how long, etc.



I was thinking of this! I was also thinking of dogs with Co-Owners. Alot of them travel on and off from place to place from a very young age.

I think you are doing the right thing by finding a responsible home for your dog. When I went to college my dog stayed with my parents. She was always my dog. I saw her on breaks but that was all for 4 years. When I came back and got married she went with me. She never missed a beat - as long as she was with me she didn't care where she was.

As another poster said, I think dogs are adaptable. Though she missed me, she adjusted when I left for school. My mother loved and cared for Midgie and was so good to her. But she never quit being my dog. I took her from the home she had been in for 10 years when I married and moved and she never grieved one minute.

I hope it goes well for you. I appreciate how difficult it must be for you to leave her.

Just out of curiosity - since you are asking for scientific proof regarding opinions differing from yours - do you have studies and scientific proof that backs up your belief as anything other than opinion? No trying to be nasty - but you have only said what you think or feel - not cited any facts. If you are demanding them from other folks, then shouldn't you have them to back up your position?

Okay good, I just didn't want you to think I was purposely ignoring some of your posts. This computer is seriously slow :P

Whoops! We had a small misunderstanding. I never meant this wouldn't be stressful for Cody- it will be. However there lies what I said about moving on. I cannot provide links or URLs but yes this is a scientific fact. I see it with my own eyes daily. Dogs do not think like humans. End of. I know it sounds harsh but it's true. Butch adores me completely- however if I were to give him to another home he would adapt and move on. For a week or maybe even a couple of weeks he would be baffled, confused, upset and stressed...then he would go "Okay well she isn't coming back this is where I live now". When I returned he would be thrilled and eager to come back to me without a glance toward the home I left him in. It's just how dogs think. Do I feel horrid knowing my dog would simply move on? No. He's a dog. It does not mean he is devoted to me any less or that I love him any less. Sadly we cannot tell dogs that we will be leaving for a year or two and then come back to get them. We leave and they deem us gone after the few weeks of confusion and adapting are up. However again- upon returning they throw themselves into our arms with no second thought. Correct, you are right. Cody will not forget me after he leaves- but he won't long for me either. Unlike humans who may grieve for years on end dogs move on very quickly. Cody will be fine and that is my opinion...and well....fact. He is not the only nor the first dog to do this.

Sorry my quote button isn't working today!

I'm not 'demanding' scientific evidence. I just think this is huge decision and when someone continually tells me I am wrong, I would like evidence not just opinion.

I'm sorry, but saying you're right because of what you have experienced and what you see is 'fact' is not right. I've seen dogs go through great stress and not deal well at all with similar arrangement. Does that mean I'm right because of what I've seen? Does that make my opinion fact? No.

Earlier you mentioned your GSD bitch. Was she purebred? From reputable breeder? if so you know her genetic code, Danielle has said Cody from BYB. I've seen dogs from puppymills develop OCD and other stress disorders from change. Without knowing if Cody is prepositioned to these kind of illness, you cannot say it is fact that he will be fine. I'm not meaning to say Cody is doomed, but these are serious risk you take and I really think putting Cody at risk should be last last option. I also haven't intended to give the impression that Cody will have some kind of issue, I'm just saying it is a definite risk.

Danielle, I can't help but wonder why on earth you got a dog if after two years you're sending him away for at least two years. Perhaps this whole experience will show you how committed you need to be to your pet before you start showing dogs like you want. I'm not trying to be cruel, I just think Britster is right. Dog is 100% commitment, not a toy.

No, that's actually not at all what I said. I just said I would never leave my dog or live in a place that doesn't allow him and that's me. Of course I don't want him confined to a crate all the time. I just don't think it's necessarily fair to the person or the dog. If I took in a dog for 1-2years, I would not want to give him back because I get too attached but that also may be just me.

I'll be looking into a place by next year, 2011. I am currently still at home. I've already begun looking for homes with a friend. ANY place I go MUST allow dogs. Because he will be coming with me because that's what I took on when bringing Jackson into my life. I would look into all my options. What if I get a job offer that I can't pass up that requires me being gone most of the day? I'd find doggy daycare and/or a dogwalker.