I think at his age a rehoming would be more difficult for him then if he were a younger dog which Im sure you have already considered. I think your best bet for rehoming him into a home he is comfortable in is your friends however Im concerned also they have other dogs and he has been the only dog so he may not fit in with the other dogs. A rescue is a great choice because they will screen people and make sure he is going to the right home. I really think you need to do some soul searching and be very serious about finding just the right home for him.

We all make mistakes, this is a biggy, but we all do things we wish we hadn't. I wish when in my 20s and 30s I knew what I do now. You've been thinkin about this for a year, so it's not been an easy decision for you. It sounds like you dogs, not getting all he needs (your time) already and will only get worse in future. Perhaps you could talk with your friend, and do a triail period, see how you dog does with them for a short time and build that time up. It'll give you time to see how you feel about the placement and how you dog fits in. Also if its the right choice for you.

I think some of us are forgetting that when you adopt a rescue you are receiving a "rehomed" dogs. So far that has worked out for me and my rescues are very very VERY happy. And before anyone jumps on me......No I would not give up any of them for anything. That doesn't mean that my feelings are the end all. We all have to deal with situations in our own way.

Looking at this issue from my present situation I would be grateful to be able to take an older dog into my home. I have just lost one of mine and miss her so. We are an older couple, always home and not willing to train a puppy. Our two dogs would have to adjust to new company but that could be done. I'm sure there are many people in my condition who probably feel the same. So many of you foster and do such a fine job with animals that come from all sorts of family environments so I think the idea of re-homing is great for all concerned. Change is part of life, health and work impact decisions, in short, giving up your dog will be hard but if you feel she will be better off in another loving home, go for it.

Maybe you could work out a deal with a friend where they'd always watch your dog when you have to go away.

Are you planning to have kids? If so I wouldn't get rid of my dog for a few years of freedom.

This kind of stuff makes me sad. I am not against re-homing. But I think your reasons, to me, aren't good enough if I'm being honest.

I got Jackson when I was 18 on a whim as well. And does he hold me back from some things? Absolutely. There are times where my life and my decisions would have been easier without a dog. But overall he has improved my life so much and is SUCH a huge part of it. He's literally family. I cry even at the THOUGHT of re-homing him, even if it was to family. He is so upset without me... even though he loves my dad and has grown up there, when I have to leave him for a few days, my dad said he is not the same dog. The longest I left him was 10 days and he would be okay and still eat, etc, but my dad said he would eventually end up back in the window again, waiting for me.

I guess it would depend on the dogs personality. I do think some dogs are more resilient than others. I believe Jackson would be better off being put to sleep than being re-homed to someone else that wasn't family. But he's a very quirky, overly attached dog that is extremely bonded to me and my close family. If your dog is used to sitters, etc, it may be a different situation.

I understand that life does change and we sometimes need to change with it. I also understand the promise of permanence we make to the babies we acquire, our attachment to our babies, our sincere desire for them to have the home they need even if it is not our home any more, and the quandry of deciding which is which from the options we believe we have at the time we feel we must make them. I know there is deep sadness at losing them for any reason, even if they just live half a country away temporarily...and how traumatic it is to have to fly them there until we can retrieve them again...because I have had to allow a heartbeat boy to live temporarily elsewhere...and it is nearly impossible to drive home from the airport, having to stop all the time to allow for all the heartbroken sobbing.

I have also had many, many babies...cats and dogs...that lived elsewhere before coming to live with me. Many came home with me absolutely 'needing' homes for their own survival, and needing love, and one was so near death she couldn't hold food down at first from starvation. But when she was well again, we found her a most marvelous home in a family with little boys...I had two sons and oh how she loved little boys (she 'hated' little girls, BTW...LOL)...and it was soooooo hard when she left even though I knew she would be soooooo loved and happy in her new home.

I believe you will make a proper decision for yourself and your Yorkie baby, and I wish you all the best in making this most difficult decision.

Take care.

- Cat

Even if treated poorly dogs especially when they have been with you for 7 years would rather stay with you then go to a better home. Im sure it's going to be extremely hard on him. Also keep in mind although not old for yorkies it is harder to rehome older dogs and some end up staying in there foster homes the rest of there lives. If you seriously want to rehome I would look at some yorkie rescues to help or he could end up being passed from house to house.

She also can't just get rid of kids either.....

People don't realize that staying in a foster home for the rest of their lives is not a bad thing. At least not if the rescue is one that checks their foster homes out well.

I have fosters who have been with me for a very long time and they are treated the same as my own pups.

We don't allow people to foster unless they meet our criteria for adoption.

It is not age that makes a dog difficult to place...it is other things such as medical issues or personality issues such as not getting along with other dogs.

I think that you really need to reassess your situation. I am not really into re-homing animals. I am very close to you in age and kind of got my dog on a whim - I didn't really want a yorkie but I fell in love with Milana when I saw her. My career is very demanding - I work 8-9 hours each day plus some hours from home. I LOVE to travel within US and outside. Did having a yorkie stop my dreams and career aspirations? Nope. Yes, she stays at home for 8-9 hours by herself but she is completely pee pad trained and always has access to food and water throughout the day. So I never feel that I need to rush home but once I am home we go for a nice 30 min walk. I have traveled outside the US for weeks at a time this past year. I board her at doggy day care place - she has been fine there and actually loves being among other dogs. Yes it's somewhat expensive but companionship is definitely worth it. When I do feel that she is super lonely, I take her to doggy day care once in awhile. On the weekends, I try to go to dog parks. Few weeks ago, I moved across the country to a new city with my dog - no issues here (many bigger cities are becoming a lot more dog friendly). I love coming back from work and knowing that someone is waiting for me! Please think about re-homing very carefully - you have been 7 years with this dog. Seven years is a long time. I could maybe see someone questioning dog ownership after one to two years but you have spend 7 years together, do you think that it would be that easy for both of you to part? Unless you are traveling 5 days out of 7 (I could see rehoming as possible option), you should really assess what would be the best for the dog.

Would this be hard on the dog. You bet it would. My dog who just passed away was a found dog who I could never locate the owner. I looked for months. His age at that time was close to 4 years old. He had a lot of separation anxiety when I would leave the house. Did he turn out to be a great dog for me. He was my best buddy yes. But the first few months I had him were very difficult for him and I. There is no good answer here. We all talk about the importance of rescue and rehoming. We don't always know the story of why. But we don't judge the dog. I don't think we should judge the owner. Just remember that you can't go back the decision will be permanent. Good luck with all of this.

When some one rehomes though I always worry it won't be to there forever home or they will not go to a reputable rescue. Sammy never went to a rescue and was just passed around from home to home and that just seems so scary for a dog. Sammy is terrified of ridding in the car and my heart tells me this is because he is afraid of being switched off to another home :( I had heard older dogs were harder to adopt a while ago from one of our local shelters that's why I said that but it might be different for a breed specific rescue or even smaller dogs. Most of the rescues here seem to big large dogs.

I have a friend who adopted a girl who was 7 or 8 years old. This pup went from living in a cage to having a wonderful loving home. She is now pampered and doing so well. My friend had to fill out an application to adopt. The group placed the pup with her because she was a "perfect" fit. So I do believe some rehomes are so much better for the pups. Again, I think it all needs to be what is best for the pup.

I agree. Keeping a pup and you're almost never home is not good for them. The puppy needs love & attention....I think rehoming is a good decision so the puppy can get the attention he needs. Do what's best for the puppy by all means.