Sometimes, things just don't work out the way they ideally should. 

If you've never had a dog before, you might have an idea of what dog ownership is all about. The long awaited arrival of your first puppy...you've bought the toys, bed, treats...read as many books as you can (and got a little bit confused in the process)... chosen a puppy...and he comes home - WHAM! The cute fluffy little thing (with teeth comparable to tiny needle-like daggers!) takes up far more energy, time and patience than you could ever imagine! You learn a massive amount - usually through a bit of trail and error - and soon your mischievous little puppy is growing into a beautiful dog who you couldn't imagine living without.

But what happens if it doesn't work out like that? You just don't "click" with your dog, under estimated the time and patience that it takes? Or your life gets turned upside down due to things beyond your control, and suddenly that flexible work schedule is solid and unmoving, keeping you away for 6 + hours a day?

Recently, one of the puppies bred by us was returned by his owner. She had tried her best to make things work, but in the end she made the difficult decision to bring him back to us, rather than him have a life that was less than ideal. May I say what an incredibly brave decision it was for her to make, as she truly had her dog's best interests at heart.

We wouldn't encourage anyone to "give up" on their dog, but sometimes it is better to be honest with yourself if things just aren't working. There are often many options for dog day care if its just work that's the problem, and it's good to explore them all before parting with your pet, but if it comes to it, contact your breeder. Don't put your dog in a rescue centre, your breeder will know of people wanting a dog, and can vet homes on your behalf. Most breeders will also take the dog into their home whilst they find the best home possible, a far better option than a cold kennel. I suppose that is one large benefit of buying a puppy from a reputable breeder rather than from a shelter, you have a little "support crew" if/when you need help and advice, or worst case scenario, a new home for your dog!

Part of our code of ethics is to take back/rehome any dog that we have bred, no matter what their age. We're pleased to say that the little man who came back to us last week now has a fantastic new home near the North East coast, with human and canine company all day, every day. We're sure he'll be very happy, thanks in part to the unselfish decision made by his first owner.

We are always happy to give help and advice to puppy homes at ANY time in their lives. Don't suffer in silence :)