How Do I Find a Good Home for My Australian Shepherd?

When pet owners decide they can no longer keep their dog, questions like, “How do I find a good home for my Australian Shepherd?” are usually top of mind. While surrendering to a shelter is an option, the best way to find the right home for your dog is to rehome them yourself. It takes a bit of time and effort, but if finding the right home is important to you, this is the easiest way to see exactly where they end up.

Where Do I Start?

If you’ve never rehomed a dog before, the idea can seem overwhelming and stressful. The good news is an Australian Shepherd will be easier to rehome than some other breeds. Once you get your dog in front of the right people, it probably won’t take long to find them a loving new home.

The more potential adopters who see him, the better the chances of finding a good fit. Here are two things you’ll want to do:

• Contact breed-specific rescues and ask if they will list your dog as a courtesy listing. These groups may even know people who are actively looking for an Australian Shepherd.

• List your pet on the Rehome website. You’ll be able to create a pet profile, communicate with potential adopters, upload medical records, and more. This site is a valuable resource for anyone trying to rehome a pet. Your pet will also get more activity than you would with other sites because their profile will be published directly on Adopt-a-Pet. Once the bio is live, your dog could be viewed by the millions of people that visit Adopt-a-Pet every month.

Vet References and Rehoming Fees

Remember that the goal isn’t just to find a home; it’s to find a great home. That means you won’t want to just hand over your dog without learning a bit about the potential adopters. Make sure you:

• Ask for Vet References: If the adopter has had pets before, ask for vet references. You’ll want the vet to verify that proper medical care was provided.

• Charge a Rehoming Fee: Giving your dog away as free to a good home is never a good idea. Charging a rehoming fee weeds out people who look for free dogs to resell or use in nefarious ways. It also lets you know they are willing to invest in your dog. If they balk at a rehoming fee, what will they do when a sick dog needs to go to the vet?

It’s always a sad thing to give up a pet, but taking the time to find them a perfect home at least gives your Australian Shepherd the best chance at a happy future.