Rehoming a dog
This is a true story about rehoming a dog. Not rescue, no abuse involved. And no apparent behavior problems or health issues. It’s a simple heartfelt decision that has made a family and a dog very, very satisfied. And it has a happy ending for everybody.
Morning comes early at our house, it’s 6:30 and it’s time to get up. Munchkin is a summer guest. He slept in my bedroom last night. He must have been dreaming about swimming in the lake. He talks in his sleep. He woke me up three times and each time I leaned over the bed I could swear I heard him saying, “Let’s get up, let’s go swimming! Did you see that bird? I think I can catch it! Snarf, snarful, sharf” and then he rolled over and started snoring again.
Our summer days have been filled with early morning walks, stretching exercises, fishing and a swim. Summer is very nice on the lake.
I’m taking a day off from work today to go swimming with this dog and his boy. It’s the dog’s first time with a life jacket, one of our K-9 Float Coats, a yellow one. Munchkin looks so handsome. He moves easily like he’s naked but acts like he’s all dressed up and the twinkle in his eyes seems to say that he likes the look and the feel of the life jacket on his back.
Munchkin is a 5 year old Bernese Mountain Dog. His hair is cut short and we’re glad; the burrs don’t stick, the mud rolls right off, and he’s easy to dry. That’s all very nice because he lives in the house with us as all of our dogs do. He’s a very handsome dog. He belongs to Anthony who is 12 years old. Anthony is a guest at our house for the summer, too. Munchkin loves Anthony with all his heart and Anthony loves Munchkin with all of his.
Munchkin started life living with a doctor and his wife, a nurse. He was two years old when they decided he needed to have a different home. It wasn’t because they didn’t love him or anything like that, they just found out that Munchkin was one of those Berners who has a very, very high energy level. Berners need lots of human companionship, they are gentle, affectionate and loving. Most of them are calm. But not this one. He loves to be up and moving. And he loved getting into the doctor’s swimming pool every time someone wasn’t looking. The doctor didn’t like hair in the pool and the nurse loves the doctor…so the dog had to go or get penned up which wasn’t a happy choice for anybody. A loving home with younger people and more time for the dog was the answer.
The nurse and the doctor decided Munchkin would be much happier living with a younger family and started carefully looking for the perfect match. That’s where I come in. A workman putting together some office furniture for us asked if I knew anyone who might want a dog. We started talking, I made a call to the kids, and by the end of the day, our kids had met Munchkin and he became their new and only dog. That was about three years ago.
It’s been a match made in Heaven for the kids and for Munchkin but especially for Anthony. A boy and his dog never had a more pure love. On the floor, all legs and arms around each other. Tummy rubs and slobbery kisses.
So today we have the life jacket, the dog, the boy, the pedal boat and me. Dog has the life jacket on, we have a line so we can keep him safe, and a boy strong enough to push me and the boat into the deep water. Anthony gets sidetracked by a toad who travels the lake and back with us. And we’re off.
Munchkin’s feet leave the bottom and he’s swimming. He looks over at me with wonder in his eyes, no one is making him get out of the water. He lifts his head and oh my gosh, the power of this dog. He is swimming fast and sure, eyes to front. All the way across and back. It’s a marvel to watch this guy swim. He puts everything he has into this one focused exercise. And it’s over all too soon but we’ll go again tomorrow as long as they’re staying with us at the house.
We’re back at the lakeside. The dog’s tongue is lolling happily. The boy gives me a strong arm to step to dry land. I smile at these two and wonder how often it happens that a dog gets a second chance at a second family, both loving homes, one maybe a little more suited than the first.
Rehoming can be a good thing. If you’re not ready to take in a rescue, look around for a dog who needs a better fitting home. If you have a dog that doesn’t fit your lifestyle or you need a dog to fit your family, talk about rehoming. Just like with rescue, everyone in the family has to have agreed on the dog and what it takes to care for one. It takes a solid gold heart to give up a dog who needs a different place. It takes a big warm heart with room for even more love to take in a dog who didn’t work out for somebody else.
I just love happy endings. Don’t you?
