September is National Responsible Dog Ownership Month.

Being a responsible dog parent means providing walks, food, and love.

My practice as a Pet Parenting Specialist and Animal Communicator has shown me a deeper, more challenging aspect of this responsibility.

In just the last few weeks, I’ve had multiple sessions where a loving dog parent was forced to ask a gut-wrenching question: Is my dog better off in a new home?

The “Forever” Myth

The “forever” myth is an unrealistic expectation that says once you bring a pet into your family, you must keep them for their entire life.

The prevailing belief, often unspoken, is that rehoming a pet is cruel and means the pet parent has failed the animal. 

This unrealistic belief, however, doesn’t account for the unpredictable nature of life.

Being a responsible dog owner means prioritizing the dog’s well-being.

Sometimes, the most loving and courageous act is to rehome, ensuring they have a chance to thrive in a home that’s a better fit for their needs.

The following three case studies demonstrate that being a responsible pet parent sometimes means letting go, while at other times, it means providing training, structure, and effective communication.

Kai’s Story: When Love Isn’t Enough

Kai, a 1 ½-year-old Australian Shepherd, came to Emily as a fearful puppy. Living in a city apartment only heightened his fear-based reactivity. Kai communicated that he felt overwhelmed and unsafe, and his stress became too much. The day before we spoke, he nearly bit a toddler.

Devastated, Emily asked me what Kai wanted. He confirmed her intuition: he was unhappy in the city and would likely go after a child again.

In a loving and responsible act, Emily returned Kai to his breeder, knowing it gave him a chance to find a home where he could feel safe and whole.

Angus’s Story: Trusting What He Communicated

Sue fell in love with an Australian Shepherd named Angus. After only a couple of weeks, she saw how fearful and reactive he was. He chased her cats and, unprovoked, bit her friend’s son twice. Sue called it a “nip,” but a nip is still a bite.

Angus wasn’t a bad dog; he had fear-based aggression,

When we spoke, Angus confirmed he didn’t feel safe in Sue’s home.

Sue intuitively knew he wasn’t the right dog for her family. After her Animal Communication session, Sue made the difficult but responsible choice to return him to his previous owner.

Bennett’s Story: The Right Home With Guidance

Not all complex cases end in rehoming.

Colette adopted Bennett, a nine-month-old terrier mix, but quickly worried he wasn’t a good fit for her cats. She admitted she was unsure if Bennett even wanted to stay.

Bennett’s communication made it clear he wanted to be part of the family.

He asked Colette for more guidance, structure, and training to learn how to respect the cats and settle into the household.

Colette’s strong dog-handling skills and willingness to work with him allowed her to make the responsible choice to give Bennett the tools he needed to succeed.

The Bigger Picture

The decision to rehome a dog is often filled with pressure, guilt, and shame.

If you have made this choice, it’s natural to feel grief, guilt, or even relief. These feelings are normal and come from a place of love.

Being a responsible dog parent is about making choices, even hard ones, that are in your dog’s best interest.

When a dog shows aggression or isn’t thriving, making the responsible choice can feel overwhelming.

This is why it’s so important to get your dog from a responsible breeder or rescue organization that will take them back for any reason.

Listening to your gut and what your pet is communicating will guide you toward the most compassionate and responsible path forward.

Feeling Unsure?

Feeling unsure about your relationship with your pet?

This kind of uncertainty is more common than people admit.

You don’t have to carry the weight of this decision alone.

Too many people come to me as a last resort. Tuning in earlier can save you time, money, and a whole lot of stress and anxiety.

Whether you’re struggling with behavior issues or just sensing that something isn’t right, I’m here to help you hear what your animal is trying to say so you can make the right decision for both of you.

It’s important to listen to your pet and then act responsibly, even when it breaks your heart.

Book a session here

The post Feeling Guilty Rehoming Your Dog? appeared first on Cathy Malkin -- Animal Muse Communication and Reiki.

If your dog growls, barks, or charges at guests—even those they’ve met before—it’s more than stressful—it’s exhausting.

And it can quickly escalate into a dangerous situation.

You’re not alone if you feel frustration, stress, and self-doubt. Even guilt.

Many devoted dog parents try everything—trainers, tools, techniques—yet still struggle to uncover what’s really going on beneath their dog’s unwanted behavior.

As an Animal Communicator and pet anxiety expert, I’ve supported hundreds of families through this exact challenge.

An Animal Communication session gives your dog a chance to share their perspective of why they are acting out, and what they feel they need to feel safe, supported, and at ease.

Once you understand the root cause of your dog’s behavior, you can work together to find solutions that are sustainable.

Meet Eleanor: A Gentle Giant on High Alert

Recently, I spoke with Eleanor, a 6-year-old English Mastiff, and her devoted person, Laura, about precisely this.

Eleanor is deeply loved. She’s been an integral part of Laura’s family since she was a pup and adores the four children she lives with.

But when people come to the door—including visitors she’s met before—Eleanor’s behavior becomes unpredictable, intense, potentially dangerous, and, at times, very scary.

She growls, blocks the path with her enormous body, and even charges at anyone who tries to enter the house.

The potential of someone getting hurt is real, and thankfully, Laura recognizes she must find a way to help Eleanor stop her aggressive behavior for everyone’s safety. 

To Laura’s credit, she has worked with multiple trainers and tried many techniques.

Out of desperation and on the recommendation of a police dog trainer, Laura tried using a shock collar as a last resort. She resisted at first—’It just doesn’t feel right,’ she told me—and her instinct was correct.

While it seemed to stop the immediate behavior, it didn’t address what Eleanor was actually feeling underneath.

She tried it because she thought it was the only thing that helped Eleanor understand that it was ok to let visitors in.

What Eleanor Shared

During our session, Eleanor showed me she was overwhelmed and anxious.

She expressed that being a guard dog in a busy, active family of six was a lot, even though she was trying her best.

But that constant state of vigilance had become exhausting and stressful for her—and for Laura.

She didn’t always feel this way.

The past 5 years brought tremendous change to Eleanor’s life.

First, the pandemic hit, and Laura was pregnant. Then Eleanor went through a life-threatening illness that changed her.

To top it off, the family moved from California to the East Coast.

These experiences left Eleanor feeling unsure and unsettled in her new home.

A Guard Dog Under Pressure

Eleanor expressed that Laura told her that it was her job to protect the entire household 24/7 and that she takes her job very seriously.

It seems Eleanor missed the memo about letting visitors in.

In her mind, anyone outside the immediate family was suspicious until proven otherwise, even if she had met that person before.

Laura hadn’t realized that asking Eleanor to be “on guard” all the time created a level of pressure Eleanor simply couldn’t handle.

Eleanor — You’re Fired (With Love)!

This was a turning point in Eleanor’s session.

I suggested that Eleanor be fired from her guard dog duties in the house

Not in anger. But with kindness, relief, and yes, even a little humor.

Laura thanked Eleanor for protecting her family and told her, out loud: “Thank you for protecting us. You’ve done an amazing job. But you’re fired. You don’t need to protect the house 24/7. I’ve got it now.”

As Laura shared these heartfelt words, Eleanor’s body softened, her breathing relaxed, and you could almost feel the tension leave her.

Dogs often need permission from their person to stop doing a job they were asked to do, especially if they’re not good at it and can potentially cause harm.

Creating Safety Without Pressure

We also discussed the importance of creating a sense of safety for Eleanor and the children.

I encouraged Laura to consider using a crate—not as punishment but as a cozy den where Eleanor could retreat and relax, especially when the house gets busy with visitors and kids.

The goal wasn’t to isolate her, but to give her a break from the overwhelming energy she thought she had to protect against.

With Eleanor safely in her crate, Laura can also relax and stop worrying and stressing out about keeping everyone safe.

Going forward, I suggested that Laura:

• Use gates at doorways to protect visitors.

• Support Eleanor with Reiki to ease emotional tension and find balance.

• Educate her children and friends on how to be safe around dogs, like avoiding eye contact and turning away.

• Encouraging Laura to lead Eleanor with grounded energy because Eleanor feels safer when Laura is a confident dog handler.

Why This Matters

When your dog is reactive or overprotective, it doesn’t just affect visitors and their safety—it can affect your whole family and life.

Your dog’s reaction to guests can lead to isolation, stress, guilt, and a breakdown in trust.

And underneath it all, your dog isn’t trying to be difficult—they’re trying to cope the best they can.

Animal Communication can help you determine the root cause of your dog’s anxiety, reactive behavior, or overprotective behavior.

You don’t have to figure it out alone, nor does your dog.

The Lesson

This session was a beautiful reminder that animals don’t need to be “fixed”—they need to be heard, supported, and understood so they can feel safe.

And healing begins.

Before You Go

If your animal is showing signs of stress, reactivity, or overwhelm, consider this:
They’re trying to tell you something.

Schedule Your Animal Communication Session today and begin the journey back to peace~together.

*Originally published May 15, 2025*

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