March 26, 2025, 9:35 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Giving up your dog is one of the most difficult decisions in a dog owner’s life. But sometimes, it’s the best thing for people and animals alike. Dog trainer Katharina Marioth explains how to decide when the time is right and how to pass on your four-legged friend responsibly.
Giving up your dog is not a decision that should be taken lightly. But sometimes, it is the only option for people and animals. For example, when owners fall seriously ill and can no longer offer the dog what it needs. A change in living circumstances can also be a reason to give up a dog. For example, because it is no longer allowed in the office. In fact, one of the most common reasons why people give up their dog is because they are overwhelmed. This is because more and more dog owners are reaching their emotional and practical limits with their pets.
Sometimes, It’s Simply the Wrong Dog at the Wrong Time with the Wrong Person
In an interview with PETBOOK, dog trainer and dog expert Katharina Marioth reports on difficult cases in which people no longer feel up to their responsibilities. “Many then realize that they can’t cope with the dog as it actually presents itself,” she says.
It is often about aggressive behavior, biting incidents, or overburdened owners of animal welfare dogs. Marioth emphasizes how important it is not to judge such situations morally. “Nobody makes this decision lightly. But sometimes it’s just the wrong dog at the wrong time with the wrong person.”
For her, responsible handling starts with honesty towards yourself and the animal. If the dog’s needs cannot be met, giving it up may be justified in the interests of the animal’s welfare — provided it is not done out of convenience but out of serious self-reflection.
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Never Use Classified Ad Portals
It is not possible to generalize how much time you should take to make such a decision. However, in the event of acute danger, such as biting incidents in households with small children, action must be taken immediately. “Then it’s about management measures (…) But the rule is: react immediately.”
For placement, the dog trainer recommends involving local experts or the original breeder. Breed clubs with emergency networks can also help. It is important to provide honest information about the dog’s behavior and never use classified ad portals to sell the dog. “The animals often end up in mafia-like structures. That is not an option.”
Particularly depressing: Marioth reports having recently found an injured dog in the forest that had probably been beaten to death. “An absolute catastrophe.”