Our pups are 5 months old now and I have kept in contact with all the new owners helping them through the teething, housetraining, etc but one owner in particular was never great at keeping in touch.  The lady phoned once and we chatted for over an hour as she had issues with complete food.  Anyway since then I have heard nothing from them so about a month ago, I e-mailed to say, hope everything was going OK and get in touch if they had any probs but basically, ball is in your court so to speak as I didn't want to bother them.
Well, I got an e-mail today saying that they don't know whether they are giving the pup enough exercise and are thinking that he would be better with another family!!  Their work pattern changed and the daughter that was going to help out has(surprise, surprise) not bothered with the dog since he arrived(I did tell them it not to think the kids would take responsiblility). 
Now I read it like they had allready decided but were testing the water with me.  My OH read it like they needed adivice on how much exercise he would need.  What do you think?

If they feel they aren't giving enough exercise to a 5 months old, who has to have very limited exercise, it doesn't sound good -and that is the way I read it.

Get him back hes young enough to fit straight back into another family!

you will always worry now about this puppy..i would ask them to return the pup and offer some sort of financial re-imbursment or in fact a full refund if they are twiddling thier thumbs. find him a new home now where he can settle in at an early age.

I heve just looked after my friends pup at 6m for a couple of weeks ..he settled in easily and wasnt bothered about the 'missing owner' as we thought he may have done... puppies are very adaptable at this early age.

good luck

>I got an e-mail today saying that they don't know whether they are giving the pup enough exercise and are thinking that he would be better with another family!!

There's no point second guessing their intentions - make a list of questions and give them a ring.  You can always start with 'When would you like to bring him back?' and work from there :)

Good luck

Well, I did e-mail back giving loads of info on how they should be stimulating his brain not body anyway.  Also, recommended a dog walker in their area if they felt that was the way they wanted to go.
Dunno, I am so sad and angry.  This was my boy.  The one I would've kept but I stupidly let them pick(or let fate decide as I can't keep a boy).  I am scared I am talking him into bringing him back because of emotional reasons and not whats best for them or the pup?
I did answer the e-mail but I am going to phone tonight and speak to the lady and see how the land lies.  I just think that they are allready struggling and talking of re-homing, if they don't do it now, are they just putting off the enevitable?

What you don't want to happen is that you encourage them to keep the pup, but they have already made their mind up, so they give it or sell it to someone else.  So if you're getting messages from them that they want to rehome it, and if you want the pup back for yourself, it sounds like you can both have what you want, no?

I'd have the pup back, the minute that word re-home comes up the red warning light is flashing, myself and I'm sure many of us on here get countless requests re: training and behavioural advice and some 'silly' questions too, but they don't matter we're always here to help and give advice to our puppy owners, but never do they say re-home, it's not a word that should come up and if it does I feel it will continue to come up at every obstacle.

It's very sad, but maybe fate is intervening and you should get your boy back for good or just for now until a really good home comes up. :-)

Yes, that's what I feel Carrington.  That's why I feel like they were testing the waters to see how I felt about them re-homing.  I have this week had from puppy owners:- goop in the corner of they eye - is this normal? And how to get 100% recall(HA!!)in a 5 mth old pup but I feel that they used the re-homing word as this is something that they have discussed.  I just wish they would do it allready IYSWIM.
Rabid, I would probably keep the pup if he came back here.  OH always gives me a hard time about letting him get away in the first place!!  I just don't want to rush/presurise them into a decision which must be so hard.

We had a phone call from one family not long after their pup went home. The reality of having the pup had suddenly dawned on them and I think they panicked a bit because they weren't sure they could cope.

I made it very clear to them that for the pup's sake it would be better for them to give him back to me sooner rather than later, trying VERY hard not to pressurise them into a decision, and keeping the whole thing as calm as possible.

Well they sat down as a family and discussed it. They got a dog behaviourist involved who helped them raise the pup in the right way and they never looked back. The last communication from them was full of praise of their boy who they absolutley adore. He really has become part of their family and I'm sure they are so glad they decided to keep.

I did have one returned from the same litter at 8 months. I really didn't see it coming and was pre-empted with an email. Within a couple of days he was back and although was re-homed, 8 months old was plenty enough for lots of bad habits which needed ironing out. He went on to a great new home so the best was done for the dog in the end.

At 5 months your pup is still very much a baby so I would make them realise what is ahead re training/exercise/socialisation if they want a well behaved, happy adult dog. Make it clear you would be very glad to take him back, but as you have already done, offer your support either way.

Good luck

I wouldn't encourage them to keep the dog, I would be offering to collect it right away.  If they feel that you want to encourage them to keep trying, there is always the possibility that they will rehome without telling you.  They haven't been great at keeping in touch so far - that sort of thing doesn't normally improve, it deteriorates.

I don't believe that giving ditherers a second chance is very wise.

agree Jean ...

I have a strong gut feeling this pup was meant to come back to you anyway. Try to make sure it's not rehomed by them.

I can't get a hold of them again.  I am going to try ringing till the weekend then I will take a run over to the house if I still can't get them.  I have told them that I would love him back with me so not to re-home him themselves.  I struck the fear of god into them by saying that if they advertise, they could get the dog fighting people buying him for a stooge dog as that happens a lot appartently.  I will let you all know how I get on.
Thanks for the advice and for proving that I'm not a crazy dog lady!