Couple worries their dog will miss having a big yard after moving to a small apartment, internet reassures them: 'Dogs would choose their owners over a yard every time'

Briana Viser • Writer and Editor

May 31, 2026 9:00 AM EDT

Would you consider giving up your dog in this situation?

This couple from Reddit's r/dogs adopted a lab who's high energy but has a lot of anxiety. They got him because the shelter said he needed a home with a huge yard, and they happened to have that. They lived on family's property, but when things go awry with the family, they're put in a position where they have to move. They don't have a huge budget, and will have to downgrade to a smaller apartment without a yard. They're absolutely heartbroken about the idea of taking the yard space away from their dog. They were thinking of not having him at all, but the internet steers them straight.

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via Tatyana Consaul / Canva

Brown Labrador dog recently adopted.
"I’m Worried I’m Ruining My Dog's Life. Should I Rehome Him?"
Hey guys. This is a vent/asking for advice on what to do next. My partner and I just adopted a lab about 5 months ago. He’s super high energy and has a lot of anxiety. We primarily got him because then shelter said he needed to go home to a house with a yard and we had an absolute massive one.
He’s been super happy and has loved zooming around the yard and/or the house. We were renting the house from family. Long story short, some family things blew up in our faces and we were told we can no longer live there.
We tried really hard to look in our area for a house to rent to give him a backyard but we were looking at over 3k when originally we were paying 1.3k… which is about the cost to rent a single bed apartment.
So we made the hard choice and are looking to move forward with an apartment we found but I was watching my baby run around in the yard and I just started sobbing over how I was taking this away from him.
Because we were told he couldn’t go home to someone in an apartment I’m now really worried I’m going to make his life miserable with the move. I do not want to give him back to the shelter at all, the only reason I’ve considered it is to give him a chance to go to a family with a house. But I also love him and don’t want him to be abandoned again.
So I don’t know. I don’t know which of the two options are better.
Any advice, thoughts, or answers would be really helpful.
-StarBroke21-19
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via Tom Meaker / Canva

Brown Labrador chewing stick at the park.
kellydayscruff
Dogs would choose their owners over a yard every time.
AssiramCollins

Why did this make me tear up?
Ok-Rooster-8582

Yes! And on the flip side my apartment dog absolutely had no idea what to do with a yard when i had one. It will be okay!
VestiCat
Exactly this. My dogs want to be with me wherever I am and whatever I'm doing. We haven't been able to use our yard in several days (not the same thing, i know) due to mud. They have been totally happy with taking walks and doing nose work puzzles indoors.
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via pixelshot / Canva

Big yard for a dog to run around.