The short answer
Before you list a dog for rehoming, work through eight things. Rule out a fixable reason first. Book a vet check and confirm desexing status. Gather the records, microchip number, and desexing certificate. Write an honest handover profile. Take clear photos. Decide on a modest rehoming fee rather than a free ad. Know the legal step: you must transfer the microchip to the new owner through the NSW Pet Registry. And plan the handover with a settling-in note. Sort these and the rest is straightforward.
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List your pet free →1. Rule out a fixable reason first
Before anything else, be honest with yourself about why you are rehoming. Some of the most common reasons have a path that does not end in giving up the dog, and the owners who try them first are usually glad they did.
- Behaviour. A vet visit to rule out pain, plus one session with a force-free trainer or a veterinary behaviourist, resolves many problems that feel unfixable. The Australian Veterinary Association can point you to accredited help.
- Money. Some welfare organisations run pet food banks or offer short-term veterinary assistance. Ask before you decide the dog has to go.
- A short-term crisis. Hospital, a move with a gap, or temporary housing loss can sometimes be bridged by short-term fostering. Ask local rescues whether they offer it.
Not sure whether your situation is fixable? Our honest self-assessment walks through the question so you reach the answer yourself. If rehoming is genuinely the right call, the rest of this checklist gets you ready.
2. Book a vet check and confirm desexing status
A quick vet check does two jobs. It gives you an honest, current picture of the dog's health to pass on, and it catches anything that should be treated or disclosed before the dog changes homes. Ask your vet to note the dog's weight, any ongoing conditions, and current vaccination status.
Confirm the desexing status while you are there. A desexed dog is easier to place and removes the risk of an unplanned litter in the new home. If the dog is not desexed and you can arrange it, do so. If cost or timing makes that impossible, be upfront in your listing and decide with the adopter who arranges it. Either way, your handover profile should state the real status, not a guess.
3. Gather the paperwork
Pull everything into one pack you can hand over on the day. The new owner needs it to register, manage, and care for the dog properly.
- Vaccination records and vet records.
- The microchip number.
- The desexing certificate, if the dog is desexed.
- Records of any ongoing condition or medication, with dosages.
- Council registration details, if the dog is registered.
Make copies rather than handing over your only set. A clear paperwork pack is one of the most useful things you can give the dog's next home, and it signals to a genuine adopter that this is a well-cared-for dog.
4. Write an honest handover profile
Write it down rather than relying on a conversation at the door. A page or two covering how the dog actually lives is worth more to the new owner than any glowing description. Include:
- The daily routine: feeding times, walks, sleep, alone time.
- The diet: brand, amount, and anything the dog reacts to.
- What the dog loves and what it fears or finds stressful.
- How the dog is with children, cats, and other dogs.
- Any behaviour history, including reactivity or any bite history.
Full honesty is the rule, especially on behaviour. Hiding a bite history or serious reactivity does not help the dog. It sets up the next family to fail and can put people at risk. Write down the triggers, the severity, and the context. The right adopter can self-select, and you can decline a home that is not equipped.
5. Take good, honest photos
Use daylight, get down to the dog's level, and take a few different shots: a clear face, a full-body side view, and one relaxed everyday moment. Skip heavy filters. Honest photos matter more than flattering ones, because the adopter who turns up to a dog that matches the listing is the adopter who stays. If the dog has a scar or a physical quirk, show it. You want the family that chooses this actual dog.
6. Decide on a modest rehoming fee
A modest rehoming fee is safer than a free ad. A small fee discourages the few people who collect free animals for the wrong reasons, and it signals to genuine adopters that the dog is valued. It does not need to be large, and it is not about profit. Many responsible rehomers set a fee in the range a shelter adoption would cost and put it toward the dog's final vet check or the transfer of records.
The screening you do matters far more than the fee, but a fee plus real screening is the responsible combination. Our guide on free-to-good-home risks explains why a free ad on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace attracts the wrong attention, and our guide to rehoming a dog for free walks through listing on LocalPetFinder at no cost to you.
7. Know the legal step: transfer the microchip
This one is not optional. Microchipping is mandatory in NSW by 12 weeks of age or before a dog is transferred, under the Companion Animals Act. When you rehome the dog, you must update the microchip details to the new owner. In NSW this is done through the NSW Pet Registry.
If the chip still lists you, the dog traces back to you if it is ever found straying, and the new owner cannot properly register or manage it. Agree with the adopter on who lodges the change of ownership, and confirm it has gone through before you consider the handover finished. Restricted breeds are a separate matter: in NSW it is illegal to sell or give away a restricted-breed dog, including the American Pit Bull Terrier and four other declared breeds, so speak to your council if that applies.
8. Plan the handover and a settling-in note
The last step is the day itself. Hand over the paperwork pack, enough of the current food to bridge a gradual diet change, and familiar bedding or a toy that smells of home. Write a short settling-in note covering the routine and any quirks so the new owner is not guessing in the first few days.
A calm, well-prepared handover lowers the stress on the dog and cuts the chance the placement falls apart in the first week. Our guide to the transition covers what the first days in a new home look like, and our guide to screening adopters covers choosing a family you trust before you get to this point.
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List your dog for free →Related guides
A no-judgment framework so you decide with evidence, not panic, before you start the checklist.
Choosing a family you trust, the questions to ask, and the red flags to watch for.
Why a free ad attracts the wrong attention, and why a modest fee plus screening is safer.
If rehoming yourself is not right for you, here is what surrendering to an organisation involves.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do before rehoming a dog?+
Work through a short checklist first. Confirm the reason is not something fixable, book a vet check and confirm desexing status, gather the vaccination and vet records plus the microchip number and desexing certificate, write an honest handover profile covering routine, diet, and how the dog is with kids, cats, and other dogs, take a few clear photos, decide on a modest rehoming fee, and know that you must update the microchip registration to the new owner. Getting these sorted before you list makes the whole thing faster, safer for the dog, and far less stressful for you.
Do I need to desex my dog before rehoming it?+
It helps, and many adopters expect it. A desexed dog is easier to place, and it removes the risk of an unplanned litter in the new home. If desexing is not possible for cost or timing reasons, be upfront about the dog's status and price the rehoming fee to reflect it, or agree with the adopter on who arranges it. At the very least, confirm the dog's current desexing status with your vet so your listing and your handover profile are accurate.
Do I have to update the microchip when I rehome a dog in NSW?+
Yes. Microchipping is mandatory in NSW under the Companion Animals Act, and when ownership changes you must update the microchip details to the new owner. This is done through the NSW Pet Registry at petregistry.nsw.gov.au. Do not skip it. If the chip still lists you, the dog traces back to you if it is ever found straying, and the new owner cannot register or manage the dog properly. Agree with the adopter on who lodges the transfer and confirm it goes through.
What paperwork do I need to rehome a dog?+
Pull together the vaccination and vet records, the microchip number, the desexing certificate if the dog is desexed, and any records of ongoing conditions or medication. Add a written handover profile: the dog's routine, the food it eats, what it loves and fears, and how it is with children, cats, and other dogs. Hand copies of all of it to the new owner. A clear paperwork pack is the single most useful thing you can give the dog's next home.
Should I charge a rehoming fee or give my dog away free?+
A modest rehoming fee is generally safer than a free ad. A small fee discourages the few people who collect free animals for the wrong reasons, and it signals to genuine adopters that the dog is valued. It does not need to be large. Many responsible rehomers set a fee in the range a shelter adoption would cost and put it toward the dog's final vet check. The screening you do matters far more than the fee, but a fee plus screening is the responsible combination.
How honest should I be about my dog's behaviour?+
Completely honest. Write down the triggers, the severity, and the context of anything you have seen, including any bite history. Hiding a behaviour problem does not help the dog. It sets up the next family to fail and can put people at risk. Full disclosure lets the right adopter self-select and lets you decline a home that is not equipped. It is the responsible path even when it is hard, and it protects both the dog and the new owner.
Can I rehome any dog myself in NSW?+
Most dogs, yes, but not restricted breeds. In NSW it is illegal to sell or give away a restricted-breed dog, which includes the American Pit Bull Terrier and four other declared breeds. If your dog is a restricted breed, owner-to-owner rehoming is not an option and you should speak to your council about your obligations. For any other dog, owner-to-owner rehoming is legal and, done properly, is a good outcome for the dog.
How do I take good photos for a rehoming listing?+
Use daylight, get down to the dog's level, and take several shots: a clear face, a full-body side view, and one relaxed everyday moment. Avoid heavy filters. Honest photos matter more than flattering ones, because an adopter who arrives to a dog that matches the listing is an adopter who stays. If the dog has a physical quirk or a scar, show it. You want the family that chooses this actual dog, not an idealised version of it.
Is rehoming better than surrendering to a shelter?+
Neither is better in every case. Owner-to-owner rehoming keeps the dog in your home until the handover, has no fee, and lets you choose the family, but it asks more of your time. Surrendering to an organisation such as RSPCA NSW, AWL NSW, or Sydney Dogs and Cats Home hands the screening to them and is faster once an intake slot opens, but the dog waits in a shelter and a fee is common. Many owners try owner-to-owner rehoming first and keep surrender as a backup.
What should I hand over on the day the dog leaves?+
Everything the new owner needs to give the dog a smooth start: the paperwork pack, enough of the current food to bridge a gradual diet change, familiar bedding or a toy, and a short settling-in note with the routine and any quirks. Confirm the microchip transfer is lodged or agree who does it. A calm, well-prepared handover reduces the stress on the dog and lowers the chance the placement falls apart in the first week.
Sources
- NSW Pet Registry: microchip registration and change of ownership under the Companion Animals Act
- RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase: responsible rehoming and desexing guidance
- RSPCA NSW: surrender and rehoming support in New South Wales