Things to Consider When Adopting Shelter Dogs

Adopting a fully grown shelter dog is usually not considered when a family decides to get a new pet. It may actually be the best choice for your family Off-leash obedience training Houston.

A fully grown shelter dog may already be house trained, trained in basic obedience and be past the teething stage. That means no messes in the house, no damaged furniture and a dog that listens to its owner. That sounds like a dream dog to me. Youll also know what youre getting in your new dog regarding its size, color, temperament and personality. There are fewer surprises and youll have the advantage of knowing what youre getting before you get it.

If youre looking for a loving family pet a shelter dog just may be the answer. If your looking for a show dog its probably not. I say probably because Ive seen pure bred animals, with papers, in the shelter I worked in. It was rare but it did happen. Sometimes the dog out-grew its family and sometimes it was disobedient or chewed up something in the house. Occasionally the owner just wasnt responsible enough to own a pet and it was just too much work. There were many reasons why they were brought to the shelter by their owners.

When shopping at the local grocery store, most people are picky about what they choose. There are many things they take into consideration before making decisions. They check the dates on perishables, squeeze the grapefruit and look for bruising. They make decisions based on color, quantity, packaging, size, fat content, calories and price. That works well for shoppers who want whats best for their families but for some strange reason some of the same people dont make the same kind of careful decisions when it comes to choosing a new family pet. A pet that may be around for ten or fifteen years. This is where the "cute" factor can really work against a pet and the family as well. The cutest dog in the bunch gets adopted and that usually means a puppy.

When you adopt a puppy, especially a mixed breed, you may be in for an unwanted surprise or two. When the dog becomes mature it may be too large or not look the way you thought it would. Its really a crap shoot. You can guess how big the dog will get but its still just a guess unless you know the mix. Now mind you, Im not speaking out against adopting puppies, its a fine idea, what Im saying is that there are benefits to adopting an older dog too. Besides the reasons mentioned above, youre also giving an older dog a second chance at a happy life. He probably deserves that chance.

A pet has to become part of your family, a part of your pack. He or she has to fit in well and be of the proper temperament and size for your family. Not taking those factors into account can have disastrous repercussions for both the pet and the family. Ive seen it happen in failed adoptions and when families turned their pet over to the shelter. A family gets a puppy, the puppy is small, cute and manageable and then it quickly grows to maturity and is larger or more energetic than expected.

It wasnt long after becoming an Animal Control Officer that I began to believe that it wasnt a pet problem at all, it was a pet owner problem. After all, you cant blame it on the dog. The dog just wanted a home, a family to be a part of, in essence, a new pack. Choosing a pet carefully is very important for your family and the pet. Here are a few tips on what to do if youre interested in adopting a shelter dog.

(1) Speak with your family and make sure they know the dog will be everyones responsibility. Feeding, walking, training and loving your new pet should be shared between family members. If everyone is in agreement its time to search for your new family member. Bring the entire family. Youll want to know how well everyone will get along. Its important that everyone in your family sees, pets and interacts with the dog if its possible.

(2) If you have other pets, bring them with you to the shelter and have them meet the dog you may adopt if youre seriously considering a specific dog. It would be a good idea to call the shelter first so that theyre prepared. Theyll usually be happy to work with you and help you find a dog that will be a great match for your family. You dont need to arrive at home with your new pet and find out theres a big problem. Do that at the shelter. Its best done outside the shelter with shelter staff present. In busy shelters this may be a problem which is why you should always speak with them in advance. All of the pets should be on leashes so they can be controlled easily if theres a problem.

(3) Speak to anyone that has had contact with the dog. You can learn a lot from the staff members that feed and interact with the dog on a daily basis. After all, theyre the people that probably know the dog best.

A good shelter will appreciate someone that makes a careful decision before adopting. The shelter staff wants the dog to find a new home. They certainly dont want to see a dog returned. Its depressing for the shelter staff to see a dog return after being adopted.

(4) When you first visit your local shelter get as much information as you can on a dog you may be interested in adopting. Dont rush, take your time. Take a few days if you have to. Its an important decision and shouldnt be taken lightly. Use your best judgement when making your decision, not just your emotions.

(5) Ask about the dogs history, medical records and temperament. The more you know about the dog the more informed your final decision will be. Find out as much as you can about the dogs shelter history. Ask if he or she has been neutered or spayed. Youll also want to know what shots and flea and tick treatments the dog was given. Ask if the dog has been adopted and then returned to the shelter. If the dog has been returned find out why. The staff will almost always know why a dog was returned.

(6) Ask about the dogs appetite and either check or ask if the dogs stool looks normal. This can be valuable information especially if the dog has no medical records. Theres a lot you can do to make a good, informed decision when adopting from a rescue shelter.

(7) If the dog is a mixed breed ask the shelter staff what mix the dog is. This will give you a reasonably good idea how large the dog will get if its not already fully grown. The shelter staff may know from the previous owners or they may at least have an idea just by looking at the dog. Either way youll get some facts or at the very least, an educated guess.

(8) Ask the shelter staff to allow you to meet the dog out of its run or cage and get to know the dog a bit. Its very important and you can learn a lot in a short amount of time. If you feel comfortable with the dog its also a very good idea to take it for a walk if the shelter will allow it. Just remember, any dog can be trained. If the dog isnt perfect, thats ok. Youll work together to improve.

Those 8 steps are good to keep in mind when adopting a dog from a shelter. Just remember, even an older dog can be trained with a little patience, love and understanding.

Im sure youve heard the old saying "You cant teach old dogs new tricks". Ive heard that saying many times and I couldnt disagree more. As an animal control officer I was often in charge of adoptions and taking care of the dogs and cats when I wasnt on patrol or on an abuse investigation. I spent a lot of that time training some of the older dogs in the basics to give them a better chance at being adopted. They learned quickly and some dogs already knew the basic commands. Dogs want to please, its in their nature and with some patience you can teach an old dog new tricks!

Shelter dogs dont get a lot of one-on-one attention from people. They get some from the staff but its limited. The staff is usually pretty busy and there are usually quite a few dogs to take care of so finding the time for one-on-one attention is difficult. So try to remember that a dog may be very excited when he first meets you. Spend some time with the dog so you can find out what he or she is really like. Spend that time with the dog and you may find that the dog is a lot different than your first impression would have lead you to believe.

If you do adopt a shelter dog be sure to visit a local vet as soon as possible. A healthy pet is a happy pet. If the dog has no known medical history then you have to start developing one. If there is a medical history then its still important that the dog is current on all vaccinations and treatments. Let the vet tell you what the dog needs.

Good luck if youre considering adopting a dog from a shelter. Im sure youll be very glad you did. Its a great feeling to know you may have saved your new, best friends life.