Adopting a Shelter Dog

So you want to get a dog. Where do you start? How do you choose? If you know that you want a purebred pup with specific physical features and personality traits, your best bet is to search the internet for breeder. But if you aren’t looking for a pristine pedigree, you need look no further than your local pound or Humane Society.

Consider Adopting a Mutt
The area shelter typically has a wide variety of dogs available for adoption, purebred and mixed breed, adults and puppies. A mutt can be a great choice for a prospective dog owner. Mixed breeds often have a more robust genetic makeup and fewer chronic health problems that do purebred dogs that may have been the product of some degree of inbreeding.

There’s No Such Thing as a Free Dog
Don’t look to the pound with the idea that you can get a “free” dog. Shelters require that any dog adopted is, or will soon be, neutered or spayed. The adoption fee that you pay typically covers the cost of this surgery as well as all of the recommended vaccinations. In, keep in mind, that no matter what you pay to acquire a dog, mutt or purebred, it is but a small drop in the bucket compared to the long-term costs of maintaining a healthy pet.

Tips for Adopting a Shelter Dog
Regardless of the type or age of dog you consider adopting, here are some tips to help ensure that the pup you ultimately select is a good match for your lifestyle, personality and family.

Shopping List for Adopting Puppy
Head to the pound with a clear idea of the traits that you would like to have in a dog, both physical and behavioral. Do you want a pup or adult; large or small breed; sedate or energetic animal? It is easy to be swayed by an adorable dog that is entirely wrong for you. So enter into your search with a flexible “shopping list”.

Ask the Right Questions About the Dog
Once have found a dog that interests you, do some investigating, a background check of sorts. You want to embark on this new relationship with your eyes wide open.

    • If the dog is a mixed breed, what are the suspected or known breeds of the parents?
    • If the dog is not full grown, how big do they suspect it will be when full-grown?
    • Does the dog appear to be healthy? Are its eyes bright and coat shiny? If not, ask the shelter employees about the medical history, and how the health problems can be addressed.
    • If you have kids, particularly small children, ask if the dog is good with little ones. If the handlers assure you that the dog is good with children, bring in your entire family, so you can see for yourself.
    • The Key Puppy Question
    Probably one of the most important questions that you need answered is “Why is this dog at the pound?” Sometimes it is due to a behavioural problem that the previous owners couldn’t handle. The dog may have been brought to the shelter because of any number of problems that you are not prepared to address, such as urinating indoors, aggression towards people or pets, destructive chewing, hyperactivity.

    If the dog was previously in an abusive home, you may have a whole bevy of behavioural problems to contend with. Make sure that if you adopt a dog that has established behavioural problems, you are prepared to put in the time and effort required for your pet to unlearn these behaviours.

    Adopting a dog from the pound can be a win-win decision, leading to a life-long friendship. Do your homework, and the story of your new canine family member is more likely to have a very happy ending!