Bringing a dog into your home is one of the biggest decisions your family will make. This isn’t a short-term commitment – on average, dogs live between ten and fourteen years. This is a decision that you will have to live with for several years to come. Taking the time to consider your decision prior to acquiring the dog can make a huge difference to the quality of life for you and your family – and for your potential four-legged addition.
There are so many dogs in shelters across the United States – just over three million according to the latest figures from the ASPCA. Unfortunately, many dogs who are adopted out to new owners end up returning to the very same shelter because they were placed in a home that was ultimately unsuitable for them.
Making the right choice is clearly vital for your family and any prospective dog you are intending to adopt. If you’re considering acquiring a dog from a shelter, this article will cover some of the main points to think about.
Why do you want a dog?
Perhaps the first thing you should consider – above anything else – is why you even want a dog in the first place. What is the primary motivating factor behind this decision?
Many families may simply feel it is the ‘right’ time to bring a pet dog into their home. Perhaps you grew up with dogs, have recently moved into your own home, and think it is the right time to own a dog. Alternatively, if younger children living in the household are able to be taught to behave appropriately around dogs, you may feel that the time has arrived where a dog can be introduced safely. Dogs bring numerous benefits to our lives and can form strong bonds with adults and children alike. Animal ownership can also encourage responsibility for younger children regarding activities like walking, feeding and cleaning.
In other situations, the reasons for obtaining a dog may be different. For example, you may have a specific purpose in mind for the dog, other than simply being a pet. You may be intending to train them for service dog tasks to help a family member with a disability, or you may want to use them for a dog sport like agility or scent work. In these instances, you will want to carefully consider the history and health of a dog adopted from a shelter. Although many dogs can be rescued and trained for specific purposes, the chances of success may increase by speaking with a reputable breeder who has a track record of producing dogs for those endeavors.
This initial step is vitally important – understanding why you want a dog in the first place can help you to make better decisions as you move through the adoption process.
Your family and life circumstances
Next, you should imagine what life will be like if you bring a new dog into your home. This will be a big change and will significantly impact your family’s daily routine. What will that actually look like? How will the responsibilities be allocated across your family?
In households which are empty during the day – perhaps if both parents are out at work, and the kids are at school – what will the dog be doing? Eight or nine hours can be a long time for them to spend in their crate, particularly if that is day after day after day. Trying to make it home during a lunch break or hiring a dog walker can break the monotony for your pup.
It is also important to consider the family dynamics, and who is actually living in the home. If you have younger children (more likely to be knocked over) or elderly relatives (higher risk of injury if they are frail or fragile), a high-energy dog could cause chaos and unintended consequences. Additionally, if any family members are afraid of dogs due to incidents earlier in their lives, these will need to be worked through to build up their confidence. If other animals are already living in the home, consider how introducing a new dog could affect them – and make provisions for training to troubleshoot.
Dogs obviously come in different shapes and sizes, and with different breed characteristics come different considerations. Trying to confine a Newfoundland to an apartment will be no fun for you or the Newfie. Make sure that your home and surroundings are suitable for the dog you want to adopt. For example, if you do live in an apartment with limited outdoor space, a Toy breed like a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel may be the best option.
A final consideration is family finances. Adoption fees are often minimal, but your dog will require ongoing veterinary care to stay on top of vaccinations, not to mention food, treats and toys. Make sure that your family can sustain the financial cost and responsibility of the dog in the long run.
Breed characteristics
After understanding why you want to get a dog, and how this will fit in with your family’s circumstances, you can then make decisions about which breed may be most suitable. Of course, if you’re planning to adopt from a shelter, you may not have a wide range to choose from, but you can at least make decisions on the type of breed that would be most suitable.
The important breed characteristics to consider include:
- Size – As we mentioned previously, a large dog in a small space is a recipe for disaster. Make sure the dog is an appropriate size for your indoor and outdoor living area.
- Energy – Higher energy breeds, particularly around young children, can be hard to manage. Consider all members of your household and choose a breed with an appropriate energy level.
- Purpose and/or historical usage – Some dogs are naturally better at certain tasks, owing to their historical use. For example, Labrador Retrievers were used to retrieve waterfowl for hunters, so they are able to cover large areas and are great swimmers. If you intend to pursue a dog sport or activity with your rescue dog, choosing a breed that has been successfully used for that purpose can make the training process far easier.
- Health – Some breeds suffer with particular ailments. For example, German Shepherds can be prone to hip dysplasia, while brachycephalic breeds like Pugs (with short noses and breathing passages) can suffer from respiratory problems. This can be useful to know before choosing a certain breed.
Health and behavioral history
Finally, when you actually arrive at the shelter to adopt a dog, it is worth asking about the health and behavioral history of the dog.
Depending on the circumstances in which the dog arrived, there may not be an abundance of information on its prior health. However, you should be able to find out if a dog is underweight or overweight, has any current physical issues, and its current level of energy and exercise.
Behavioral history can also be limited, but asking about how the dog came to be surrendered to the shelter can give you some valuable information. There may have been a specific behavioral concern that led to the previous owners giving up the dog. You can also ask questions that are pertinent to your own situation, such as how the dog behaves around children, or if there are any other issues you should be aware of.
Have a training plan
Once you bring your new family member home, make sure you have a plan for training them! Many shelter dogs are undersocialized and may not have many – if any – obedience commands. This can make controlling the dog, particularly in a new environment, a big challenge. Unfortunately, without proper training, the endless cycle of dogs being repeatedly surrendered to shelters can be hard to break.
If you’re thinking of adopting a dog from a shelter – or if you have done so recently, and need help with getting them trained – feel free to reach out to our team of expert dog trainers at Greenside Canine! We would be happy to discuss your options and help you to begin building that all-important bond with your new pup.