Match the breed to your activity level. Some dog breeds are more energetic than others. If you are a sedentary person who enjoys quiet activities, it would be ill-advised to adopt breed of dog known for its high energy, such as Boxer or a Jack Russell Terrier. Instead, look at quiet breeds like Pekingese or Shih Tzus. Take your living area into account. Think about adopting a dog on the smaller side if you live in an apartment. Larger dogs can live in smaller areas, but special care should be taken to ensure they receive the proper amount of exercise. On the other hand, some small dogs may feel overwhelmed or in a dangerous environment at a home with acres of land. Determine your time constraints. If you adopt a puppy, you may have to do all the training. Older dogs may already be housebroken and have some training. Additionally, some dogs simply need more stimulation throughout the day. Consider how much time you have to give to your new dog.
Ensure you understand the needs of the dog before you commit to adopting it. A dog that has a chronic condition may require frequent trips to the vet. Make sure you can handle that expense if that is the kind of care your special needs dog requires. Set aside some extra time for the dog. Many dogs are nervous when they are first brought to a new home, and that can be compounded for special needs dogs. Make sure you have extra time set aside when you first adopt the dog to familiarize it with you, anyone else in your home, and the new space. Ask the shelter or rescue, “What specifically will I need to do and to supply in order to properly care for this dog?”
Consider looking at the shelter’s website before you visit. Many shelters have information regarding adoptable pets both in their shelter and in their foster home program. Read over pet profiles to get to know the dogs’ personalities as well as their individual needs. Put your name on the shelter’s call list if you are looking for a very specific type of dog, such as a rare breed. Most shelters will give you a call if a certain type of dog is brought to them. Contact your local breed rescue. If you want to adopt a certain breed of dog or desire a purebred, look online or in the phone book for numbers to a breed rescue.
Food dish Dog food Water dish Harness or collar Leash Tag Dog bed A crate A travel carrier A dog bed and/or a blanket New toys
Contact local vets and ask about their experience with your kind of dog. If you are adopting a certain breed, ask the vet if they are comfortable working with that breed. If you are getting a special needs pet, ask the vet if they have experience caring for your dog’s particular needs. Ask about a wellness plan. Many vets do puppy and dog wellness plans that include a certain number of visits and services, such as vaccines and heartworm tests, a year. Ask your vet if they offer packages at a discounted rate to help keep your new dog covered.
Blocking access to stairs that may lead to areas you do not want your dog, or that may be harmful to small puppies Covering trash cans without lids Securing low-set cabinets that the dog may be able to access, especially if you keep food or cleaning products in them Moving or blocking anything with sharp corners or edges that could cut Covering toilets, especially those with sanitizing flush products Ensuring you have a fenced-in yard or area for your dog to spend time outside Removing or barricading any potentially harmful plants, such as fruits, vegetables, and palm trees, in your yard or home[7] X Research source Assessing other areas as needed
Adoption paperwork can be a lengthy process. It may require not only your name and address, but contact information for your vet, personal references, and even statements regarding why you want to adopt and what you have done to prepare. Understand that shelters are trying to ensure that the dogs find loving, caring, permanent homes that will be able to provide for the dog throughout its life. Fill out the paperwork as completely as possible.
Make sure your method of payment is accepted at your shelter. You may not be able to adopt, for example, if you were planning on using a credit card but the shelter only takes cash or check. Contact the shelter to find out what the adoption fee will be for your pet, if they have not already provided you with that information.
Ask your shelter about the parameters of the visit in advance. Will it be a day visit, or will it be overnight? Will the shelter provide food, a bed, and some toys? What do you need to supply? The goal of a visit is generally to ensure that you can properly care for the dog. Ask what sort of documentation you need provide from the visit to demonstrate this. Make sure you have the time. It is ill-advised to leave the dog alone during a home visit. Make sure you have your errands for the day completed before the dog arrives, and take time off work or school if necessary to spend the day with the dog.
Make sure you have proper transportation. Even if your local public transit systems allow pets on board, it may be a scary or confusing trip for your dog, and they could lash out. Make sure you have a car or a ride lined up to get your pet home quickly and with minimal stress. Arrange to pick your pet up on a day where you will be able to stay with it the whole day. Your new dog will likely be confused and a little scared. Leaving them alone for extended periods right after you bring them home won’t help that. Take the day to get to know your new dog, and help acclimate them to their new environment.
The key to training is consistency. [11] X Expert Source Jaimie ScottDog Owner Trainer Expert Interview. 16 June 2020. Attend every class, and practice commands and behaviors at home in between classes. Consider further training if your puppy still needs some discipline after they finish their basic puppy training. Local pet stores often have training classes for both puppies and newly adopted pets. Contact a local store to see if they offer classes, or to get recommendations for local trainers.
Understand that this may take time with a rescued animal. Rescue animals can be shy or cautious. It is important to offer the opportunity to socialize, but do not force them into any action. This could cause harm to both your dog and whomever they interact with. Start with exposure to friends and family in the home. Allow your dog to meet new people in familiar surroundings before leaving them with new people for any extended period of time. Try a dog park to get your dog socializing with other dogs. If you believe your new dog may be too aggressive to socialize with other dogs or people, work with a behavioral specialist to help train them. This often comes from previous training, or a place of fear within the dogs. Proper training can help them learn proper behavior with positive reinforcement.
Call your vet and let them know that you have a new dog. Ask to set up an initial visit to introduce your dog to your vet and set up a care package for your pet.
Avoid stereotypical but often harmful reinforcement behaviors such as hitting the dog, even lightly, with a rolled up newspaper or rubbing their nose in spots where they have an “accident. ” Reward positive behaviors with affection, affirmation, and treats. Try not to react at all to negative behaviors unless they pose an immediate threat to the dog or someone else. Work with a trainer or behavioral specialist, if necessary, to find the right set of training techniques for you and your pet. Do not give up on your new dog if they do not act the way you want right away. Keep working with them and reinforcing good behavior. [16] X Expert Source Jaimie ScottDog Owner Trainer Expert Interview. 16 June 2020.
