Dog Adoption-What To Bring To The Shelter

So you've asked and answered all the questions we talked about in our last post. Great! Now you're on your way to the shelter to adopt your new dog. Don't get into the car just yet.

I bet you wouldn't head off to buy groceries without a list. If you've done it before you've invariably returned home without something you needed. It's the same thing with getting your new dog. When you answered all the questions surely you took notes. Didn't you? Bring them along so you'll remember the things you are looking for. Don't let them slip your mind when you arrive at the shelter. It's so easy to remember things when they are written (or typed and printed) on paper.

There are a few other essentials to pack before you leave the home.

1. Something to write with and something to write on. There will be many dogs at the shelter. Take notes on the ones you are interested in. It will help you keep things straight. It's best not to leave the shelter right away with your new pet. Take the notes home and go over them. This will keep you from making an emotional decision on the spot. You want to make an informed rational decision then go back and get your pet.

2. Proper clothing. This is not an evening out on the town. You're going to get a bit dirty handling all these pets. Most of these dogs will not be trained not to jump on you. Many will not have been bathed any time recently. A good rule of thumb is if you don't want paw prints on it, and don't want it scratched, ripped or drooled on, don't wear it. Wear old jeans and not your new designer pair. They'll also keep your legs protected in case you run into a scratching and nipping young puppy. And don't forget the comfortable shoes. You're going to do a lot of walking around.

3. Pack your family. If this is going to be a family dog then the family should be involved in the decision. Now before you get all over me for saying something so painfully obvious try this. Ask someone at the shelter how many dogs are returned and why. I bet they frequently hear reasons like "he didn't like kids, my husband, the inlaws" etc. It happens all the time. We're not suggesting that young children play a major rule in the decision, but doesn't it make sense to find out if they'll at least get along?

On the same note, you might be tempted to bring along your other pets to see if they get along as well. Don't. At least not unless the shelter tells you that you can ahead of time. Most won't allow it for a number of reasons. Disease and the potential of dog fights are two very valid reasons why your other pets should remain at home.

4. Block out plenty of time. It's best if you can give yourself two hours. You don't want to be hurried as your asking questions about the many dogs that you might be considering. We've all got busy schedules but consider this. If two hours is too much time for you to take out of your schedule to pick the right dog, then maybe you don't have enough time for dog ownership either. Just something to consider.

Of course once you get the dog home you are going to want to train it properly. There are many programs out there that can help but we recommend only two as being the "best of breed". The first is Daniel Stevens' SitStayFetch. We can't say enough good things about this program. Stevens is a professional dog trainer who knows how to explain thing in a manner anyone can understand. And you'd be hard pressed to find a topic he doesn't cover in his program.

If you prefer learning through video we recommend Dove Cresswell's Dog Training Online. This is another outstanding program. Both are available instantly. I know we sound strong on this but unless you are an expert yourself, you need to get one of these two programs before you get your pet. We say this for the sake of your pet. Way too many dogs are returned to the shelter and euthanized because the owner says he couldn't train him. The vast majority of the time it is not the dog's fault. It is simply the owner's lack of knowledge in proper training techniques.

For the sake of you new pet, learn how to train it properly.