Dog Adoption

So you made the decision to go through the dog adoption procedure. Congratulations. You have just taken the first step in what should be a lengthy process. It doesn't have to be lengthy of course. You could go out and adopt the first cute dog you see. But to do this right there are so many other things you need to consider.

We'll start with where will you adopt your new pet. Will it be from the shelter or a breeder? How do you make sure the breeder is reputable? What exactly is a puppy mill and how why should you avoid them?

What dog breed will you get? Will it be a mixed breed? Will it be large or small? What are the different breed groups? Do you want a herding breed, a terrier, or perhaps a toy dog? Different breeds obviously have different characteristics. Some will be more spirited, others need more space and still others need more attention. Do you have children? What breeds are good with kids? Will this dog spend a lot of time indoors?

Do you want to take this canine to dog shows? If yes, then obviously that opens up a whole new set of questions.

How will you train it? Wow is this one important. Before any dog adoption you need to have a training plan in mind. Maybe you should consider a dog obedience school. These can be great but sometimes they are costly as well. There are a couple of fantastic internet programs we highly recommend for the do it yourself dog trainer. The first is Daniel Stevens' SitStayFetch. The second is Dove Cresswell's Online Dog Training. We recommend this one for those who prefer watching video's as opposed to reading. Both are fantastic.

No matter what training method you choose, please have a plan in mind. Otherwise instead of being a source of joy, your new pet will instead be a source of frustration. Pet ownership is a difficult job but the rewards are well worth it.

We've asked a lot of questions in this initial post on dog adoption. In subsequent posts we will answer them all, and others we haven't even mentioned. The decision to adopt a dog was a good one, but it's only the first step.

Dog Adoption