January 03, 2006

By: Mike Mathews
Website: http://www.pet-supplies-for-dogs.com

Adopting and Rescuing a Dog

Part II Choosing a Dog - (In Part I Research we discussed how to find the right dog breed that will match your lifestyle)

A. Finding a Dog to Rescue

After you have done your research and you and your family has decided on the best 2 or 3 breeds to fit your lifestyle, you will have to find dogs in your area available for adoption. The following are suggestions for places you might check for dogs in need of a new home.

• Local animal shelters run by the SPCA (ASPCA) or municipal animal control organizations are good sources of dogs. Most reputable shelters will neuter and health check the animals they put up for adoption. They will provide information about the dog unless it was picked up as a stray or abandoned. Animal shelters usually have about 25% purebred and 75% mixed breed dogs. Most shelters will ask you for information about yourself to assure them you will be a suitable owner. Most shelters will also allow you to return dogs if there is a problem.
• Breed rescue organizations are the best source of purebred adult dogs. The American Kennel Club (www.akc.org) has a list of rescue organizations organized by breed type on its web site. You can then go to that breed’s rescue organization to find the location of the shelter nearest to you. Most breed rescue organizations are excellent and are usually run by a breeder. You may find that some rescue organizations will ask you to fill out a number of forms, which are almost invasive, before they will consider your application. If you are looking for a large active dog and you live in a small apartment or a toy dog and you have toddlers, then you can be screened out as unsuitable owners.
• Dog breeders may have adult dogs available for adoption. These dogs might be show dogs or breeding stock that they have decided not to breed for one reason or another.
• Other people you can check with are friends, veterinarians and dog training organizations. They might know someone who has a dog up for adoption.
• Finally there are newspaper advertisements or notes put up on shopping center bulletin boards offering cute dogs that are “free to a good home”. This is generally not a good way to choose a dog. The owners will be marketing the dog and you will find it difficult to reject the animal even if it doesn’t meet your selection requirements. Then after you get the dog home, its shortcomings will become obvious, but you won’t be able to return it.

B. Selecting the Right Dog

It doesn’t matter if you are choosing a dog from a breed rescue organization kennel, a private or SPCA shelter or an animal control organization shelter; the procedures you should follow will be similar. You should only choose dogs from shelters that allow you to take a dog outside on a leash for evaluation. Also the shelter should have a policy that will allow you to return the dog within a set period of time, if you can’t form a relationship with your new pet. It is not a good idea to take your children with you on a first visit to the kennel or shelter. Your children will make an emotional not a logical choice, which can result in wasting all your earlier research and choosing the wrong type of dog. The time to bring in children is once you have narrowed down your choice to two or three suitable dogs. You should really only look at dogs that have been in the kennel for at least two or three days and have become accustomed to their new environment.

The recommended process for evaluating dogs at a shelter or kennel can be divided into two stages. The first stage can be done inside the shelter and the objective is to rule out dogs that are too aggressive or show signs of being abused in the past.

• Walk around the shelter or kennel and make a list of the dogs that meet your pre-determined selection criteria.
• Carefully observe the dog’s reaction to you and remember you are seeing how they react to strangers.
• Crouch down in front of the cage and without making eye contact, observe the dog’s reaction. Is he friendly, wary, shy or aggressive?/LI>
• If the dog doesn’t appear aggressive, then put your hand inside the cage while talking softly to the dog. Does the dog want human contact and come forward and sniff or press against your hand or is he still wary and shy?
• At this point in time you can use the “hand test” to check for prior abuse. Raise your hand suddenly above the dog’s head and observe his reaction. Rule out dogs that cower or become aggressive. A dog with no history of abuse will remain friendly.
• The last test you should perform is to make prolonged eye contact with the dog in order to see how it reacts to a mild threat. Does the dog stare back, wag its tail, retreat and act submissively, or growl and show its teeth? Dogs that have been poorly socialized may be too submissive or too aggressive and you may want to rule them out and leave then for more experienced owners to resolve their problems.
Once you are satisfied with the first stage tests, you will want to take the dog out of his cage on a leash. Take the dog to a quiet enclosed location inside or outside the kennel.
• Pet the dog and observe his reaction. Does he enjoy the process and move closer or try to get away? Watch out for any danger signs while you stroke the dog such as lowering of tail, ears back or yawning. Stop petting the dog immediately if he shows any of these signs.
• Next ask to feed the dog some dog food and pet him while he is eating. If the dog growls and becomes aggressive you may want to rule him out – especially if you have toddlers.
• Bring out a toy and tease him with it and then throw it. Does he fetch it and drop it off for you to throw again or does he hold on to it and want you to play tug-of-war? Try to take the toy away and see if he is very possessive. You may want to rule out dogs that are too possessive or play too rough – especially if you have young children.
• Put the dog on a leash and take him for a walk, preferably in a busy area. Observe his reaction to other dogs, children and strangers. Some faults can be corrected through re-socialization and further training, but other faults may be too difficult for you to overcome.
• Talk to the kennel staff about the dog’s history and observed behavior. If the dog was picked up as a stray they will have little or no information.

Once you have selected one or two potential pets, it is time to bring in the children and let them make the final decision. However you are not under a time constraint and you shouldn’t feel any pressure to find a dog at the first kennel or shelter you visit.

C. Bringing the Dog Home

Before you bring your new dog home, you and your family must agree on the rules that will be applied to your pet. The entire family must be consistent in the application of the house rules. No feeding at the table means exactly that – not most of the time. No dog on the chesterfield means all the time – not just when your daughter wants him there. If you don't apply the house rules consistently all you do is end up confusing the dog that won't be able to understand what is going on. You should also decide on who is going to feed him, walk him, groom him and of course play with him. This should be done to a schedule as all dogs thrive on schedules.

You should also all agree on the commands that you are going to use with your new dog. Also, before you bring you dog home you should buy a good collar and leash, toys, chews and a bed for your dog. If your dog is going to need to be re-house trained or you plan to leave him alone for some periods of time, you may want to buy a crate of the correct size for crate training. Your new dog may already be trained in a number of areas but you will want to ensure that he meets your requirements. Always use treats and praise to reward your dog for obeying your commands, never use harsh methods to correct behavior. Always remember that dogs are pack animals, who need to understand the rules of the family pack. If you are always kind, considerate and consistent you will develop a great relationship with your adult dog.

About The Author:

Mike Mathews is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.pet-supplies-for-dogs.com. 

Mike – is a contributing writer and editor for the popular dog breed site: Dog-Breed-Facts.com. He provides informative, real-world advice and tips on dog breeds, dog health, dog grooming and more. As well be sure to check out his free report on Dog Training.