In honor of October being “Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog” Month, I thought I’d share some hints and tips on adopting shelter dogs. All shelter dogs have had a rough go at life, whether they arrived at the shelter due to abuse or neglect, an owner’s death, financial hardship, “uncontrollable” behaviors, or any other reason. These dogs have been separated from everything they know and thrown into a high stress environment that can put even the calmest, most laid-back dog on edge.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when adopting a shelter dog:
The most common time for a dog to become a resident at a shelter is when they are between 6 months – 1.5 years old. The reason for this is generally because the cute little puppy suddenly became a big, active, playful dog. If you’re looking at a dog in the shelter who seems unruly, please know that he or she can be taught dog-manners! Unfortunately, some people just don’t want to take the time to teach an energetic dog the rules of the house, and they end up in the shelter. These almost grown dogs have a lot of love to give and way too much youthful energy to be confined to a kennel!
If you already have a dog at home, or if you plan on frequenting the dog park with your soon-to-be-adopted dog, ask the shelter staff which dogs they use as “Intro Dogs.” These dogs are the ones who are used to test the social skills of new shelter dog residents. Intro Dogs have highly developed canine social skills and will generally get along with any dog they meet – which means you can enjoy your multiple-dog household, and the dog park, with little worry.
Shelter dogs don’t usually show their true colors until about a month after arriving at their new home. They may be more subdued, or more wound up than they naturally are for the first month. For this reason, it is incredibly important to establish household doggy rules right off the bat. For instance, if you want to teach your dog to never run through an open door, start on day 1. If you don’t want your dog to jump on you as a greeting, start immediately teaching him or her not to.
Consider adopting a dog who is currently in a foster home, especially if you are a first time dog owner, or if you don’t have a lot of training experience. Foster parents have been living with these dogs in a home environment, and can tell you exactly what to expect from them. You will know for sure if the dog you’re considering is housebroken or paper trained, energetic or calm, knows any obedience commands, has health issues, etc. These dogs will also have a much easier time transitioning into your family since where they are right now is a home setting instead of a loud, chaotic shelter.
If you have any questions you would like to ask a Certified Dog Trainer, you can submit them right here at Naptown Buzz. Every week, Elizabeth Wilhelm, Certified Dog Trainer, will tackle one of the submitted questions. For more information about Elizabeth, you may visit her website at www.TrainingKarma.com