How to Adopt the Best Dog for You

Are you looking to get a puppy or dog? You should think about adopting an adult dog from the many animal shelters that abound with wonderful companions. After having successfully adopted my canine best friend, I am offering some practical steps and tips for you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Time and patience
• Enough money to provide proper food, entertainment and health care for your dog
• Did I mention patience?

1. Get to know yourself and your needs. If you are a runner, you'll want an active dog. If you are like many people, you'll want a dog that enjoys its walks but can sit on the couch with you and watch TV. Whatever your preferences, you need to figure them out first before you try to match a dog to your lifestyle. Also, do you have other pets to be thought of?
2. Look at your finances! Dogs are not as expensive as children, but food, toys and vet visits all add up quickly. When I adopted my first dog, she was diagnosed with a heart murmur. Luckily, it wasn't fatal and no surgery was needed, but it could have quickly escalated in costs. You shouldn't jeopardize your pet's health because you can't afford it.
3. Do you have enough time? Starting any relationship, human or animal, requires a lot of time in the beginning and more and more time throughout the relationship. Even when you are adopting an adult dog who might not need house training, the dog will need time to adjust to you and your lifestyle.
4. Copyright OldOakRetrievers.com And you will need plenty of patience! It will take a while to find the right dog for you. You can't expect to show up at Animal Control one Saturday and find your companion for the next fifteen years right off the bat. Expect it to take a while. Also, if you adopt a dog and it is just obviously the wrong fit, don't force it. The dog will make a great companion for someone else. But don't give up just because it isn't completely housebroken or doesn't cuddle with you immediately. Some things take time to adjust.
5. Copyright TheFunTimesGuide.com Once you found that forever friend, buy lots of toys! Any dog well exercised both mentally and physically will be happier and therefore make you happier. If your dog loves chewing his peanut butter-stuffed Kong instead of your Jimmy Choos, believe me, you will be happy!
6. Spay or neuter your pet! Most adoption programs require this before the animal is released to you, but this cannot be stressed enough. Did you see all those other dogs you couldn't take home with you? Why create more animals that won't find loving homes? Please do the right thing and make sure not to create more unwanted pets!

Tips & Warnings

• Check out every adoption shelter and program, not just the pound. Certain programs have more small dogs, more athletic dogs, etc.
• Research breed types. Terriers are almost always high energy and pugs usually have medical problems. Remember that not all individual dogs are going to conform to the breed standards.
• You will be making a long-term commitment to your dog, no matter what age, so please be prepared. We don't want the dog to be up for adoption again in a year or two.