How to Pick A Dog From The Shelter

Here's how to pick the right dog for your family from the animal shelter.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A basic knowledge of dog breeds (look online before you go, or get a dog book from the local library or book store)

1. Check out the shelter long before you actually plan to adopt.
   
   Go to the shelter (without your family) so you learn about the adoption process and see how to select a dog without the pressure to adopt an animal on your first visit.

2. Go to the shelter at the right time.
   
   If you want to choose from a wide selection of dogs, you may have to show up early, or on a certain day. Call your local shelter for more info.

3. Don't take home the first dog you see.
   
   Look around the entire shelter and look at all the dogs. If no dog really catches your eye, come back later in the week or month.

4. Dogs may behave differently in the shelter than they do in a home environment. Some dogs are really depressed by shelter life. Other dogs are agitated. Use their personality in the shelter environment as a general guide to their overall behavior. Ask shelter staff more about the individual personalities of each animal.

5. Buy an animal appropriate to your lifestyle.
   
   Just because an animal is desperate for a home doesn't mean it will work in the wrong living situation. A big dog won't work in a small apartment, and an anxious dog won't be good around children, etc.

[candylady]

on 5/26/2009 This advice is so true, I will keep this in mind