How to Choose Where To Adopt Your Dog

There are lots of dogs out there who need homes. You can find them in the classifieds, on breeder's websites, pet stores and at the local animal shelter. So how do you know where you should adopt your dog from? Here are some tips.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Patience
• Research
• Time to consider your options

1. 
   Oliver is a rescue. He had kennel cough and aggression towards people.

   BREEDER. If you have your heart set on a pure bred dog then a breeder may be the best place for you to look into first. An added benefit of getting your dog from a good breeder is that they have been socialized, given love, potty trained, fed well and in some cases raised with kids and other pets so you can find a dog who will easily adapt to your family. Good breeders keep their dogs in healthy environments and are responsible with their health care which means you are more likely to get a dog that doesn't need immediate medical care. Fees can be anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 depending on the breed.

2. 
   Sadie is a rescue. She wasn't house trained and was aggressive towards dogs.

   PET STORE. Pet stores are notorious for getting their puppies from puppy mills, which doesn't make a difference as far as these dogs needing homes, too. An ethical pet store will take the dog for walks, give it love and allow people to hold and play with them so they become socialized. Always be sure to ask if the puppy has been checked for parasites and other health problems as this is common in pet stores. Fees are around the same as a breeder or a little less.

3. 
   Emma is a rescue. She had mites, intestinal and respiratory infections.

   ANIMAL SHELTER. Animal shelters and private rescuers are usually not professional trainers or breeders, they are volunteers who just love helping animals. They want every animal to have a good home. In my experience, they aren't always honest with you about the pet's needs. The most important thing to find out when adopting an animal from a shelter is: do they have a history of abuse, neglect, trauma or abandonment? This is very important because if they do you will need to be prepared for the behavioral problems that will need to be healed as a result. Shelter animals are also prone to having health issues like kennel cough (dogs), mites, respiratory problems, intestinal issues and parasites so please get the animal's medical history before adopting so you know what you're getting into. Fees can vary from $50 to $200 depending on the shelter.

Tips & Warnings

• See if any added support comes with your pet adoption, like a free vet's visit, samples of food, etc.
• Ask for referrals to trainers, vets and general support. One popular resource for training is Bark Busters.
• Start your animal off on organic food to support their health and opt for holistic treatments for healthy preventative care.
• Research breeders to find the right fit for you then call them and learn how their process works and what their philosophy is.
• Before you sign any papers or make your final decision, always take time to think about it. It's better to take time to think about if that animal is right for you then to jump into something you then regret, which isn't fair for you or the animal.
• Don't let yourself be pressured when at a shelter. If they ask you if you want to take the animal home that day but you're unsure or have more questions, take your time and think about it.
• Be financially prepared. Vet visits are costly and you may need supplies such as a crate, dog bed, grooming tools and of course food.
• Behavior training can be expensive. Private trainers charge anywhere from $185-$195 an hour and to fully train a dog with some major behavioral issues can run anywhere from $400 to over $1,000.

Resources

• Bark Busters Dog Trainers
• Pet Finder Online Search