Adopting and Training a Dog or Puppy

Are you thinking of buying a dog or puppy? Before going to a dog breeder or pet shop, consider adopting a rescue dog from a pet charity or animal shelter. There are thousands of abandoned dogs and puppies waiting for a loving home and sadly many are put to sleep because they cannot find a new owner.

By adopting a dog or puppy you could save a life, and bring valuable income to the animal shelter, which they use to help feed and care for other dogs. The average cost of adopting a dog or puppy is around $150, much less than you will pay for a pedigree puppy. Animal shelters are mainly funded by charitable donations from the public. Adopting a dog not only saves the life of your new dog, but also allows the shelter to accept another dog, potentially saving another dog’s life in the future.

When you adopt a dog or puppy from a shelter it should have had the necessary injections, and be checked for diseases, parasites and minor ailments. Any urgent medical treatment will have been carried out, including neutering if necessary. Its temperament and behaviour should have been assessed while it is at the shelter. New owners should be informed of the dog’s temperament and behavior with children, whether it is a noisy dog, and also whether or not the dog needs training.

The best animal shelters will give you a detailed training session when you arrive to take your dog or puppy home, when you will learn the best way to settle your dog or puppy in the first few days with his new family. Be patient, even if you think you know all about dogs. There is always something new to learn .... you may even get a goodie bag at the end of the session.

The dogs at an animal shelter are not always strays or abandoned dogs: many are handed in by the dog’s owners, for many reasons. This is beneficial for the dog’s new owner as they have more information about the dog, whereas abandoned dogs or strays have no history.

With regards to Dog Training, one of the most important aims should be to teach your dog that your are his or her new master and that you are in control, which in the long run will take a lot of stress from your dog and allow them to lead a healthier and happier lifestyle. This is particularly important for an older dog if it has learned bad habits. On a happier note, an older dog whose owner could no longer care for it is likely to be fully trained and can settle with its new family very quickly. One word of warning before you go to the animal shelter: be clear in your mind about how many dogs you want! It is too easy to see a pair of dogs, or even three, from the same home and be tempted to take them all. If you have children, set out the ground rules with them before you visit the animal shelter. Enjoy your adopted dog and look forward to many happy years with your new best friend.