- By Julie Bjelland
Thinking of adopting a dog?
This can be a very exciting time! It can be a very emotional experience to fall in love with a dog and want to take them home. Although there are a lot of factors to consider as to what kind of dog is best for you to adopt. As a dog trainer I've come across a lot of problem behavior in dogs due to owners not being aware of how important it is to meet their dogs needs. The amount of exercise a dog needs is usually one of the most important needs that often do NOT get met properly. If a dogs needs are met, you will have a great companion full of love for you. If you don't meet your dogs needs you will run into problem behavior that can be a nightmare. This article will help you to truly understand what a dogs needs will be so you can pick the right match for a successful life together!
Dogs live 10-15 years or more and adopting a dog is a long-term commitment that you should take very seriously. There is a reason why there are so many homeless dogs and it is usually because the owner and dog were mismatched and not because there is something wrong with the dog. Owners often do not realize how much effort is required to having a pet dog and are not meeting their dogs needs so behavior problems may arise. Millions of dogs are killed in Shelters every year. Bringing a dog into your home is a very big decision that should be carefully weighed out.
It is important to understand what a dog may need and to see if you can offer those things to that dog, every day for the next 10-15 years.
What kind of breed should you get? Should you adopt a puppy or adult dog? Where should you get the dog?
Just like people, dogs have individual personalities. Some dogs are highly energetic, while others are more calm and passive, some dogs are very social, and others not. So if you have your heart set on a particular breed for example, you still need to search within that breed and find the dog that best matches your lifestyle. Also, think about the option of finding a mixed breed with at least one of the breeds you may like.
But before you even consider what breed of dog, you should first examine your life a little to discover what kind of dog would best "match" you. Think of it a little like dating. If you are someone who loves the outdoors and is very athletic, then you'd probably do best dating someone that also enjoyed these same activities. If you are someone who likes to stay home and don't really like to walk very much then you wouldn't want a dog that is considered high energy and needs a lot of extra exercise.
In this sense dogs are like people, they all differ in personality and needs. Some dogs are more high energy and those dogs need to be matched with someone who plans to bring them out a lot; running, hiking, dog sports, long walks, etc. Others may want a mellower dog as a companion, who is content with hanging out with you all day and doesn't require as much exercise as a high-energy dog.
Adopting an adult dog has a lot of benefits over adopting a puppy because you already know what type of personality the dog has and if it matches yours. Plus, puppies require a lot more work with housetraining, chewing and you'll lose sleep at night caring for their needs; while adult dogs have already gone through all those difficult puppy phases. There are a lot of places to find adult dogs needing homes. You can contact your local animal shelter, or search for dog rescue organizations in your area online. There are rescue organizations for purebred dogs as well. Although adopting a mixed breed also has a lot of health benefits because they tend to get the best of their mix of breed genetics without the health problems many purebred dogs suffer from.
How old are the household members in your family?
If you have children under 8 then you will not want to get a puppy under 6 months of age because puppies have sharp teeth and claws that can cause injury. You also would not want to get a small, toy size dog because these dogs are so small they can be very fragile and sustain injury easily. So with small children you are better off getting an adult dog that is medium to large in size. Dogs over age two can be ideal because they have already gone through the difficult puppy and adolescence stages.
If you have elderly or physically challenged people in the household you would not want to get a large, young, energetic dog that could knock them over and sustain injury.
What needs does a dog have?
I feel it is important to talk about what actually goes into having a dog and its care. Of course it is easy to understand the benefits of having a dog and what they will bring to your life because they are a never-ending source of love without judgment. But, in order to have a good life with your dog you really need to know what you are getting into and what your responsibility is going to be. There would be a lot less dogs going to shelters if everyone understood what it actually takes to raise a dog successfully.
Dogs cannot be left alone outside in the backyard all day without attention and exercise. It simply doesn't work. If you are going to be gone all day for work as many are, you'll need to set aside an hour or so to take care of them both before you leave and after you get home. It is important to understand that you'll need to exercise them BEFORE going to work and also after returning home. If you do not meet your dogs energy needs YOU WILL have behavioral problems such as: excessive barking, uncontrollable jumping on you, separation anxiety, destruction of your property, and possibly aggression among many other possibilities.
- Here is a list of responsibilities you will have as a dog owner:
- You have to walk them twice a day for about 30-45 minutes each. High-energy dogs will need more, and Senior Dogs may need less. If you work all day, you'll need to wake up about an hour earlier to get the walk in as well as feed them before you go as well as repeat it after you return home.
- Lots of time with you and the family every day.
- Feed them twice a day and always have fresh water available.
- Dog Training. Dogs that are well trained are happier and more bonded with their owners. They also get to spend more time with their owners because they are well behaved.
- Clean up their poop, both in your yard and on walks.
- Adult dogs will have to do a Veterinarian exam at least annually, as well as be up-to-date on all their vaccinations. Puppies will require several more trips to the Vet the first year for additional vaccinations as well as spaying/neutering. Contact your local Vet to learn about cost, etc.
- Puppies require a tremendous more amount of time and money their first year. You'll also have to housetrain them which requires a lot of extra time on your part then an adult dog would.
- A well-maintained fence at least 6-feet tall if you plan to have them off-leash in the backyard at all.
- Brush them/bathe them/grooming/nail cutting/ear cleaning.
- Flea/tick care.
- Extra expense. There is a lot of expense in having a dog. You need to consider: Veterinarian costs, food, supplies (leash, collar, id tags, bedding), toys, chew bones, flea care, bathing, grooming, travel expenses or dog sitting expenses while you are away, medical care should they become ill, etc.
- Dog Hair. If you plan to have your dog inside, which is encouraged so that they feel more a part of the family and tend to have less behavioral issues than those left alone outside; you'll have to deal with dog hair. Dog hair has a way of finding itself on everything and will require more cleaning on your part.
- Arranging for care of your dog while you are away on trips. Dogs cannot be left alone overnight.
- Oral care for your dog. Veterinarians are recommending teeth brushing and cleanings.
- Extra Things to think about if you have children.
- Do not expect that the children will take over all the dog-care, no matter how much they say they will. They may be able to assist you, but as the parent, YOU will have the responsibility.
- Access your energy level. It can be a lot of work keeping up with children and adding a dog means you have one more responsibility.
- Supervise your young children around the dog at all times. (Children can be unpredictable and do things like pull tails or whiskers and cause the dog to feel threatened.) You should not leave your child with the dog unattended, and you will have to teach them how to be gentle and what areas are off limits to touch.
- If your children are very young, say under 8, it can be better to adopt an older, medium to larger size dog rather than a puppy, because puppies have sharp milk teeth and claws that can scratch easily. Puppies and small/toy dogs can also be fragile and injured more easily.
- Also consider your child's friends that may be coming over and you will also have to supervise them around the dog.
- Some things to consider before adopting your dog.
- Your energy levels vs. the dogs energy needs.
- How much time will the dog be left alone daily? Do you travel a lot?
- Do you have enough money to cover the dogs regular expenses as well as extra should they become ill?
- Do you have the time and money needed to put into training your dog?
- Do you have other pets at home that the new dog will need to get along with?
- Do you have small children or physically challenged individuals living at home that you'll need to supervise the dog with?
If you believe you are ready to give a good home to a dog then there are a lot of resources out there to help. www.petfinder.com is a great online resource that you can type in what kind of dog you are looking for it will list the dogs available in your area. If you are looking for a particular breed there are great dog rescue groups that specialize in the breed you want. Just do an online search; typing in the type of breed you want with the words "rescue" behind it and the largest city near you. For example: Labrador Retriever Rescue San Francisco. Your local animal shelter should also be a great resource for you. There are a lot of great adoptable dogs there waiting for a good home. Whatever resource you use to adopt your dog, you should make sure that you provide them with the information that is realistic to your lifestyle and needs. A good shelter or rescue organization knows their dogs well and will be able to match a dog to your needs.
Do not get a dog based on how they look! And, Do Not adopt a dog because you feel sorry for it. You need to adopt a dog based on their personality matching yours. You need to go into the matching process knowing your lifestyle and needs and looking for a dog that will match those needs.
I hope this guide can help you make the right choice for you when deciding to adopt a dog. When a dogs needs are met they can be a truly wonderful companion for many years to come.
Julie Lokhandwala is founder of webDogTrainer, LLC. and has created the interactive Online Dog Training Guide and Consultation http://www.webdogtrainer.com
You can ask Julie any dog question!
"Julie had an immediately calming effect on us as dog owners. She can explain the canine perspective and how we as humans can interact with our dog in a positive way, even when disciplining. Julie was super patient with all of our questions and even fielded our email questions after training ended," said Sina and Ed of Fremont, California.
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