The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : What Questions Should I Ask Before Adopting a Shelter Dog? The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : What Questions Should I Ask Before Adopting a Shelter Dog?

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

What Questions Should I Ask Before Adopting a Shelter Dog?


I am proud to be the owner of a former shelter dog who is a mutt (my PAL Buster might look and act just like a Black Lab, but I assure you, with pleasure, that he is a mutt). I am someone who will always own a dog, and I have decided that I will only own rescue or shelter dogs. Therefore I am a big fan of October, which is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.

Behavioral and lifestyle questions for yourself and shelter staff
The decision to adopt a shelter dog (or any dog) needs to be come from introspection. Shelters have dogs to suit any situation or lifestyle. What sort of dog do you desire? What sort of dog can you handle?

The latter question is the more important one. Human-canine relationships work only when the human is the leader. I do not subscribe to schools of thought that recommend humans be aggressive or domineering with dogs. However, dog owners must be sufficiently competent and confident to lead the relationship gently. This is for the safety of the dog and all of the people who meet the dog.

Unfortunately I have met many people who have misjudged their confidence and competence when adopting dogs. The result invariably is a bad relationship in which the dog does not respect its owner. A shy, fearful, hesitant, or inexperienced owner who adopts a spirited, challenging dog will probably suffer with behavior problems over time. These behavior problems can devolve into a situation that can be fatal for the dog; euthanasia for behavior problems unfortunately is common in this world.

If you are an experienced dog owner who enjoys the robustness of a relationship with a spirited dog, then by all means adopt one. If you are inexperienced or if you lack confidence, then you need to look for an easy going, easy-to-handle dog.

To read more on this story, click here: What Questions Should I Ask Before Adopting a Shelter Dog?


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