How to Choose a Dog from a Shelter

Saving an animal from your local shelter may be something that you are considering. Of course there is always the concern of which one is the right pick for your family. There are some ways that you can ensure you make the right decision.

Before you make your trip to the shelter you may want to consider spending some time on their website. Most shelters offer a list of pictures of the dogs they have available for adoption. You can easily scan through and search according the size and gender you may be interested in.

These websites will also show you how long the animal has been there. If you are looking at the local pound to truly save a life this can be useful. The dates will show you which dogs may be closer to being euthanized than others.

You can always call the shelter to make sure the dog you might be interested in is still available. When you are ready to head out you can print up a couple pictures and descriptions of the dogs to have with you when you get there.

While you are looking at the dogs available there will always be the dogs at the front of the kennels barking and wagging and begging for your attention. If you are looking for a dog that has a lot of energy and will want to play and bounce all the time, this would be the perfect dog for you.

If a dog has that much energy in a stressful situation like the shelter you can almost guarantee that their energy level will increase even more once you get them home. Dogs will usually come out of their shell and become more active once they acclimate to their new home.

If you are looking for a dog that will be more of a lap dog or, companion that is easy to walk on a leash, the dog at the front gate whining their heart out is probably not the dog for you. You will want to look past this one to the guy in the back that doesn't care too much that you are standing there. This dog will be the one laying in the sun snoring.

Most people believe that the lazy dog at the pound or shelter is sick or near death. A lot of times this is not the case at all. Dogs have to go through a veterinary examine when they get to the shelter before going up for adoption. Although this dog may be under weight or not so healthy looking they are usually just depressed with their situation.

The shelter you go to will give you the opportunity to take the dog out of the kennel and spend some one on one time with you in a separate kennel. This is a great thing to take advantage of. Use this time to double check for yourself the overall appearance of the dog you may want to adopt. If it is at all possible take your family with you to be a part of this time with them.

You can look over the dog closely, check their ears and see if they have sore spots on them from prior injuries. Do a thorough but gentle once over of the dog before making your decision. Your heart should be able to tell you if this dog will be suitable for your home, family and other pets if you have them.

Another important thing is to take advantage of the staff there helping you. Ask them questions about the dog. How their behavior has been there will also help you with your decision. Most of the staff that work in shelters are good people who ultimately want the best for the dogs they are working with.

Most of all it is important to not rush into this decision. You are making a big life change for yourself and for the dog you may be adopting. This is not something to take lightly. Dogs from shelters can be the best friend you ever have if the choice is made correctly.

Remember to never get in over your head. Take all the responsibilities of your new dog into consideration before adopting. These dogs have experienced extreme stress from their situation and we never want to make adoption more stressful than it should be.