It’s very possible that your next dog is waiting for you at the shelter. When you visit the shelter it’s important to go there with the right mindset. You might want to take all of them home, after all what will happen to them, if you don’t, right? This kind of mindset will get you into trouble. Don’t worry! The shelters will take good care of the dogs you don’t choose.
Concentrate on the fact that you’re looking for a new member of your family who will fit in and be happy with the care you can give. The key to finding the right match is being realistic about yourself and your lifestyle.
Know what you can offer. Do you hate to pick fur off of your clothes? Then a shedder isn’t a good match. Are you easily irritated? Then a puppy, who takes a lot of patience may not be best for you. Do you live in a cramped apartment? Dislike going for walks? Take a realistic look at your life and think about what kind of dog will be happy living the way you do. AKC has a great article: Answer These 5 Questions to Find the Right Dog For You.
They say pets are like their owners, so for fun I’m adding the AKC Test so you can figure out which type of dog YOU are! (I’m a terrier!) Which Dog Breed Group Do You Belong To?
Know what you want. Is your dream dog one that curls up on your lap while you read a good book? Then a 200 pound Saint Bernard will not be a good fit. Literally! OOOOOph!! Do you want a dog that can go the distance while you run 5 miles…please don’t choose a short legged dachshund! Do you want help meeting your doggy love match? Use the Dog Key Test to identify the dog group you’re drawn to.
Bone up on your knowledge of dog body language. Here’s a great video to test yourself — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00_9JPltXHI&feature=youtu.be
Pick a reputable shelter. In Jackson County, I recommend friends of the animal shelter and Southern Oregon Humane Society.
Give yourself plenty of time to interact with your prospective dog. Avoid promo days! You’ll feel pressured to pick one, when you’re not ready. Go on the least busy day – usually during the week. Pat Miller wrote a good book on how to conduct your own behavior assessment, Do Over Dogs: Give Your Dog a Second Chance for a first Class Life. You can find a copy on DogWise Publishing.
Make sure you and your home are ready. Prepare yourself to be patient. The Humane Society has some good tips in their article: Bringing Your New Dog Home.
Once your dog is home, now what do you do? How do you introduce this new, furry love of your life into a family that already has dogs, cats or pet squirrels? How do you get them to make nice with each other? Or perhaps your new pup needs a little coaching on house manners? Is he marking in the house or barking, or getting car sick?
Bring your new dog challenges to my free NEW SHELTER DOG WEBINAR on Tuesday JULY 14th 10 AM and find out what you should be doing to help your new dog settle into his new forever home! You can attend at no charge, no obligation.
The login information was in the July newsletter we sent out on the 6th. If you didn’t get it, email me at info@doggonefun.biz and I’ll send you an invite.