| Visiting an animal shelter can be an emotional | | | | understand their new environment and show their |
| experience for an animal lover. It's difficult to see | | | | appreciation for your loving care |
| all the animals in their pens and not want to take | | | | When shelter dogs finally realize that they can |
| them all home. Such feelings are understandable | | | | trust you they will likely reward you with more |
| and commendable; however, just be sure that | | | | affection and loyalty than you can imagine. |
| prior to adoption you consider all of the | | | | Adopted dogs are subject to all of the behavioral |
| ramifications. And remember, your best friend is | | | | problems commonly associated to dogs in general. |
| waiting for you at your local animal shelter. | | | | These would include digging, jumping up on people, |
| Why are animal shelters always filled with animals | | | | jumping fences, barking and nipping. There are |
| waiting to be adopted? Well, lack of neutering | | | | proven solutions to all of these "offences." If your |
| dogs is a major contributor. Shockingly, it has | | | | dog is prone to digging, and always digs in one |
| been calculated that over a six year period, one | | | | area, there are a number of effective repellent |
| female dog and her offspring will, if allowed | | | | sprays that work well. If he digs under your |
| access to male dogs at the relevant times, | | | | fence, a little buried chicken wire works wonders |
| produce 67,000 puppies! Small wonder that there | | | | in breaking that habit. Spray bottles filled with |
| are more animals looking for homes than there | | | | water should be kept at hand to break a dog |
| are people who want to adopt them. | | | | from jumping up and to combat incessant barking. |
| Sadly, some 6.5 million animals (mainly cats and | | | | A quick spritz in the face immediately following, or |
| dogs) are euthanized each year in the United | | | | during, the offensive behavior will usually bring |
| States alone. | | | | about a quick behavior modification. |
| Given the above statistics, it goes without saying | | | | If thinking about adopting a dog, you should be |
| that adopting an animal can be a kind and loving | | | | prepared to deal with the prospect that your new |
| thing to do. | | | | dog may not be completely housebroken. |
| But before thinking seriously about adoption, there | | | | Previous owners may have been irresponsible in |
| are a number of things that you should consider. | | | | their approach to this training, and/or the change |
| Many of the animals awaiting adoption in shelters | | | | of environment to the shelter coupled with the |
| have had a very poor history. Some were | | | | trauma of being abandoned (in whatever |
| abused, some abandoned and some were turned | | | | circumstances) by its previous owner, may have |
| in because the owners had grown tired of the | | | | resulted in the dog continuing to do its "business" |
| novelty, changed their lifestyle in a manner which | | | | right in its pen. |
| didn't include a dog, or simply didn't have time for | | | | Housetraining is not a relatively straightforward |
| them. | | | | training issue which should not deter you from |
| A large number of shelter dogs have been left | | | | adopting a dog. Crate training is recommended to |
| alone for long periods and some were never | | | | assist in this training, and walking your new dog |
| house trained. | | | | and letting him out in the yard several times a |
| So if you're thinking of adopting a dog from an | | | | day will also help. Fenced yards and doggie doors |
| animal shelter, you need to be prepared to work | | | | are minimal expenses and are essential if you |
| with them. | | | | have a dog. |
| Many adopted dogs will come to the new | | | | Adopting a dog as a companion for a small child is |
| surroundings filled with fears based upon earlier | | | | not recommended. A dog is not a toy and should |
| mistreatment or the harsh rules of their previous | | | | never be treated as one. Small children must be |
| owners. Some dogs will be reluctant to go from | | | | trained to understand "animal etiquette". In other |
| one room to another, will shy away when | | | | words, animals are not to be hit, dragged, ridden |
| corrected and hide upon hearing a loud noise. New | | | | or teased. But with shelter dogs in particular, small |
| owners must be patient with them and speak to | | | | children may not be safe around them. |
| them softly and affectionately. | | | | Children should be taught that being overly |
| A shelter dog may be overly sensitive to your | | | | aggressive with a new dog, especially one |
| tone of voice or to any commands you may give | | | | recently adopted, could cause the dog to react by |
| them. You must be prepared to be patient. And | | | | biting or running away. If feeding and exercising |
| you must be prepared to be loving to your new | | | | the dog is to be the responsibility of a child, an |
| dog, without necessarily receiving any love or | | | | adult must follow up and take ultimate |
| acknowledgment in return. Dogs are reasonably | | | | responsibility for the dog. |
| intelligent, and they will gradually come to | | | | |