| I ask people all the time, why spend money to | | | | arrive home. |
| buy a dog when you can adopt a needy, loving | | | | A perceptive owner may discover that his or her |
| dog from your local animal shelter and it will cost | | | | dog wants to set his own schedule. Your dog |
| virtually nothing. Purebred puppies are often | | | | may prefer to play early in the morning and again |
| plagued with health issues, caused by over | | | | in the late afternoon. To indicate this he could |
| breeding - problems that are often completely | | | | start bringing you his toys and trying to gain your |
| removed from dogs of mixed breeds. | | | | attention at those times in the day. Never be |
| But if your heart is set on a purebred, this can still | | | | inflexible, you should be able to adjust your |
| be achieved at your local shelter. When I visited | | | | schedule to whatever best fits your dog. |
| mine recently there were two spaniels, two black | | | | Should it ever be necessary to discipline your |
| Labradors, one golden retriever and a Boston | | | | shelter dog, you should always start with the |
| terrier that were without question, purebreds. As | | | | minimum amount of correction, just relying upon |
| far as I could see they were all great dogs and | | | | your tone of voice to indicate your disapproval. |
| were only dumped at the shelter because their | | | | Usually that is all that is needed as a disciplinary |
| owners had no idea how to train them properly - | | | | tool. Remember that some dogs may have been |
| or had little time to devote to them. | | | | mishandled, mistreated and even abused. Any |
| Another way to find a great purebred dog in | | | | sudden or threatening movement on your part will |
| need of a caring home is to search on the breed | | | | confuse and frighten your dog and he may cringe |
| name + rescue on the Internet. Many breed | | | | or growl. Should this happen it will tell you |
| specific organizations maintain connections with | | | | immediately there are some issues to overcome. |
| pounds and shelters and move quickly to pick up | | | | Kindness and patience will resolve the problems |
| dogs, then hold them for adoption into permanent | | | | and heal the mental wounds, but It will take time |
| homes. | | | | to gain the total, unquestioning trust of the animal. |
| The majority of shelter dogs need little more than | | | | Beginning the day you arrive home with your |
| a ton of love, attention and some time spent in | | | | adopted pet, handle him and communicate with |
| obedience training to become trusting, | | | | him frequently. Examine his ears and his paws; |
| affectionate companions. It's my experience that | | | | inspect the skin underneath his coat closely. Why? |
| shelter dogs are inevitably more devoted and | | | | What are you looking for? Nothing really. What |
| loving than dogs that have never experienced | | | | you are doing is conveying the message to your |
| abandonment and hardship. | | | | dog that from now on, you will constantly be |
| Some pound and shelter dogs may have had to | | | | touching him and looking at him closely. It's quite |
| endure assorted unhappy circumstances before | | | | common for a dog to become very anxious with |
| arriving there. Possibly they were mistreated, | | | | this attention but it is crucial to establish your |
| abandoned by their previous owners, or wandered | | | | "right" to do this. In fact, grooming, bathing and |
| the streets alone for some time. Initially they will | | | | trips to your veterinarian will depend upon you |
| be confused and won't understand why they are | | | | and others being able to handle the dog easily. |
| being taken to yet another new location - they | | | | You should also begin behavior training |
| will have no way of knowing that this time you | | | | immediately you arrive home for the first time. |
| are taking them to their new forever home. | | | | Lavish him with treats and dog biscuits, but gently |
| The method I recommend to teach your rescue | | | | insist that he sits before receiving each reward. |
| dog to settle in and adapt quickly, is to | | | | Take him for walks - but establish that you are |
| immediately set up a regular schedule and stick to | | | | his "leader" by always going through the doorway |
| it for several weeks. Set feeding times, exercise, | | | | first. Through your voice and its tone, make sure |
| walks and play times will all help your new friend | | | | the dog knows exactly what is expected of him |
| fit in as quickly as possible. Dogs can be especially | | | | and when he has done wrong. Never rebuke your |
| quick to adapt to the schedules of their owners | | | | shelter dog for anything unless you actually catch |
| and many seem to have well defined internal | | | | him in the act. Follow this advice and your dog will |
| clocks. I had one dog who without fail went to sit | | | | understand what is expected of him and he will |
| next to the door from our garage into the house | | | | quickly settle in and learn to trust you as his new |
| at five o'clock every day, waiting for me to | | | | owner. |