adopting a dog from a Shelter

[jamiethearcher]

I am thinking of getting a dog, and like the idea of adopting one from a local shelter (SPCA).

Has anyone else done this? do you have any tips in picking a dog? I have heard you should suddenly raise your hand, if the dog cowers, that means it has been abused. Anything else I should look for?

OR, if you have adopted a dog, do you have any storys to share about him/her/the process?

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Many years ago I adopted a beautiful Labrador retriever from the Humane Society (thats when I still wasnt sure if I was a Cat Person or a Dog Person). When I came across her she was sitting in a filthy cage covered in her own excrement, looking like the saddest most forlorn puppy in the whole world. I took her home, gave her a bath, and held her half the the night to keep her warm, because she was shivering so much (probably the first bath she ever had). She turned out to be a great dog, unfortunately, I turned out to be Cat Person, and no matter what I did, I couldnt figure out how to housetrain her. I gave her to a Dog Person, and she had her trained within a few days

I say go for it dude! Theres a heartbrokem little guy waiting for you there

 

[Darth_Pugwash]

If the dog cowers when you raise your hand it doesn't nessesarily mean that it has been abused - it's perfectly acceptable to give the dog a tap on the nose or a hit with a rolled up newspaper to let it know it's done wrong. Eventually it will learn the motion and thus cower when you do it but this does not nessesarily constitute abuse.

But yeah at a shelter it's probably fairly likely to have been abused or neglected at some point...this can make the dog overly timid or prone to getting violent when it feels threatened, but this varies from dog to dog.

I would avoid getting a big dog unless you can give it plenty of excerise.

Also, probably goes without saying but I'll say it anyway, make sure the dog is healthy before you buy it, or the vets bills will start to stack up especially if the dog is old.

 

[steviejay]

yeah I agree with Bozo. Go for it Personally I've never had a dog unfortunately but I've always wanted one and when I get my own place I'll go to the shelter and get one there, give a dog a home

 

[AlanH]

A one year old RSPCA-rescued dog adopted us (that's the way round it works, by the way ) I think it's best to get one early - I suggest under a year old - in order that s/he can adapt to your lifestyle.

The selection process was largely down to the dog and my wife. Candy did show minor signs of being scared of raised objects - an umbrella or rolled newspaper could spook her, but so what? Are you going to condemn a dog that might have been previously abused? She was a wonderful companion, gave us total unconditional love, and never suffered another day of maltreatment from us. She was with us for 14 years before her late-onset diabetes took its toll, and she is still sadly missed three years on.

 

[Darth_Pugwash]

Indeed - don't let a history of abuse put you off getting a particular dog

 

[spankey]

We got our dog from the Humane Society last September. It was actually at one of those Petsmart-adoption events. Anyway, our dog was quiet with a slight limp and about 3 years old. She was abandoned in a nearby town and very skittish. I don't know if she had been abused, but she was hit by a car some time in her past. Well, with our family she has been an absolute loving Godsend. She is great with the kids and treated our cat with love and our new kitten as one of her puppies. They play all the time. She has been a great addition to the family. I hope that you have the success that we have had. We have had 3 pet adoptions from the humane societies and have had good results each time.

 

[skadistic]

When the cops killed my dog they gave me a replacemnt one from the pound. I say do it. Just dont buy one.

 

[my_lenaptalf]

I always get my dogs from shelters!

It just breaks my heart to see all those dogs in cages, especially at kill shleters... I want to take them all home.

Unless you are looking for a rare breed, or a purebred, there is no reason to pay ridiculous prices for a dog. Save a homeless dog... it's great karma!

 

[puglover]

If you don't have any prior experience in raising dogs, I'd suggest adopting one from a breeder at puppy-age. That was it will be a clean-slate for training and always look up to you if you train it right.

 

[jamiethearcher]

If you don't have any prior experience in raising dogs, I'd suggest adopting one from a breeder at puppy-age. That was it will be a clean-slate for training and always look up to you if you train it right.

This will be my second dog. The family dog is a golden retreiver (spayed), and I did alot of work with her training. Now I live away from the family, and would like a dog of my own.

 

[Elrohir]

My family adopted a black lab from the humane society about a year and a half ago. She's a great dog, no problems at all. I would suggest you get a dog that's rather young, unless you want one that's already house-broken.

If you really think you're ready for the responsibility, I say go for it.

 

[puglover]

This will be my second dog. The family dog is a golden retreiver (spayed), and I did alot of work with her training. Now I live away from the family, and would like a dog of my own.

Good luck choosing your companion.

 

[classical_hero]

We got our latest dog from the RSPCA and we havee had not too many problems, if I had been allowed to train the dog properly had teach him what he needs to know to be a good dog, but unfortunately my Dad has most contact with him and he does not teach the dog how to behave. As a result my dad has problems with him, but whenever he is around me, he is a good dog.

 

[TheDervish]

A few years ago, I adopted a dog from the Humane Society. I still have her. Great dog. Go for it.

 

[El_Machinae]

I think that raising pets is a trick of evolution. We're being tricked into using our resources to raise the young of another species.

However, I also think we can get great utility from our pets. Mainly because we interpret so much of their gestures as loving. Which we all like.

Get a small dog, 'cause they're cheaper and live longer. And I recommend reading up on the concept of Calorie Restriction - because a healthy pet lives a LOT longer than an obese one. And in 14 years, you'll really regret your obese dog dying a couple years early.

 

[Abaddon]

kudos for you for doing this! i think its great adopting a sheltered pet rather than getting a new puppy. Currently i am at uni so cant do anything, but once im done.i plan to adopt.

 

[Methos]

My wife and I have gotten our last two dogs from either the Humane Society or the Rescue Shelter. Yes the dogs typically showed some sort of abuse or problem, but within a short time they began trusting us and have turned out to be excellent dogs. So as others have said, don't ignore a dog just because it shows abuse.

Just a suggestion, but my wife and I have learned the best way to discipline our dogs is with a water sprayer. You know those little bottles of water that you can use to mist plants? Swatting the dogs or yelling at them isn't even close as affective as squirting them with the water bottle. Now we just have to make like we're reaching for the water bottle and they stop what their doing.

 

[jamiethearcher]

The only problem is that most of the dogs at my shelter are Pit Bulls. I personally don't mind them, but I will be travelling to Ontario VERY often, which has banned them - Stupid Dalton Mcguitny........

This means I will have to wait for a while till the right dog becomes available.

 

[spankey]

The only problem is that most of the dogs at my shelter are Pit Bulls. I personally don't mind them, but I will be travelling to Ontario VERY often, which has banned them - Stupid Dalton Mcguitny........

This means I will have to wait for a while till the right dog becomes available.

IMO the Pit Bulls are not reliable enough around children. I have seen 7 stories in the past two years about pit bulls attacking (and sometimes killing) children even though the pit bulls showed no previous signs of aggression.

Oh course, it maybe all anti pit bull propaganda......