How to Select a Dog

Adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue organization, many commercial breeding kennels are closing, sending dogs and puppies to shelters and rescue organizations. Get a new four-legged friend and help out the overcrowded shelters with too many pets.

How do you select a rescue dog that’s right for you? Three main areas to focus on are your lifestyle, temperament, and healthcare of the dog.

What kind of dog will fit your lifestyle, a dog that can run and play ball with the kids, be on the front porch and watch sunsets, sit on the couch with you and watch TV, run 5 miles a day, a dog that has been abused, travel with you on the job, or save a dog from euthanasia?

What dog will match my lifestyle to narrow your selection and pick a dog that is appropriate for your needs, home, and activity level. A dog is appropriately placed the owners are happy and most likely to rescue a dog again.

Shelters are not a natural or normal environment for a dog so their true temperament or personality may not fully be apparent. Shelter settings are usually filled with barking, new people, and a routine that is unfamiliar to a dog. Over stimulated dogs shut down, are in a bit of shock anddog’s body language and behavior on your shelter visits will give you an indication of his temperament.

Kneel in front of the kennel run, turning sideways, so that you are not threatening and wait to see who approaches you and how they approach. Rush the kennel gate growling and snarling, trying to bust through, may be a sign of aggression, sit in the back of the pen, head down, and tail slightly waging, shy and nervous, barking at anyone or another dog that passes their pen, spinning, jumping up continuously or lying low curled up in a corner.

Temperament of the dog is very important in matching the right dog to a new home, but temperament of the owner is also important to match to the dog and the person, better known as personality in people, will effect the bonding between owner and dog. People can have strong or dominant personalities, people can be timid or submissive, excitable or wired, calm or confident.

Health and well-being are another area to review when contemplating which kind of dog to adopt. Read the shelter report of the dog, are there any known health problems.

Consider the coat of the dog and if the household allergic to dogs, look for the non-shedding coat, long hair may require professional grooming, as owners dont groom as it is hard work.

The same with training, all dogs need training, but not every owner has experience to train their own dog or provide agility training. Selecting a dog to match your agility equipment is difficult, and requires actual time on the field to determine the aptitude and dexterity of your K9 friend.

Three main areas to focus on when selecting a dog: lifestyle, temperament of the dog, and healthcare of the dog.