The Do's and Don'ts of Dog Adoption

How to Make Your Adoption Experience Paw-sitively Perfect!

Deciding to adopt a dog is a serious commitment for you and your family. Aside from the cuteness factor, it's the responsibility of pet parents, to provide care, feeding, and well-being for their four-legged friends. Here is some helpful advice to make your adoption experience paw-sitively perfect.

The Do’s

1. Do your research! Adopting a dog isn’t about cuteness. It’s about energy levels, lifestyle, and breed. Browse the list of dog breeds recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club. Better be prepared to sit down and stay awhile. It's a pretty extensive list.
2. Discuss your plans with the family.You know that expression, “it takes a village to raise a child”? Well it takes a family to care for a canine. Make sure everyone is on the same page and they realize the commitment they are about to make. There’s more to owning a dog than play time!
3. Find a reliable shelter or rescue organization.You’ll know you’ve found a safe organization to adopt from if the dog’s health has been checked, a behaviour assessment, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and micro-chipping have been completed, and the surroundings are clean and comfortable.
4. Make an appointment with your veterinarian. Introduce your new family member to your vet and provide copies of records supplied by the shelter or rescue organization. This visit also gives your vet a chance to make sure the dog is in fact in good health and will give you peace of mind that you have adopted a healthy dog.
5. Find a training school. Enrolling your newly adopted pet in training school - regardless of the age of the dog is always recommended. Not only will it help you strengthen the bond between you and your dog, it will provide much needed socialization to new situations, dogs and new people. Training classes aren’t just about training dogs – they are equally as important for training humans. While you're there, remember to check out Doggie Daycare services too!

The Don’ts

1. Don’t expect to take the dog home immediately. Shelters and rescues have policies and procedures that they have to adhere to for the safety of the animal and the adoptive family. Typically, adoption involves completing a questionnaire, being interviewed, and sometimes home visits.
2. Don’t expect your new furry family member to be fully adjusted the day after you bring him/her home. Depending on the dog, it can take anywhere from two weeks to four months for Spot to adjust to his or her new home. Relax and give Spot some space. Watch for settling in behaviours including barking, excessive shedding, decreased appetite, excessive drinking, and stress yawning (yawning when not tired).
3. Don’t expect a perfectly trained dog on day one. Be realistic about training. Be consistent with your dog and take the time to work with him/her. Patience and practice are always rewarded! The more you understand dog behaviour (on a general level) the more you’ll understand your dog’s behaviour (specifically) and what he’s telling you he needs. Humans actually need more training than dogs. Hard to believe, but true.

Owning a dog can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience. One that we highly recommend at Kamp K-9. Got questions about how to socialize your pet? Talk to us!