Facts You Need To Know About Adopting A Dog

Mum, dad, can we get a puppy? Its a plea that may parents will know only too well. How do you go about adopting a dog to make suure that the dog is happy and there isn't too much upheaval in your home?

If you are thinking of adding a dog to your family, consider adopting your new best friend from an animal shelter or humane society. You'll not only get a good feeling from helping a homeless pet, you'll get an outstanding companion. The staff at these organizations carefully check the animals for sound health and good temperament. In addition, some shelter animals have had the benefit of training to develop good manners while they waited for a new home.

Through no fault of their own, a lot of great dogs wind up in animal shelters hoping for a second chance at happiness. People relinquish their pets to shelters when they are no longer able to care for them. Sometimes this is because the owner was unprepared for the responsibility that comes with caring for a dog. Often, however, caring owners struggling with life-changes or trying to cope with family tragedy realize their pet would be better off with someone else. They bring them to the shelter because they know the animal will be well cared for and placed in an excellent home.

You can find just about any age, size and breed of dog at an animal shelter. So, if you have your mind set on a puppy, a shelter is a good place to look. However, if you would like a more mature dog that is likely already housebroken, you'll also find these kinds of canines at the humane society or animal center.

Upon arrival, shelter staff carefully evaluate each animal for physical and behavioral soundness. They make note of quirks, and work with specialists to eliminate negative behaviors. Most shelters have adoption counselors who interview potential adopters to understand their needs and lifestyle.

This is nothing to worry about - the counselor just wants to make sure that so they can make the perfect match for dog and owner.

This is an opportunity for you to find out about the dogs at the shelter too. There are a number of questions you should ask the counselor.

- Why is the dog available?

- Does the dog have any behavior problems?

- How is the dog with other animals and children?

- Does the dog have any health problems?

- Is the dog spayed or neutered already?

You will find it easy to pick your new dog with this expert advice. In fact your only problem may be not taking all the dogs home with you!

Bringing your newly adopted dog home is exciting for you, but may be a little overwhelming for her. Keep her on a leash as you take her from room to room, giving her plenty of opportunity to sniff. You may want the first stop on your tour to be the backyard or wherever you want her to relieve herself. The excitement of a car ride and coming to a new place can give her the need to empty her bowels or bladder.

Dogs are creatures of habit, so the sooner you establish a firm routine, the more comfortable your new dog will become. Always feed her in the same spot and at about the same time each morning. You'll find she grows to anticipate "what comes next." For example, if you always feed her after you bring in the newspaper, you'll notice she becomes very excited when you open the door to step outside. Dogs catch on quickly.

Remember, though, the reason why many dogs are in animal shelters in the first place. If you don't have the commitment to look after the dog properly, think again.

http://www.best-pet-health.info is a resource which will help you find infomation, hints and tips to keep your newly adopted dog happy and healthy. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and live links are included intact.

Only the most sincere should adopt pets
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 9 hours ago
Humane Society volunteers want to make sure pet adoptions aren't impulsive, given the unstable economy. By PATRICE RELERFORD, Star Tribune I've done animal ...

NBC13.com
Fireworks cause pets to go astray
KOB.com, NM - 7 hours ago
More than a hundred Albuquerque pets are waiting to be returned to their owners after running away during Fourth of July fireworks. ...
Pets need special attention to cope with holiday fireworks Seattle Times
Town Lake Shelter Receives More Strays Than Usual Post Fourth CBS 42
Pets often best left at home during summer Oakville Beaver
TurnTo23.com - WCTVall 49 news articles

Calgary CTV
Fire kills 19 pets, damages businesses in SE
Calgary Herald,  Canada - 16 hours ago
A fire that killed 19 pets was electrical, started by an old radio that overheated due to poor ventilation, the Calgary Fire Department said Saturday. ...
Nearly 20 pets die in city house fire Canoe.ca
House fire kills 16 cats, three dogs in Calgary The Gazette (Montreal)
Woman hurt, animals perish in northeast blaze Calgary CTV
Calgary Heraldall 6 news articles

We're spending more on medication for pets
Los Angeles Times, CA - Jul 5, 2008
Yes, we are spending more and more on medication for pets. Newsweek reports: Next month this will change when Slentrol, the first diet drug for dogs, ...
Diet pill maker targets competition Houston Chronicle
all 2 news articles

Obesity Harms Pets As Much As Humans
RedOrbit, TX - 7 hours ago
Our pets are also suffering from the effects of obesity. The American pet owner is literally killing their pet with kindness. Who would ever have thought ...
Up From Nutrition RedOrbit
all 3 news articles

Local volunteers reach out to homeless folks’ cherished pets that ...
The Olympian, WA - 9 hours ago
They are the pets of the homeless, and they need food and supplies, too. That’s where Covenant Creatures comes in. The Rev. Leanne Johnson’s nonprofit ...

Pet Rescue Is Heroic, And Pets May Know It
Hartford Courant, United States - Jul 5, 2008
Q: Our entire lives we've rescued pets from shelters. I really believe that at some level these dogs and cats bonded so tightly with our family because they ...
Here's to choice, free will and funny little dogs Pueblo Chieftain
all 4 news articles

People Hurt By Economy Giving Up Pets
Tampa Tribune, FL - 19 hours ago
Like thousands of pets around the country, Sam became a silent victim of the nation's economic woes. "He's fairly new. He's not quite sure about the whole ...
Humane Society Hoping for Donations WMBB-TV
all 2 news articles

Exotic pets common, but often dangerous
San Gabriel Valley Tribune, CA - 16 hours ago
While it is unknown exactly how many exotic animals are kept as pets nationwide, the Humane Society of the United States estimates there are at least 15000 ...

Pets praised in animal service
Watford Observer, UK - 4 hours ago
Dogs, guinea pigs, and pictures of pets too big to fit in the Mildred Avenue hall, joined staff from the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals (ASWA) ...
Special pets' service Watford Observer
all 2 news articles

Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Potty Training Your Puppy