Easing the Path from Shelter to “Forever” Home
Before you adopt, consider …….
During this time of social distancing and restrictions on public activities, shelter adoptions have been on the rise. One common thought is that “sheltering at home” provides more time to train and acclimate a pup to one’s family. This is true and helpful in successfully adding a new member to your home.
Breed Characteristics
Most shelters do not have a shortage of dogs that need homes, so selection is plentiful. Paying attention to the breed or mix of breeds in a dog is an important consideration. For those adopting their first dog, try to find a dog from the local community which will enable shelter personnel to provide more information regarding the dogs’ background, i.e. why the previous owners decided to give up their pet, type of home the dog comes from (backyard, in home, etc.) and most importantly, their personality characteristics (dog friendly, stranger friendly, barker?). Does the breed fit your lifestyle, i.e. active vs couch potato?
Personal Baggage
All dogs adopted from a Shelter come with a personal history. For a pup that has been transported from another area or State, this information is vital and often less available. The older the dog is when adopted, the more “baggage” he/she brings with them.
Your Experience with Dogs
To help assist in successful re-homing, consider a breed mix with which you have had experience. Having had dogs of a similar breed, you will be familiar with the breed’s common characteristics and how to train or re-train for desired behavior. Each breed has a commonality of general behavior (i.e. prey drive, lap dog, herding instinct, etc.). However, each dog will be an individual, having been influenced by their experience prior to their arrival at the shelter.
Compatibility
If another dog is already a member of the household, the newbie and the senior dog being of similar breed will help compatibility.
Time, Patience & Training
Adopting a shelter dog is a wonderful act of kindness. All dogs desire a forever home. Transition from shelter to a home environment may be immediate or require several weeks for the dog to acclimate to the change. Time, patience, and appropriate choice will enhance the experience for all involved and, ultimately, result in a smoother assimilation into the family unit.