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Writer's pictureRhiannon

Important things to consider when choosing a rescue dog



There is a nationwide crisis when it comes to stray, abandoned, and surrendered dogs. I want to take a moment to just say thank you from the bottom of my heart for wanting to rescue a dog in need!


Unfortunately, not many people can make any dog work for them. There’s a lot to consider: lifestyle, financial situation, personality, health and mobility, other pets or children in the home, etc. It can be difficult to think through all of these things, but it becomes a million times harder when you’re at the shelter looking at all the adorable dogs wanting to go home with you!


Let’s chat a bit about some of the most important questions to ask and things to consider before rescuing a dog, so that you can decrease the chances of the dog going back to the shelter or you drowning in stress trying to make things work.


Self-reflect

Here are some things to ask yourself:


  1. What is my financial situation?

  2. How much am I willing to pay? In general? Per month?

  3. Can I afford help if needed (sitter, walker, trainer)?

  4. Do I have a support system of friends/family who can help with walks/sitting if I can’t afford to hire someone?

  5. How much time do I spend away from home?

  6. How big of a dog am I able to physically handle?

  7. How active of a dog am I able to care for?

  8. What kind of personality am I looking for in a dog?

  9. Do I have other pets at home?

  10. Do I have children at home?

  11. Is my home/yard large enough to accommodate a new dog?

  12. Is my home/yard safe and secure enough for a new dog?

  13. Am I going to be making any big life changes in the foreseeable future?

  14. Am I making this decision based on how the dog looks?

  15. Am I making this decision based on what I know about the breed?

  16. How far am I willing to go to make things work with the dog I bring home?


Assess the dog

Here are some things to ask in regards to the dog you have your eye on:


  1. How much food will this dog require?

  2. What upfront bills will there be?

  3. Is this a puppy or dog with behavioral issues who might cause damage?

  4. Is this a puppy or dog who will need training?

  5. What if this dog has unknown conditions?

  6. How much attention and exercise will this dog require?

  7. How energetic is this dog?

  8. What is this dog’s history (surrendered, stray, etc.)?

  9. What if this dog’s personality/behavior is different than expected?

  10. How will my current pets respond to a new dog?

  11. How will this new dog get along with my current pets/children?

  12. How will this dog’s life be affected by my life changes?

  13. What is this dog’s breed, and what is typical for this breed?




Other things to do

Even if you carefully consider the questions above, it can still be difficult to know which dog to bring home. Here are a few more things you can do to get a better idea about whether or not the dog will be a good fit for you and your lifestyle.


There are many benefits of fostering a dog. Many foster programs will help, if not completely, cover costs associated with the dog, such as food, bedding, and veterinary care. Additionally, if the dog isn’t a good fit for you, you won’t be penalized for returning it to the shelter, but if you decide it’s a great fit, you’ll most likely be able to fully adopt the dog.


Foster dogs also benefit immensely by not being in the shelter. Shelters are highly stressful, and the shelter environment can contribute to behavioral issues and illnesses. By being set up for success in a more stable environment, the dog will have a better chance of finding their permanent home. Fostering a dog will also allow you to take better notes on the dog’s true personality and behaviors that often aren’t expressed in shelters; by providing an accurate description of the dog in a home, you help the dog find exactly the right home without being returned to the shelter potentially several times.


Shelters also benefit from people fostering dogs. Less dogs in the shelters means more space for incoming dogs, less euthanasias (especially for space), and less work for the already overworked shelter staff.


Fostering can be a win-win-win.


If you’re still not sure about bringing a dog into your home, even as a foster, you may be able to volunteer as a dog walker at your local shelter. By walking several dogs every day, you can get to know them a bit better than you would with a regular couple of visits. As with fostering, volunteering at the shelter can be a win-win-win.


Find a dog needing to be re-homed

Rescuing a dog from a shelter can be challenging for two main reasons: 1) shelters are extremely stressful on dogs, so it can be hard to tell how a dog is going to be when they get to your home, and 2) shelters often don’t know much about the dog or their history.

By finding a dog that needs to be re-homed you can help the dog a lot by skipping the shelter, you’ll have the chance to ask the current owner all of the questions that a shelter probably wouldn’t be able to answer, and you might even be able to visit the dog in their current home and see how they are when they’re fully established in a home.


Once again, this option can be a win all around.


Work with a trainer

Even if your local dog trainer’s website doesn’t mention anything about helping people choose a rescue dog, many would probably be willing to help in some capacity. Many dog trainers will also offer training program discounts for people who rescue a dog. Working with a trainer to not only choose the dog you bring home, but also during the process of bringing a new dog home, can make a huge difference in the rescue experience for both you and the dog.


Conclusion

Rescuing a dog can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime. In many ways they end up rescuing us in ways we didn’t even know we needed to be rescued. Unfortunately, rescuing a dog isn’t always a smooth and straightforward process. With some careful consideration and planning, we can increase the chances for success for everyone involved.



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