Things to Consider Before Adopting a Dog

Dogs are amazing, playful and intelligent animals.  They make wonderful companions for couples and families.  Having a dog is good for your health, the daily walks, exercise and interactions help lower blood pressure and keep you in shape. However, you should make sure that you are ready to have a rewarding relationship with your pet.  Don’t allow yourself to contribute to the number of homeless pets in our community.

Can you make the commitment?

A dog can live up to 15 years or more.  Ask yourself if you are willing to take on the responsibility for caring for an animal for the next 10 to 15 years.  A dog will require your time and attention throughout its lifetime.  Be prepared to spend time walking your dog, playing with them, grooming them, and reinforcing your leadership.  Are you willing to administer medication to your pet on a daily basis if needed or put in time required for special care?

Does having a dog fit your home, family and lifestyle? 

Dogs are pack animals; which means they need social contact, both human to dog and dog to dog.  Because of their social nature they need play time, exercise, and exposure to many different areas.  Exposing your dog to humans and dogs is necessary to avoid a pet that becomes fearful and aggressive towards people or animals.  Additionally, bored and lonely dogs become stressed and may revert to unwanted behaviours such as chewing or destroying items, soiling in the house, anxious behaviour and barking. You must be capable of spending time with your time and providing your dog with a consistent routine.

Ensure that no member of your household has dog allergies which may interfere with their enjoyment of the dog.  If you are unsure whether you or your children have allergies visit a friend’s dog or walk the dogs in the shelter before deciding to adopt.  Many animals end up in shelters because their owners discovered they had allergies after adopting a dog.

Dogs are wonderful companions for children and can help them learn responsibility.  Keep in mind that even with adopting a puppy, the responsibility will most likely become Mom or Dad’s responsibility.  If your children are under 6 years old, consider waiting until they are a bit older.  Young children do not understand how to properly handle an animal and then the dog may become a danger to them.  Adolescent children may soon be leaving home for school or travel and usually cannot take a pet with them, again leaving the parent(s) as the primary caregiver(s). Parents should be prepared to be the primary caregiver for the lifetime of the dog.

It is important to be aware that many of children's'  natural movements and gestures may make a dog feel threatened or arouse its prey drive. This helps to account for the fact that the majority of dog bite incidents involve children. This does not necessarily mean the dog is bad, but rather it interprets signals from humans differently from humans. It is imperative to teach children not to tease a dog, pull its ears and tail, hug it, stare in the dogs eyes, smile, or  play tug of war.  In a dog’s world, some of these actions are a challenge, or some are painful and may make the dog snap out of pain or fear. Young children who cannot yet understand that they must not do these actions are at great risk. Young children should never be left unsupervised around any dog of any size or breed, including a dog with which they are familiar. Most children are bitten by dogs who are familiar to them such as the family dog or a neighbour's dog.

Be sure that you have the permission of your landlord and/or strata corporation to keep a pet in your home.  Ask yourself if you are willing to accept some degree of damage to your home, particularly if your puppy is teething, or if they are stressed and urinate or chew. 

Moving is one of the top reasons for animals being surrendered to animal shelters.  If you foresee yourself moving over the lifetime of your dog, are you committed to finding pet-friendly housing and taking your dog with you when you move? 

Make certain the cost fits your budget

Do some research at your local veterinary clinic and pet store to ensure that the costs associated with having a dog fit into your budget.  Dogs require annual check-ups, vaccines (annually or every three years), tests for diseases etc.  As they age, your dog may require dental cleanings by the veterinarian, blood tests, and medications.  Also be prepared for unexpected medical costs such as emergency care or treatment for a chronic health problem.  Other costs for your pet include food, license, toys, leashes, collars, carriers, and ID tags.

Keep in mind that your dog should be kept on a leash if you are not in your house or in an enclosed back yard.  Should your dog escape, they are considered “at large”. If your dog is  picked up by animal control you must pay a fee and purchase a dog license (if you have not done so previously).  Having your dog on leash also ensures they are safe from wandering on to other property and on to roads where there may be speeding cars. 

Should I get an adult or puppy?

We are all attracted to puppies because they are cute and fluffy.  Keep in mind that they don’t stay this way for very long and they will soon be adults.  Puppies require a great deal of attention and supervision as they like to chew.  Just like toddlers, they can easily get into trouble, chewing on wires, eating sofas etc.  Very young children and puppies, though a cute combination, is not a good idea.  Puppies use their teeth the way that we use our hands and toddlers may not understand that they may be encouraging mouthing from the puppy, and once these habits are formed, they may keep them into adulthood and continue to mouth and possibly bite. 

Assessing the puppy's personality is more important than its looks,  even though most people tend to pick a puppy based on its appearance.  Looks are not an indicator of the puppy’s personality.  There are many tests you can do, or ask the shelter worker or breeder to make sure that the temperament is what is right for your family or you may end up with a dominant dog, or an extremely submissive one.  Some personalities are not suitable for certain households. Should you end up mismatched with a puppy you will be contributing to the large numbers of unwanted animals in our shelters.

Should I get a male or a female?

Some feel that there is a difference in personalities of males and females.  The most important factor is that it is spayed or neutered at a young age as opposed to acquiring bad habits that are fueled by hormones.  Male dogs can be shy and sweet, and females can be dominant.  Look for the personality of the dog, as opposed to the gender.  Proper socializing and obedience training so that you are the leader of the pack can ensure that you have a content and happy dog.

 Why should I adopt a dog from WAG?

All WAG dogs are vaccinated and neutered prior to adoption and they receive any necessary medical attention.  Your adoption fee helps to cover the costs of this veterinary attention and is much less than if you had to cover these costs yourself.  The shelter staff and volunteers get to know the different personalities of the dogs in our care and we can help you choose a dog that is right for you.  Also, you will be helping a homeless animal.

Keep in mind that dogs in the shelter are sometimes under stress.  Moving them to a new environment allows them to relax and show their true personality.  Dogs are creatures of routine and don’t like change.  Remember some of these dogs were surrendered, and some were picked up by Animal Control because they were running around, and their owners chose not to reclaim them in order to avoid paying a bill.  By spending time with the dogs, walking them and getting to know them, you will see how worthy they are of a second home.  Once they have bonded with you, you will have a friend and companion for life.  Speak to us about tips for introducing your new dog to your home.