Adopting A Dog

Whenever you see a really cute dog, you often entertain the thought of taking it home with you. Lots of times the dog is safe from your clutches because it belongs to somebody else, but dogs are the most popular pet in the U.S., meaning there are many opportunities to adopt them. Adopting a dog can be a fun and rewarding experience, and its important to consider certain factors to ensure that it is for both you and your dog. This way, youll have a loyal furry friend and your dog will have a good home.

When youre thinking about adopting a dog, make sure that everyone in the household wants it or is okay with it. Its going to be difficult later if not everyone approves, because the presence of the dog will cause a lot of disagreements and unpleasantness for the members of the household, especially if someone in the house is allergic to dogs or dislikes them. This provides the dog with an unstable environment and in some cases the owners will have to surrender the dog. You should also make sure that you have the time to take care of a dog in the first place.

Examine your place to see if its dog-friendly. For example, if your dog is going to be running in the house, you dont want a lot of fragile displays standing around. Be wary of electrical cords or other objects that can be dangerous if your dog chews on them. If you already have pets, think about how they will get along with the new dog. If you have carpet, itll be more difficult to clean up dog hair and other mess.

When deciding where to adopt a dog from, pick a place where you know the dog has been in good hands. If youre buying a purebred, make sure that the breeder is reputable and can provide you with the dogs history. The animal shelter is a good place to adopt a dog because dogs there need a home, and they might be healthier. Animal shelters provide information like which shots the dog has had and whether it is spayed or neutered. Also, dogs at shelters tend to be mixed breed and mutts are less susceptible to disease than purebreds are because they have more genetic diversity. Dogs from the animal shelter are also much less expensive.

The next step after adopting a dog is taking care of it. Make sure your dog has a good diet and gets enough exercise. Dont spoil your dogmany owners are tempted to give their dogs human food or extra treats because they look so adorable when they beg, but most of the time you should resist the temptation because its better for your dog in the long run. We cant communicate with dogs about how to behave, so the best way to train them is through consistency. For example, if you allow your dog in the kitchen, and later decide not to, the dog wont understand why it cant go in anymore. Its good to be clear in the beginning about whats okay and what isnt.