Adopting dogs and puppies:  Why dog adoption is a great choice for many dog owners

Adopting a Dog

Everyone wants a puppy, but there really are some great benefits to dog adoption. One of the primary benefiits is the fact that when you adopt a dog, you can have a much better sense of what the dog's personality is like. In fact, when you go to a rescue shelter, the workers will most likely be able to match you up with your perfect dog, as they will know the dogs quite intimately. Simply tell them the sort of dog you are looking for, and you will be pleasantly surprised.

Of course, adopting holds the added virtue of literally saving a dog's life. Instead of going after a brand new puppy, you are taking an abandoned dog into your family and giving him a better life. Often times, you can even tell that your adopted dog carries himself with a constant sense of gratitude for the new life that you've given him.

Adopted dogs will normally be farily well trained and you will be saved the hassle of a new puppy. No waking up in the middle of the night. No cleaning up urine from the couches. Your dog may very well be ready to go on long walks without pulling. An adopted dog will normally know that it needs to go to the bathroom outside. And, if you are a working professional, an adopted dog will be much more capable of staying at home during the day without your presence.

Adopting from a rebutable rescue service is very important. Your neighborhood rescue shelter is a great source, as are organizations that rescue particular breeds, like greyhounds. You will pay only minimal fees (much lower than for a new purebred puppy) and you are ensured to have spayed or neutered dog who has most or all of his shots. That way, you can spend more of your time loving your new dog and less time worried about extra responsibilities.

There are some downsides to adopting, primarily if you other pets or young children. One of the keys to integrating a family of pets is to have them grow up together, but when you adopt, you just don't know how your other pets will react to the new dog, and you don't know how your new dog will react to your other pets. This information is impossible to acquire without literally bringing the pet home and seeing what happens.