If you are thinking about adopting a rescue dog, know that you are doing a kind and noble gesture that is saving an animal’s life. Your heart is in the right place, and now it is time to make the right choices when it comes to which dog to bring home and into your family. Before you head over to your local animal shelter, there are some important factors that should be involved in what dog you end up bringing home.
Feelings of Compatibility
When you visit the shelter to pick out a furry friend, you should see which animal you feel a sense of compatibility with. You may just find yourself drawn to a particular dog for some reason. The dog should complement your own training style, expectations, and personality.
A Specific Breed
Do you have a particular breed in mind that you are hoping to find when you adopt? Knowing what you want is great, as long as you also consider other options as well. Selecting a dog based on its individual merit may be a much better plan than picking a dog solely because of its breed.
Consider What Size Dog Works Best for You
It is probably an easy decision for you, whether or not you want to have a small, medium, or large-sized dog. For example, if you live in a small apartment, you may find a Pomeranian to be better suited to your environment than a Great Dane. Think about how much exercise your dog is going to need and if the dog is going to feel cooped up living in your home.
Female or Male
Hopefully, you will remain open to the idea of adopting either a male or a female dog. If you have your heart set on one or the other, you could be missing out on the perfect match for your household.
Consider Adopting a Senior Dog
Though puppies are cute as a button, there are many drawbacks to bringing one home. Between potty training and getting your favorite shoes chewed into pieces, adopting a puppy presents its own set of challenges.
On the other hand, when you adopt a senior dog, since their behavior is fully-formed, they don’t require as much effort to settle in. Senior dogs need love and companionship just like their younger counterparts do.
Final Thought
There isn’t a foolproof recipe to adopting the perfect shelter dog, because there is no such thing. Many shelter dogs have been abandoned and abused by their previous owners. To find the right shelter dog for you, pair your natural instincts with your honest feelings about the qualities that you want to have in a pet.