I answered most of these questions in the previous entry, so that it will be short this time. Hopefully.
Puppy or adult dog?
It’s entirely up to you and your preferences.
Taking a puppy is a good idea if you don’t mind cleaning up after them until they can hold up their physiological needs until they walk. You are convinced that bitten shoes or furniture will not be a problem. Or if it is worth enduring the above inconveniences to be able to take care of the socialization of the toddler properly, then definitely a puppy will be a good choice.
Nothing is lost even if you adopt an adult dog, even with behavioural problems (which may manifest themselves – or vice versa: disappear – after 3 to 6 months after adoption). Almost all so-called “problem” behaviours can be changed. Of course, this requires time, consistency and commitment, but it can be done!
Let’s add that a dog taken from an excellent kennel, for which no one in the new family will have time, will probably start to “cause trouble”. A dog (everyone) needs our time, attention and commitment. It’s just that some a bit more. Initially.
Where to adopt?
There are many possibilities.
The most obvious is a shelter for homeless animals. They are overcrowded to the limit, and dogs and cats live there in horrible conditions. They often lie on concrete (fatal for joints, not to mention comfort), they can be hungry, and a walk is an infrequent luxury. Although taking animals from there and giving them homes is necessary, each of the beings serving life sentences there deserves a better fate.
The main disadvantage of adoption from a shelter is that we decide on the unknown. We see a dog, and on this basis, we can draw some conclusions (I mean the type of breed and the predispositions and needs resulting from it; see the entries “A brief overview of breeds”). Instead, we will only learn a little about this particular dog. Employees rarely know the past of their charges; they do not know whether they like children, whether they chase cats, or bark at trucks. This is what you will find out after adoption. The good news is that with the right approach, almost all behavioural problems with your dog can be solved 🙂
The second possibility is a foundation that acts as a shelter. Again, the principle of operation seems similar, but there are some essential differences.
First, there are fewer dogs in foundations, as a rule. Thanks to this, employees can get to know them a little better. Depending on the number of charges, employees and volunteers, dogs go for walks a little more often or a little less often, but they go out! Thanks to this, they can give you some basic information about the dog of your choice.
Secondly, through closer contact with fewer dogs (than would be the case in a city shelter), the foundation’s employees know their charges better and are more emotionally connected with them. As a result, they care about finding suitable homes. They also know what a misfortune it is for a dog to return to the cage after a failed adoption. Therefore, they will not lie and colour reality to make you adopt a dog. Instead, they will tell you about things that have bothered them, their fears, and possible problems with their dog’s behaviour. They will want you to make an informed decision because it increases the chance of a happy ending.
The third solution is adoption from a Temporary Home. This is the safest solution as it will allow you to get the most reliable information about the dog you plan to adopt into your family. In addition, his current guardian will be able to answer most of your questions. After all, he lives with a dog and sees it in different situations.
Foundations that help dogs of a specific breed will be a good solution for you if you know what kind of dog you want, and at the same time, you prefer to adopt it than buy it.
Just type in the search engine, for example, “spaniels for adoption”. For most breeds, you will find both adoption foundations and individual offers for a specific dog.
It may be helpful to find foundations of this type on the Internet.
What to consider when choosing a dog?
Do not rush to choose a dog. Instead, think it through; examine what you expect and can offer. Read about the type of breed you are interested in and find out what these particular dogs need. What are they predisposed to? Do they get along with other dogs? Do they bark a lot? Are they fearful? Independent? Do they need long walks? Or they may not tolerate the heat well.
Confront it with your way of life. Will a dog that you like visually be happy with you? If you have doubts, check which breed suits you better. Remember that you can always ask a behaviourist for help. Believe me: we love such customers! We love animals and people who have a heart and mind 🙂 A conscious dog handler is a treasure.
Remember that adopting a dog is always unknown to some extent.
You will find out what your dog is like after about 3-6 months.
That’s how long it takes for the dog to get used to the new environment. Then traumas that have not yet been felt may manifest themselves. But, on the contrary: certain undesirable (from a human point of view) behaviours may disappear because the dog has felt confident.
Dogs are focused on cooperation with humans.
Most of the problems are solvable.
You need time, patience, understanding and knowledge of how to proceed.
Fortunately, behaviourists are among us 😉
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