How To Adopt A Dog From A Shelter

If you’re thinking about adopting a dog, this guide will walk you through the process and help you find your new best friend.

Meet the Dog

When you visit a shelter to adopt a dog, there are some things you should do before and after meeting the dog.

Bring a treat! This is often recommended by shelters because it will help calm and focus the dog during your visit.
Ask to see the kennel where the dog sleeps (and other areas of its enclosure if applicable). You want to know that this is an area that it feels comfortable in—if it’s not, then maybe another type of room would be better for your needs and theirs.
Ask to see them outside in their yard or play area so that you can get an idea of how they interact with people and other animals. If they’re nervous around strangers or have trouble interacting with other dogs, this might not be right for you either.
Finally, ask if there’s space where you can take them off leash so that they can run around without being confined by fences or walls (or cages). This should give them room enough for some exercise while still keeping everyone safe from injury from running away too far from home base!

Get a sense of the dog’s personality.

You should also get a sense of the dog’s personality. In order to do this, you need to take into account the dog’s body language and overall behavior. For example:

If a dog is sitting down with his tail wagging and ears perked up, he’s probably playful and friendly.
If a dog is barking aggressively at you while standing tall with his teeth bared, he may be aggressive or fearful of strangers.

Evaluate the dog’s energy and temperament.

Take note of the dog’s energy level. If you want a low-energy pet, look for an older or calmer animal. If you want an energetic dog, look for one that can keep up with your lifestyle.
Assess the dog’s temperament by observing how it interacts with people and other animals. Does the dog try to interact with you? Is it shy? Friendly? Aggressive? Does it respond well to other humans and pets in its new environment? These are all indications of the dog’s temperament, which will be very important when considering whether or not he or she would be a good fit for your home life.
Look out for signs of aggression or fearfulness during this process as well—if there is any doubt as to whether or not this animal would be safe around children or other dogs in general, leave them alone and move on down the line!

Look for signs of health and stability.

When you visit a shelter, look for signs of health and stability. If the dog is friendly and seems happy to see you, that’s a good sign. If they’re afraid or defensive (or also aggressive), that may be an indication that they aren’t a good fit for your family. You should also look at the facility itself: if it’s clean and well maintained, this suggests pride on the part of staff members in their work with animals.

Ask the staff questions.

Ask about the dog’s history. When you’re thinking about adopting a dog, it’s important to know where he or she came from and what kind of life he or she had before being brought into the shelter. Is this a good fit for your lifestyle?
Ask about temperament. A shelter may not be able to tell you everything there is to know about a specific dog’s personality, but they should be able to offer clues as to whether he or she fits into your family. For example: if the staff says that this particular pooch is an indoor-outdoor pet who needs lots of exercise and playtime every day, but all your family wants after work is a nice relaxing evening at home on the couch watching TV—you might want to look elsewhere for your new best friend!
Ask about health conditions and age concerns. If an older dog has lived in a kennel environment for most of his life instead of being cared for in someone’s home like other shelter dogs might have been, that can affect his behavior later down the road; likewise with infections contracted from other animals during their stay at the shelter (this isn’t so common nowadays).

Review your living situation.

You’ve decided to adopt a dog, but before you get all excited, consider your living situation. Will bringing a dog into your home be possible? Is there someone in the house who will be able to care for him when you’re at work?

When deciding whether or not you can handle taking care of an animal, keep these things in mind:

How much time do I have to spend with my new friend? If your schedule is busy and unpredictable, it’s probably not a great idea to bring home an energetic puppy (who needs lots of attention). It’s also important that you plan on being around the house enough for them so they don’t get bored or lonely.
Am I able to provide food and shelter for the animal? If there are other humans in the house who can take care of this responsibility on their own, that’s okay too! Just make sure everyone knows what their responsibilities will be before bringing home a new furry friend.

Consider costs.

The costs of adopting a dog are not often considered by new owners. You may have heard that shelter dogs are often cheaper than puppies, but this is not always true. You will have to pay for spaying or neutering, vaccinations and microchipping. If you adopt from a pet shop or breeder then these costs can be avoided but there will be other fees that come with buying a puppy directly from them too such as sales tax and transportation fees (if they don’t deliver).

When considering the cost of caring for your dog you should think about how much time it will take each day to feed them, walk them and play with them. If you work full-time then it’s unlikely that there will be enough hours in the day to provide all the attention they need; if this is likely to be an issue then maybe consider getting two dogs instead so they can entertain each other while their owner is out working!

Prepare your home to welcome a new dog.

Your first step is to prepare your home and lifestyle to welcome a new dog.

Safe space: If you live in an apartment or condo, make sure that you have the space for a dog. Find out what the rules are about pets—some complexes may require that you pay extra money or get approval from the board before adopting a dog.
Budget: Decide how much money you can spend on food, toys, training classes and other supplies for your new four-legged friend.
Time: Dogs need attention and exercise every day. Think about how much time this will take when considering whether or not to adopt one (or more) dogs into your family!

Adopting a dog is one of the best things you can do, but it’s important to ensure it will be a good fit for your home first!

Get a dog that fits your lifestyle.
Get a dog that fits your personality.
Get a dog that fits your budget.
Get a dog that fits your home.
Get a dog that fits your family.

Conclusion

The process for adopting a dog from a shelter can be long and complicated, but it’s worth it if you find the perfect match. It’s important to know what kind of dog will fit your lifestyle before going in and meeting one who might not be right for you. If you do your research ahead of time and prepare yourself accordingly, though—and if you remember that even if this isn’t the right dog right now doesn’t mean there won’t be another opportunity down the line—you should have no problem finding an animal who will happily become part of your family!