If you’re heading to a shelter on August 15th to adopt a pet on #ClearTheShelters Day, you still have time to do your homework and get your ducks in a row. If you’re still coming around to the idea, here are some things to consider before bringing home a furry friend. Please take the time to make sure your lifestyle is conducive to responsible pet ownership.
Walking into a shelter for the first time can be overwhelming. Decisions that were made during the family meeting can easily fall by the wayside. Write down all of the decisions that were made at home, and bring the list with you to the shelter. If your children are old enough to read, give them copies of the list as well. They may need to be gently reminded that Grandma is allergic to cats, or that a high drive Norwegian Elkhound won’t be happy in a two-bedroom townhouse. While having the kids in tow might make the visit a bit more complicated, you need to be certain that your new pet is comfortable with your kids. We’ll talk more about that later, but for now, plan on bringing the kids along - even the little ones.
Choosing The Right Dog
Cat people, bear with me; there’s a very special article in the pipeline that’s just for you! But since dogs are more likely to be returned to a shelter as a result of a pet/household mismatch, we’re going to start with Fido.
When you get to the shelter, do a walk through of the kennels, checking out every dog that meets your criteria. Familiarize yourself with the basics of canine body language, and try to figure out what a possible contender is “saying”. A dog that is hiding in the corner, looking away, showing the whites of her eyes, standing with one foot raised, or tucking her tail between her legs, may be feeling anxious or fearful.
In any other setting, this would be a red flag - especially where children are concerned. But it’s important to remember that shelters can be scary, overwhelming places for dogs. That frightened looking dog may have just been surrendered by the only owner she has ever known. Perhaps she was found in the streets the day before. We have to cut shelter dogs a certain degree of slack. Ask the shelter’s staff and volunteers for any information they may have about a particular dog. See if you can meet with her in a separate space, away from the noise and chaos. You may find that she comes out of her shell in a less hectic environment.
A dog who is friendly should be willing to come up to the kennel to greet you and sniff you. She should be equally happy to see your kids. If she’s more interested in the kids than she is in you, even better! Look for a dog whose body is wiggly, loose, and has lots of curves when she moves. We often tell kids that a friendly dog’s body should move like a cooked noodle or a piece of spaghetti. A dog that “play bows” by lowering her front paws and upper body, while sticking her back end in the air, really wants to play. Lolling tongues and goofy smiles are good signs as well. If a potential pet seems a bit too excitable, again, cut her a little slack. Shelters are often too understaffed to give their residents the exercise and human interaction they so desperately crave. Start walking away, and see if she calms down; if she does, that’s a great sign. If she doesn’t, don’t give up on her.
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Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, ask the shelter staff if you can take her for a walk and get to know her one on one. This is the best opportunity for spotting potential problems, and for assessing a potential pet’s drive, or energy level.
Potential Problems
If you’re assessing a dog that seems shy or fearful, see if she relaxes when she is outside the kennel environment. The tail should be straight out or slightly lowered, not between the legs. If she looks around quickly and nervously, licks her lips when there is no food present, yawns (she should not be sleepy in this setting), or looks away from you, she may be fearful by nature. See if she cringes when you pet her. If she allows you to pet her, then immediately shakes her whole body, she is literally trying to shake off the stressful experience of being touched. This dog is not a lost cause, but make no mistake - she will need some work. It will take time, patience, persistence, and professional assistance to help her gain some confidence. Ask yourself if you’re willing to make this commitment, and be honest. If you have young children, this dog is not a good choice for you. Many normal childhood behaviors such as chasing, screaming, hugging, and kissing can be downright terrifying to a fearful or anxious dog. And frightened dogs are very likely to bite. Keep looking.
If you choose a dog with a stiff body posture whose tail is straight in the air, you have probably chosen poorly. Ditto for the dog who stares intently, especially at your children. Don’t even take this dog out of the kennel. Unless you have extensive experience in rehabilitating dogs, and do not have children or other pets in your life, don’t even think about it. She wasn’t born aggressive. Humans made her what she is. It’s not her fault she’s aggressive, but she’s aggressive just the same. Unless you are highly trained and uniquely qualified, she is not the dog you want.
Now about Miss Hyper Hound. This one requires more of a judgement call. As I’ve stated before, we need to cut shelter dogs a bit of slack. A dog that is overly bouncy and excited, may just be suffering from a lack of exercise and interaction. She may display behaviors such as leash pulling, jumping on people, and play biting. I am not a professional trainer, and I may get backlash from people who are, but these behaviors really don’t bother me. Don’t get me wrong - they’re obnoxious and they need to be fixed. But they’re fixable, and they’re easy to fix. Remember, a shelter dog is a bargain! Take some of the money you would have spent at the vet’s office and hire a trainer to help you. If on the other hand, Miss Hyper Hound is too big for you to safely control, bulldozes your children, or if you simply cannot get her attention at all, she may not be a good fit. If you think she’s the one, be ready to spend a considerable amount of time getting her caught up on basic manners, and giving her a lot of exercise.
Regardless of what type of dog you adopt, it’s always a good idea to invest in some training as a way of setting behavioral expectations. Two of our favorite trainers, Applause your Paws in Miami, and K9 Advisors in Broward, are offering discounts to families who adopt on August 15th.
Assessing Drive
When I talk about drive in this context, I’m referring to the dog’s general levels of both physical and mental energy. I’m also referencing the dog’s endurance levels. A medium drive dog likes to run, swim, fetch, play, and blow off steam. A high drive dog needs to run, swim, fetch, play, and blow off steam! This dog will want to keep going long after you’ve called it quits. Additionally, mindless calorie burning may not be enough for this dog. Many high drive dogs are also very intelligent, and they seem to have a need to do meaningful work, such as agility, scent work or trick training. Our younger dog Zohan is a high drive dog, but he’s small, so he tires quickly. While we enjoy the challenge of a high drive dog, if he weighed 60 pounds, he would be way too much dog for us. Any large dog that lived in our home would have to be a low drive couch potato in order to mesh with our lifestyle.
A quick and easy way to assess a dog’s drive is to see how she reacts to a brightly colored squeaky toy. Don’t do this in the presence of other dogs as it’s bound to start a commotion. If she’s more interested in you than she is in the toy, you’ve likely found a low drive, lovable marshmallow. Unless you’re looking for a cycling partner, or the next agility champion, she’s a keeper. And if you don’t adopt her, I just might! This type of dog is perfect for first time dog owners, or busy families who don’t have a lot of time to devote to training or rigorous exercise. These dogs ask for nothing more than the privilege of sitting at your feet.
A medium drive dog will be interested in the toy, and may shift into play mode while the toy is visible. She will likely become more animated and bouncy, and that’s fine. Once the toy has her attention, put it away. Place it in your purse, or tuck it under your shirt, but don’t make a big deal over it and look away from the dog. If after a few minutes she has settled down, refocused on you (or your kids), and seems to have forgotten about the toy, she too is a keeper. This is likely a medium drive dog. These dogs will play hard, but they power down quickly, making them a perfect choice for active individuals and families with children. They need exercise and playtime, but they don’t need to feel like they’re building rockets. And if it’s too rainy to go for a walk, a family evening with NetFlix will suit them just fine.
If you’re assessing a high drive dog, she will not just want to find the toy. She will need to find the toy! Five minutes after the toy disappears, she will not be looking at you. It’s all about the toy. It was right there. She saw it. She knows it’s there somewhere. It is now her mission in life to find the toy. You may see that her level of activity increases with each failed attempt to find the toy. This dog will need a lot of physical and mental stimulation to keep her happy and mentally balanced. As the owner of a high drive dog, I’ll be the first to tell you that they are a lot of fun. But they need to work whether we feel like working with them or not. Running around in the yard with the kids is not enough for these dogs - in fact, their intensity can actually be frightening for young kids. If you’re physically active and your schedule is flexible, you may have found the perfect dog. But if your plate is already full, a high drive dog, especially a large one, is probably not a good fit.
If all of this sounds daunting, consider hiring a Certified Professional Dog Trainer to accompany you to the shelter. These experts do a great job of spotting traits that a novice might overlook. They can be an invaluable tool in helping you to make the best choice.
One Last Consideration
You’ve got a lot to think about, but when you’re looking for a four-legged soulmate, there’s one more question you need to ask.
Do you love her?
The dog you go home with will be your dog for the rest of her natural life. That’s a 12 to 15 year commitment. Your reward is a place at the center of a grateful heart whose only desire is to please you. So choose wisely, but listen to your heart as well. Chances are, you’ll know when you’ve found the one!
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