Image by Michael Arnold via Flickr
After endless nights debating your partner, non-stop nagging from your four-year-old and your own restless internal arguments, your family has finally decided to get a dog.
But as rewarding as having a loved pet can be, adopting a dog can be a stressful experience. Each family member has his or her own idea of what breed or age the dog should be, and even when you come to a compromise, it may take weeks or even months to find the right match.
As tempting as it is to bring home the cutest pup from the shelter, it’s important to take some time to think through the decision and plan for the new arrival. Housebreaking a puppy can be frustrating business (no pun intended), but add a chewed-beyond-repair shoe, or a raiding-of-the-kitchen garbage, and your cute pup will look more like a monster.
Maria Spina, head of adoption at the Calgary Humane Society says while the impulse to adopt a puppy is strong, a puppy may not be the right choice for a busy family.
“With a family that works all day and their kids are in school, they don’t have time,” says Spina. “Dogs that are more active or high energy, they need more mental stimulation.”
How to Find the Best Family Dog
Calgary’s Humane Society has a very detailed process to help families find the right dog, beginning with a survey that looks at a family’s expectations,and lifestyle.
“They let us know what they’re looking for,” says Spina. “Size of the dog, energy level, what they’re willing to work on with the dog,” she says.
If you’re worried about not being able to find the right type of dog, consider broadening your horizons. Whether big or small, Spina, who has been with the Humane Society for eight years, says there is no better breed than the other when it comes to adoption, “I wouldn’t say there is any breed that is bad or good. It depends on the family themselves.”
Spina says each humane society has their own survey, though questions may vary depending on demographics.
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Eventually the family gets a chance to walk around with workers and write down which dogs they want to meet. Each meeting with a dog usually takes a minimum of 30 minutes.
“You get a good read with the dog and the people off that first half hour because you see how they’re interacting together,” she says. “If the dog’s fearful or being too mouthy if they have little kids, or just how the kids handle it.”
Mookie Wilson, a KISS 95.9 radio personality in Calgary, adopted his dog, Eddie, a Boxer and German Shepherd cross, through Calgary’s SPCA.
“Every time we visited him we stayed for longer… to try to get to know his personality, then eventually we’d be there for an hour, [we would] take him outside, go for a walk,” said Wilson. “When you’re leaving you realize that you missed him a little bit more.”
Adopting a dog isn’t always a matter of love at first sight, however.
“We’ve had families come visit once or twice a week for a month or two months until they find the right dog,” says Spina. “It’s being patient and not doing the impulse buy.”
How The Pet Adoption Process Works
Choosing the right dog to adopt is a big commitment and the Humane Society will often suggest that families take as much time as possible before making the final decision.
“We encourage people to put a hold on a dog to make sure they go home and talk to their families because it is a really serious decision,” says Spina.
Once a family has made their choice, there is still a lot to do before taking their new family member home.
“The adoption process, depending on if they’ve had dogs or not, can take up to an hour because we go through everything: house training, mouthing, kennel training, toys, feeding,” says Spina. “We go through the works so people know what to expect.”
How to Train Your Newly Adopted Pet
Each dog adopted out of Calgary’s Humane Society is enrolled in mandatory obedience classes and every member of the family is encouraged to attend so they can learn together and bond with their new pet.
The humane society also includes a number to a behaviour hotline where owners can get direct contact with animal behaviour experts. “Anyone can contact if they’re having behaviour concerns, which is a resource anyone in Calgary can use,” says Spina.
While not every humane society provides obedience classes with their adoptions, there are several trainers and schools that dog owners can contact for help with obedience training.
Mirkka Koivusola, founder of Mindful Behaviors, a dog training service in Toronto and Milton, says owners should find a good positive reinforcement trainer in their area.
“When training rescue dogs, most come with specific issues, like aggressiveness towards other dogs and people or fearful behavior,” says Koivusola. “Finding a trainer who is able to help you through that is really important. You don’t want to start punishing the dog.”
Shelter Dogs Need Love, Too
Adjusting to a new environment is difficult for any animal and growing pains are completely natural. Even so, there are owners that get frustrated with their dogs and consider sending them back.
“We will always take our animals back,” says Spina. “We recommend they talk to our behaviour team to make sure they’re not giving up on the dog if it’s something that could be fixed.”
Spina, who has three adopted dogs, says her family has had a good experience adopting. “It’s nice having dogs in the home, it’s a good experience for the kids, they’re included in our routine,” she said. “Our smaller dog comes to work with me every day.”
Wilson says his dog Eddie can be a handful, but the payback is worth it, “He is the most lovable, more so than a golden retriever. He just craves affection.”
“It’s like adding a family member, it’s not something you have as a fringe thing, it’s a full commitment,“ says Wilson. “Dogs are always all in, so you have to be all in too.”
Helpful Dog Adoption Links
If you want to adopt a dog, but don’t know where to start, there are online resources recommended by Koivusola. Pupquest is a useful tool to help you find the best places to adopt from and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has an information sheet that includes tips on how to find the right dog trainer. Her website has articles about issues like aggression and common behaviour problems. She also recommends The Toronto Centre for Canine Education, which has a number of resources on topics ranging from adoption, preparation, common behavioural issues and nutrition.
Owning a dog is a major commitment, one that families should deeply consider before they start looking. You may not find the puppy you’ve always dreamed of, but, if you put in the work to find the right dog for your family, the love and companionship they will provide is something that can last for many happy years.
Does Your Kid Love Puppies? Throw her a puppy themed birthday party.