Preparing Your Family For A New Dog

A dog that will live with children should not only tolerate children. She should love children - and even play with them rather than adults. This dog is friendly but not that interested in the little girl

Those of us who love dogs find the prospect of bringing home a new canine family member both intoxicating and exhilarating. Well planned in advance or not, new dog adoption is likely to trigger an oxytocin rush unparalleled by all but a few other high-end life experiences.

Although some spontaneous adoptions can and do lead to successful relationships, we strongly recommend that your next dog adoption is well thought out in advance and that you choose your new dog carefully so as to maximize the adoption's chances of you becoming the happy dog ​​that will join your family can offer a lifelong home.

THINK ABOUT IT

The process of adopting a dog can be daunting. We encourage you to do some preliminary planning before looking for the newest member to your family to increase the chances of finding an ideal lifetime companion.

If you are single and live alone, the only thing you can consider is your own needs and desires. The process becomes considerably more complex when you have family or roommates. In both cases, In front When starting your search in earnest, it is necessary to think about your requirements and preferences, including:

• Buy-in for families / roommates. Does everyone in the household have a dog (or another dog) on ​​board? If not, edit all reservations before proceeding. It does not benefit the dog to bring them into a house where there is simmering resentment or direct conflict over their presence.

• Race and Source. Have you already decided on a specific breed or type of breed? If so, is everyone in the family or household comfortable with your choice? Have you done a thorough research on the breed to understand their behavioral tendencies and general medical issues?

If you are looking for a specific breed or type, you can consider saying goodbye to a breed rescue group, get pre-approved and put on a waiting list at your local animal shelters or shop with a reputable breeder. Personal adoptions are also a sensible option - a friend or co-worker who needs to take in a canine companion, or even carefully consider a home adoption from a classified ad or Craigslist. Please no puppies from the pet shop. (For more about Where For information on finding your next dog, see Adopt or Shop ”, WDJ August 2020.)

• size. If you don't have a breed in mind, does size matter? If so, what size dog are you considering - toys, small, medium, large, or huge?

Be aware that toy and giant breeds are at greater risk of significant medical problems. In general, the giant breeds tend to have short lifespans while the smaller breeds tend to live longer. A recent veterinary record analysis found that dogs under 20 pounds had an average lifespan of 11 years, with some smaller dogs living 14 years or longer, while dogs over 90 pounds typically only lived an average of eight years. Small dogs can be a greater risk of tripping - but they're more portable! - while large and giant breeds may be more likely to knock you (or your older grandparents) over.

• Age. Puppies are adorable, no doubt. On the plus side, starting with a small dog means that you can have a huge impact on their development, knowing that their world has been powerless to begin with. Even so, that's no guarantee that she will turn out to be the perfect bitch, especially if she wasn't well socialized before you adopted her. (Despite what you may have heard, an eight week old puppy is not a “blank slate”.) And they are a lot of work.

When we were recently considering adopting a 3 month old Australian cattle dog mix, my husband and I realized we did not want to adopt a puppy. You are a lot of work!

In contrast, adult dogs are more of a "what you see is what you get" proposition - although they can also deliver behavioral surprises as ...