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5 Myths About Adopting Shelter Dogs
By Karen Friesecke

The top reasons that most dogs are surrendered to shelters are 'no time', we are moving' 'allergies'& 'new baby' These are usually thinly veiled answers for other underlying reasons. Most people are usually keen to get a cuddly cute puppy & after a few years they realize that the little puppy has grown into a big dog that requires trips to the vet, exercise and a lot of work.

MYTH-Only old or disabled dogs available for adoption FACT-Most dogs are young, healthy & have been surrendered for the above reasons that I previously stated. If you are really keen on getting a puppy, visit the shelter often to view all the recent surrenders. Eventually, a dog will come along that will perfectly suit your needs!

MYTH-Only mixed breed dogs are available at shelters. FACT-According to the ASPCA, 25% of surrendered dogs are purebreds. One of the best ways to get a breed that you are looking for is to go through a breed-specific rescue. There are lots of them out there & surely you will find a rescue organization related to the dog that you want.

MYTH-A lot of the dogs in shelters are 'damaged goods' or vicious. FACT-Most surrendered dogs have come from good, family homes. A reputable shelter will do temperment testing on the dogs that they are adopting to determine if the dog that you are interested in is 'adoptable'

MYTH-It costs a lot of money to adopt a shelter dog. FACT-Shelters spend a lot of money to help the animals that they take in. The dogs have to be fed, vaccinated & in some cases, spayed or neutered. Some dogs that are surrendered are in need of medical attention. All this adds up & usually a modest fee is charged to recoup some of the fees that are incurred. The majority of shelters are not-for-profit & are not interested in making money off of adoptions.

MYTH-You can't train an older dog. TRUTH-Training an adult dog is just as easy as training a puppy! The great thing about adopting an adult dog is that most of them are already housebroken & know basic obedience commands.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WHEN ADOPTING A DOG When either adopting OR buying a dog, there are very important decisions to make to determine if the dog you are getting is right for you.

WHAT BREED? Over centuries, most dogs have been bred for specific jobs. Herding dogs like Border Collies & Australian Shepherds are usually very smart & have a low tolerance for boredom. Hounds like Beagles & Bassett Hounds tend to be very vocal & bark a lot. Terriers like Jack Russells Rat Terriers are traditional 'ratting' breeds & like to hunt. Hunting Dogs like Vizslas & German Short Haired pointers are bred to run & usualy quite active.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE? If you live in an apartment, an active, large dog like a Labrador Retriever might not be the best choice. Surprisingly, dogs like greyhounds & Great Danes make very good apartment dogs since they are very 'laid back' dogs. If you have a house with a big backyard, then bigger, active dogs might be the right choice.

DO YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN? Small kids can be intimidating to little dogs like chihuahuas or toy poodles. Inevitably there will be ear pulling, tail pulling & teasing, that's just what kids do! Larger dogs like Golden Retrievers & Labrador Retrievers are traditional family dogs & tend to handle the 'attentions' of smaller children better.

YOUR LIFESTYLE If you are an active person & like to jog, hike or bike, a dog like a Bulldog might not be a good choice. Are you at work all day? You might not have time to housetrain a puppy. Are you a 'neat freak'? A long-haired breed like a Collie or Bernese Mountain Dog might not be right for you. It is important that you carefully consider what your lifestyle is & what type of dog would fit into it.

YOUR CURRENT PET SITUATION What kind of pets do you already have? Do you have a cat? Another dog already? These are all important questions to ask yourself. If you have a cat, it might not like the 'new addition' to the family & an older dog might not be too keen to having a bouncy puppy around the house.

COMMITMENT Finally, most dogs tend to live between 10 to 15 years. That is a really long time! Are you willing to pay vet & food bills for all that time? Are you willing to adjust your schedule for your dog?

Karen Friesecke is the owner of http://www.doggiestylish.com She spends her time making hand crafted dog collars & writing about all things dog!

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A Few Tips on Dog Adoption
By Jenny Styles

Dog adoption is not something to be taken lightly or without forethought, especially if you plan to give a home to a shelter dog.

One way you can help fewer dogs be put to sleep is adopting a dog from a shelter. You need to understand that most of these dogs have issues, or they wouldn't be there in the first place. Make sure you select a dog that you and your family get along with.

It's best not to adopt a puppy from a shelter, if for no other reason than its immune system can't yet protect it from all the diseases that the other dogs may be carrying. Dog adoption from a shelter is not for the faint of heart, because you'll see so many pairs of sad eyes that it's hard to decide on just one.

Check over any dog who seems to take a liking to you and your family. A quaint myth that any dog will grow up well if it's raised well is just that - a myth. Genetics and former bad handling may always maintain a scar on the psyche of all but the most quiet of animals.

You never know what kind of dog you will end up with when you go through the dog adoption process at the local shelter. You don't really know what his temperament will be like if something or someone upsets him. You don't know if he has medical issues now, or if he will in the future. Who knows what he was exposed to before he arrived at the shelter? Or since his arrival there? You won't know how territorial your new dog is until you get him home, and then it may be a huge problem for you.

Adult shelter dogs are much easier to consider when you're ready to adopt. Yes, the puppies are adorable, but they are more likely to be selected by someone else. You may be saving an adult dog's life. You can tell up-front what kind of grooming he will need, and you can better estimate his temperament if you deal with an adult.

Before you head off to the shelter to start the dog adoption process, make a list of what breed types you are most interested in. You won't find many purebreds at "the pound", but you can tell if a dog has a lot of a certain breed in him. Labradors, for instance, are commonly crossbred (some on purpose, some not) and they usually make great family pets.

If you're not sure how to decide what dog will work best for you and your family, take a "dog person" with you. You probably know some people who are dog-savvy enough to help you. If you don't know anyone like that, call around to trainers and obedience instructors, and ask if they might be willing to help.

Once you have found "your" dog, take your family back and make sure he gets along with everyone. Before you take him home, make an appointment at your veterinarian's office, and have the new guy checked out. Then take him on home and lavish him with chew toys. You could be another dog adoption success story!

To learn about chihuahua training and chihuahua health, visit the About Animals website.

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