Thinking about adopting a dog from a shelter?

Question

I'm still in the researching/thinking/planning stage right now, so I thought I'd ask some questions. I'm thinking of going to like SPCA (I live in the Vancouver region of Canada) to look first, though not right away. I'm considering getting a dog in a year maybe so just doing some thinking ahead of time.

I'm 19 (20 in 2 months), in my 3rd year of university (psych major) and I live @ home in an apartment with my parents. I just bus to my university. I'll be staying with them for quite a few years since I'm the only child (haha typical traditional asian parents). I also have a part-time job where I work roughly 10-12 hrs a week. Income-wise and pet costs I'm fine with, since my parents will help out if needed, and tuition costs are taken care of. My mom's had dogs and cats 25? years ago so she has some experience. My mom's a stay-at-home mom and my dad works late afternoon-evenings, so by the time he's off to work, I'll usually be home an hour or two after he's gone.

My apartment (3ppl) is 1000ft roughly, and we have a huge fenced yard around our complex. A bit of a lawn/garden in one area too. Takes 15-20 min to walk from one end to the other, we also have 2 parks that are about 15 min away. I've had a guinea pig during high school too so I have slight exp with pets, though I realize a dog is different. Parents own the apartment, and our complex allows pets. Lots of neighbours around us own dogs (sometimes 2 or 3 too).

Breed, gender and size (prefer medium-large) won't matter too much, though I'm interested in a slightly older puppy/young adult dog 5 yrs and younger, it would be my first dog after all, im a bit worried about training a puppy. I've done a bunch of reading about dogs so it feels like I know what to expect.

If say I were to go to a shelter in a year or so, would there be any problems, or age restrictions? I heard strict questions are asked to see if the owner is appropriate for a/the pet? I've wanted a dog since I was 5 but my parents wanted to wait until I was older, and I really feel like I can take good care of it now.

Any advice/suggestions are appreciated! Thanks! ^_^

Answer 1

It seems to me like you are ready to have a dog. I don't know what kind of questions that they will ask you in Canada, but here in the US you would be able to get from a shelter with no problems i believe. It sounds to me that the dog will have a great life.

Answer 2

1. NEVER BUY A PUPPY just LOOKS, colour along, fur type-COLOUR, fur type and looks HAS NO INDICATION OF DOGS TEMPERMENT!

2. Consider your lifestyle-

4. Are you out more then 8hours a day

5. Consider your energy requirements, Size, Grooming.

6. Don't just buy because someone says this is the dog for you, people particular on yahoo answer will give you there particular favourite breed& what suits them, not what actually suit you.

7. Read all you can-THERE are alot of false information on the web and in books about different dog breed.

8 DON'T TRUST THOSE DOG BREED SELECTORS-MOST OF THE RESULTS ARE INCORRECT. Ex i search large breed dogs, and the Pomeranian came up, which of cause is a toy dog breed!!

9. NEVER BUY FROM A PETSTORE, BACKYARD BREEDER, PUPPY MILL OR NEWSPAPER, DON'T BUY FROM NEXT DAY PETS OR DOG BREED INFO, RESCUE AN ADULT DOG OR SHELTER PUPPY!

10. Instant Companion. With an adult dog, you have a dog that can go everywhere and do anything with

you NOW. You don't have to wait until the puppy grows up and hope it will like to do what you to do

with it. You select the adult dog most compatible with you. You can find one that travels well, loves to

play with your friends' dogs, has excellent house manners, etc. You can come home after a long day's

work and spend your time on a relaxing walk, ride, or swim with your new best friend rather than

cleaning up after a small puppy.

11. Bond – Rescue/Shelter Dog Bond. Dogs that have been uprooted from their happy homes or have

not had the best start in life are likely to bond very closely to their new owner. Yes, dogs that have lost

families through death, divorce or lifestyle change can go through a mourning process; however, once

they become attached to their new family, they seem to want to please as much as possible to make sure

they are never homeless again! Those dogs

that are just learning about the good life and good people seem to bond even deeper. They know what

life on the streets, life on a chain, or worse, is about, and they revel and blossom in a nurturing, loving

environment. Most adult shelter or rescue dogs make exceptional, extremely loyal companions.

Sadly, some people seem to think dogs that end up in shelters or rescue groups are genetically or

behaviorally inferior. In reality, rescues and shelters get dogs that have outlived their novelty with

impulsive owners who really did not have the time, energy or willingness to shoulder either the

responsibility or expense required to be a good

dog owner. They end up sticking the dog out in the back yard and ignoring it until they finally turn it in

to a shelter or rescue because they don’t even want to have to feed the dog anymore

Giant

Newfoundland-minum of 30mintues daily exercise

Large

Golden Retirver-30mintues daily exercise

Labrador-30mintues daily exercise.

Answer 3

Wow, you have the perfect life and entourage for a dog. I admire your decision of adopting one. I don't know the procedure in Canada for adopting one (the questions,etc to see if you are an adequate candidate) the only thing that you have to be aware of is that dogs in centers sometimes need a period of adaptation to a new life in a family.  

Answer 4

You sound like you'd make a great home for a dog.

Although I suggest getting an elderly dog, as they rarely get adopted.

Elderly dogs need less exersise, but they do enjoy it.

They will also enjoy sitting around your room.

Alot of old dogs have artheritis, but thats okay.

Answer 5

I'm not sure what questions they would ask you but an advice on how to pick dogs...

1. i disagree you having a slightly bit older dog... you cannot get their loyalty that much if they are old already.

2. try to pick younger dogs as much as possible.

3. and never get a female dog. once they start to multiple its very hard to give them away it will crash you to death. but you cannot keep them all specially every 6 month they will give you 6 new puppies. that's 12 in a year. pretty hard dint you think.

4. try to walk them everyday in the morning so they will have their routine in pooping & peeing.

5. dont let them do their thing inside your house once they did it in one spot you will have a hard time making them change their spot.

I HOPE THIS IS HELPFULL

Answer 6

First, make sure that you do in fact want a dog and all the responsibility that comes along with it. They require a lot more attention than a cat (it's kinda like having a kid) but they give you so much in return. I adopted my dog from a shelter about 5 years ago and she was scared, afraid to walk on the leash (i had to carry her around for 2 weeks) and would cry for hours when i left. BUT within a couple months she was bouncing around and playing. Then she began going up to strangers instead of barking and backing away. (Now she goes up to everyone and does little tricks to get attention). She was approx 9 mos or so when I got her and she was house trained within a few days. And since she's a mix breed she doesn't have any of those inherited health problems.  Adopting a homeless dog that may be put to sleep is a wonderful thing to do, and trust me, they sense what happens in the shelter. They know that you saved them and love you for it.

Now about them asking alot of questions, I believe that is only for pit-bull breeds, because they can become aggressive and also because disgusting people use them in dog fights. Maybe some private rescue organizations do that, but I know for sure that it's pretty easy to adopt one from a county shelter. ***in the US (I don't know how the shelters in Canada deal with adoptions)***

Good luck! and kudos to you for opting to adopt rather than buy!

Answer 7

You sound as if you are well and truly ready for your first furkid. You will know the dog that is right for you when you go around and look. often they will pick you. Get as much information on the dog that you are interested in from the shelter (if they have it and they often do if a dog has been surrendered).