How To Choose Where to Adopt a Dog

Are you looking for the perfect companion? Maybe a large dog that loves fetch and would be a great jogging partner? Possibly you are looking for a small lap companion that loves car rides, or maybe even a playmate for your children? No matter how you look at it, getting a dog is a serious task. After all you are choosing a new member of the family, so you want to make sure you make the right choice!

When getting a new dog or puppy, it's always important to consider where to get the animal. It's also important to remember that you have a few choices. There are several places and opportunities for adopting dogs. Here are a few that will hopefully help you to make the best decision possible for your family!

Before even considering where to get your dog, it's most important to research breeds and find out which one is the right one for you. While for some a purebred Poodle or Golden Retriever might be the right choice, others may decide that a mixed breed is right. This is the most crucial decision for your family to make, and taking as much time as needed to do so is just fine!

1. Breeders. Purchasing a dog from a breeder is a great way to obtain a dog, but there are several things to consider when doing so. Unfortunately in today’s day and age, some people choose to breed dogs only for a profit, rather than to better the breed and create amazing family pets. This is where researching the breeder is important; it will help you to avoid puppy mills.

   Going to a breeder is one of the best ways to obtain a purebred dog. Once you find a few breeders, be sure to ask as many questions as possible. Ask them if this is their first litter, ask to see the parents, ask about first shots, and health of the parents and previous litters, and above all go with your instincts. There is nothing wrong with asking to see where to puppies were raised, whether they are good with children and other animals, and if they are willing to take the puppy back if it does not work for your family.

   All good breeders will have the puppies' health checked, as well as the parents'. A good breeder will never hesitate to let you see the parents of the litter. If they do hesitate, it is a red flag. And a good breeder will also ask you questions, because good breeders have a desire to secure proper homes for their dogs. Choosing to get a dog from a breeder can cost you anywhere from $200 to $1000 for a good quality puppy!

2. Shelters. Adopting a dog from an animal shelter or Humane Society is a great and rewarding way to get a dog. Most times the dogs found at these organizations are either strays that were found roaming the streets, or they were surrendered by their previous owners for many different reasons.

   One of the nice things about a shelter is often there are purebred dogs as well as several mixed breed dogs. They will range in age from 8 week old puppies all the way to 9 and 10 year old dogs. Adopting from a shelter can often open your eyes to the possibility of adopting an older dog. The upside of this is they are often already house trained, and are over their puppy mischief!

   Shelters will let you visit with the dog for as long as you need in order to see if there is a bond. Just as with the breeders, feel free to ask the shelter employees as many questions as you need to. These workers are often familiar with the animals, and can generally tell you quite a bit about them. The only thing you will find with a shelter is they will not usually be able to provide you with a health history, especially with strays. They are always willing to provide you with as much information as they have.

   Another good point about adopting from a shelter is that the dogs often come as a packaged deal, including neutering, microchipping, heartworm tests, and vaccines. Choosing to get a dog from a shelter can cost you anywhere from $50 to $300 for a quality companion.

3. Rescues. Adopting from a rescue is similar to a shelter. While shelters are often county- or state-run organizations, rescues are usually privately owned or non profit organizations. And rescues are usually breed-specific. So if you are interested in Pugs, you can search for a Pug rescue in your area. There are rescues that have all breeds, including mixed breeds.

   The wonderful thing about rescues is that most dogs are put in home environments by being fostered with volunteer families. When visiting with these dogs you can generally do it in a home setting, so you can see how the dog behaves in a home and around new people. This way the foster family can answer just about any question regarding the dog. They often know all the animal’s little quirks and behaviors.

   Just as before, feel free to ask them any and all questions you can think of. In this situation the dog’s health history may be a mystery once again. A lot of rescues obtain their dogs from shelters and humane societies. These animals are similar to the shelter dogs in that they are generally neutered and completely health-checked before coming home with you. Choosing a rescue dog can cost you anywhere from $100 to $500 for a quality companion.

No matter where you decide to get your new dog from, the most important thing is to get the right dog! Ask a lot of questions, and don't be shy! Take your time; visit a lot of breeders, shelters and rescues, especially if you are undecided on a breed. In the end you will be happy with your new family pet, no matter where it came from!