If you are considering adopting a dog, here are some tips to help you find a great pet to adopt.

1. PLAN TO WAIT
   If you have some patience to wait for the right dog to adopt, then you will have a better dog. Having patience, and remaining unemotional while searching for a pet to adopt is very important. So, before you even take one glimpse at a single dog, mentally prepare yourself to expect a minimum of six months for this search. The old saying, “Haste makes waste,” definitely holds true in this case. I have witnessed over and over how the best dogs seem to be adopted to the dog owners who take their time. Some people say it is the dog that chooses you. Although that is a nice thought, I can’t say that I really agree with that statement. However, I do believe that one really special dog for you personally is out there, but that it is your task to take the time to really discover which one that might be for you. And when the one certain special dog does come along you will absolutely know it is the right dog for you without a shadow of a doubt.
2. PARK IT IN NEUTRAL
   Adopting a dog can be a very emotional experience. There are hundreds of dogs who are in need of a good home, and that can make you feel very sad or upset. When you are at a shelter you might be interested in a dog only to find that a person ahead of you in line at the shelter adopts the dog right away, making you feel a little desperate for the next dog you are interested in. What you need to keep in mind is how many more dogs are out there who still need a home. Another scenario is that you hear a heart-wrenching story about abuse or terrible neglect of one of the animals, and that might spur you into action to take that animal home right away.  Currently, there is a humane society commercial airing that shows pitiful looking dogs staring up from their cages in a pleading way and that elicits a sympathetic response from my whole family every time it comes on the television. I have no doubt that it might be one of the most successful campaigns of its kind because it works on emotions.
   
   The problem is that being emotional during decision-making can result in some bad choices. It is better to be calm, neutral and thoughtful when it comes to selecting a dog at a shelter. You might have this pet for 12 more years, so take your time and stay calm. You should not adopt a dog right on the spot either; instead you should go home and take a few days to give it careful thought before acting.
3. DO YOUR HOMEWORK
   You should do some preparation before you set foot in any animal shelter. In order to really find the right dog for your lifestyle, it is important to be educated on dog breeds, and to have some idea of certain characteristics, temperament, and breed(s) that you might like to have. (See article: Tips For Selecting Breeds on my website for additional help.) If you find a dog at the shelter that you wish to adopt, and you are not sure about the breed, take a day to educate yourself and find that information by books or the Internet. By knowing the general breed characteristics, you will run into fewer surprises for better or for worse with the dog that you choose to adopt, plain and simple!
4. FEED THE DOG
   Take a little dog treat with you and ask the volunteers at the shelter if it is okay to feed the dog that you are interested in adopting before you make a decision. It is really important to ask first because some dogs have allergies to particular foods or have strict diets they need to follow. And if the staff does not allow you to give your food treat, then they might provide you with a food treat that is okay to give to the dog. You can use the food to see if the dog might know how to sit or even lay down on cue, you can use the food treat to find out how much food will excite this particular dog, which in turn can predict how easy or difficult the dog might be to work and train. And last, you can use the food treat to find out if this dog has a hard mouth, which means if he takes the food from you in a rough manner. That is especially important if you have children or might like to have a future therapy pet.
   
   After feeding the dog a treat, you should ask to have a shelter volunteer place just a small handful of food in the dog’s feeding dish. You might ask if you or a staff from the shelter can approach the dog while it is eating, and if a hand can be placed on or near the food dish just to find out if the dog is protective of food or resources.
5. PLAY WITH THE DOG
   Take 3 types of toys with you to visit the dog that you might like to adopt: A tug rope toy, a plush toy with a squeaker in it and a tennis ball. The reason you need these three is because many dogs will play with one type (tug ropes) and not the other type (tennis balls), for example. You want to test the dog’s motivation, or excitement to play with you. This will let you know if this is a dog who might like to work for the reward of the toy, so it can tell you how easy or hard the dog might be to train. Second, this can tell you how eager the dog might be to interact or play cooperatively with you. Third, you might find out if the dog has a natural retrieve or knows how to drop the toy on a cue. And last you might find out if this dog is more independent or more dependent by nature. You might also learn if this dog has any issues with guarding or possession as well. If you have children, that would be a red flag for a potential difficulties for sure. You can learn a lot about the dog when you play with it!
6. FOLLOW THE LEADER
   Ask if you can take the dog out to an enclosed area. Dart away from the dog quickly, or make some racket and be as interesting as possible. You should do this just to see if the dog will follow you or at least come over to investigate. Remember, you are a stranger to this dog, so you should not expect a natural Lassie-leaping-into-your-arms moment, but some curiosity and some following is a good sign. It means the dog is interested in humans, socialized, not entirely independent and possibly a good candidate to teach a good recall (calling the dog to come.) If the dog shakes or cowers in fear, tries to eat you, pees on you, or runs to the farthest opposite corner without even a glance in your direction, well then it is time to keep looking.
7. PET THE DOG
   So, this seems obvious, but I do mean PET the dog! Run your hands over the entire dog body. Find out if there are any areas that are off limits, in as much a safe way as possible. You need to know if your dog is going to take your hand off when you handle a back paw now, before you find out when the dog is yours and you have to wipe his muddy paws for the first time. It is also a good way to find out if the animal has any soreness or pain. This is especially important around the hips and joints. Many breeds of dogs have problems with their hips and sometimes knees and elbows too. You should start at the front of the dog, the chest and the shoulders and slowly work your way back towards the tail and hind feet. Keep an eye on his head or have a volunteer help you with this exercise to be safe. Handle the underside of the tail, all the paws, handle the ears and lift up the dog’s gums. If at any point you feel uncomfortable or the dog seems edgy, stop right away. If you have children, you need to know you will have a dog that is not off limits to touching certain areas. If the dog is okay until you touch the ears, it can indicate a dog with a history of ear infections. It is something that should not stand in the way of adopting the animal, but just a consideration I would like to point out.
8. WALK THE DOG
   Ask the shelter staff if you can walk the dog, or observe the dog walking with someone on a collar and lead.  You want to do this to see if the dog can walk on a lead and how much the dog pulls, jumps or lunges on the walk. If the dog does any or all of these things, it can be corrected with training and time, but you should know what you are in store for with regards to the walking. It is also good to sometimes know how strong the dog might be to handle on a walk.
9. OTHER ANIMALS
   If possible, find out how this dog reacts when other dogs are present. They do not need to interact, but try to observe the dog you like in a yard where other dogs can be seen or heard, if possible. If the dog you are interested in goes bananas for the other dogs and can not be distracted from them, then you might very well have a dog who will be very reactive to other animals and not a good candidate for any trips to parks and beaches or public outings. That is also something important to take into consideration.
   
   If you have other dogs at home, most shelters require or strongly encourage a meeting before allowing the adoption. That is for the best, so you can find out if your dogs are going to get along or not. Just make sure that the meeting is held in a neutral territory for both dogs.