Adopting a Dog Checklist

This post is all about how to prepare for adopting a dog and contains an adopting a dog checklist! 

Bringing home a dog from the shelter is an exciting time! It can also be stressful to adjust to new routines, and overwhelming to remember everything from the vet and the trainer.

After adopting three of my own over the years, working at a humane society and fostering 5 dogs with two different organizations, I know what it's like to bring a new dog home! This post shares everything you need to know about adopting a dog.

Adopting a Dog Checklist

What to Look for When Adopting a Dog

When you look for a dog, you should consider a few things to help pick out the perfect dog to compliment your lifestyle. 

First, consider the activities you want to do with your dog. Do you want to run with your dog every day? Hike weekly? Or would you prefer a dog who will hang out on the couch for most of the day? 

Second, consider the members of your household. What kind of temperament do you want your dog to have? Do they need to be good with kids? Other dogs? Cats? Visitors? 

Third, what size and age would you prefer? Keep in mind that these things are important to consider the financial commitment to your dog. A larger dog will require more food, more space, more money at the vet.

Size tip: Size does not always indicate activity level. A great dane makes a great apartment dog because of their low energy and exercise requirement.

Lastly, consider the amount of time you have to commit to your dog. Do you need a dog who needs a lot of training or who is already house broken, crate trained and well socialized?

Top 10 Things You Need for a Dog

Before you bring your dog home there are a few things you'll want to make sure you have sorted out. 

1. A vet picked out
2. Availability or a plan to take the dog out at least every 8 hours
3. A plan for when you go out of town 
4. A budget
5. A dog trainer
6. A budget for your time
7. An list of qualities you are looking for in your dog
8. A space for your dog
9. The physical and mental capacity to own a dog
10. A loving empathetic home

Red Flags When Adopting a Dog

A dog from the shelter can be an ethical decision depending on the shelter. Just like anything else out there- there are people who are running ethical shelters and there are people running unethical shelters.  

One of the biggest red flags you can run into while looking for a dog to adopt is that the agency won't take the dog back if needed. 

Many people adopt a dog and treat them like a family member, but sometimes the dog isn't a right match for the family, sometimes life happens and the family simply can't keep the dog. 

A reputable agency is on your side before and after the adoption. If the shelter, breeder or pet store won't take the dog back after, then they are only interested in turn over and profit and not paying attention to what is best for the dog.

If your agency does not have a requirement for what happens if you can't keep the dog, move on. Puppy dog eyes will tell you to rescue the dog, but let someone less educated than you take the dog home. 

If your intent is to rescue that pup from the unethical place, you will only save the life of the dog you see at the pet store while also jeopardize the life of the puppy who fills that empty kennel. 

Adopting a Dog From a Shelter

Determining anything but the size of the dog in a shelter can be difficult. The temperament, likes and dislikes, and the actual training level of a dog can be hard to determine when they're in the shelter. 

You can ask the agency if you can do a foster-to-adopt program or trial for the dog. If the agency is truly interested in matching the perfect dog to the perfect home, they should accept a trial, even if for just one night.

This way, you can get a better idea of what the dog will be like in your home.  

If they do not oblige, this is not to be ignored. If those options and policies aren't in place, then they are not actually interested in what is best for you or for the dog and only interested in turnover of dogs. 

This post was all about adopting a dog checklist.

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