adopting a shelter dog

ADOPTING A SHELTER DOG
are you ready?
A
dopting a dog changes your life forever.
You gain a loving companion who greets
your homecomings with joyful abandon
(irregardless of if you were gone five minutes or
five hours), an eager partner to join you on every
adventure (whether it’s placing your recyclables
at the curb or visiting a park), and an inspirational sidekick who lives each moment to the fullest.
Adoption also changes some of the people in
your life (dogs attract new friends!), your activity
level (lace up those walking shoes), your schedule (dogs need companionship and can’t be left
AND HUMANE SOCIETY
alone for long hours) and your spending habits.
this yourself or take him to a groomer who may
cost $160 to $200 per year depending on the
breed and frequency).
As you consider whether or not you are ready
to adopt, keep in mind the commitment and
responsibilities involved. To help you make your
decision, below is information on ownership
responsibilities, general characteristics of each
age group, and a quick quiz to determine if your
reasons for adoption have the best interests of
the dog at heart.
• Dogs require regular nail trimming and teeth
brushing (dogs use special toothpaste available
at pet stores).
• Small dogs may live for 15 or more years andlarge dogs typically live less than 12 years.
• The cost of adopting a dog is only the initial
expense. You will need to provide food, identification (dog tags, microchips and licensing your
pet); ongoing veterinary care, including vaccinations, possible surgeries and dental care;
and ongoing supplies, such as food, dishes, toys
and grooming tools.
General considerations
• Dogs need regular exercise and should be
walked two or three times a day (the backyard
does not provide enough exercise, stimulation
or fun). Some dogs require vigorous off-leash
exercise too.
• You should attend training classes to help you
understand your dog and develop a clear and
consistent way of communicating - most lessons
are one hour a week in class for eight weeks.
• Dogs require regular grooming to keep their
coats healthy and clean (you will need to do
• You will need to clean your home more, particularly if you have a long-haired dog.
• Dogs need and crave companionship and
should spend most of their time inside with
their family.
• The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association
estimates that it costs $1,065.14 annually to
care for an adult 40-pound dog, $1,970.74 for
a female puppy and $1928.91 for a male puppy
(2005 figures).
• Studies have shown that dogs are good for your
health and can help you withstand life stresses!
ADOPTING A SHELTER DOG are you ready?
Age considerations
The puppy years (Eight weeks to 20 weeks)
is meeting new people and dogs of all ages and
experiencing new places and objects every day.
The teenage years (five months to 18 months)
Adolescent dogs are like giant puppies; however,
even if they’re not fully housetrained, they can
hold their bladder and bowels longer - making
them a better choice to adopt than a puppy if you
work outside the home. While housetraining may
be easier with an adolescent dog, adolescence
has its own challenges.
Few can resist the soft and loving face of a puppy
- yet caring for a puppy and helping shape its
temperament is a great responsibility. Without a
proper foundation in life, puppies often develop
future behaviour problems.
To help determine if you’re up to the challenge
of raising a puppy, consider that puppies are like
babies. They learn from every interaction with
you and require consistent guidance, a patient
teacher, and an extraordinary amount of attention. Puppies may engage in play biting and chew
furniture or other household items, and a seven
to nine week old puppy will need to go out and
eliminate approximately every three hours during the day. Even puppies older than nine weeks
can only be left alone for short periods. Puppies
must be supervised continuously when you’re
together until they can hold their bladder and
bowels and eliminate in the chosen area. In addition, you are raising a puppy during its critical
socialization period. If you spend little time at
home and the puppy is not adequately socialized
during this time, you can contribute to future
fear and/or aggression. For a puppy, socializing
Consider that during adolescence, dogs, like
teenagers, become more independent and develop competing interests, many of which become
distractions to training. To maintain response
reliability, all of the dog’s hobbies and competing interests should be used as rewards. For
example, requesting a sit before feeding a meal,
or a down-stay before taking the dog on a walk.
Indeed, training is essential at this age to give the
dog clear guidance and gentle leadership. Adequate exercise is also essential at this age. Two
or three vigorous walks a day or visits to a secure
off-leash area for doggie play or a rousing game
of fetch is necessary to burn off your dog’s youthful energy. With too little exercise, your dog can
start other recreational habits such as chewing,
digging and barking to release pent up energy
and to relieve boredom.
The adult years (One and a half to eight years)
Adult dogs (dogs don’t fully mature until they are
three to four years of age) typically present less
challenges than puppies or adolescent dogs - and
in the mid-to-older-adult range (five and older)
generally need little training.
Consider that many adult dogs are often housetrained and already have some training. Adult
dogs are almost always finished with destructive
chewing. Dogs who are two-years-old or more
seldom chew your belongings for reasons other
than severe separation problems - which is quite
ADOPTING A SHELTER DOG are you ready?
rare. Additionally, you know the dog’s full-grown
size and have a better idea of his temperament
since the adult dog is done developing most of
his behaviours.
The senior years (Eight years and older)
For protection: As your dog’s guardian, it is your
responsibility to protect your dog, not vice versa!
Not all dogs are protective, even if physical characteristics may make the dog look “tough.” On the
other hand, encouraging protective behaviour is
very dangerous; not just to strangers, but also to
you and your family. If your dog bites someone,
you can be prosecuted under the Dog Owners’
Liability Act.
As a gift: An animal that is given as an unwanted
gift may be neglected or end up homeless. The
recipient may not be prepared to provide for
their needs, or may wish to choose their own pet.
If you believe that someone close to you wants a
dog, give them all the “dog stuff,” like a bed, collar
and leash, toys, brushes, treats and bowls. Then
let them choose for themselves.
The beauty of senior dogs is that they usually
come as perfect packages. Consider that senior
dogs are almost always housetrained. Even if a
senior dog is raised outside he will generally be
clean inside because he’s used to eliminating on
outdoor surfaces (he’s developed a surface preference for grass, dirt etc.). Additionally, senior
dogs have long-since given up any destructive
chewing habits and most senior dogs require
minimal to moderate amounts of exercise making them ideal for people who do not have a very
active lifestyle.
Quiz: Why do you want a dog? There are many
good reasons to adopt a dog. You may be looking
for companionship or want to help a homeless
animal. But other reasons do not benefit the dog,
such as “for protection,” as a gift for someone, or
“for the children.”
For children: Parents must realize that it is their
responsibility to properly feed, exercise and train
the family dog. Dogs are wonderful companions
but both dogs and children can be unpredictable
if left unsupervised. Parents must always supervise the dog when he is with young children.
Now what?
If you are convinced that you are ready for a dog
in your life, please visit your nearest Ontario
SPCA adoption centre. Adoption centre staff
will help you through every step of finding your
special friend - one that is just right for you. They
will answer any questions, help you decide which
pet is a good match, and be available for any advice you may want following your pet adoption.
Also read Choosing the Right Companion and 10
Tips to a Successful Adoption to help prepare you
for a successful adoption.