What to look for when Adopting an adult dog

Too many dogs end up in the shelter due to "moving", or "my son is allergic" or "we are having a baby"...etc...you catch my drift.

The real reason is because they were too lazy to train or deal with the real problem. The easy way out is always to take your dog to the shelter. It's not only mutts, its pure breds as well. There are a lot of good quality dogs out there, you have to research the breeds you like and see which kinds would fit your lifestyle. Adult dogs are great to get as a first time dog owner or for one who doesn't want to deal with a puppy. It's also giving a dog a second chance...

Here are the questions you should ask before adopting an adult dog.

What is the dog's history?
It's important to know where the dog came from. Whether its a stray or has been in and out of shelters for years, you will need to know what you are dealing with as far as the behaviors that could possibly come with him.

Why is the dog available?
You will need to know the reason the owner gave for turning in their pup. Again, this will shed some light as to what behaviors you will be dealing with.

Does the dog have any behavior problems?
This goes along with the reasoning for the turn in, however, you will also want to know from the actual shelter if they have noticed any behaviors that could be troublesome. Things like, aggression, anxiety, barking...etc...

How is the dog with kids and other animals?
Obviously you will need to know how socialized this pup is. If you are a daycare owner, or you often visit dog friendly places, you will need to make sure your pup would be ok in those scenarios.

Does the dog have any health problems?
You definitely need to know what you could possibly be dealing with health wise. Vet bills are pretty expensive. Make sure he is really healthy, ask questions about hips, thyroids...etc...

Is the dog spayed or neutered already?
Oviously you need to get your dog fixed and they should be before taking them home. You don't ever want to risk your dog having puppies later, or even getting someone else's dog pregnant. Too many dogs need helped. It's also good for them and the shelters pay for it!

Tags: Adoption, adult dogs, rescue dogs, shelters