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By Lisa Marie Conklin, Reader's Digest
When you make the decision to adopt a shelter dog, it's hard to
contain your excitement. You're anxious to visit the shelter, scoop up
your new pup, and smother him with all the love and attention he
deserves. That shelter dog also longs to be in a forever home with you,
but it's not always quite that simple. Embarking on this second chance
may be more of a process for your new pet than you realize. Here's what
shelter dogs want you to know (with a little help from some canine
experts).
I might be super excited to see you
Keep in mind that I
may have been in a kennel for a long time, and anything that I see or
experience is going to be new and exciting! Hey, did I mention that I'm excited?!
While some dogs may be timid when you visit the shelter, others may
jump up on you or bark a lot. But don't let a dog's unbridled enthusiasm
scare you off. Derek Panfil, Senior Vice President of Merchandising at Pet Supplies Plus,
which also supports the efforts of its local stores with adoption
programs, says it usually takes at least two weeks for a dog to
decompress and get accustomed to a new home. After that, pet parents can
slowly incorporate new lessons and further teach expected behavior.
"With proper positive training and a little time and patience, dogs can
learn to remain calm in exciting situations," says Panfil.
I might be a little scared
Adoption events can be chaotic in general, so think about how loud and scary it can be for dogs like me.
That
little cutie cowering in the corner of his crate wants a forever home,
but he's too scared to show you. Just like people, it can take a little
time for dogs to warm up. "It doesn't mean the dog isn't social or that
it wouldn't make a great family dog," says Panfil. If possible, get away
from the commotion and find a quiet area to spend time with the dog, or
take him on a short walk. Keep in mind that it may take more than one
meet and greet for the dog to feel safe and secure with you. Panfil says
sometimes that means taking the dog home with you and giving him a few
weeks to adjust.
We want to stay with our pet siblings
The shelter has kept us together because it's all we have left of our previous life.
People
tend to surrender dogs and their "siblings" to shelters for a few
common reasons. They include unexpected circumstances like the death of a
pet parent, a loss of income, or not being able to find a home that
allowed dogs. You might not have planned to adopt two dogs, but you may
want to consider opening your home to a bonded pair. This special
situation also offers some wonderful advantages. "You're not only
preventing the dogs from losing another family member—you're also
getting two dogs who already get along and can help each other ease the
transition to a new home," says Lindsay Hamrick, the Companion Animals
Public Policy Director for the Humane Society of the United States.
The shelter might not know my breed
I'm an individual, no matter what breed or mixed breed I am.
Some
animal shelters label dogs, but it's only an educated guess. Even
veterinarians can guess the wrong breed. "Another issue is that 'pit
bull' is not actually a breed and has become a shelter catchall for many
dogs," says Bernice Clifford, Director of Behavior and Training at the Animal Farm Foundation.
Remember that a dog's personality is more important than a label. To
figure that out, spend time with the dog and include all the family
members before making a decision. If the previous family surrendered the
dog, ask questions about his behavior and lifestyle. "A great predictor
of future behavior is previous behavior in a similar situation," says
Clifford. All dogs, just like all people, are individuals.
I might need time to adjust to your cat or kids
Just because I've never been around kids or other pets, it doesn't mean that I won't love them—in time.
When
an animal's history is known, the shelter will clearly state whether
that dog would prefer to be the only pet or live without young children.
For the times when past experiences aren't known, bring the whole
family for a visit, if possible. While this doesn't guarantee behavior
once you get home, it does give you an opportunity to observe how the
dog and kids interact with one another.
And once your new dog is
home, take it slow. "Teach children how to interact and be respectful of
their new pet while everyone gets comfortable with each other," says
Clifford. "Set up baby gates and use a crate in the beginning when your
new family member cannot be supervised." Do the same with furry
siblings. "Existing pets and new pets need time to adjust to each
other," explains Clifford. "When not supervising, separate the pets
until everyone is comfortable with each other."
I would love a second chance at happiness
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My life hasn't been a happy one. I've been neglected and abused,
but with a little patience and compassion, I could be a loyal companion
for life.
Some shelter dogs have been rescued from known
abuse and neglect. Other dogs arrive at shelters as strays, so it's
impossible to know their background. What is known: These dogs want a
forever home where they can be loved and give love. "If you're adopting a
shy or fearful dog, it's important to take things slowly and let them
go at their own pace," says Krista Maloney, a spokesperson for the San Francisco SPCA.
"Don't force them into situations that they find scary, which can just
make matters worse. Build confidence through environmental enrichment,
practicing new skills, and positive experiences." Need some help
training your new dog?
I may be on the older side, but I've still got a lot to offer
I
know, I know—puppies are irresistibly cute. But you won't have to
puppy-proof your house if you take me home, and I won't eat your
slippers!
"Older dogs are slower and need less exercise and more love," says Sherri Franklin, the founder and CEO of Muttville.
"They are happy to chill with you and binge-watch your favorite TV
shows." In fact, Muttville's fastest-growing program is its Senior for Seniors
program, which pairs senior citizens with senior dogs. But senior dogs
don't necessarily want to spend their days lounging and napping either.
You can still teach an old dog new tricks. Franklin's own adopted
Pomeranian never played with toys, but at 15 years young, she now plays
fetch. The bottom line: Older dogs can be ideal companions in almost any
home.
I might get separation anxiety when you bring me home
Can you blame me? When I was surrendered to the shelter, I felt abandoned, and I'm afraid of being left again.
Jodi Andersen, author of The Latchkey Dog: How the Way You Live Shapes the Behavior of the Dog You Loveand co-founder of How I Met My Dog,
says separation anxiety is not uncommon in shelters dogs. Dogs are pack
animals and feel the most secure and comfortable when they are
physically close to their human family. Start to build trust with the
following tip from Andersen. "Toss a treat to your dog as you walk out
the door. Then turn around, come back in, and walk right past your dog,"
she says. "Do this several times a day and your dog will begin to trust
that you always come back and actually to look forward to—instead of
stressing about—your leaving."
I might backslide on my potty habits
My new home is really different from the shelter. We were on a schedule there, and I knew when and where I could go potty.
"It can be disorienting for a dog to have to learn a new routine," says Kim Agricola, director of Medfield Animal Shelter
in Medfield, Massachusetts. Set up your new furbaby for success by
taking her outside frequently for the first few weeks, then praising her
when she goes potty. When you can't supervise your dog, confine her to a
small area or crate. Then establish a routine. "Take them out first
thing in the morning, after meals, before bed, and any time they have
been confined or sleeping for more than a few hours," advises Agricola.
"Be consistent and stick to a routine, and in a matter of weeks, they
should adjust to the new schedule."
I might hide when we get home
When I lived at the shelter, there was nowhere to hide when I felt scared and anxious.
"The
first thing a shelter pup might do in a new home is to run to find a
dark, safe spot to hide," says Andersen. This may surprise some people.
After all, shouldn't the dog immediately feel safe since your home is
clearly better than a shelter? Think of it this way: Anything new is
different and potentially frightening. "Patience and gentle affection
are needed to help this pup," says Andersen. "Let your new dog have all
the time he/she needs to feel comfortable, and be affectionate whenever
they choose to come to you. Soon enough, they will think of you, not the
hiding place, as the safe spot."
Don't go overboard buying stuff for me just yet
It's important to keep my diet consistent for the first few weeks after we leave the shelter to prevent an upset stomach.
"The
shelter staff will be able to tell you what your dog has been eating,"
says Hamrick. "In a few weeks, you can gradually introduce him to a new
food as long as he doesn't have allergies." With so many dog foods on
the market, it's hard to choose the right one.
Don't dote on me too much
I
get it—you don't want me to feel unloved again. But if you shower me
with too much attention right away, it could stress me out.
Any
major life change, like a new home, can trigger separation-related
issues. But as tempting as it is to spend every waking minute with your
new furbaby, dial back your affection a bit. "Newly adopted dogs are at a
higher risk of developing separation-related problems if they are
smothered with attention their first few days home," says Hamrick.
"Leave for the room for brief periods, up to a few minutes several times
a day, so departure doesn't seem like a big deal."
Let's party later
I'm so happy that you decided to adopt me. But for the first few weeks, please give me some time to adjust to my new life.
When
you're smitten with your new dog, you want to share the joy with
everyone. But save the trips to the dog park, pet store, and family
introductions for later. "Your dog would love a safe place in the home
to call their own and to retreat to when they feel overwhelmed," says
Hamrick. "As they start to come out of their shell, they can meet your
friends or their dogs in situations where they can walk away if they're
uncomfortable."
