The parents of these boys came to the shelter looking for a puppy . . . but to everyone’s good fortune, they wisely selected this lovely child-loving adult dog. He may have some behavior flaws, but the value of his comfort with and enjoyment of kids will strongly outweigh the minor inconvenience of any training he may need.
Why Adopting an Adult Dog Has its Advantages
But no dog is perfect from Day 1 forward! Here’s how to help your newly adopted dog fit into your family fast!
So, you’ve recently adopted an adolescent or adult dog, or you’re planning to adopt one from a rescue group or shelter in the near future. Good for you! It generally takes adult dogs a lot longer to get adopted than those irresistible, pudgy puppies – even when they are calmer, better-socialized, house-trained, and past the “chew everything in sight” stage. Shelter staffers often shake their heads as families pass up ideal, kid-friendly adult dogs in favor of pups of some highly inappropriate breed or type, just because they are puppies.
More Socialization
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Building Your Dog's Confidence Up
Subscribers Only — There are a lot of things in our world that have the potential to frighten our dogs. How is it that some dogs deal... -
Observing Your Dog’s Body Language to Learn How He Communicates
— How many times have I heard a dog owner say, “If only they could speak!” And how many times have I bitten... -
A Canine Stress Dictionary
— Stress causes the appetite to shut down. A dog who won’t eat moderate to high-value treats may just be... -
Understanding Your Dog's Vocal Communications
— Canine vocal communications can be classified as barks, growls, howls, whines, and whimpers. Within those... -
K9 Drill and Demo Teams
Subscribers Only — What brings together heelwork, tricks, music, a little high school nostalgia, and takes it all to a whole new level?... -
Working on a K9 Drill and Demo Team: An Incredible Socialization Opportunity
Subscribers Only — When I began working on this article, I asked the members from the Santa Cruz Dog Training Club (the team I... -
Keeping Your Dog Safe at the Dog Park
Subscribers Only — Dog parks have gotten a bad rap in the past few years, thanks in large part to articles written and statements made... -
Sample Dog Park Rules
Subscribers Only — Park rules should be posted prominently near park entrances – if they’re not, ask about them prior to... -
Concerns About Dog Parks
Subscribers Only — Trish King, Director of Training and Behavior, Marin Humane Society, Novato, California, (marinhumanesociety.org)... -
Planning on Taking Your Dog on Your Next Vacation? Make it a Great Experience!
— For some of us, taking a vacation just wouldn’t be nearly as much fun if we couldn’t share it with our...
