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Adopting a shelter Dog
Follow these tips when adopting a shelter dog and
minimize the risk to reap the rewards of adopting
a new dog.
Fill out the shelter or foster organization's ques-
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tionnaire about what type of dog you are looking
for and would work well with your lifestyle. How
much time you have to spend with the dog? Will
somebody always be home or will the dog be
left alone 9 hours a day while you are at work?
Different dog breeds have different energy lev-
els and exercise requirements. For some dogs,
a walk around the block is just a warm-up.
Hiring a certified dog trainer to come to the shel-
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ter or foster home with you to evaluate the dog
by its breed, age and temperament can prevent
stress for you, your pets and the new dog.
Foster dogs make good pets for people with
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children, seniors, or other pets in their home.
Choosing a dog that has been living in the
same home setting will help assure that the dog
will be comfortable in its environment when it
comes into your home.
If you already own a dog or any other pet, your
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pets and the new dog should meet. You should
make sure the dogs get along before taking
them home. The organization should offer a
"one week trial" for pet owners, to make sure
your new dog and your other pets can live to-
gether happily.
Dawn Wolfe is a certified trainer with over
20 years experience training, fostering and
rehabilitating canines. Call 856-524-4006 or
visit PawsitivelyFamousDogTraining.com.
Dog trAiNiNg