Dogs and puppies are some of the sweetest gifts to humanity, and they are hands down the most lovable and caring animals you can ever imagine. Known as man’s best friend, dogs crave love and love only. No matter how many times you’ve been rude to them, no matter how many times you’ve turned them down, they’ll always have the same affection, trust, and love for you.
Adopting a dog or a puppy is not an easy task. If you’ve already had pets, you’d know the basics, whereas this blog will help you get through it for those who do not know. Remember, cuteness is not the only factor influencing your adoption decision, and you need to know various other factors before bringing home a new furry friend.
There are various ways to adopt a dog or puppy; you can visit a breeder, a shelter, or a rescue. Each place has different criteria and different types of dogs available for adoption.
Adoption Via Breeder
If you’ve been thinking about a specific breed or want to fulfill someone’s wish of keeping a pet by gifting them a puppy, a breeder is the best option. Dogs or puppies purchased from a breeder are usually family-friendly. Breeders take care of the dog’s lineage and perform genetic tests, so you don’t need to worry about the type of dog they sell.
While we encourage dog purchasing from breeders, we discourage dog stores and puppy mills. Here are some quick tips for your search for dog or puppy adoption. There are many more steps than what we present here. Do your homework whether you are getting a shelter dog or a breeder. There are never too many questions!
Know about the breeder’s reputation
Before directly contacting the breeder, inquire about them by their neighbors. We know that’s a little absurd, but dog adoption is no joke. Who knows, you could be dealing with a breeder who treats their dogs inhumanely, and you could save the lives of these poor souls by reporting the breeder? There may be many pages on social media where breeders post happy pictures with their puppies and dogs, but don’t take that at face value. Please read the reviews and reach out to previous customers to know their experiences. Check with breeds specific organizations about the breeder. They often will have information on responsible breeders. Purchase a dog or puppy only if you’re delighted with the breeder.
Check on the puppy’s parents
Puppy’s parents often reflect how what the puppy will be like in the future. When visiting a breeder, you will typically see the mother dog nursing or around the puppies and the father roaming around nearby, which signifies and happy and healthy living environment. But if the breeder has hidden them, then there’s something fishy. Either the parents are not fit or are very aggressive, which you do not want.
Healthy and playful parents signify that their puppy will grow into a healthy pet. Check for eye and nasal discharge in the puppy or dog while making your choice; discharge means the animal is not healthy.
Is the puppy or dog social?
Another thing you should bear in mind while adopting is how friendly and social the dog is. If the dog has issues mingling, it may signal behavioral matters you should be aware of. Whereas for puppies, you need to check how much they have socialized. As puppies are prone to diseases and are unvaccinated, they could be carrying a virus or illness if they have socialized with other dogs.
Adoption via rescue or shelter
If you’re an animal lover, just looking for a companion, you won’t care about the breed of the dog or how silky the coat is. You would want an affectionate companion who cares for you regardless. So, the best choice for you would be shelters and rescues. Here many dogs and pups are waiting to get a loving home and an owner who values them, so if you have absolutely no restrictions and are ready to cry a little, head over to your nearest shelters and rescue them.
Understanding the difference between shelters and rescues
Many people think there’s no difference between the two, which is wrong. Shelters and rescues are different, and we’ll tell you how.
Shelters usually deal with street and surrendered dogs. They work on clearing the streets of dogs and giving the homeless shelter, food, and protection. They also take in dogs given up by their owners, who do not want them or cannot have them anymore. In shelters, you may or may not find the most elitist dog breed, but you’ll find the most loving dogs, as they have been deprived of home for a long time.
Rescues take dogs from kill shelters, dogs with medical needs, or a particular breed. They are lifesavers, and they deal with severe cases where the inhumane dog owner often is rigid and is not ready to give up the dogs.
Risks involved in shelters and rescues adoption
One of the most significant risks while adopting from a shelter or a rescue is that you’re unaware of the dog’s history. You do not know what the dog or puppy has been through and how they will behave with more people and dogs around. Another factor you must consider is that sometimes there are dogs with special needs. If you can take care of them and give them extra love, attention, and time, you should adopt one.
Questions to ask when adopting from shelters
If you’ve made up your mind to adopt from a shelter, these are the questions you need to ask the employee.
- Is the puppy/dog vaccinated? And is it up to date?
- Was the puppy surrendered alone, or was it with a litter?
- Is the mother of the puppy around?
- What is medical care provided by the shelter? (ask about vaccinations and neutering)
Questions to ask when adopting from Rescues
While at a rescue, you need to ask these;
- What was the dog’s condition when it was rescued?
- What were the circumstances of its rescue?
- Has the dog been in any foster care? How has it reacted there?
It doesn’t matter where you get your dog or puppy from; all that matters is that you give them endless love, care, and attention because that’s what they deserve!
