What do you need to adopt a dog?
If you are thinking of adopting a dog, planning and organization will be essential to carry out this process successfully . The first thing will be to consider if you really have the right conditions to give him the quality of life he deserves, in this sense you will need the following:
- Responsibility and willingness to take care of your dog throughout his life : This means giving him the care and affection necessary to keep him healthy and happy while he is with you.
- A suitable home : Depending on the size and breed of the dog you are interested in adopting, you may require certain conditions of space and security in your home. For example, large dogs like Danes or German Shepherds need wide spaces to run, if you live in an apartment you will not be able to cover this aspect unless you commit to taking them out frequently.
- A budget capable of covering the necessary expenses : Although adopting a dog is free, there are other expenses associated with its food, hygiene, health and care that you should consider.
How to choose the ideal dog?
To start you must be sure of the type of dog you want , the breed, size and temperament of the animal; To define it, you can take into account the aspects that we mentioned before about the conditions you have at home.
Defining these factors will help you plan the space you will need to be comfortable, depending on the characteristics of your home and the needs of your pet.
You should also plan other important details such as his education, playtime, who his vet will be, and what to do in case of emergencies, trips, or vacations. Below we highlight everything you should take into account when choosing the ideal dog for you.
Lifestyle
There are dogs that have a playful temperament, are restless and full of energy, for which walks should be planned that include varied exercises and games . An example of this type of dog is the Boxer, Chihuahua, Bull Terrier, Carlino, Dachshund, Dalmatian, among others.
There are dogs that are usually very calm and do not need so many daily runs to feel happy, for which a quiet walk will suffice.
Depending on the temperament of your dog, you should plan the time you have to dedicate to games and exercise outdoors.
Training
You must take care that your dog is trained to relieve himself where it is due , so that he learns to respect the furniture and elements of the house, without nibbling everything he finds.
You can try to train him with positive reinforcement, so that he understands that certain behaviors are not acceptable. That is, the pet must understand that the destruction of personal objects, plants, furniture and especially shoes is not okay.
If you can’t get him to learn, you can rely on dog training professionals. There are dogs that have a good reputation as obedient and can be trained very well, among them: German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador and others.
Hygiene and health care
A dog needs to get used to a hygiene routine , such as bathing, hair and nail trimming, daily brushing and teeth care.
There are some breeds that have congenital problems that lead them to develop diseases in their eyes, teeth or some special internal organ. Some of them are: Doberman, San Bernardo, Cocker Spaniel, among others. In these cases you should consult the veterinarian for all the relevant information.
Dogs also need vaccines to avoid many pathologies , you must have a trusted veterinarian to check the health of your pet on a routine basis, in addition to being able to attend to eventual emergencies.
Travel, vacations and moving
The trips and vacations that you plan after adopting a dog will be conditioned by your pet, you must know where to leave it so that it is calm and well cared for until you return .
Your dog does not have to be a nuisance when moving, your best friend and companion can accompany you wherever you go, just take care of a few details and you will undertake each adventure together, without problems.
Difference between adopting a puppy or an adult dog
If you intend to adopt a small puppy, you should wait until he is at least 6 months old before separating him from his mother or the environment where they are giving him the first care, since they are very delicate and require special dedication.
Most people think that to adopt a pet it must necessarily be a puppy, but this is not true. In shelters there are many elderly dogs that have been abandoned by their owners for various reasons , such as moving, changes in the family nucleus or simply because they were irresponsible.
These dogs deserve to be adopted , they have a lot of love to give and although they no longer have the drive of a puppy, they behave more focused and calm. In addition to the fact that his ability to learn is never lost and with a little patience you can make him adapt to your family environment.
Older dogs prefer to have a relaxed life, they seek company and affection, they will enjoy quiet walks and afternoons next to their master’s favorite chair. If your lifestyle fits this, they may be your ideal choice.
What is the process to adopt a dog?
If you already have the planning and organization stage of your home ready, you must now start looking for your pet in any of the shelters and adoption centers that are in your area .
There are animal protection associations, shelters for furry ones who have found themselves on the street without a family, and shelters where many homeless dogs are, all waiting for someone with a good heart to adopt them and take them home.
Generally in these institutions they will inform you about the physical and health status of the dog, if it gets along well with children or other animals, if it has its vaccinations or if it has had treatment for any reason. You should guide the choice of your pet according to how he can adapt to the conditions you have at home.