Adopting a Rescue Dog
Adopting a dog from a rescue or shelter can be an incredibly rewarding experience. I have had MANY amazing rescues in my dog training programs, and even have hopes to rescue a little fellow for myself some day. I have also had rescues in my dog training programs with serious behavioral issues. In some cases, families ended up with rescue dogs that were dangerously ill-fitted for their families. Adopting a dog from a rescue doesn’t have to be such a gamble. Doing research and preparation before adding a rescue dog to your home can set you and your future furry family member up for success.
Preparing to Adopt a Rescue Dog
Assessing Your Lifestyle and Needs
Certain dog breeds require “work,” or regular dog training in some kind of sport or activity in order to be relaxed and satisfied.
Assessing your lifestyle and needs is the first thing to consider when you’re preparing to adopt a dog from a rescue. You want to be clear about how much time you have to dedicate to meeting your new rescue dog’s needs--how much time can you spend exercising them, grooming them, playing with them, training them, etc. You should be prepared to invest time and money into dog training so you can smoothly and safely acclimate your new family member, and enjoy them for life. If you don’t have a lot of time to invest in a dog, then you won’t want to adopt a high energy puppy or working-dog breed, for example! If you don’t go for walks and runs everyday, adopting a lazy dog or an older dog is going to be a better choice than adopting a super active young dog, or active breed that may have high exercise needs until seniority. Check out my blog on choosing the right dog breed for your lifestyle to learn more about how to pick the best rescue dog for your lifestyle and family.
Researching Bay Area Dog Rescues and Shelters
Once you have a general idea of what kind of dog you’re looking for, researching local dog rescues and shelters is the next step! If you have friends with awesome rescue dogs, asking them about their experience with the rescue is a great idea. If you don’t have any close friends with rescue dogs, I recommend asking your community on local Facebook or Nextdoor groups.
I highly recommend working with rescue organizations that will allow you to foster a dog before you adopt them, and rescues who do thorough evaluations of dogs before placing them. It’s a major green flag is the rescue you are looking into strongly recommends balanced dog training, (as opposed to force-free dog training), and is upfront with any behavioral problems they see in their rescue dogs. Choosing a rescue that is close to you in the Bay Area will allow you to meet the dogs at local events and connect with dog rescue employees if you encounter challenges.
What to Know Before Bringing Your Rescue Dog Home
Understanding A Rescue Dog’s Background
Sometimes rescues have information on the backgrounds of the dogs in their care. If there is information available about a rescue dog you’re interested in adopting, that can help you understand if a dog might be a good match for you. A dog who grew up outside or in a large kennel environment, for example, might struggle with potty training or confinement anxiety in a crate. Dogs who grew up free-roaming may be more prone to escaping, or may struggle with resource guarding and coming when called.
Oftentimes, rescue organizations don’t know the background of the dogs in their care, and that’s ok too. Whether you’re considering rescuing a dog that has a known challenging history or history of behavioral problems or not, it’s always a good idea to consult with a professional dog trainer to help you evaluate and acclimate your new rescue dog to your home, and help you keep your new dog safe with proper training.
Proper Evaluation of a Rescue Dog
Before you bring a new rescue dog into your home, it’s important that the rescue has been able to properly evaluate the dog, unless you are familiar with fostering and prepared to do that yourself. Rescue dogs take time to acclimate into foster homes or shelter environments--usually a few weeks. I strongly discourage people from taking on a rescue dog who has just arrived at a shelter or just been picked up. It’s very common to not see behavioral problems with dogs right away, as they are often scared and shut down at first. Giving rescue organizations and foster homes time to evaluate a dog you are considering rescuing means you can have a better understanding of whether or not the dog has had experience with the kind of household you have (kids, critters, other dogs), and any behavioral problems, like reactivity or resource aggression. Ask the rescue if they have taken the dog on a walk, had them around kids, bicycles, cars, cats and other critters, other dogs, etc, and what they have seen from the dog in these situations—the more descriptive, the better! If the rescue is vague or doesn’t seem to be able to describe the dog’s behavior, that may be a “yellow flag.”
Preparing Your Home and Family for a New Rescue Dog
Once you think you have found the right rescue dog to add to your family, it’s important to prepare your home and your family members. Make sure you have a crate set up in a quiet room and are prepared to crate train your new dog--this will help give them a safe place and a sense of routine while they adjust. Having baby gates to section off parts of your house is another great way to prepare your home, so you can ensure that your new dog doesn’t have access to parts of the house where they may destroy and chew on your valuables. If you have another dog in the home, baby gates will also be a great way for you to introduce the dogs to sharing space in a way that is protected. Make sure everyone in the family knows to give your new dog plenty of space, to not disturb your new dog while they are resting or eating, and to give your dog time to warm up and engage with you themselves. If you’re not sure how to introduce your new dog to your family or how to set up your home, reach out for help!
Crate training your rescue dog will help them feel secure, prevent them from rehearsing unwanted behaviors, and helps create a sense of routine.
The Adoption Process
Filling Out Applications
When you feel you have found some dogs you may be interested in rescuing, you will need to fill out adoption applications. Every rescue organization will have their own application, and will want to know what your house set up is like, what your experience is with other dogs and rescuing, and what your capacity is to care for a new dog in the house. You should expect to have to pay fees to submit applications, and submit information regarding your income and living situation.
Home Visit
Some rescue organizations will want to visit your home before agreeing to let you adopt one of their dogs. They will want to see if you have secure fencing if you have a yard, that your home is clean and well-cared for, and whether you have the appropriate space and set up for a dog. Having a crate and baby gates already set up is a great way to set a good impression on rescues coming to check out your home.
Meeting/Fostering Potential Dogs
Being able to meet dogs you’re interested in rescuing outside the shelter is a great way to better understand the temperament of the dog you’re interested in. I highly recommend rescuing a dog from a local Bay Area shelter that will allow you to actually foster the dog first, so you can see how they actually feel and fit into your home before deciding whether to move forward with the adoption. Remember that it takes time for dogs to warm up, and you may not see a dog’s full personality for a few weeks!
Acclimating Your New Rescue Dog
Establishing a Routine with Your Rescue Dog
Once you have brought a new rescue dog into your home, establishing a routine is a great way to help your dog acclimate. Using a crate for them to sleep in overnight and rest in while you are away is a great way to create structure for your dog. Taking your dog out in the yard or on a quiet walk at regular times can add routine to your day. Sometimes, anxious dogs aren’t ready to train right away, and may not have a big appetite. Feeding them meals at regular times in their crate will help with their crate training and give them a safe space to eat if they aren’t ready to engage with you right away. Even if your rescue dog is a little thin, make sure you don’t overwhelm them with too much food, and learn how much kibble to feed them so you can keep them healthy and help them develop a positive attitude about training with food.
Veterinary Care for Your Rescue Dog
Training your dog to be calm for handling will make your vet visits easier!
After you’ve adopted a rescue dog, establishing a relationship with a local Bay Area Veterinarian is a great thing to do right away--before your dog has any issues! Taking your dog to get a check up can also help you get a sense for how your dog feels at the vet, and may reveal some other areas of training and socialization that would benefit your dog. My family and I have been going to Moraga Veterinary Hospital for over 25 years, and absolutely love them. I’ve also worked with other vets in Walnut Creek and Lafayette, when I’ve taken dogs in my dog training programs in for check-ups, and I have had great experiences with all of them! Feel free to reach out if you want some help selecting a vet for your rescue dog.
Training and Socialization for Your Rescue Dog
Contacting a local Bay Area dog trainer, even before you get your dog, is the best way to set you and your dog up for success. A professional dog trainer can help you figure out the right kind of dog that fits your lifestyle, can help you evaluate prospective dogs, and can help you integrate your new dog smoothly into your home.
Once your dog is integrated, a professional trainer can help you develop a shared communication system with your new dog, so you can enhance your relationship and work your way towards taking your dog on many adventures with you in the Bay Area.
