October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. For those who may be thinking of doing so, a lot may have changed since the last time you trained a furry friend. It pays to do a little research, make an honest appraisal of your lifestyle, and determine what you expect from a canine companion, as well as how well equipped you are to deal with the little imperfections that even the best dogs come with.
The first question most people confront is whether to get a puppy or an adult dog. Everyone thinks that puppies and kids look so cute together, but in reality, puppies have little sharp teeth, and are a lot of work. Sometimes, the busy family would do better to adopt a mature dog that has already passed the "chewing stage" and is already used to children's antics. Working people may want to think of choosing an adult dog that is already house trained — take it from a trainer, it's nearly impossible to train a puppy during your two-week vacation! Of course, given that you have the skill and the time, no dog is too old to train, in terms of skills such as sit, down, or stay. But, if the dog was not properly socialized as a young one, it may have developed resistance to accepting novel situations, people or other dogs. Thus, the dog that cowers in the back of its kennel at the shelter may not be the dog for a family with a toddler. It's also true that no dog is too young to train.
If you are purchasing from a reputable breeder, or adopting from a shelter or rescue group, the staff should be taking steps to begin the socialization process even before your pup is old enough to go home. For a good article on the importance of early puppy socialization, visit the American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior Web page: http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/images/stories/Position_Statements/puppy%20socialization.pdf.
If you are planning on purchasing a puppy, educate yourself about reputable versus disreputable breeders. Breeders who care about their puppies do not generally breed many litters per year, generally take deposits on pups even before the parents are bred, and they test the parent dogs for any genetic ailments common in the breed. They are also active in the dog hobby, meaning that they participate in shows, or in events such as agility, rally obedience, tricks, therapy dog activities, working trials and the like. This is not out of snobbery, it's to show potential buyers that the puppies come from structurally and temperamentally sound stock. A good pup is generally comparable or lower in price to a puppy that comes from a questionable Internet source, puppy mill, or pet shop. To see why it's always a bad idea to access puppies from disreputable breeders or puppy mills, visit: http://www.puppymills.com.
If you would like to save a life, think about the adoption option. It's easy to choose the first dog that looks pitiful and that you feel badly for, but due diligence is required in this process, too (re-read the first paragraph). Most shelter dogs are there through no fault of their own, and are often victims of the economy, their owners' lack of planning, or ignorance about the importance of management, prevention, and training. Many of them make top-notch companions once freed from the kennel environment. If you are not sure how to assess a prospective dog's suitability for your lifestyle, ask a professional to help you. Shelter staffers would rather see you for a pre-purchase consultation, and for a training class, than to see you because you made a bad choice and are having trouble because of it.
Dogs are a social species, just as we are. As such, they normally use their behavior to reduce conflict, rather than engage in it, so, truly, the number of dogs with serious behavior issues is not that high compared to the number of dogs in shelters or rescues But, veterinarian Karen Overall who is one of the nation's top behaviorists, thinks that dogs' ability to defuse aggression is one great reason why, once you have your dog, forceful training is a bad idea. Dogs don't use force with other dogs. She says only the dogs that are terribly anxious, or in survival mode, use force, and that normal dog behaviors are used primarily to solicit information. Thus, she says, "Dogs look to us for guidance, not control." Dr. Overall also believes that "the less the human knows about how to elicit behavior, the more likely they are to use force." Recent studies support her opinion, and have found that aggressive owners have more aggressive dogs.
Despite the pitfalls (again, if you are worried, it's a great idea to talk to a good trainer before you make your choice), a life lived in the company of dogs is one of the most rewarding, and October is the perfect month to think about adding that canine companion to your household. Petfinder.com can connect potential adopters with local shelters and rescue groups that have dogs needing homes (or foster care. Or, visit the breed rescue page at: http://www.crdtc.org/ne-rescu.html. To find a reputable breeder of purebred dogs, contact the local or national breed club for the breed of your choice (www.akc.org, or www.ukc.org).
Anne Springer is the public relations director and program manager for the Pawsitive Connections Program at SeniorCare Inc.
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