Finding the right organization to adopt from and work with is equally important as finding the right dog to fit into your life. The right organization will help you sort through their dogs and point you to the right dog for you, not just any dog.
The first type of question to ask yourself is what kind of temperament, size, activity level, and training commitment are you able to reasonably handle. When people call me about getting a bull terrier, I like to hear about their hobbies and lifestyle before getting down to the nuts and bolts of giving them one of my puppies. The reason is bull terrier puppies are work! They require a considerable amount of training and socialization, plus they are so incredibly active that they might not be a good fit for everyone. Many people are drawn to my breed because of their unique looks, which I understand; however, an individual or family might not be ready for the actual dog. So my interview process focuses first on fitting the right dog to the right people.
A good rescue organization will do the same. They will know which dogs might do better in a single-dog household or a household without kids, and they can make the call whether the dog will need a fenced-in yard as opposed to living in a condo/apartment situation. While I think looking at a dog and saying it’s the cutest thing ever is important, I also think that a dog that is in a rescue situation deserves to find the right home, not just any home, in order to avoid further disruption to their lives.
If you’re not a terribly active person, consider adopting an older dog that deserves to find a couch to lounge on for the rest of their days, which will give you just as much fulfillment as rescuing a puppy. If work takes priority, having a somewhat self-sufficient dog will suit you far better than having to house-train a puppy. I know plenty of older dogs that gave their owners plenty of joy. These dog owners were able to give them a wonderful life, even if their time together was not as long as raising a puppy, and they were happy to skip the teething and housebreaking phases.
If you decide to get a puppy, there are many organizations that foster mothers and their litters. While I am sure all of them have good intentions, I believe some of them take on more than they can manage. Look for an organization where there is only one foster litter per person, so that puppies are getting individual attention and handling, while mom is experiencing low levels of stress. The puppies also should be raised in a clean environment. I have worked with puppies from a few organizations that have multiple foster dogs in a home where a mother dog has given birth and that allow the other dogs to stress the mother out. Those organizations do not have enough room in their homes if the mom doesn’t want other dogs to see their puppies. A stressed mom equals equally stressed puppies. Try to find a rescue that raises healthy and well-adjusted puppies.
Whether you choose to rescue a puppy or take in an older dog, always make sure that if issues arise that are beyond your capabilities, the rescue will take the dog back without questions or guilt. A good rescue wants everyone to be happy, not just the dog.
If you have any questions, please email fouronthefloorschool@gmail.com.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
