I have been a volunteer dog rescuer and foster home for the past twenty years. During that time, I have seen dogs abused, neglected, and terrified. I have seen the power of love and kindness also, to rehabilitate dogs and give them a second chance at the life they should have had, with a responsible guardian to care for them.
There are a few myths about adopting a dog from a shelter. Do you want a purebred dog? Awesome! There are plenty of breed-specific rescues. Do you want an older well-trained, experienced dog? They are the best! Shelters have plenty of them too.
I can tell you from personal experience, that a shelter dog is the best breed. Volunteers work to evaluate them, train them, and condition them to help them recover from abuse and trauma. Before most shelter dogs are adopted, they have spent time in the home of a foster, learning how to be a family member.
You won’t believe me until you see it for yourself; shelter dogs appreciate a caring human more. Because they have seen the cruel side of human behavior and felt the tragic pain and consequences, they know a good human when they have one. They are loving, fiercely loyal, and protective of the humans they love.
Remember the Rule of 6 For Adopting Dogs and Cats
Did you know that as many as 40% of adopted dogs are returned to the shelter? That is for a variety of reasons, but the most common one is human expectations. A dog is an emotional being, not a new car. You can’t expect it to immediately adjust to your home; it can be a bumpy transition for both the dog and the human(s).
Six Days to Detox from Shelter Life
I read somewhere that it can take up to three months for someone who was incarcerated to acclimatize to life outside of prison. It’s traumatizing being surrounded by so many different people and crowded, listening to crying and fighting, and more.
That’s pretty much what it is like for a dog coming out of a shelter. It is traumatizing for them, and can you blame them for having trust issues? It takes an average of six days or longer before you will start to see their personality emerge. Or their emotional walls slowly dropping, to let you in.
Six Weeks to Get Used to Your Hustle and Flow
Humans are weird creatures. They get up to alarms, rush around, get out the door after slurping some coffee, and manage to let you out. Maybe they work from home, and the rush is similar to get to the desk and start their day.
Humans get up and go to sleep at different times. Many humans don’t nap, but some do, and that is the perfect opportunity for a snuggle. Humans smell stressed sometimes, and that can be confusing to a dog too. They need time to observe your normal behavior (just as you are looking for their behavioral cues) to get to know you.
It takes at least six weeks for a new dog to understand your schedule, when they will see you, and fall into that flow as a member of your household.
Six Months to Trust You Will Not Hurt Them
Some of the memories we hold on to the most, as adults, are the times when we were emotionally or physically hurt. It’s how our brains are wired; we process the experience into a memory so that we can stay vigilant and make sure it never happens to us again. We all want to protect ourselves.
It can take at least six months for your dog to trust you. During that time, you need to spend time with your new dog. Allow them to observe you, and assess that you pose no threat to their safety. You’ll know when they finally trust you. They have really beautiful ways of showing it.
How Much Is That Puppy In The Window?
Did you know that only 3 out of 10 dogs end their lives with the same family that adopted them as a young pup? Seven out of ten dogs are rehomed, and rehomed, or abandoned outdoors, sold and resold, sometimes to people with cruel intentions.
If you want a puppy, be prepared to put three full years of focused training into your dog. Regardless of the size. There are no “good dogs” or “bad dogs”. There are only “good owners” and “irresponsible owners” who either invest the time or neglect their job to train and reinforce positive, safe, and social behaviors.
Dogs are expensive. They are a lot of hard work and care on a daily basis. Very similar to the care a child needs from a parent. Assess your lifestyle, and think carefully before you adopt a dog. If you cannot give it a safe, loving, and positive life, get a stuffed animal. There are too many abandoned and abused dogs in the world. Please do not contribute to the crisis.
Senior Dogs Rock!
This is going to sound odd, but hear me out. For some people, adopting a senior dog is a win/win. First, senior dogs are least likely to be adopted from a rescue or shelter. Everyone wants the new car feeling of an infant puppy. Well, some people think that’s the most important thing.
Dogs can live anywhere from twelve to sixteen years. Some live longer (my Diego lived to be almost eighteen years). Chihuahuas are tenacious. If having a dog for a long time isn’t a good fit for you, consider fostering or adopting a senior dog.
Senior dogs have a lot of love to give, and they are often fully trained and docile. That means, no hyperactive puppy running around the house knocking over houseplants. Don’t even get me started about elderly gratitude either. They know they struck the jackpot to be adopted by a kind soul. And they will love you mightily as long as they can.