Before You Adopt a Shelter Dog – Know What to Expect

This is the first in a two-part series about adopting a shelter dog – knowing what you’re getting into and can expect.  In this post, I’ll take you through what to expect at the shelter, and in Part 2, if you find the right dog, what you can expect when you get it home and how to prepare.

What Kinds of Dogs are at the Shelter?

There are literally all kinds of dogs at shelters, and by shelters, I’m referring to the city or county public shelters usually know as Animal Care & Control (ACC). Whether short or long-haired, small, medium, large, newborn puppies to seniors, ACC takes in every kind of dog. You can find both purebred dogs and mixed breeds, and of the latter, the predominant breed is unfortunately pitbulls.

Where Do these Dogs Come From?

The dogs you’ll find are either owner surrender or strays. In the case of owner surrender, people surrender dogs for various reasons. The #1 reason according to a study of why people surrender dogs, is moving. But there can also be circumstances where the owner has passed away or is in a nursing home, allergies, dogs don’t get along, etc.

In the case of strays, there are several kinds: 1) the owner-abandoned dog, where the owner basically dumped the dog; 2) a lost dog who escaped from its home and has not been found by its owner; and 3) the poor dogs who were born on the streets and never knew a home and love and care.

What Should you Know about Dogs’ Behaviors at the Shelter

Dogs who have been owner-surrendered have, I think, the toughest time at the shelter. Taking a dog from a warm home, where it has bonded with its people, and lived with them for a number of years, and then placed in a small cage, concrete floor with a bed if it’s lucky, in a noisy environment where it’s never quiet — these dogs are shell-shocked. And this is especially rough on the dogs who are ill and were surrendered for medical/financial reasons, or the elderly “too old, too much trouble” senior dogs.

They wait for an owner who will never return, and when they realize it, some will shut down, sit in the back of the cage, tremble, become depressed, not eat. Others will become hyper leading to aggressive behavior because they’re all alone, scared and confused. They don’t want to be touched, they just want out. It takes these shell-shocked dogs several days, if not weeks, before they can become acclimated to their surroundings. And depending on the number of dogs at ACC at any one time, some dogs will not have weeks. They may only have 72 hours.

Your next group of dogs at the shelter are strays. Strays also have a difficult time since they were used to freedom to roam, and now are locked up in cages. Depending upon the dog, some experience the same issues as the owner-surrendered, while others become increasingly “mental” being locked up. Other strays have medical issues, that while ACC has vets/staff on call, they cannot possibly administer the care that the dogs need. These dogs are usually among the first to be euthanized.

What to Consider When Choosing to Adopt a Dog from a Shelter

When adopting a dog, whether from shelter, breeder, or rescue, do your homework first, and decide what kind of dog you want. By that, I mean the temperament of the dog and its energy (activity) level. Size and breed are only important from the standpoint of cost of ownership and/or if there are any restrictions in your HOA or lease. If these don’t apply, then consider there are some large, giant dogs, like Mastiffs and St. Bernards who well-known as smooshes when it comes to family and children, while some small dogs, like Westies, Chihuahuas can be barking, biting, tiny terrors.

Ask the shelter staff

Those staff who truly love dogs recognize the dogs who are under undue stress and need an adopter or foster, as well as know the dogs who are the hidden gems and those who are lovable and ball crazy. The staff may also make available more information through the shelter evaluation intake form so you know how the dog reacted, or didn’t, upon intake.

Dogs who do not do well upon initial evaluation may be labeled “rescue only” and will not be available to be adopt by the public.

Don’t overlook the dogs who are sitting in the corner

Some dogs, as mentioned are scared, confused and shut down. Others who have been at the shelter for months, some a year or more, have given up hope of ever finding a home again. These dogs, in a meet and greet, and then in a new environment may become a wonderful dog after they’ve been given time to decompress.

Dogs who are “barky” or hyper

Occasionally, there are dogs in shelters who are bouncing off the walls and barky. Does this mean that they’re going to be that way in your home? Yes and no. Dogs who were used to freedom, either as strays, or who had backyards or jogging paths, can freak being in a cage 23 hours a day. Others want attention or reactive to their environments, because they are breeds that “need a job.” I’ve noticed more Belgian Malinois being in shelters now, and these are the worst dogs to be locked up because of their high intelligence, activity level, and need a job. Take these dogs out of a shelter, establish boundaries and enforce them, and give the dogs time to get used to your routine, and you can have a completely different dog.

Also keep in mind that given the zip code where you live, some dogs are kept outside rather than inside the home. This, too, can have an effect on the mental health of dogs who are locked up.

In Summary

Adopting a dog is a balancing act between your head, heart and instincts. You may have a particular a list of must haves when visiting a shelter, only to come home with a dog that’s 180-degrees different.

Dogs are sentient beings, meaning that they feel emotions as humans do. Before you detonate that adopt button, be as sure as you can that the dog you are adopting is the right one for you and/or your family.

Six out ten dogs adopted are returned. Don’t let yourself or the dog be a statistic.