How to adopt a dog and not regret it
By Diane Richardson frontierrots@msn.com (c) 2014
www.frontierrots.com/workingclasscanine.htm

Step 1: Evaluate your life. 
	What size dog, coat type, activity level and temperament type will work best with your household makeup?
	Do you have children, other dogs, cats, livestock and other animals? 
	Are you a quiet household or do you have frequent guests?
	Anyone in the household or whom frequently visits Special needs or handicapped?
	Do you walk in quiet areas or bustling crowded places?
	What traits are completely unacceptable?
	How much dog experience do you have? were they easy dogs, difficult dogs or aggressive dogs? What breeds were they?
	What activities, sports, etc do you expect the dog to be able to do?

Step 2: Evaluate your finances.
	At minimum you will be looking at $200.00 or more in vet bills a year assuming no illness, injury or emergency.
	Emergencies or severe medical issues can run into the thousands of $$
	Spay, neuter, heartworm treatments etc can run from $100.00 to $1,000.00
	Boarding can run $20.00-40.00 a day
	Good dog food for a 50-100 lb dog runs around $40-70 a month depending upon brand
	Adoption fees can range from $150.00 - 700.00 depending upon the dog, the group or individual involved and the distance

Step 3: How to find a dog.evaluate the group/individual involved.
	You can check with your vet, local shelters, local rescue groups or look at online listings.
	Also ask friends and other dog people if they know of dogs who fit your criteria.
	Call or email dog trainers as well.

Step 4: Evaluate the group/individual involved and the dog's background.
	IF dealing with online listings, choose a group that has a physical presence in your region of the Country (New England for example)
	DO NOT consider a group outside of your area unless you plan to physically travel to meet the dog. NEVER ADOPT sight unseen! IF you are able to travel to meet a dog in another region- follow the below except call their area.
	Once you find a dog that looks and sounds likely, Call the BBB and Dept of Agriculture and see if there are complaints about the group or individual. Ask Your vet or other dog people if they know the group/individual.
	DO NOT transfer any money, or sign any agreements/contracts yet.
	Find out if the group is licensed and by whom. Are they a 501(c)3 group or an independent?
	IF a shelter instead, make sure they are licensed. There are no unlicensed/independent "shelters" in most regions.
	Ask about the group/individual's adoption process.
		There should be an application for you to complete.
		There should be references required of you and possibly a home visit.
		The dogs should be selected to match applications that suit the dog's temperament, activity etc.
		You should be required to physically MEET the dog in person.
		There should be provisions in the contract to return the dog if the match does not work out.
		There should also be provisions in the contract for the group to reclaim the dog if YOU fail to care for it properly.
	Ask about the dog evaluation process.
		The dog should have received a temperament evaluation- you should be able to read this.
		Unless the dog is in an animal shelter, it should have been in a foster home at least 2 weeks. This confirms the dog's state of health AND confirms the temperament evaluation was correct (some dogs behave different at home than at a shelter)
	Ask about the dog's health.
		The dog should be heartworm negative (unless you want to care for a positive dog and the group is paying for the treatment)
		The dog should have been  tested for basic tick diseases (and be negative unless you want to take this treatment on)
		The dog should be negative for internal parasites.
		The dog should have had a veterinary health exam and have a health certificate from a vet that is less than 14 days old.
			In NH, animal shelters are exempt from obtaining health certificates BUT if they imported the dog from another state it will have come with one at that time- ask for a copy of that one.
		The dog should be current on immunizations and on heartworm medication.
		The dog should come with a complete health record that details all of the above.

Step 5: Choosing the dog
	NEVER adopt a dog off of a transport OR adopt a dog sight unseen and have it transported to you!
	BEFORE meeting the dog make sure the photo and description sounds like a dog that fits your criteria.
	Ask as many questions as you possibly can about the dog. Be honest in your handling and training abilities.
	MEET the dog! bring the entire household if possible.
	IF you have any hesitations about the dog, walk away!
	IF the dog growls at you or household members, do not adopt it.
	DO NOT adopt a dog that shows traits/behaviors you are unable to work on or that are on your "not tolerated" list.
	Ask all of your dog questions again.
	Spend at LEAST 1 hour with the dog. IF possible visit the dog at least two separate times. If not spend as much time as possible with the dog before commiting.
	Make sure that if the dog turns out to not be a match, is not working out etc that you can return it. IF you have traveled to meet a dog find out "what happens" if this happens when you get home. (do they have a local volunteer who can take it?)
	READ the contract top to bottom at least once if not twice. Make sure you agree with it all! Ask questions about any parts you do not understand.

Step 6: Your dog is home
	ALWAYS make sure the dog has a properly fitted buckle collar with ID tags on and always use a properly fitted martingale or slip collar when walking outside-even to potty or ride in the car. MANY newly adopted dogs escape or slip their collars in the first few months in a new home.
	Make sure the chip is properly registered- either through the group/shelter or by yourself.
	TAKE YOUR NEW DOG TO THE VET within 3 days for a full examination- including intestinal parasite (worms, coccidia, giardia) and yes another 4DX test (heartworm and 3 tick borne diseases)- cover all your bases!
	Do not give the dog full house freedom. Keep it confined to rooms and/or on a leash for the first 2-4 weeks at minimum.
	Make sure the dog has a solid routine with plenty of down time in a crate. Too much too soon as far as freedom, family interaction, new animal interaction etc can cause stress and/or behavior difficulties. Structure, structure, structure
	The older the dog the longer FULL integration can take. 
		Young puppies are typically integrated in around 4 weeks
		Older puppies in 2-6 months
		Adult dogs can take 4-12 months before fully integrated and comfortable
	DO NOT let the dog off leash outdoors for at least 6 months if older than 6 months of age at adoption. 
	If you have lifestock, outdoor cats etc you will need to spend time teaching proper behavior around them.
	Enroll in a basic obedience class asap
	Feed less than the dog's normal ration (1/4-1/2 less) for the first week to help with the food and drinking water adjustment
	Take all things slowly, even with the sweetest nicest dog always assume the dog may bite when attempting something new: grabbing it's collar, putting in/taking out of crate, brushing, feeding/bowl pickup, meeting animals, meeting people, doing nails and so on.
	NEVER EVER allow children to hug the dog or be near the dog while eating or chewing on a bone/toy. Give all valuable chews in the crate, feeding in the crate is best.
	Get to KNOW the dog and become comfortable with it and let the dog get to know and be comfortable with all of you!