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SHILOH TIPS FOR FINDING & ADOPTING
YOUR FAMILY DOG!
1. Wait until your children are old enough. Many children are unaware that animals can
experience pain and may accidentally harm companion animals.
Young children, under the age of 6, may be more likely to fall
on or trip over a dog or puppy. In addition, due to their age
and inexperience around animals, they may not be able to resist
pulling an animal’s ears or tail or attempting to ride a
dog like a horse. As hard as it may be for both you and your
kids, waiting until your children are old enough is a key
factor in the success of adopting a family companion animal.
2. Avoid getting a puppy. Puppies
are adorable but they are also lots of work! Recognize that no
matter what your kids tell you, YOU will be the one getting up
in the early morning hours to check on that adorable puppy; YOU
will be the one writing out the checks to replace chewed shoes
and household furnishings and YOU will be the one cleaning up
various puppy accidents! The Shiloh Project believes that adult
dogs make wonderful family companions. For the most part, they
are less likely to chew, more likely to already be
housetrained, and can be just as eager to learn and easy to
train as any puppy! In addition, many times it is easier to
determine their temperament and you already know how big they
are going to get.
3. Adopt a mixed breed. As
a general rule, mixed breed dogs have better and more stable
temperaments than most purebreds and are healthier too.
Statistics show that 1 in 4 purebred dogs in America are
afflicted with a serious genetic problem. For example, Golden
Retrievers, German Shepherds and Labradors are often born with
crippling hip dysplasia, and Dalmatians are often born deaf.
Cocker Spaniels have been so overbred that many not only suffer
from chronic ear infections, hernias and kidney problems, but
their temperament has been affected as well and many of these
once gentle family dogs now have a tendency to bite.
4. Take your time and during the initial visit, leave the
kids at home! Once you begin to
look, take your time and look at a number of dogs. We suggest
that you first have the adults in the family select two or
three dogs that would fit your family criteria, and then bring
in the kids to help make the final decision. That way, the
adults don’t have to say "no" to the kids
regarding an inappropriate dog choice, yet everyone gets to be
part of the adoption selection process.
5. Ask three important questions: Shelters and animal rescue organizations want to
work with you to find the right fit, both for you and for the
dog. Make sure to ask the following about each dog you look at:
a) To your knowledge, has the dog ever bitten or shown
aggression to a person or animal? Although
any information about a known dog bite must be shared with
prospective owners, make sure you inquire about general
aggression also. Does the dog have a history of growling,
baring his/her teeth or being overly possessive around food or
toys? Even though you may only be adopting one dog, you want to
make sure that when you’re walking your dog, he/she is
not aggressive toward other animals. Even if you are sure your
dog will never encounter a cat, if the dog is aggressive toward
cats, that’s information you need to know.
b) Has the dog been boarded, and if so, for how long? This question applies to rescue organizations
where, although most groups try to use foster homes as much as
they can, sometimes dogs are kenneled for short periods of time
while awaiting a foster or adoptive home. For some dogs, being
boarded can be very stressful and can affect their
socialization. If you are looking at a dog that is being
boarded, find out how long he/she has been kenneled and how
much exercise and socialization (both with people and other
dogs) that he/she is getting. While individual dog and kennel
situations may vary, in general, dogs should not be boarded for
more than a few weeks at the most.
c. Has the dog had any training? If so, what methods were
used? All training is NOT
created equal, especially when it comes to a dog that is going
to be around children. Many trainers say that they use
"positive reinforcement methods" but sometimes that
means nothing more than patting the dog on the head after
choking him/her with a choke chain. If a trainer was used with
the dog, make every attempt to go and watch that trainer in
action, during a class or working with an individual dog. Most
trainers will welcome the chance to let you observe their
classes and you will learn much about the methods used with the
dog you are looking at. The Shiloh Project believes that all
dogs should be trained using positive reinforcement methods
only and that other methods (choke chains, prong collars,
electronic stimulis, physical force, etc.) can not only be bad
for the dog, but dangerous for a dog going to a household with
children, where children can be seen as competitors.
6. Finally… If and when you do decide to adopt a
dog as part of your family, remember to teach your children to
never disturb a dog while he/she is sleeping, eating, or
chewing on a toy! The dog
should also have a place that he/she can retreat to that is off
limits to children and when the dog is in that space, he/she
should not be disturbed. With a little planning, patience, and
commitment, your family can find a wonderful lifelong canine
companion!
For more information contact:
The Shiloh Project 12210 Fairfax Towne
Center #902
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