Question about dog adoption?

Question

I know many people recommend adoption, which is great to give a home to a homeless dog.

However why would I want to bring a dog to my family and between my kids and I do not have any background or genetic information on them or their temperature?

Temperament

I meant, sorry !

Answer 1

A lot of shelters give them a temperament test. Sometimes they do know the history of the dog as well.

It could be that the owners needed to give up the dog because of moving, or they passed away or because of allergies. Just because a dog is in a shelter doesn't necessarily mean it has problems.

Ask the shelter everything you have concerns about. They will be happy to answer any questions you have.

Answer 2

Most Adoption Agencies have foster families. These families house the dog/cat until they find it a forever home. Meanwhile the foster family is caring for the animal and feeding/grooming/vet care/house training/assessing personalities/interacting with the animal on a daily basis with other family members. These foster families live with these foster animals 24/7 and sometimes for months before the animal is placed. Most breeders let their dogs go before they reach 8 weeks old.
I feel that a foster family has a better understanding of what type of personality these animals have over any breeder selling a puppy. Adoption Agencies usually guarantee their pets, if the pet doesn't work out return it to them. Breeders usually don't take their dogs back, nor do they offer a refund or exchange. Adoption Agencies are usually 501(c) (3) and that 501 status is no easy task. A 501 status is more difficult and more strict than any license required. I don't believe licensing is required to be a breeder.
If the dog or cat is considered dangerous no Adoption Agency will put that animal back into circulation. There are too many good animals that need homes to mess around with one that will hurt somebody.
No Adoption Agency needs the legal issues adopting out a potentially dangerous dog/cat.
If you go to Petfinders.com Petfinders.org or any of them you will see to the right of the screen whether or not the animal available for adoption is good with children.
Remember not the Breeder or the Adoption Agency are perfect in their assesments some animals can change with unfamiliar environments. Please understand that both the Breeder and the Adoption Agency want repeat customers.

Answer 3

I commend you for thinking of these things. Alot of people don't until it is too late and the dog is in their home. Then the poor animal gets dumped back in the shelter because things didn't "work out". Most well-run shelters do behavior evaluations and require the entire family, including other dogs, to interact with the dog before they let it go home with you. Any dog that shows any kind of dangerous aggression is not adopted out. We have a no-kill shelter in our area that keeps aggressive(not dangerous) dogs there for their entire lives instead of putting them down, but they will not adopt them out to anyone.
Another option you could try that would put your mind at ease, is a rescue group that keeps all their dogs in foster care. Although shelters do the best they can, a dog's personality is often hidden in the shelter environment out of fear, or survival instinct. When a dog is in a home, they are much more natural in their behaviors. A foster parent will know pretty much everything about a dog, such as if it will get along with cats, does it like small children, etc.
You can find these rescue groups on the Internet by Googling rescues by a specific breed. They have very similar adoption requirements, and will always take the dog back if something is not right.
Good luck in your search!

Answer 4

Adopting a dog really is a wonderful thing to do. You need to bring as much of your family with you as you can, and interact with the dog. Ask the people working at the shelter to let you take the dog for a walk so you can get an idea of their temperment when the volunteers are not around. Remember, the volunteers at the shelter are the people who have been feeding and taking care of this dog, so the way that they do interact with these people, is likely to be how it will act around you after it has gotten to know you.

Also, if you have another dog, sometimes its a great idea to go and bring that dog with you to make sure that they get along.

Adopting a dog is a wonderful gift you are giving to that animal, but make sure you get as much of a history as you can before you take them home. Our dog turned up pregnant when we adopted her from a shelter, and they didn't let us know.


Good luck, and I hope you find a wonderful new addition for your family!

Answer 5

Most shelters do behavior tests on all animals they get. With behavior testing, they see how the dog will be with young children and if they feel that the dog wouldn't be good with them, they don't adopt them out to families with children. Good shelter workers get to know the dogs and can match you up with the right dog for your family. It's not like they just get dogs in, get them looking healthy, then give them out to anyone. There's a lot that they do to make sure the dogs they adopt out have good temperaments. Dogs with aggression, such as food aggression, are usually put down if it's severe because they can not be put into a family situation and be trusted not to hurt anyone. When you're adopting from a shelter, I'm sure they can match you up with a dog that will be good with your kids. There are many dogs that are in shelters that adore young children so don't be turned away just because you don't know their background/genetic information.

Answer 6

Actually, many of the dogs have a lot of history provided by previous owners and the shelter staff often get to know them well and can tell you if they have successfully lived in households with kids. Also, with a shelter dog, you have the option to return them if they don't work out for your family. Only the very best breeders will give you that kind of guarantee.

I don't get the part about temperature???? You mean
temperament?

I've adopted three wonderful shelter dogs and one great shelter cat. Don't discount them.

Answer 7

Dogs at shelters and rescues are temperment tested by the staff because they want to adopt it out to a home for the rest of the dog's life, not have you want to return it due to a problem.

A breeder is hopefully responsible and breeding for genetics but that is no guarantee the dog will turn out to be a sweety.

I have two dogs from rescue and one stray and they are wonderful loving dogs. It matters more what you do with the dog and how you train it and treat it than anything else.

Answer 8

Adopting a animal is a great idea- I know our local human society is wonderful with introducing the pet into your home- Also there is meeting time for children too. If yours doesnt have this request it, Also before you concider a certain dog please ask to take him for a walk in a public place away from the kennels. where it isnt familar . because you can find out alot about the dog then- how it will act with just you. I wish u the best and a dog from the shelter is a great idea.

Answer 9

I was a volunteer at a shelter. Staff and volunteers took the dogs home for long weekends and holidays, to socialize them. We kept a file on the dogs.

We had professionals that assessed the temperament of the dogs before they could be adopted.

Most dogs are put up for adoption because
the human moves to a "no dogs allowed" residence.


We never had a problem.

Answer 10

Considering most dogs at the shelters are owner surrenders, you do have background information. A good animal shelter will get all that information from the previous owners before they give up their pet.

Breeders cannot always guarantee the temperament of their pups either. They go by what the parent's dispositions are like.

Why would you need their temperature anyways?