How To Make An Informed Decision When Choosing A Dog

In a previous post All Dogs Must Be Irish, I wrote about wanting a dog now that I have gone through the grieving process of my last pet Mickie. This post is part of a series about how to make an informed decision when choosing a dog that matches your energy and lifestyle. The way to do it is learning how to ask the right questions.

What To Know Before You Go To Find Your New Best Friend

Years ago, I took a professional course through my place of employment titled How To Ask The Right Question. Your answers might be different, but the questions remain the same. Below are the ones I am using to make an informed decision. Please consider discussing the same questions with your family members so everyone feels included in the selection process.

My thought: Know the answers to the questions before you go to the shelter or rescue organization about the kind of dog you are looking for. It is heartbreaking to see so many hopeful faces looking back at yours, and you feel sad for them and want to adopt at that moment. Since adoption is a lifelong decision, making it with information instead of emotion is hard but best for the dog and you in the long run.

Choose A Dog That Matches Your Energy And Lifestyle And Will Be One Of Your Best Friends

Since my “pack” is two adults, these are the questions we discussed to figure out what a solid match would be:

Why Do We Want A Dog?

• To share our daily lives with
• To improve health for the dog and us with daily walks, being outdoors, and sharing fun times
• Travel and camping trips
• It is always a great feeling to open your home to an abused, abandoned, or surrendered animal

What Do We Want?

• Female Adult not older than 4 years
• Small to Small Medium in size (around 30 pounds would be the max)
• Companion temperament/not a match with aggressive or high-energy dogs
• Short hair preferred but will consider dogs that need more grooming

What Do We Need?

• Easy-going friend who gets along with other dogs and people
• Housebroken
• Enjoys going for walks and does not pull on the leash
• Is okay with riding in the car
• No pre-existing medical conditions/Pet insurance policies generally do not cover pre-existing conditions

Deal-Breakers

• Aggressive Behavior
• Constant Barking
• Ongoing Destructive Behavior
• The information given about the dog was misleading, and the dog’s behavior once adopted could not be corrected with training

Personal Note

Many years ago, I volunteered at the Animal Humane Center in Albuquerque. The gentleman who had adopted a pit bull came to pick his dog up to take home. When I went into the kennel to leash the dog to bring to the front office, the dog attacked me, grabbed me by the shirt, and kept shaking it. I do not know what triggered that response. Fortunately, it only grabbed my shirt and not my skin, or it would have been a trip to the hospital or worse. Lucky for me, a male volunteer heard the problem and was able to unlock the dog’s grip. For full disclosure, I explained to the gentleman what happened with the dog and asked if he still wanted to adopt. He said he did.

That life experience still impacts me. My intention is not to add to the bad rap most pit bull and pit bull mixes get. I know many people love and adore them as cherished family members, and the blame should go to the unstable humans who are or were their owners.

Always with the best match in mind, not only for my family and any visitors to our home but also for the dog, we would not be open to adopting any dog with aggressive behavior issues. Feeling safe in our home is the highest priority.

Other Additional Questions

• Do I have a veterinarian already selected to help me care for my dog?
• Do I have the time for daily walks and the patience to train and work with my pet through house-breaking, chewing, clean-ups, and other behavior stages?
• How does the dog I am considering get along with children, men, women, other dogs, cats, strangers, riding in the car, behave when I am not home?
• Do any members of my household have allergies? If so, what breeds might be more hypoallergenic than others?
• Does any member of “my pack” have a medical condition that requires using a manual/power wheelchair or other medical devices? If so, how will the dog react to those circumstances? If I choose a small dog, will the person using the wheelchair have trouble seeing the dog, especially while backing up or turning around?
• Will my current pet(s) accept the new member of the pack?
• Does my current residence limit the number of dogs I can have?
• Does my financial situation support adding another dog?
• Do I have a plan in place for a trusted family member or friend who is willing to take care of my dog should any unexpected life event happen?

What Are The Initial Costs? (Specific To Location Of Residence)

• Adoption Fee/Reputable Breeder Fee
• Microchip
• Spay or Neuter Fee
• Veterinary Exam/Emergency Care
• Immunizations/If a dog goes camping, hiking, or lives in a wooded area or on a farm, Lyme Disease shots are strongly recommended-check with your vet
• Diagnostic tests like blood, fecal, radiology
• Medications needed for Heartworm and Flea & Tick Prevention
• Dental Cleanings
• Pet Insurance (optional but in the long term might be the more cost-effective option depending on your budget)-check with your vet to see which company they recommend or use comparison websites like Pet Insurance Review or Pawlicy Advisor
• Required License Fee
• Possibly Professional Training/Dog Obedience Classes/Search YouTube Channels
• Will your dog need ongoing Grooming Services
• Will your dog need ongoing Dog Walking or Dog Boarding Services

You will need to invest some of your time researching the costs for services and supplies specific to the community where you live.

Whether you purchase a puppy or dog from a breeder or private individual, or adopt through a shelter or rescue organization, please ask about the costs in advance so there are no surprises. Many people rehome their dogs because they can no longer afford them, mainly because of unexpected expenses, emergency events, landlord problems, and moving. It is best to know the costs upfront so you truly will be giving the dog of your choice a forever home.

What Supplies Will Our New Friend Need?

• Leash/Harnass/Depends on the size of your new pet
• Collar/Martingale Slip Cover Collar
• ID Tag with Contact Info
• Food/Water Bowls
• Dog Bed
• Dog Crate/Hard Plastic/Fabric Carrier
• Baby Gates
• Poop Bags/Scooper
• House Training Pads
• Enzymatic Odor Neutralizer
• First Aid Kit
• Pet Safe Paw Wipes
• Canine Toothbrush/Toothpaste
• Comb/Brush/Glove appropriate for texture and length of your dog’s hair
• Toenail Clippers
• Kong Toys filled with Treats
• Toys that Engage Their Minds/Do It Yourself Toys For Dogs can be made out of common household products (search YouTube Channels)
• Sometimes you can find bargains on dog crates, hard carriers, and baby gates at thrift stores, garage and yard sales-remember to thoroughly clean and disinfect all items before introducing them to your dog

What Food Should I Feed My New Friend?

Upon adoption, find out the exact name of the dog food currently used by the breeder, individual, shelter, or rescue organization. Then contact your vet to decide whether and how soon changes should be made.

Also, discuss what treats and chews are best for your dog. I put all chews away when I am not home to supervise my dog’s safety.

According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals):

The mission of the ASPCA is “our organization was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law.”

According to their article Pet Statistics, “approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats.

Each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats).

About 810,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners. Of those, 710,000 are dogs and 100,000 are cats.” (Statistics reported as of 05/17/2023 and subject to change).

In the same article, ASPCA also stated: “Pet problems are the most common reason that owners rehome their pet, accounting for 47% of rehomed dogs and 42% of rehomed cats. Pet problems were defined as problematic behaviors, aggressive behaviors, grew larger than expected, or health problems owner couldn’t handle.”

My intent and hope of this blog post are to encourage you to ask the right questions of yourself, your human pack, and any breeder, individuals, shelter, or rescue organization you are considering adopting a dog from. Adopting an animal in need can be the most joyful experience or stressful experience, depending on your patience and the information you seek before making a lifelong commitment.

Resources

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (ASPCA) https://www.aspca.org

YouTube Channels Dr. Katie Woodley The Natural Pet Doctor; McCann Dog Training; Simpawtico Dog Training; How To Train A Dream Dog

My next article in this series will be How To Work With A Shelter Or Rescue Organization To Adopt A Dog.

Did you find this information helpful? What has worked for you when choosing a dog? Please leave a comment below if you like.

To return to any of my previous posts, with the most recent at the top of the page and the earliest at the bottom, click on this link and scroll the blog page https://www.marilynkfuller.com/blog/

Tough Cookie Tip: Don’t make an impulsive decision when adopting a pet. Patience with this process and gathering as much information about the dog you want to adopt are the essential factors for a lifelong match.

Copyright © 2022-2025 Marilyn K Fuller. All Rights Reserved.

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