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Dog Search

Rescue Dogs: Tips on How to Get One

Rescue Dogs: Tips on How to Get One. Picture of a white fluffy dog with a Adopt Me sign.

Surprisingly adopting a rescue dog from either a local shelter or rescue group is not that easy. As more people are choosing to adopt rescue dogs over buying from breeders, the demand for rescue dogs has gone up. This has allowed shelter and rescue groups to become more selective when finding adopters for the dogs in their care. This is especially true for the more popular dog breeds. Having gone through this experience ourselves, we will provide you with the tips and tricks that helped us get the rescue dog we were looking for.

Rescue Dogs: Tips on How to Get One. Picture of a white fluffy dog with a Adopt Me sign.

Rescue Dogs: What you Need to Do to Find Your Perfect Rescue Dog

Rescue Dogs in the Past

Years ago when we adopted our first dog, Charlie, we simply went to our local shelter and asked to see the available dogs.  We were asked a few questions about the type of dog we were looking for, where we lived and if we had a big yard. Next, they showed us a beautiful 5 year old purebred Golden Retriever. Since we really didn’t know much about selecting a dog from a shelter we asked a few basic questions and decided to adopt him. After filling out the required paperwork which included personal references, we paid a small fee and left. A couple of hours later, after they checked our references, they gave us a call to come get Charlie. The process was very quick and very easy.

This was not our experience when we were recently looking for our newest rescue. It took us over four months and a lot of rejections before we were able to find a dog we could adopt.

Rescue Dogs Now

Purebred dogs don’t often find themselves at local shelters anymore. Typically, breed specific rescue groups will “rescue” these dogs from a shelter to prevent the dog from being put down. Since rescue groups tend to use foster homes to house the dogs they are able to rescue more dogs then a county run shelter could. Also since the overall cost to foster a dog is lower than keeping a dog in a shelter they can hold on to the dogs for a longer period of time.

Thanks to a lower cost to take care of the dogs and the higher demand rescues can be very selective about prospective adopters. It also means they have some leeway in how much they charge for the adoption.

Why Are Rescue Groups So Selective?

  • Dog Safety – There was a time when people would adopt animals from shelters only to resell them to research companies for experiments. Also there are cases where adopted dogs were used as bait in dog fights. You may never think to harm an animal but there are some that would. For those reasons, rescue groups go to great lengths to ensure the dogs go to a good home.
  • They don’t want the dog returned. You will find that almost every dog rescue group and shelter requires that if you cannot keep the dog for any reason, you must return it to them. This is to ensure the animal does not end up in harm’s way. Although the dog might be returned for no fault of their own, most people are leery of dogs that have been returned making it harder to find a new home. For this reason the rescue group wants to make sure they find the right person for the dog.

How to Increase Your Chance of Being Selected By a Rescue Group

How to Increase Your Chance of Being Selected for a Rescue Dog. Gray puppy sitting

Be Flexible

The more flexible you are with the type of dog you are looking for, the easier it will be to find a dog. Here are some ways to compromise on the dog you want:

  • Consider getting an older dog instead of a puppy. Older dogs sometimes have the benefit of being previously trained.
  • Be open to different genders or colors
  • Purebreds are hard to come by – Consider getting a mixed breed dog that is part your desired breed
Rescue Dogs: Tips on How to Get One. Picture of a white fluffy dog

At this point you might be asking what is the right dog for me? Only you can answer this question. But we can help. We have laid out a series of questions to help you decide which type of dog best fits your lifestyle in What is the Right Dog for Me?

Research Local Shelters/Rescues

Adoption Process

Do your research on the dog shelters/rescues in your area to find out how the adoption process works. You should find out if:

  • They take multiple applications on a dog and then decide which applicant best meets the dog’s needs?
  • There is a strict first come first serve policy?
  • Personal references are required?
  • Veterinarian references are required?
  • You need to bring your dog to meet the rescue dog?
  • Your kids need to meet the dog?

Tip: You should do these last two points even if the dog rescue group does not require them.

Rescue Dogs: Tips on How to Get One. Picture of a brown fluffy dog sitting.

Dog Adoption – Where is the best place to find your perfect match? These days there are so many places where you can go to find a rescue dog. With so many options it is sometimes hard to decide. We will look at the pros and cons of each and touch on where you should not go for your dog adoption in Dog Adoption – Finding Your Perfect Pup

Know their Requirements

Find out what the dog rescue/shelter requirements are. You should find out if:

  • There are age restrictions for children?
  • Living in a house a requirement?
  • They require a fenced in yard?
  • You need to have an older dog in the home to teach the new dog manners?
  • They require you to be an experienced dog owner?
  • Home checks are required?
  • You need to reside within a certain distance from them?
  • They require follow-up home visits?
  • The dogs neeare spayed or neutered before leaving the rescue?
  • They require that the dog have a microchip.

Narrowing Down the Search for Rescue Dogs

Now that you have done your research on local rescue groups you should narrow the number of rescues you want to follow. Here are tips on how to decide which rescue groups best fit what you are looking for:

  1. Look at the rescue group’s past adoptions to see what types of dogs they tend to offer. Many times rescues chose to specialize in certain types; like Golden Retriever Rescue, Labradoodle rescue or Shaggy Dog Rescue.
  2. Make sure you fit their requirements. When I first started looking at rescues I searched all rescues within a 4 hour driving radius. I was turned down several times because I lived too far away to do a house check.
  3. Ask around for references. Chances are if they are a local group someone you know may have had a previous experience with them.
  4. Check on line to see if there are any complaints about the group. Local Facebook groups can be helpful. Be very caution if you see people complaining about the rescue group online

Once you have found a hand full of rescues/shelters that fit what you are looking for and you fit their requirements, concentrate looking at just those shelters.

Finding Rescue Dogs to Adopt

Now that you have your preferred groups in order, it’s time to get down to finding an adoptable dog. To increase your chances of finding a dog and being selected you should do the following:

  • Fill out an application at the shelter or rescue that you are interested in. Most places will keep the application on file for 6 months.  This will allow them to check your references ahead of time and speed up your approval process. With rescue dogs in high demand you have to be quick.
  • Check the pet rescue sites at night and/or first thing in the morning to see what was added. For groups that use the first come first served method of selection being the early bird will get you the worm, or in this case dog.
  • Set up email alerts on pet rescue websites. Petfinder.com allows you to fine tune your search down to the type of dog and your preferred location.
  • Follow your preferred rescue/shelters on Facebook. Rescues tend to send out notifications on new available dogs before they show up on the big rescue sites.
  • Join Facebook groups that specialize in re-homing the type of dog you are looking for. Many dogs never even make it to the big rescue sites like Petfinder.com.
White and brown dog in park

Be Patient

It is very important that you be patient. You will find the right dog for you but it may take some time.

The process might seem a bit overwhelming to you at first, but with a little work and a lot of patience you will soon find your furry BFF.

Have any tips to share you would like to share on how to adopt a rescue dog?  Please let us know in the comments.

Other related posts you may like:

  • How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Dog?
  • Are You Ready for a Dog ?
  • What is the Right Dog for Me?
  • Dog Adoption – Finding Your Perfect Pup
  • Rescue Dogs: Tips on How to Get One

Understanding Breeds and Traits

Understanding Breed Traits
PetFinder.com

When looking for a dog it’s important to understand breed traits. Whether you choose a purebred puppy from a breeder or a mixed breed from a shelter, all dogs will have certain behaviors based on their breeding.

This means that even though you may want a cute and fuzzy sheepdog as your fellow couch potato, that sheepdog needs some time to run every day. If dogs are not able to be exercised in a way that matches their traits, most dogs will become bored and possible destructive.

Dogs are commonly divided into categories based on job they were breed for.   Understanding the dog’s original purpose and the personality traits that go along with that purpose will help you find a dog that gels with your lifestyle. 

Bull dogs

happy-oodles-which-dog-is-right-for-you-dog-categories-bull-fl

Bulls were originally bred to protect livestock and property, over time some were bred to fight other dogs or attack bulls in a sport called bull baiting.

The bull dog category includes Bulldogs, Bull Terriers, Pit Terriers, Staffordshire Terriers and Stafford Bulls Terriers.

Purpose and Personality Traits

  • Strong minded dogs of fighting ancestry
  • Some are still used in illegal dog fights
  • Portrayed as aggressive in the news
  • Most will not back down if challenged

Guard dogs

happy-oodles-which-dog-is-right-for-you-dog-categories-guard-fl

Guard dogs were bred to guard property or livestock.

The guard dog category includes Akitas, Chow Chows, Doberman Pinschers, German Sheppards and Rottweilers.

Purpose and Personality Traits

  • Smart thinking breed
  • Strong willed
  • Barks often to deter strangers
  • Highly trainable in the right hands
  • Socialization essential
  • Needs a confident experienced owner
  • Protective drive that needs to be controlled

Gun dogs

happy-oodles-which-dog-is-right-for-you-dog-categories-gun-fl

Bred to work alongside hunters in the field. Gun dogs are trained to retrieve, flush out or find birds and other animals.

The gun dog category includes Beagles, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Curly-Coated Retrievers, English Springer Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, Irish Setters, Labrador Retrievers and Poodles.

Purpose and Personality Traits

  • Good-natured
  • Intelligent
  • Highly trainable
  • Strong desire to please and obey
  • Needs lot of exercise
  • Good with children
  • Needs companionship
  • Can be mouthy if not trained properly

Herders

happy-oodles-which-dog-is-right-for-you-dog-categories-herders-fl

Bred to move livestock, may also guard livestock.

The herder category includes Australian Cattles, Australian shepherds, Bearded Collies, Border Collies, Old English Sheepdogs, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Rough Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs.

Purpose and Personality Traits

  • Highly Intelligent
  • Excellent companions
  • Easily trainable
  • Needs lots of mental and physical exercise
  • Strong chasing drive
  • Will sometimes herd children
  • Needs early socialization

Scenthounds

Understanding Breed Traits

Bred to follow a smell or scent over a long distance. Most have long, drooping ears and loud booming barks that allow the hunter to follow the dogs.

The scenthound category includes Basset Hounds, Beagles, Bloodhounds, Coonhounds and Dachshunds.

Purpose and Personality Traits

  • Friendly
  • Stubborn
  • Strong hunting drive
  • Not obedient
  • Need lots of exercise
  • Strong hound smell

Sighthounds

happy-oodles-which-dog-is-right-for-you-dog-categories-sight-fl

Bred to hunt by sight and speed instead of by scent.

The sighthound category includes Basenjis, Greyhounds, Irish Wolfhounds and Whippets.

Purpose and Personality Traits

  • Gentle
  • Affectionate
  • Strong hunting and chasing drive
  • Needs lots of exercise
  • Not usually obedient
  • May run free if off leash

Sled

Understanding Breed Traits

Bred to pull sleds across arctic lands.

The sled dog category category includes Alaskan Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Chinooks, Samoyeds and Siberian Huskies.

Purpose and Personality Traits

  • Active
  • Born to run
  • Needs lots of exercise
  • Destructive if bored
  • Does not do well in hot areas

Toy

happy-oodles-which-dog-is-right-for-you-dog-categories-toy-fl

Breed to be either a lap dog or small hunting dog for small rodents.

The toy dog category includes Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chihuahuas, Havaneses, Malteses, Pomeranians, Pugs, Shih Tzus, Toy Poodles and Yorkshire Terriers.

Purpose and Personality Traits

  • Need lots of love and cuddles
  • Needs training
  • Often have big dog personalities
  • Needs exercise but for some this can be accomplished indoors
  • Hard to housetrain
  • Can be trained to use pads

Terriers

Understanding Breed Traits

Bred to hunt and kill vermin above and below ground. Some larger terriers were also used to hunt badgers.

This category includes Airedale Terriers, Border Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Irish Terriers, Kerry Blue Terriers, Lakeland Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Norwich Terriers, Rat Terriers, Russell Terriers, Scottish Terriers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Welsh Terriers, West Highland White Terriers and Wire Fox Terriers.

Purpose and Personality Traits

  • Feisty, willful
  • Fun dogs with lots of character
  • Intelligent, but stubborn
  • Comes in many sizes from fairly small to very large
  • Will chase small animals
  • Often not tolerance for other dogs
  • Very high energy levels
  • Can be destructive if allowed to become bored
  • Can bark out of boredom
  • Independent
  • Diggers
  • Escape artists
  • Needs a lot of companionship

So as you can see all dogs were bred with a purpose in mind. Make sure you pick a bred that matches your lifestyle.

For more Information on selecting a dog read What is the Right Dog for Me?

Doodles: How it all began

Have you ever wondered how the doodles craze began? As it turns out the origin of Labradoodles and the current trend to crossbred Poodles with other breeds is relatively new.

It all started in the early 1980’s, when Pat Blum who lived in Hawaii was searching for a guide dog.  Blum was blind and was looking for a seeing-eye guide dog that would not make her husband sick.  Pat’s husband suffered from severe dog allergies, but she wanted a dog to help her get around. So she wrote a letter to the Royal Guide Dog Association in Australia and asked if they could produce an allergy-free guide dog for her.

Wally Conron, a breeding expert who worked for the association, thought it would be an easy assignment.  He knew that Poodles were non–shedding, trainable dogs that many people with allergies could live with.  He sent 33 hair and saliva samples from different Poodles to Mrs. Blum to see if one of the dogs could be used.  Unfortunately, her husband was allergic to all of them.

Two years of searching

After two years of searching for the right dog, Conron crossbred a standard Poodle with a white Swedish Labrador Retriever. Conron’s aim was to combine the low-shedding coat of the Poodle with one of the associations best Labrador Retrievers.  Since both breeds where highly intelligent and trainable the hope was to provide a guide dog suitable for people with allergies to fur and dander.  In 1989 three puppies were born.  Hair and saliva samples of the three pups were sent to Blum.  One of the puppies was able to pass the sniff test with Blum’s husband.

Just the begining

However this was just the beginning.  The puppy named Sultan still needed to be placed in a foster home, socialized and trained.  But no one wanted to foster the crossbreeds.  They all wanted purebreds.  With time running out Conron decided to call his allergy friendly dogs Labradoodles and it worked.  The puppy was trained as a guide dog and found to be compatible with Blum and her husband.  Mrs. Blum enjoyed her companion for 10 years.

It is very important to note that although the first Labradoodle guide dog was a success, the next litter of Labradoodles bred at the Royal Guide Dog Association in Australia only produced 3 allergy free pups out of a litter of 10.

Royal Guide Dog Association

The Royal Guide Dog Association in Australia no longer breeds Labradoodles, but they are still bred by other guide and assistance dog organizations in Australia and other places. They have also become very popular family pets for people who are looking an allergy friendly dog.

Regrets

Doodles: How it all began

Conron has stated he regrets starting the trend to crossbreed Poodles with other breeds. He maintains that it caused “a lot of damage” together with “a lot of problems”. He is further quoted as claiming: “For every perfect one, you’re going to find a lot of crazy ones.”

As noted above, not all doodles will be allergy friendly.  In the end doodles or any designer dogs are simply mixed breeds that do not have consistent characteristics. While they may have some common traits, their appearance and behavioral characteristics remain, to some extent, unpredictable.

If you are looking for Labradoodle you may be able to find one at breed specific rescues, like a Labradoodle rescue or a Golden Retriever rescue that also helps doodles. Otherwise make sure you go to a reputable breeder to get your puppy.

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Sometimes, even though we have the best of intentions, we still make mistakes during the socialization process.   I sure know I have. Here are 10 common puppy socialization mistakes people make.

Join us as we provide you with a few simple steps to make crate training your new puppy a breeze.

Is the French Bulldog Right For You?

Is the French Bulldog Right For You?

With their large bat like ears, big head and smushed in face the one-of-a-kind French Bulldog is irresistibly cute. Add to that their even temperament and small size the French Bulldog is becoming one of the most popular small-dog breeds in the USA.   In fact for the last few years it has ranked in the top 10 right along the always popular Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers who have held the top five spots for over a decade

Why are they so popular?  

Is the French Bulldog Right For You?

With more and more people choosing to live in cities, Frenchies can make great roommates.

They are affectionate and playful but don’t require a lot of outdoor exercise.  A walk or two a day will keep them happy and healthy.

Since they are small they don’t require much space and are less expensive to maintain. They are also very alert dogs which make them great watchdogs, but they don’t bark much which will keep your neighbors happy.

Frenchies are easy to care for. Their short coats shed minimally. A weekly brushing and daily wiping of their facial folds will keep the Frenchie looking good.

Is the French Bulldog Right For You?

They are very adaptable too. French Bulldogs can live in a big city or out in the suburbs.  They can happily share their lives with a single person, a couple or a family.  Most tend to be smart, affectionate and very people oriented.  Frenchies typically get along with other animals, but like all dogs may choose to chase a squirrel or two.  

Why you should think twice about getting a French Bulldog?

  • Frenchies can have big personalities which can make them more difficult to train. They can be stubborn, but with patient, persistent training (with food used as a reward) they can be trained
  • Like all dogs French Bulldogs can get lonely if left alone for too long
  • Frenchies are prone to obesity which puts them at higher risk for health issues
  • Due to the flat-face, French Bulldogs often experience breathing problems and do poorly in hot or humid weather.
  • Frenchies cannot swim and should never be left unattended near pooled water, like a tub or swimming pool.
  • Snorting, snuffling, and flatulence are common with French Bull Dogs

A French Bull Dog might be a good fit, if you are looking for a companion that likes to hang out next to you, is easy to maintain and has an adorable snorting and pushed in face. However, if you are looking for a dog you can run with or be active with for extended periods of time, you should keep looking.

For learn more about French Bulldogs check out these resource sites.

  • French Bulldog Club of America –  https://frenchbulldogclub.org/about/
  • American Kennel Club – http://www.akc.org/

For more information on dog adoption read:

  • Are You Ready for a Dog ?
  • Adopting vs Buying: Which is Best?
  • What You Need for a New Puppy?
  • How to Pick a Puppy from a Litter

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Happyoodles

Happyoodles is a free resource that offers real life experiences and researched information on finding and caring for your perfect pup.

We publish dog stories, dog news, tips and product buying advice for dog parents.

Happyoodles is owned and operated by two dog lovers and one cute pup named Bella, a poodle mix we rescued from a shelter.

 

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