101 Things to Know Before Getting a Dog. Susan Ewing M.

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      Dogs end up in rescue for many reasons. One reason may be that the former owners didn’t research the breed. They may have fallen in love with a cute puppy (and what puppy isn’t cute?) and found out as the puppy grew up that the breed was too big or too hairy or too noisy. Sometimes, older people are just not able to care for a dog anymore, and that dog may end up in rescue. Some people just give up on a dog when he reaches adolescence or when he chews up one too many pairs of shoes (which could have been avoided by putting shoes out of the dog’s reach).

      There are many rescue groups who focus solely on one breed or type of dog (e.g., giant breeds, senior dogs) as well as rescues who take in purebreds and mixed breeds, adults and puppies, and large and small alike. A rescue group may cover a large area, such as an entire state or multiple states, and there are also smaller, more local, groups. In my area, there’s a rescue group that takes in only hounds, mainly Beagles and Beagle crosses. Another small rescue takes in all breeds.

      If you’re looking for a purebred, and you don’t know of any local rescues, visit the AKC’s website to find information for that breed’s parent club; almost all AKC parent clubs have a rescue component or can refer you to a breed-specific rescue group. Some parent clubs list all of the rescue organizations connected with their breed; with others, you can contact the national rescue volunteer to find groups in your area. Find the one closest to your home and start there.

      There may be some conditions and will likely be a contract involved with adopting from a rescue group. Most rescue groups start out by having you fill out an application so that the rescue understands what type of dog you’re looking for and learns about what type of home you can provide for a dog. Once you’re approved for adoption, you’ll get into the specifics of what dogs are available for adoption and which one(s) might fit well into your family. If the rescue has no good matches for you at that time, they will contact you when a suitable dog enters their rescue.

      The rescue may ask your preference as to sex, color, and age. If you have a preference. answer honestly. It may seem shallow to say that you want a red Corgi and not a tri-color, but for a successful adoption, both you and the dog have to be happy.

      On one rescue application I saw, potential adopters were asked how they would handle a specific behavior problem. If questions like this come up, don’t be afraid to say that you don’t know or that you’d find a professional trainer to help. Professional trainers are professional for a reason. They’ve seen, and dealt with, many problems, some of which may be beyond the knowledge of the average pet owner.

      A basic question that is on all rescue questionnaires (and shelter applications, too) is whether you rent or own your home. If you rent, you may be asked to provide a letter from your landlord stating that you are allowed to have a dog and that no restrictions would prevent you from having the particular type of dog in which you are interested.

      With many rescue groups, the dogs awaiting adoption spend time in foster homes, allowing the rescue volunteers to evaluate them in a home environment. You’ll know before you adopt if the dog likes other animals, is good with children, or is a couch potato. Rescue groups want their charges to go to forever homes, and they work hard to make the best matches possible.

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      Docking and Cropping

      Adult Doberman Pinscher with cropped ears.

      Many dog breeds traditionally have their tails docked and/or their ears cropped, with reasons rooted in history. Centuries ago, people thought that docked tails prevented rabies. In the 1700s, in Great Britain, there was a tax on working dogs with tails, so many breeds were docked to avoid the tax. Further, many working, herding, and sporting breeds had their tails docked to prevent tail injuries in the field. Terriers frequently had their tails docked so that the remaining length would provide an easy handhold if the dog needed to be pulled from a burrow.

      Tails may be docked at various lengths. In the United States, Pembroke Welsh Corgis’ tails are cut so that very little tail is in evidence, Boxers’ tails are docked to a short stubs, and Poodles’ tails are docked to ½ to 2⁄3 of the original length. Breeders generally dock tails when puppies are just a few days old.

      These days, there’s no tax related to a dog’s tail length, and many people feel that a natural tail helps a dog with balance when turning sharply or when swimming. Studies have shown that dogs with shorter tails are at a disadvantage when interacting with other dogs because it changes their body language.

      Ear cropping is done to give erect ears to dogs with drop ears and was frequently done on fighting dogs so that there was less for their adversary to grab. Upright ears also tend to give the dog a more alert and, at times, more intimidating look. A Doberman with drop ears looks more like a lovable hound than an alert guard dog. Boxers and Great Danes are further examples of dogs whose ears are traditionally cropped in the United States. Ears are cropped between seven and twelve weeks of age.

      Many people today question whether docking or cropping is necessary. Some countries have banned the practices, and even some people dedicated to conformation showing leave tails long and ears natural in case they want to show in another country or sell puppies abroad.

      If you adopt through a rescue group or are searching shelters for your dog, you probably won’t have a choice when it comes to whether a dog of a particular breed has a docked tail or cropped ears. If you have your heart set on a traditionally docked or cropped breed but want a puppy with a natural tail and ears, you’ll need to find a good breeder who is willing to work with you, and you’ll need to make those arrangements before the expected litter is born. Whatever your opinion on docking or cropping, it’s another thing to think about when you’re choosing a dog.

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      Health Benefits for Dog Owners

      As you’re considering adding a dog to your family, do you realize all of the positive aspects of dog ownership? Your dog will never talk back, never crash the car, never borrow anything without asking, never want the latest in clothing or shoes, and never need money for college—and, with a dog, you will never eat alone. Those benefits alone should make it understandable why people have dogs, but there are also measurable health benefits to having a dog.

      Study researcher Allen McConnell of Miami University in Ohio was quoted in a July 11, 2011, article by Jennifer Welsh on LiveScience.com: “Specifically, pet owners had greater self-esteem, were more physically fit, tended to be less lonely, were more conscientious, were more extroverted, tended to be less fearful, and tended to be less preoccupied than nonowners.”

      A March 18, 2015, article by Katie Golde on Greatist.com titled The 11 Science-Backed Reasons You Need to Get a Puppy (Right Now) notes several benefits. According to researchers at the American Heart Association, having a dog can reduce your risk of getting cardiovascular disease. Part of this is probably because dog owners may get more exercise, and it’s also been proven that petting a dog lowers a person’s blood pressure.

      Because dogs are nonjudgmental and offer unconditional love, they make great therapists, whether by just listening to you vent about your bad day at work or in a formal capacity as therapy dogs, visiting hospitals, nursing СКАЧАТЬ