Adopting a dog could be a stressful experience, even if you have kitted out the home ready for its arrival. There are many factors to consider and so many questions to ask.
From querying the dog’s background to its behavior, not to mention the place you are adopting it from. With so much to find out, it helps to ask the right questions when adopting a dog (Find out Some Red Flags When Adopting A Dog).
In this guide, we will look at the dog’s origin, training, energy, diet, and any medical issues it could have with the questions you should ask.
Origin Stories
The dog’s history up to the point of adoption can be crucial to how it will behave once it enters a home. A typical opening question is simply, ‘How did the dog find its way here?’.
Finding out about where the dog came from can give you an insight into some of the challenges that the dog has faced, and some that you might face too.
For instance, strays typically do not go through obedience training yet a dog with a deceased owner may be better suited.
Asking ‘Has the dog had any previous homes?’ is already an ideal question as a dog with a past of being rehomed may have behavioral problems.
An excessively energetic dog may have proved too much for an elderly owner yet for a young family this could be ideal.
The dog’s health may be an issue so ask ‘Can I find out more about the health status of the dog?’ so you can see what medical problems the dog has experienced so far.
If you can accommodate these with some specific food and medications then great.
Training Days
You may want to adopt a dog that requires little input once you get it home. Asking questions like ‘Is the dog toilet trained?’ and ‘Have the social skills of the dog been assessed?’ should be helpful.
You may have the time or the effort to toilet train the dog and knowing that the process is already taken of should be a relief.
During your daily walks, you should be comfortable that the dog can behave well with other dogs, especially if your neighbors all have dogs.
You should also find out, ‘Has the dog had any recall training?’ as a high-energy breed may be tough to look after. If you cannot keep hold of the leash, the dog may also be too much of a handful.
Having a dog that you know will pay attention to your commands can be a huge relief. Especially if you are keen for your kids to learn how to look after the dog too.
Dietary Considerations
Once you have adopted a dog, you should know what its diet currently is made up of.
‘What food does the dog eat?’ should tell the range of dietary considerations you may have to make. If the dog has had digestive problems in the past then you have a better idea of the food you can look to avoid.
Should the dog look to be enjoying whatever the rescue center, shelter, or adoption home is currently serving up then you may want to simply stick to that.
These dietary considerations may also give you an indication of whether you can afford a dog in the first place.
Food is one of those ongoing expenses that has to be taken into account along with treats, chews, collars, training costs, and even medical bills.
You may want to ask yourself, ‘Can we afford a dog?’ and calculating how much the food is going to cost is part of that reasoning.
Energy Concerns
If you are quite confident that you can afford the dog financially, you may want to find out ‘How much exercise does the dog require?’
It may be more than a case of just two walks a day as the dog may enjoy running around and you should be prepared for that.
Find out ‘What is their usual energy level?’ and ‘What activities does it like?’ to make sure you are ready and prepared for when the dog enters the home.
Medical Issues
One of the most basic questions you should ask is ‘Has the dog been spayed/neutered yet?’ as it helps if this has already been done.
There is also the possibility of finding out ‘Has a veterinary performed a general wellness exam on the dog?’ to find out if there were any medical issues identified.
There may be items in your home or garden that could prove problematic so ask ‘Does the dog have allergies and if so, what?’
Final Thoughts
Despite all the questions you could ask when adopting a dog, it is worth remembering that their behavior could change in your home environment.
Make sure that you have everything set up and that your home is best designed for the dog based on the answers you have been given.
Any dog you are adopting will need to adapt yet with some time it may turn out to be the best thing that could happen to your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Questions Should I Ask About Potty Training?
Simply finding out how the dog was potty trained and how well it went is a good thing to inquire about.
Dogs that are already potty trained are typically better behaved than those that haven’t and you should not make the assumption that simply because the dog is an adult that it has been potty trained.
There may be signals that the dog displays when it wants to be let outside and you may want to know how often he does go outside during the day.
Which Diseases Should I Look Out For When Adopting A Dog?
There are various vaccines that the dog should be current on which include Rabies, Distemper, Parvo, and Bordatella. Wherever you adopt the dog from should be able to provide vet records.
The dog may have also had a Snap 4DX blood test which could prove useful for screening six vector-borne diseases.
These include Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia ewingi, Ehrlichia canis, Lyme, and Heartworm.
For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a veterinarian. I loved every dog, horse, bird, and squirrel. But from an early age, I noticed that bully dogs like Pitbulls and Staffordshire Terriers were given a different treatment than their friends.
Everyone said they were prone to aggression, but I didn’t believe it. They seemed just as friendly as my family Labrador. Turns out I was right. These dogs are loyal and were once considered the perfect nanny dogs.
My love for animals wasn’t just a childhood fantasy. In 2002 I graduated from my veterinary school in New Zealand with a BVSc. I wanted to travel the world and help rejected animals as I went, but to do that I needed to pass the American Exams. It didn’t take long for me to earn a DVM, and soon I was heading to Florida.
We want to show everyone why bully dogs can be amazing pets. If you like any of our work, share it among your friends and help reduce decades of misinformation.
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