Adopting Rescue Dogs

The first place you could look is at your local SPCA or animal shelter. They’ll always have adoptable dogs and your adoption fee will likely include neutering/spaying and immunizations. You might want to check out my article, How You Can Help Your Local SPCA.

Several years ago, I adopted a rescue dog named Taz (that’s her in the picture that appeared on the shelter’s website).  I had a miniature Dachshund named Maggie in the past, and I hoped I could find another doxy.  I searched on PetFinder.com and there she was!  PetFinder.com is a great way to find adoptable shelter dogs near you.

I have a full article (includes video) called, How to Choose a Dog Breed  that discusses several things to consider when deciding what kind of dog to adopt.

• The dog’s size
• The dog’s coat type
• Which type of dog fits into your lifestyle
• Considering where you live
• How will the dog behave
• Costs of medical care, supplies and food
• Do you have time for a dog?
• Dog Training

You might find that your local SPCA or shelter has several Pit Bull-type dogs.  I encourage you to read my article, How to Help Pit Bulls for lot of information about these dogs and how you can provide the best care for them.

How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Dog?

Dog rescue shelters can charge adoption fees ranging from no fee up to a few hundred dollars.  Each shelter has their own adoption procedure and fees, which depend on several factors such as the type of pet and the type of shelter it is.

The fees are usually far lower than the cost of purchasing a dog from a pet store or breeder.  The adoption fee will likely cover the medical care the dog has already been given such as spaying/neutering, an examination by a veterinarian, vaccinations and possibly even microchipping, all of which would likely cost way more if you were to do it on your own.

The adoption fee you pay will go right back into saving more dogs and finding them a home.  For more information about the cost of adopting a rescue dog, read this article by PetFinder.com.

Getting Ready for Your New Dog

Get Help with Dog Training for Rescue Dogs

One of the most common reasons why dogs get returned to the shelter is because the family wasn’t able to successfully train the dog to behave in their home.  You can prevent this by learning how to properly train the dog.  I suggest the dog training website, TheOnlineDogTrainer.com, created by Professional Dog Trainer and Behavioral Specialist, Doggy Dan.

The site includes more than 300 step-by-step videos about every aspect of dog training.  Doggy Dan offers a three-day trial of the website for $1.

The Dog Calming Code

Doggy Dan also has a training program called, The Dog Calming Code, that is particularly effective for rescue and shelter dogs.  The training consists of 5 exercises to incorporate into your dog’s daily routine. It’s easy to follow, inexpensive and very effective.  You can read more about it on my website here, or click below to go directly to the program.

Free Rescue Dog Training Tutorials

Here are two free tutorials from Doggy Dan that will definitely help: