Do You Know These Tips?

Charlie Bear here.

In the Best Friends magazine there was a sidebar on:

Tips for Adopting Your Own Best Family Dog

I thought they were pretty cool, so I’m going to put them in here for you to read.

1. Take your time, meet several dogs and keep an open mind. Great dogs come in all shapes, sizes and ages, and from all walks of life. (Like me! I was a rescue…found in Los Angeles roaming the streets…surely a “walk of life” dog, huh?)

2 While there’s nothing wrong with making a quick “go with your gut” decision, sometimes it’s a good idea to meet several dogs, then go home and think about it before choosing one. (I would agree, but I’m thankful my Dad Peep feel in love with me the first time we met and kept me in spite of my issues — of which I had many!)

3. A shelter environment is overwhelming to most dogs, and they’re likely to be distracted when you meet them. Watch them interact with a staff person they know to see what they’re like when they have a relationship with someone. (Good advice. I can’t imagine being among all those other dogs, vying for attention. That could bring out not such good behavior in some doggies who just want love.)

4. Expect an adjustment period when your new dog comes home, and get help from a trainer if needed. For more information, read “Welcome Home: Preventing Dog Problems from Day One” at www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/petcare. (I had a trainer work with me when I was trying to get adopted. It helped immensely to give me a leg up on adjusting to life in a new home and to get over my food guarding, not wanting to be touched, and my spinning in a whirling dervishness. Is that even a word?)

For more tips on choosing a great dog, visit the Best Friends Pet Care Library: www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/petcare.

There you have it. Tips for the upcoming season if you are planning to rescue or adopt a dog. They need us. They need you. Thank you for considering a dog in need.

Wiggles and Woofs,
Charlie Bear

www.bjtayloronline.com