5 Tips to Choose the Right Rescue Dog for You

 When Sawyer finally came home with me in January 2011, it came after much thoughtful reflection. I made the decision to rescue because my schedule and lifestyle at the time was not suitable for a puppy. I knew I wanted an older dog- probably around 2 -3 years old. Since I consider myself a seasoned dog owner, I also didn't mind if the dog came with a few issues. Here are some questions to consider before jumping into a rescue:

1. What age is Right for You?

 

Evaluate your lifestyle. Do you have the proper amount of time to care for a tiny puppy? Keep in mind they can be like small children for the first 8 -12 months of their life. They often wake up during the night because they need to be taken out, and you need to be prepared to put in the proper amount of time training them. They cannot be left alone for long periods of time and need to be exercised frequently. Now, I'm not anti-puppy by any means. I love the puppy breath and the cute puppy tummies just as much as the next person. I am; however, pro-responsible puppy ownership. That means putting in the required amount of work up front, so you have a well-behaved, well-adjusted dog in the future. If you don't have the time, it would be irresponsible to adopt a puppy- no matter how cute.

Now, none of this is to say that older dogs don't require just as much effort. It is entirely possible that an older dog hasn't ever been housebroken (because maybe it lived outside it's whole life) or trained. In some cases, an older animal might have some sort of training. In my case, I knew I wanted a 2-3 year-old animal. One that was still young because I live an active lifestyle and wanted my dog to be able to partake in the activities with me, but not a puppy because I knew I didn't have the proper amount of time required. Or perhaps a senior is for you. I would totally adopt a senior dog if I had more space. Once you decide on an age that would be right for you, it's onto the size of the animal. 

 2. What size do you like? 

Larger animals take up more space in the home and the car, and they also put a bit more wear and tear on the house than a smaller dog. However, if you have a destructive, smaller animal, I've seen them do some pretty significant damage to a home. Do you have the proper yard, or place to walk your dog? Larger animals might require longer walks and a larger yard to play in. I was lucky because I had a dog park very close to where I was living, as well as many trails right around my house to walk. that being said, I knew I could handle a larger animal, so I went into my decision knowing I could take a 50+ pound animal without a problem.

Do you have smaller children who will be walking the dog? Or smaller children in the house? Large dogs can be a bit clumsy and can knock small children over on accident. If that's the case, a smaller dog might be for you. 
 
Once you evaluate your area and your space,you should have a good idea in mind about what size dog your family can accommodate.

3. Male or Female? 

Males tend to be a bit larger, and since I was prepared to take on a larger animal, I was leaning more toward a male. There are lots of theories out there about male dogs vs. female dogs. I've heard females can be more timid, while males can be a bit more frisky. Honestly, I've seen it go both ways. I've seen females that can be incredibly strong-willed and independent, and I've seen males be fairly docile. I think it all depends on the training and the breed. I got a male- therefore, inheriting a humper- a problem that has slowly gotten better over the years. Not all males are humpers, and I've seen some female offenders as well. My big thing- is that I did not want a dominant animal period. There are some alpha females out there, as well as some alpha males. The important thing here is to spend some time with the dog to see if its personality will fit with yours.


Here is another article on choosing males vs. females.
and one other one as well.

4. Decide on your negotiables:

The "perfect" dog isn't out there. There can be some that grow to be pretty close to perfect after spending lots of time with you. However, the odds you find the perfectly well-behaved dog right off the bat are slim to none. That being said, figure out which types of traits and behaviors are negotiable for you.

Here was my short list of characteristics that were negotiable: 

If the dog didn't know these behaviors, it did not really concern me because I knew the dog could be easily trained with the proper time and effort. 

• Didn't have to behave on leash (I knew I would be able to fix that with a bit of training)
• Didn't have to be housebroken (I knew that could be fixed with some training as well)
• Didn't necessarily have to know any commands; although, I liked if the dog at least knew how to sit (I knew I could spend some time training the animal later)

Non-negotiables: 

• Barking incessantly: If I took the dog for our one on one time, and the dog had a barking problem, I knew it probably was not for me. I spent some time with animals that would not stop barking- even after a correction. I knew my neighbors would be upset if I had an animal that barked constantly, and I wasn't adequately equipped to deal with a non-stop barker. For me, that was a deal breaker.
• Aggression (food or toy): Most humane societies have one on one pens (either indoor or outdoor) with toys and bowls of water in the room. I did not want to knowingly take an animal that demonstrated aggression, because I knew it would require specialized training that I did not feel equipped to handle. I would first play with toys in the room with the animal. I would calmly take the toy away from the animal when I decided we were done playing. If the animal growled or barked or demonstrated any sort of aggression during that time, I decided it probably wasn't for me. I would do the same with the food/water bowl. I would go near the bowl while the dog was close by- if it showed any signs of aggression, I knew it wasn't the one.

5. Breeds:  

Finally, the breed. Breed might not be as important to you as say, temperament of the animal. I had labs and golden retrievers growing up, so those were at the top of my list because I was familiar with the breed. I certainly was open to other options. Many breeds, are more active than others, such as herding breeds. Others are more social. But again, for me, it really came down to the ultimate temperament of the animal. I could tell right away whether there was a bond.  

The first time meeting Sawyer

He wasn't quite sure what to think

Then he decided he might kind of like me for his human

His mind was made up!

Finally, it's important to visit the dog in person. Go back more than once. Bring your kids, bring your other dogs if you have them. The worst thing would be to jump into a situation if you aren't quite ready and ultimately, have to return the dog because it just wasn't working out.

I rescued Sawyer from the Williamson County Humane Society (Now Texas Humane Heroes), and the rest is history.
 

Three Things I've Learned From Rescuing

When I rescued Sawyer in January of 2011, I had no idea how it would change my life. Stop right now- if you are considering rescuing, or even getting a puppy. It is a big deal. I think a lot of people get into it without fully grasping the responsibility involved with bringing a dog into your world. (stepping off my pedestal).  That being said, I thought long and hard before finally taking the plunge. I went to several rescue locations and met with several dogs. None of them felt right. None of them were "the one." I also waited until I was done with grad school and used to my full-time work schedule. It was also just me- no husband, and no kids to take care of. I felt it was the right time to adopt! That is when I found Sawyer and the rest is history! Because I did rescue, I'd like to share three things I've learned along the way. 

1.  Give Them a Chance

I will admit, I was a tad bit shell-shocked when I first brought Sawyer home. He was an 80-pound, humping (yep- that's right- a humper- more on that later) maniac. He was a lot of dog. He was smelly (they didn't bathe him before they neutered him) and he had a horrible case of kennel cough. Poor guy. On top of that, no one bothered to teach him any manners. Who could blame him? He didn't know how to walk on a leash and certainly didn't know how to sit, stay or come. It was not an immediate adjustment to my lifestyle. I was used to operating according to my schedule, and not having to worry about anyone else's. That sure changed. I needed to get up early to walk him, take time (a lot of time) to train him properly (on the leash, basic commands, house manners, etc..), get him socialized and get him healthy. I also didn't know his past history with other animals. He didn't seem like an aggressive dog, but these days, you never know.

Slowly, but surely, we both started to trust each other. We settled nicely into our new normal- our new schedule. Three and a half years later, I'm not sure where my uncertainty came from. I could never imagine him not walking properly on a leash. And I can certainly never imagine him being aggressive with another animal or human. What I'm trying to say, is sometimes you have to push through those initial hard times to uncover all those good times- that lie beneath. For those who have a new dog- just push through. It takes time to build that trust and confidence- just like any other relationship! There is light at the end of the tunnel. And as for the humping- sometimes you just have to accept- some things never change :)

2. They Can Get Away With Pretty Much Anything

Sawyer does tons of bad things. He is quite the feisty, master manipulator. He's got that sad-eyes thing down pat. We've played multiple "chase games" with my pairs of favorite running socks around my round (don't ever play the chase game around a round table) table. I can't leave a dish towel out because those are his favorite chew toys (I've had to pull some out of his butt because they get stuck coming back out. Not a proud life moment, folks). Trash cans and shoes are his fave. I take that back- funfetti birthday cakes are his fave. I spend a good majority of my time- chasing this manipulator  dog around the house. He has outsmarted both me and my roommate when it comes to cupcakes sitting out on the counter. I mean, clearly we left those out for him-right? But at the end of the day- who can resist that face?

Growing up, my family and I raised Guide Dogs for the Blind. These puppies require an extremely disciplined regimen- because they are working dogs. While it is encouraged to love on these dogs and form a bond with them, you can't treat them like you might a family pet. There is no allowing them on the couch, no extra treats, no human food.... you get the gist. They are working animals.

When I got Sawyer- clearly all my discipline went out the window. I am the one who needs to be trained. Today, I have an 80-pound lapdog, who thinks he is human.


3. They Are Velcro Dogs

So, I mentioned I have an 80-pound lapdog... Yep, that's my life. I can't shower, use the restroom, get ready for work, or even cook, without my little buddy following me around. I have my velcro dog attached to me about 24/7. He will just look at you with his big, brown eyes and not even care that he's invading your personal space! It's just something you have to get used to :)