How to Find a Dog Among Many at the Shelter

The single most common mistake that new dog owners make at the shelter is to become emotional. You might feel sorry for one dog who looks sad or take a liking to another who is showing you affection, but neither of those things indicate whether the two of you will be a good match. Remember, you are committing to taking care of this living thing for the duration of its life; this isn’t a decision to be making on a whim.

Before you even get to the shelter, research different breeds to find one that suits you best. If you live in a small apartment, you should only be looking for small breeds. On the other hand, if you want a running partner, small breeds aren’t the best option for you. When you get to the shelter, you’ll find very few actual pure breed dogs, but you can often tell what their parents were.

There are a lot of pit bulls and Staffordshire terriers (the two are different, but the differences are extremely slight) in the shelters – mostly because people didn’t know how to train them or didn’t care to spend the time. These dogs can be amazing companions, but you have to commit to training them properly. If you don’t have the time or money to spend on a trainer, you might be better-suited to find a different breed.

Ultimately, you want a dog who shares your energy level. If you’re very active, you want a dog who loves to run and play, and doesn’t tire easily. If you just want a quiet companion, getting an overly-exuberant dog would be a recipe for disaster. One of the best ways to see if you two “click” is to take that dog on a walk. Some shelters won’t allow this, so you have to ask. It’s in this one-on-on time that the two of you will realize whether you’re a match made in heaven or a disaster waiting to happen.