What do you have to do? Many people buy or adopt puppies, but abandonment often happens after they grow up or owners realize they don’t have the time or money to take care of their pets. People are not sufficiently informed and don’t know what it really means to have a dog.
Abandonment is a painful experience for a dog who often refuses to eat because he badly misses his home and human buddies. Some get so depressed they starve themselves to death. We encourage people to adopt rather than buy dogs due to the overwhelming number of abandoned dogs who live in harsh conditions on the streets or spend their whole lives in shelters. Even puppies experience this, waiting for a family that never comes.
To avoid mistakes that can cause such suffering and pain, think before adopting and ask yourself, “Am I willing to take care of a dog for 10-15 years or more?”, “Do I have the necessary financial means?” “Who will take care of him/her when I go on vacation?” Can I take them with me?” “Do I have enough space for a big dog?” “What behaviour would be unacceptable to me and cause me to hand a dog back to the charity? (Rescues often display challenging behaviour in the first few months due to their past experiences).
If you are still keen after answering these questions honestly, it’s time to look for your future friend. You can adopt directly from any dog rescue, where you have the chance to meet the dogs and socialize with them, even feed them and take them for a walk. Dogs adopted from shelters are already spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and dewormed. Many already know how to walk on a lead and are accustomed to humans.
You also have to pay attention to the dog’s behaviour. If you have little ones, make sure the dog is child friendly before adopting. The dog must be a safe friend, well balanced and ready to live with a family, especially if the family has not had dogs in the past and/or has children. Never leave a dog alone with your child! If he is shy, likes to keep a distance from people, or is fearful, he still deserves a chance but should be adopted by a very patient person with knowledge and experience of rescue dogs. If you have other pets, you need to choose a dog that gets along nicely with them or at the very least tolerates them. It is essential to choose a dog according to yours personality and his, his needs and what you are realistically able to offer him.
Depending on the dog’s age, medical history, and background, he may or may not need a few training sessions to teach him how to walk on a lead, socialize with other animals, or behave with strangers. One of the most important commands is to respond when you ask him to stay or come back; these will save you from many possible unpleasant surprises.