How to get an awsome dog at an animal shelter

[Brianna Henson]

Adopting at shelters and rescues should be the first thing that comes to mind when you are going to get a dog. Weather this is your first dog or third, always prepare for another arrival. Make sure you have time for another member of the family. Think of these questions, and disscuse with the rest of the family, what kind of breed, the size of the dog, the temper, personality. Lots to think of. When you have this done, you can find the dog. Since lots of dogs are put down every day because there aren't enough homes, shelters and rescues are the places a true animal lover would get a dog. I got my dog from a adopt event outside a petsmart, and he is the best dog I have ever had. What most people do is look for the cutest dog there, which isn't what a good dog owner would do. A good dog owner would look for a well behaved dog, not the dog in the corner hiding from everybody, or the dog barking at you. Look for good body language, a submissive dog, but not to submissive to the point where the dog is scared of your presence. If you find a dog just sitting there or sleeping, then you can approach the kennel. Good signs would be if the dog; came over to smell you, put ears back and lowered head in a submissive position and slightly wages tail or rolls over and exposes belly so you can rub it. Bad signs; if the dog runs to the back of the kennel, starts barking aggressivly at you, or growls at you while showing teeth. All the bad signs could be that the dog wants space, but this isn't a dog that wants to be part of your family. The breed doesen't matter, its the energy level that does. So look for that special dog.