Phase 1: Do a Self-Assessment

Excerpt from Dog Training: A Lifelong Guide Training Your Dog

Why are you adopting a shelter dog? To save a life? A noble notion but not very practical. “Never go to the shelter with the idea of feeling like a hero by rescuing a dog nobody else wants,” says Sternberg. “You’ll only set yourself up for problems down the road. Go in with the attitude that you want to select a really great dog. Take your time and be choosy. After all, this is a pet that may be with you for ten, twelve, or more years.”

Assess yourself honestly to determine if you are even a candidate to be a dog owner. Answer the following:

Do you work long hours, come home, and just want to plop in the chair?
Do you travel a lot for work, spending days, even weeks away from home?
Do you want a dog for companionship or protection?
Do you live in an apartment or a house?
Do you have a fenced-in yard or a nearby park that permits dogs?
Are you willing to take your dog on daily long walks?
Will you groom and bath your dog regularly?
Can you afford a dog, providing him with food, pet supplies, and medical attention?
Can you accept a dog snoozing on your sofa?
Will your weekend plans include activities with your dog?

You should want a dog for companionship and not to guard your prized family heirloom vase or expensive stereo system—that’s why home alarm systems were invented. Just having a dog in your home will deter most small-time thieves, but a dog’s role in the home should be as a member of the household and not solely as a four-legged burglar alarm. Dogs require a lot of time and responsibility so you want to be sure you are up to the task before you adopt.

Now, make a mental picture of your ideal dog based on personality, not looks. After all, a dog’s size, age, gender, and physical markings, which are all important, are not as critical as a dog’s temperament. Ask yourself: