Want to adopt a dog? Here’s how to easily find your new best friend

You want to adopt a dog? A great and noble choice: it gives an animal a new home. We’re happy to play matchmaker to help you find your new best friend.

To begin with, everyone in the family must be 100% convinced about getting a dog before starting the search. It’s also crucial that you decide for yourself and your family what you expect from a dog. Do you have a lot of experience and can you handle a dog that already has some baggage? Or not? Do you have (grand) children or other pets, who should also click with them? Do you live in a big or small house/apartment? In a wooded area or along a busy road? Are you looking for a dog that needs a lot of exercise, or not?

Write it all down honestly, submit that information to multiple shelters, and ask if they have a dog to adopt that might suit you. This way, you’re already in a good position to make your first selection of potentially new best friends. Have you received a number of proposals, with a photo and description, and did you choose some of them? Then it is time for visits.

Get to know the dog first

Because no, when you want to adopt a dog, you can’t only rely on its looks or a description of it. First meet the dogs from your selection. This is the only way to see how a dog behaves and its charisma. This is the only way to know if it’s puppy love at first sight. Really listen to the story behind the dog, take the things stated about the animal seriously. The dog should certainly not be adopted out of pity just because you want to throw a dog a bone.

A dog from the shelter can display undesirable behavior, but that’s certainly not always the case. In an animal shelter, an animal sometimes behaves differently than at home. So ask if a trial period is allowed. Or, if possible, take the dog for a walk one or more times before you decide to adopt it. This way you will quickly get to know him better. After all, sometimes a dog’s bark is worse than his bite. Does it click with everyone in the family?Then the shelter may vaccinate, deworm and flea the dog.

In an animal shelter, an animal sometimes behaves differently than at home. So ask if a trial period is allowed.

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