How to Adopt a Dog Ep. 3: How to Pick a Shelter Dog

Obligatory disclaimer-y thing: the animal shelter footage was recorded at Maricopa County Animal Care (MCAC). The views and opinions expressed in this video are mine alone and do not reflect the views or opinions of MCAC.

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

[bradleybraaf]

nice video. You mind giving us an overview of the books in the background

[iyamwhatiyam]

I volunteered at a shelter. A nice lady came in to adopt a specific dog who’d been in the shelter for weeks, it was near closing time n when she saw him, he was disinterested in her. She said “oh, very low energy” I’m looking for a hiking buddy. I shared that he knows our schedule. In fifteen minutes we close n he gets fed, then it’s lights out. Visit in the morning or at lunch to see who he really is.

[juliainvermont]

My dog was at the shelter for 6 months. When we met she was very attentive to me and my son. She followed my simple commands with out food. I had to re directed her from a dog playing in the yard, it worked. She was the first dog we saw and fell in live. I am using her as an emotional support dog. Training is going well. Having some issues with pulling but we are making progress. She is a Pitt Bull, a dog I never thought I would get. Love her lots and would not trade or give her back. She is the perfect pet for me.

[jessicajones]

I’m a employee at an animal rescue and I stumbled upon this video somehow. This is great advice! Adopters almost never have a clue what dogs are telling them through body language and usually don’t listen to what I have to say. 😂

[teensXwithXcamera]

Our rescue jumped into our laps, licked our faces, generally very interested. When we got home he was very aggressive (we eventually learned he had been returned twice) but we took some time, and he’s a good guy. He’s like the opposite of being bad in the kennel, he was good, but needed a lot of TLC.

[murphull]

My dog ignored me and was fixated on staff. I paid attention to written observations made by staff of the dog when outside, with other people and around other dogs. He was afraid of the car and wouldn’t get in and once in, wouldn’t get out. Couldn’t walk stairs. Pulled my arms out of sockets on leash. However, responded to the word no, was house trained and did not display any signs of separation anxiety or food aggression or dominance Most dogs are just waiting for someone to live them enough to uncover their hidden qualities. A year of training and positive reinforcement, he is the best dog. Best decision I could have made.

[riverratrvr]

I just go and adopt the oldest dog. Every time.

[avidiya]

With being an Animal Care Tech at a Humane Society this video is right on point, right now we have a couple of slightly fear aggressive dogs. I'll be walking around checking on my adoption rooms and hear people say the most ridiculous things about these amazingly sweet dogs. Once hearing a lady tell my current favorite resident, that he's evil. Takes everything in you not to tell people off. LOL but another side note people should know about is that just because dogs have barrier aggression with other dogs does NOT mean they don't like other dogs. A few months ago Dogs Playing for Life came to my shelter to show staff and volunteers how to properly mix dogs out in the yard and it has made life of kennel staff and dogs so much easier. Finding out dogs we thought didn't like others, because of barrier aggression were actually the best dogs to play with others. We also have an extreme case of kennel craze with a dog right now. People thinking it's cute and laughing at a dog so stressed out it's dogs backflips off the walls of its kennel and biting at kennel staff when she has to go back in. Shelters are the most stressful environment for all dogs. I wish more people would look at most of the dogs differently with the advice in this video.

[michaelrs]

When you go to the shelter the hardest choice is not necessarily who do you take, but who do you leave behind.

While I find some merit to some of this advice here, one also have to take into account that for some of these poor things they might be in a very scary place and had who knows what kind of trauma in their recent life.
I've had shelter dogs that have not measured up to these standards and they've turned out to be wonderful pets once they were in a secure and loving environment.

[janesmith]

My dog was so sad.. Took 4 months of tlc... The best dog And my best friend for the next 9 years. Thank you Franklin county animal shelter.

[fokiat]

i like how you gave examples of bad and good behavior.. really helpful

[kaylinmayharris]

my dog died yesterday and i’ve been having a really hard time. i can’t be in certain place like the living room or my own room bc that’s where she was mostly all the time. i’m currently sitting on my bathroom floor bc that’s the only place i can seem to go without having a break down. my dog saved my life multiple times and having to watch them die is so destructive to you. but i promised myself that next time i’m going to adopt, not shop. there are lots of dogs who need homes and are treated bad. so i wanna help a dog in need next time❤️ (also my profile pic is my dog) i miss my baby

[someperson]

Fostering a dog is also a good way to see how they are at home

[mscarolynnigro]

We got our corgi mix rescue through a foster. She'd been a beach dog in Puerto Rico - had been flown to NYC by the SATO rescue group. She had already been returned by one adopter because of her rambunctious behavior. I don't even think the foster liked her. We worked with her quite a bit and she's just become a really fabulous little dog.

[mollyolsen]

your advice is so great. i have a rescue dog and i am so happy with him

[twdarcy]

I found my dog at the shelter. She was recommended by the volunteers. She, at first, wanted nothing to do with anything. I think she was despondent. She is such a good friend.

Thank you for this video.

[combat]

unfortunately the shelter here has a no meeting stray dog policy, but i saw him in his cage and knew. He was too small to be adopted so he had to go to a foster care family but after checking on him 3 weeks everyday and then camping overnight at the shelter cause they have a first come first serve policy. when he came running to me that morning and just started to lick me i knew i was so lucky love the video!

[thenativebrookie]

all tips also work for potential boyfriends lol

[dasteelerfan]

I have had dogs since my early 20s that’s 40 years and many dogs only one dog a 2 year old German shepherd who was scared from the day I met her till the day she died it took a lot to earn her trust if I didn’t take her they were going put her down but my experience was is that dog happy to see you if it is it’s a keeper pitties and rat terrier are mostly the types I rescued and all have brought me joy your post is great advice dogs have personality’s too

[johndechiara]

I know it sounds stupid but, when i adopted my Jax, somthing pulled me directly to him .. I sat down in the play area . He jumped into my arms and i told him ..you are safe now..lets go home.
He has been with me 3yrs now and is the best dog i have ever had
🚬🐕