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Turner Publishing Company - Sue Sternberg

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Expert guidance in choosing the right dog -the first time

Written by a renowned expert in shelter adoption, Successful Dog Adoption delivers all the information you need to find the perfect dog at a shelter and make him part of your family. In easy-to-understand language, Sue Sternberg helps you decide if you're ready to adopt by evaluating your reasons and translating them into what you should look for in a particular dog. She shows you how to find a reputable shelter, prepare for the adoption process, and work with shelter personnel to make sure they have appropriately screened their dogs. You'll also learn about "rescue" dogs and why one might be right for you.

This practical guide covers all the vital issues you need to consider when adopting-choosing a male or female, a puppy or an adult; identifying fearful dogs or dogs who will bite; and seeking out a dog with the ideal temperament. Featured here are detailed tests and observations used by professionals to ascertain the temperament and compatibility of shelter dogs-now made available to the public for the first time. You'll discover how to determine risk factors in an unknown dog, gauge a dog's potential reaction to guests and strangers, and predict the compatibility level when you add another dog to your household.

This book also offers invaluable advice on training your new pet, including guidance in housebreaking, selecting a training class, and helping a dog who gets carsick or doesn't like to be home alone. And, if you still experience difficulties with your dog, Sternberg gently discusses the steps you can take.

Authoritative and friendly, Successful Dog Adoption is the one-stop guide for finding your own "superdog"-and keeping the dog-owner relationship fresh and rewarding for years to come.
Chapter 1: So You Want to Adopt a Dog.

What’s Involved in Adopting a Dog?

Do You Think You’re Ready, or Do You Know You’re Ready?

Your Pre-Adoption Checklist.

Take a Look at Your Own Lifestyle.

Chapter 2: Where Do I Start?

On the Telephone.

What to Look for in a Shelter.

Chapter 3: Where Should I Go for My Dog?

What Kind of Shelter?

Regional Differences in Shelter Dogs.

Rescue Groups.

Internet Adoption.

Attitudes about “Rescued” Dogs.

Chapter 4: What Am I Really Looking For?

What Should I Expect from the Shelter?

What Is the Adoption Process Like?

Why Temperament Testing Is Vital.

What Should I Worry about Most?

How Can I Avoid Dogs Who Bite?

What Being a “Fearful Dog” Means.

Male or Female?

Are Puppies Clean Slates?

What if I Have Allergies?

What’s the Best Age to Adopt?

To Pit Bull or Not to Pit Bull?

Breed Generalizations.

The Ideal Temperament of a Family Dog.

Safety Scan.

Bite-O-Meter.

The Importance of Selecting Carefully.

Behavioral Rehabilitation Programs in Shelters.

Chapter 5: How Do I Meet the Dogs?

What to Bring With You to the Shelter.

What You Can Expect from the Dogs.

Your Gender Matters.

How Will the Dog Behave When Meeting Guests and Strangers?

Temperament Testing Shelter Dogs.

Tests to Leave for the Pros.

The Wrap-Up.

Chapter 6: What Have I Done?

What Gender Is Your Dog?

Guessing the Age of a Dog.

Guessing the Mix of Your Dog.

Chapter 7: Basic Manners.

Pledge for New Dog Adopters.

When Should I Start Training?

What Kind of Training Class?

Housebreaking for Puppies and Adult Dogs.

Male Dog Urine Marking.

Cleaning Up the Spots.

The Basic Sit.

Coming When Called.

What to Do if Your New Dog Gets Carsick.

Helping Your Dog Stay Home Alone.

Don’t Be a Spectator.

Extracurricular Activities.

Chapter 8: When All Else Fails.

Problem Behaviors and What to Do.

If It Just Doesn’t Work Out.

What to Expect When Calling the Shelter.

Special Considerations for Families with Young Children.

Don’t Go It Alone.

Chapter 9: Adding Another Dog.

Choosing a Compatible Companion for Your Resident Dog.

Why Dog-Dog Aggression Matters for Everyone.

The Dog-Dog Aggression Test.

The Four Play Styles.

Welcoming a Second Dog into Your Home and Your Heart.

What Do Dogs Fight About?

Index.

Sujets

Breeds

Pets

Dogs

Informations

Publié par	Turner Publishing Company
Date de parution	05 mai 2008
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9780470361726
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0850€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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SUCCESSFUL DOG ADOPTION
SUCCESSFUL DOG ADOPTION
SUE STERNBERG
Copyright 2003 by Sue Sternberg. All rights reserved.
Howell Book House
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, NJ
All photographs by Sue Sternberg
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Legal Department, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256, (317) 572-3447, fax (317) 572-4447, E-mail: permcoordinator@wiley.com.
Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, and Howell Book House are trademarks or registered trademarks of Wiley Publishing, Inc., in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. Assess-A-Hand and Assess-a-Pet are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sue Sternberg. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.
Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 800-762-2974, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3993 or fax 317-572-4002. For group sales call Wiley Customer Service at 800-225-5945.
Some material in this book originally appeared in a different form in the newsletter of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers in the Jan/Feb 2000 and Nov 2001 issues, and in Great Dog Adoptions , published by the Latham Foundation.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Sternberg, Sue.
Successful dog adoption / Sue Sternberg.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 978-0-7645-3893-3 (alk. paper)
Dogs. 2. Dog adoption. 3. Animal shelters. I. Title.
SF427.S85 2003
636.7 0832-dc21
2003009304
Manufactured in United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5
Book design by Marie Kristine Parial-Leonardo
Cover design by Wendy Mount
Book production by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Composition Services
For shelter dogs everywhere- may you prosper and live long .
Contents
Chapter 1
So You Want to Adopt a Dog
What s Involved in Adopting a Dog?
Do You Think You re Ready, or Do You Know You re Ready?
Your Pre-Adoption Checklist
Take a Look at Your Own Lifestyle
Chapter 2
Where Do I Start?
On the Telephone
What to Look for in a Shelter
Chapter 3
Where Should I Go for My Dog?
What Kind of Shelter?
Regional Differences in Shelter Dogs
Rescue Groups
Internet Adoption
Attitudes about Rescued Dogs
Chapter 4
What Am I Really Looking For?
What Should I Expect from the Shelter?
What Is the Adoption Process Like?
Why Temperament Testing Is Vital
What Should I Worry about Most?
How Can I Avoid Dogs Who Bite?
What Being a Fearful Dog Means
Male or Female?
Are Puppies Clean Slates?
What if I Have Allergies?
What s the Best Age to Adopt?
To Pit Bull or Not to Pit Bull?
Breed Generalizations
The Ideal Temperament of a Family Dog
Safety Scan
Bite-O-Meter
The Importance of Selecting Carefully
Behavioral Rehabilitation Programs in Shelters
Chapter 5
How Do I Meet the Dogs?
What to Bring With You to the Shelter
What You Can Expect from the Dogs
Your Gender Matters
How Will the Dog Behave When Meeting Guests and Strangers?
Temperament Testing Shelter Dogs
Tests to Leave for the Pros
The Wrap-Up
Chapter 6
What Have I Done?
What Gender Is Your Dog?
Guessing the Age of a Dog
Guessing the Mix of Your Dog
Chapter 7
Basic Manners
Pledge for New Dog Adopters
When Should I Start Training?
What Kind of Training Class?
Housebreaking for Puppies and Adult Dogs
Male Dog Urine Marking
Cleaning Up the Spots
The Basic Sit
Coming When Called
What to Do if Your New Dog Gets Carsick
Helping Your Dog Stay Home Alone
Don t Be a Spectator
Extracurricular Activities
Chapter 8
When All Else Fails
Problem Behaviors and What to Do
If It Just Doesn t Work Out
What to Expect When Calling the Shelter
Special Considerations for Families with Young Children
Don t Go It Alone
Chapter 9
Adding Another Dog
Choosing a Compatible Companion for Your Resident Dog
Why Dog-Dog Aggression Matters for Everyone
The Dog-Dog Aggression Test
The Four Play Styles
Welcoming a Second Dog into Your Home and Your Heart
What Do Dogs Fight About?

Index
Chapter 1
So You Want to Adopt a Dog
This book is designed to guide you through the process of adopting a dog, and to help you to find that right dog. The right dog in your life is a sacred and unparalleled friend. The relationship between you and your dog will be more powerful than you can imagine, and more intensely rewarding than you will know until you actually do it. Adopting the right dog is likely to be the most gratifying thing you will ever do, and I would like you to find this exceptional dog at a shelter.
While I would like the animal shelter to be the premier place to obtain a dog, at the same time I recognize the truth that it can also be the worst. Animal shelters in the United States are filled with some of the very best and some of the very worst dogs. While thousands of absolutely wonderful, sweet family pet dogs are euthanized in shelters that do not have a lot of resources (or a lot of good adopters), the awful flip side is that thousands of aggressive and downright dangerous dogs are available for adoption to unsuspecting people, or are spinning interminably in their cages. Many shelters are run by well-meaning animal lovers who know little about dog behavior or temperament and can offer you little help in selecting the right dog.
I have dedicated my life to trying to make the shelter the best place for people to go to get a dog. That means replacing some of the pity and raw emotions shelter people use to make decisions on adoptions or euthanasia with a solid foundation of dog behavior and training knowledge. While I continue to work toward that goal within the shelter industry, I hope this book will help the general public successfully adopt safe, appropriate and wonderful dogs. I hope this book can serve as a guide so that if you do decide to go to the shelter, you re more likely to bring home a great companion and not a behaviorally disastrous dog.
My goal is to make life and death better and less random for dogs in shelters, and to make shelters safer and better for people visiting them. We need to educate people about the shelter world, and educate the shelter world about people. And educate everybody a little more about dogs.
With a boost of dog behavior knowledge and some tips on assessing temperament, this book will, hopefully, make your adoption experience a lifelong success. Living with a great dog is something no one should miss.
WHAT S INVOLVED IN ADOPTING A DOG?
For first-time dog owners, your journey into life with a dog is about to begin. Your life is about to change forever. The people in your life will be different. Your schedule will change. Your activity level will go up. Your exercise routine will either begin or change for the better. It will become much harder to be depressed. There will now always be someone overjoyed to see you whenever you return home from work, and just as overjoyed to see you return to the room from a trip to the bathroom. There will, at last, be something substantial to vacuum up from your floors, as tumbleweeds of dog hair will form under your furniture daily.
For experienced dog owners, this may or may not be your first adoption experience. Either way, I want your next dog to be the best ever.
DO YOU THINK YOU RE READY, OR DO YOU KNOW YOU RE READY?
There are two basic kinds of people: There are people who readily admit to, want to and are ready to commit to joining the ranks of dog owners everywhere, and are choosing the shelter as their primary resource. For the others, becoming a new dog owner is the kind of thing that, the more they think about it, the more arduous or impossible it seems. The confines of their schedule and the demands and restrictions the dog will make on their life seem to exclude them from dog ownership. Or so they tell themselves. This group tells itself that the time is just not right. And, on the outside, they may act like they re not ready. They are the browsers, the many people who come to the shelter just looking. But on the inside, they really are ready- if the right dog were to come along.
The truth is, it is never really the right time. It is never really convenient to bring a dog into your life. There will probably never be a time in your life when your schedule is free and open, you have plenty of time and feel completely prepared. The truth is, there really is nothing convenient, ever, about having a dog. But it is wort