I worry that at an animal shelter, there will be no puppies for adoption. And I want a puppy so my son and the puppy have a better chance of bonding.

Here are my questions:
1) Do animal shelters have puppies for adoption or just older dogs?
2) Does the age of the dog even make a difference in whether or not the dog and my son will bond?

Thanks!

• West Highland White Terrier (Terrier Group)
• Pharaoh Hound
• Commercial Dog Food – Do You Know The Truth About
• Dog Travel: More Helpful Tips When Traveling With The Family
• Scottish Terrier

For those ultra-exuberant Labs who have trouble controlling themselves from jumping on people, even after being taught the "sit" and "off" commands, a harness and leash in the house can help immensely.

Put the harness and leash on, then sit in a chair and put your foot on the leash so there's only enough slack for the dog to stand up or sit, but not to jump up. This way you aren't jerking the dog around or punishing it, and if the dog starts to jump up, it can't. Just make sure the leash is firmly under your feet with a wide enough base so you don't get pulled off the chair!

Although the harness is a way to manage jumping behavior it must be coupled with teaching the sit command with lots of positive reinforcement. This will keep your Lab from performing the behavior you don't want, while teaching it the behavior you do want. You want to physically prevent them from jumping up, then immediately train them to sit with a big reward.

A headcollar, which fits over the muzzle (similar to a horse halter), is another option for over-exuberant Labs, especially those that pull on a leash. Many dog trainers are great fans of the headcollar for over-excited dogs. It's a fabulous management tool.

Use it in the house or on walks while your dog is learning how to walk on leash, so you aren't getting your arm yanked out of its socket. Also, headcollars can help potential adopters to recognize that they can handle that 75-pound, full-grown Labrador Retriever.

Don't Give Up!

Most importantly, all new owners of adopted Labs are urged not to give up on their rambunctious buddies. There is a light at the end of the tunnel for these dogs. Work with them every day that you can. Provide as much time needed to get them domesticated to your needs and the needs of the family.

Seek out a qualified, positive trainer, and get the help you need. Particularly good would be a trainer that has experience with training adolescent and adult dogs.

Be patient, consistent and understanding, and one day the Labrador fairy will raise her magic wand and sprinkle her magic dust over your Lab. Suddenly, you'll realize that your hyperactive shelter Lab has become a really great, respectable, and well-trained family pet, one that your neighbors will be envious of.

• English Springer Spaniel (Sporting Group)
• Nutrition – 3 Ways To Feed Your Puppy
• Problem Dogs Are Made, Not Born
• What site is a great place to find chihuahua dogs for adoption?
• What are the ways we can understand dogs and their communication?

At the same time that a shelter or rescue group prepares a puppy or dog for adoption, they also try to find eligible adopters. Both types of organizations place advertisements on the Internet and in local newspapers that describe available animals. Potential adopters might respond by phone or e-mail, or visit in person.

However, not all potential adopters make the grade. Many facilities have very strict guidelines and restrictions on who gets one of their puppies. For example, the following criteria is standard for people looking to adopt a pup from a high-quality shelter or rescue group:

1) A stay-at-home parent (or one that works from home) should be present. This is because puppies can't stay alone in a crate for more than a couple of hours.

2) There should also be another dog in the family that the new puppy can learn from. This helps immensely in the pup's socialization.

3) A fence is mandatory if there are children in the house younger than the age of six.

4) And finally, a commitment from the adopter to continue socialization and a willingness to take the pup to professional training.

Just as rescue groups and animal shelters are fussy about who can adopt their puppies, potential adopters should be equally fussy as to whom they adopt a puppy from. For example, at a shelter, there should be co-housing: puppies housed with other puppies for critical socialization to dogs.

Also, the premises should be clean, and there should be appropriate toys and bedding with the puppies. There should be some sort of program or schedule for getting the puppies out of the kennel to interact with people and see different sights and sounds.

Visitors to a shelter should be greeted by a pleasant and knowledgeable staff member or volunteer. Both shelters and rescue groups should be able to provide information on why the puppy was brought to a shelter or into rescue, confirmation that the puppy has received all immunizations, and information on other resources such as owner counseling or dog training.

Once the shelter or rescue group passes your approval, a prospective adopter should look closely at the puppy he or she is interested in before making a final decision to adopt. A puppy that shows signs of illness or poor care - such as excessive amount of fleas as an example - should be avoided. The dog should have no diarrhea on his rear and hind legs, no discharge, and you want a puppy who shows an interest in you and is at least somewhat active.

• Do dog breeders really accept Visa or Mastercard?
• Mating: A Crash Course In The Reproductive Cycle Part 5
• Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (Terrier Group)
• Bad Veterinarians & Good Ones: How To Use Your Power
• A 7-Step Housetraining Guide For Your Puppy (Part 3)

• Canine Hip Dysplasia: The Cause Is Still A Mystery To
• Canine Hip Dysplasia: Unexplained Canine Hip Dysplasia Occurrences
• Poisonous Plants – Common Backyard Plants That Can Kill Your
• Dog Leash – Introducing The Flexi-Lead, My All Time Favorite
• How can I get started in a carrer in Dog Obedience Training ?

• Maxximum Nutrition Dog Food the chicken kind is it good?
• House Breaking Your Golden Retriever
• Is it hard to take care of a labrador/golden retriever puppy?
• dog wizzing puppy
• Male Or Female: Which Dog Is Better?

One reason many Labrador Retrievers are abandoned to animal shelters is because they jumped on small children, knocking them over or scaring them. A lot of people don't understand how to manage jumping and when their Lab gets big, jumping isn't so cute anymore.

People don't know how to deal with it so they give up on the dog. Once a Lab has reached its full adult size, jumping can become a real problem, but that's also an easy problem to fix. All it takes is one little word: "Sit."

"Sit" is the solution to over 90% of behavior problems. The sit command is the answer, and it's the easiest thing in the world to train a dog to do. When a dog is sitting, it can't be jumping up. Train your newly adopted shelter Lab to sit with big rewards and you'll see a huge difference in behavior.

Many adult Labs already know the sit command so using it frequently can nip jumping quickly. Even Labs that don't know the command to sit know how to sit. If you teach the dog to sit on command, you've solved all kinds of problems before you ever get to a training class. Labs are so trainable because they want to please you and they want rewards. They really do want to sit for you!

Out Of Control Jumpers

Teaching your dog the "off" command is necessary for those out-of-control jumpers. Jumping up is the way the Lab expresses how desperate it is for attention. The more hyper you get in response to this behavior, the more excited your Lab becomes. Even yelling is attention to your Lab. Teach him that the only time it will get love and attention is when it is sitting. Ignore it when it jumps on you - become a statue, literally.

To teach "off" you will actually want to invite this excitement from your Lab by acting excited yourself. Then, when it jumps up, cross your arms, turn away and quietly say "off." Then wait - don't move, talk or make eye contact.

When the dog realizes it's not getting any sort of attention, positive or negative, it will get back on the floor. Immediately praise him. Your Lab will get bored fast and try something else, like sitting. That's when you pour on the praise.

After only a few times, if you are quick and consistent, your Lab will learn that it gets what it craves - attention - when all four paws are on the floor instead of jumping all over you.

• Canine Communication: How To Help A Dog With An Abusive
• What is a good way to introduce a new dog/puppy cats?
• Dog Training – Why You Should Never Shout At Your
• Dog lovers, I bet greyhound breeders are more guilty of animal cruelty than dog fighters?
• Shiba Inu (Non-Sporting Group)

• battling dog urine stains on your green gr
• Re-housebreaking Your Mature Dog (5)
• Children & Puppies: The Best Way To Socialize The New
• Does Petsmart have dog obedience training and nail clipping service?
• Dog Fence – How To Keep Your Dog From Wandering

There are too many puppies being born and sold by amateur breeders and not enough homeless dogs being adopted and raised in a good homes with loving families. If you are a true dog lover and have a passion for these animals, consider visiting your local animal shelter instead of purchasing a new puppy from the newspaper or pet store.

I realize that most families prefer to have a puppy raised from birth, but there are thousands upon thousands of well mannered, healthy dogs that need a home like yours. Most of these dogs and puppies that are living in animal shelters are there for various reasons that do not include acts of violence or sickness.

In fact, it seems to be a common thought that dogs from animal shelters are tainted. Yes, there are many of them that have had problems in the past with abuse or have developed survival instincts from living on the streets, but these animals can all be trained to perfection in most cases.

How To Interview The Animal Shelter

Like any service or product, animal shelters are there to provide a specific function that you, as a consumer, should investigate before making your decision. There should be specific questions asked which are directed straight to the animal shelter that you are considering adopting a dog from.

Very important questions that should always be asked are about how they take care of the dogs. Do they get more than just food and water? Does the animal shelter place emphasis on socialization? Do they allow the animals to move around and interact with the other dogs?

Dogs To Avoid

The last thing you want to do is adopt a puppy who has been crammed up in a small cage during its entire stay at the shelter. This kind of treatment can certainly induce traumatic anxiety disorders, stress, and fear of the outside world.

If the shelter does indeed allow their animals to socialize and spend time outside of their cage, ask the staff how long they are allowed to enjoy this free time and how much human contact is received.

Another addition to your bag of questions when considering dog adoption from an animal shelter is to find out about any types of services that are offered after you bring home a new dog.

Do they provide pamphlets or brochures that explain the best way to handle an adopted dog or puppy? Are there tips in the form of a newsletter or website information that can help your adopted dog adjust easier? What about training, can they refer you to a qualified dog trainer that specializes in shelter animals?

• Do dog breeders really accept Visa or Mastercard?
• Dog Training Methods: How Dog Training Has Evolved Over The
• Choosing A New Puppy: What Tasks Can Your Child Handle
• Can anyone give me some information on any dog breeders in North Carolina?
• The Scruffy Little Hunter Dog: Border Terrier

• English Springer Spaniel (Sporting Group)
• For The Welsh Springer Spaniel Fans
• Choosing A New Puppy: There Is A Dog Breed For
• New Puppy Dog, how do I get him to stop biting?
• Kids & Puppies – Rules To Follow When Bringing Home

Unfortunately, many dogs, who are otherwise healthy and happy animals, wake up one morning to find themselves without a home and quickly become guests at the local animal shelter or pound. This happens every day, all around the world, when dog owners are not able or no longer willing to care for their pets.

At this very moment, there are millions of homeless animals that are confined to cages all over the country and awaiting the day they are put to sleep unless a generous family comes along to adopt them. Mixed breeds and purebreds; young puppies and aging dogs; male and female; all of these canines are available to anybody, and at a low adoption fee.

While purebred puppies and dogs are the exception to what's available, rather than the rule, there always intelligent and beautiful mixed breed dogs that range from all ages, just waiting patiently and hopefully to be taken home.

If you are interested in a show dog or a rare purebred with the look of nobility, then the adoption arena is probably not your best choice. If this is the case then your best bet is to visit with a professional breeder or a kennel that allows you to purchase a dog that fits exactly what you are looking for.

Healthy Dogs Only Please

Selecting a dog from an adoption center is just like choosing a pet from any other source, with just a few additions. You want to make sure that the dog or puppy you are considering is healthy. His coat should be shiny and free from bare patches. The eyes should be bright and his attitude alert. Check for discharge coming out of the eyes or nose, which is not a sign of a healthy dog. Their should be no coughing, diarrhea, or vomiting.

The dog you are considering for adoption should be at a decent weight. Rest one of your hands across the dogs' hip bones on his back. If you can feel the spine in between them, he is considered to be underweight.

Unfortunately, just like buying a used car, it is impossible to know precisely what you are getting until you take your puppy home for a "test drive." While the odds are high that your newly adopted dog will be perfectly fine and healthy, there is a possibility that he may be equipped with idiosyncrasies and emotional issues that were developed from living in the shelter.

Most frequently, these types of dogs arrive at your home full of insecurities from the past experiences of being homeless and then forced into living inside of a cage at the shelter. The good news is that these troubles are usually temporary and will fade away in time, provided that you surround the newly adopted dog with love, affection, and without any harsh dog training techniques.

• Medical Problems Of Golden Retrievers
• New puppy and older dog playing or fighting?
• Dog obedience training, any ideas how much it is?
• Pomeranian Dog Breed
• Why Own a Norfolk Terrier Dog as Pet