Getting A Rescue Dog Could Be The Best Move For Your Family
Canadian animal shelters take in around 200,000 animals every year, with approximately 53,000 of those being dogs. Rescue dogs can make great family pets and often desperately need a second chance at their forever home. They’re usually already house trained so they won’t take your time away from your children and they’re cheaper than buying a puppy and won’t destroy your home. You’ll also get to know what their personality is like and can factor this into choosing a dog that will suit you, helping them to fit into family life as if they were always there.
Not all rescue dogs have behavioral problems
Dogs end up in shelters for all different reasons and the majority of them don’t have behavioral problems. The ones that do can often be trained to stop the problem. An anti-barking device, also known as a silencer, is a good training aid for dogs that bark at anything and everything. Not only is barking noisy and can cause problems with neighbors, but it can also make your children scared of your dog, so it’s important to get it under control quickly. Some rescue dogs may need training with walking on a lead and toileting, but a lot of rescue shelters will work on this prior to rehoming and should advise you of any potential problems they’re aware of.
An older dog is usually a good thing
Most rescue dogs are older dogs, which puts a lot of people off from adopting them. However, having a puppy in your home with children running around can create a chaotic situation. Most adult dogs will have basic training and they tend to be calmer and more content than a puppy. This often means it’s easier for a rescued adult dog to settle into your family home than a puppy that needs a lot of time and attention to be taught how to behave. Let’s face it, most parents just don’t have time for training a puppy and dealing with the destruction they can cause when they have a young family.
Rescue dogs are cheaper
Buying a puppy from a breeder can cost an absolute fortune. You’ve then got to factor in costs for their first vaccinations, spaying or neutering, getting different sized leads as they grow, and lots of other little extras. Rescuing a dog usually means they’re already spayed or neutered, their vaccinations and pest treatment will be up-to-date, and they may also come with their collar and lead. You’ll usually be asked to make a donation to the rescue shelter, but this is significantly cheaper than buying from a breeder, plus it goes towards helping lots of other animals in need.
Rescuing a dog from a shelter is rewarding for you and your family as you’ll know you’ve helped an animal in need, plus they’ll already be trained and cheaper than buying from a breeder. Some dogs can live for around 15 years, so rescuing an adult dog can still mean they’re a part of your family for many years.