Counting on You. Congratulations on Adopting a Shelter Dog

Your new dog is counting on you to meet his needs…all his needs. That's a pretty weighty responsibility and it comes with a cost. Just how high a cost will depend on where you live, where you shop and how big your new canine buddy is.

Some costs are once-in-a-lifetime costs and if you are lucky, your shelter may have already taken care of some of them. Spay/neuter surgery is frequently done before an animal goes up for adoption. If the dog you adopted is intact, the cost to alter the dog may be as low as $25 at a low-cost spay/neuter clinic to over $200 at a private veterinarian's office in a major city. Ask if there is a spay/neuter voucher program in your community to help defray the cost. Permanent identification is another area your shelter may have covered. Many organizations microchip animals before sending them off to their new homes, leaving the task of registering the dog to the new guardians - a cost ranging from free up to $35. Discuss how to register the microchip with the shelter or your new veterinarian.

The shelter examined your pup and may have provided initial vaccinations and de-worming. However, it is still a smart idea to take your new pet to the vet for a wellness exam within the first few days following adoption. There, the veterinarian can answer questions on flea and tick treatments, nutrition and healthcare and start your dog on heartworm preventative. Expect the visit and treatments to be $75-200, unless your shelter underwrites part of the cost for the first visit. If a microchip wasn't part of the adoption package, ask the veterinarian to implant one at this initial visit - cost: $25-50.

Worried about the cost of future accidents or health catastrophes? Pet health insurance is becoming an increasingly popular way to share the burden of high health costs. The sooner you sign up, the sooner you are covered. Investigate your options with the veterinarian or search the internet using "Pet Insurance" for information on the variety of programs available.

If your new dog isn't house-trained yet or is still teething, a training crate is necessary to prevent house-soiling or household destruction. Some shelters rent out crates to new adopters for a nominal fee. Alternatively, expect to pay $50-200 to purchase a new one, depending on the size of the dog and the type of retail outlet you frequent. While steep, it is much less expensive than replacing wall-to-wall carpeting or the living room sofa. As many dog guardians get rid of their crates once their pets are trained, reasonably-priced used crates are often available through many internet auction sites, local want ads, bulletin board notices or at yard sales.

Items such as collars, leashes, toys and beds run the price gamut. A nylon collar and leash set can be had for around $10. Training head halters or harnesses average $25. Fancy designer sets sell for $50 or more. Chew toys are quite reasonable for toy-sized dogs (100 chew sticks for under $10), but can be $10 a piece for giant knotted rawhide bones. Heavy rubber food-dispensing toys generally cost $8-20. Bedding can run from single to triple digits depending on size and materials. Of course, letting the dog sleep on the furniture is free - if she or he has earned the privilege. Research pet supplies online. Some suppliers will offer pet owners wholesale prices when they are purchasing more than $50 worth of pet products.

Pet food will most likely be your biggest expense. Costs vary depending on the type (canned or kibble), quality (generic, basic or premium) and amount needed. When you choose to skimp on quality, you often make it up in quantity. You will be serving more of the cheap stuff - and scooping up more as well. Nothing beats premium quality kibble for producing comparatively small, easy-to-pick-up feces. If your community mandates cleaning up after your dog, you will appreciate the difference.

New dog/owner teams benefit from training classes and some shelters will provide them for free or at a reduced cost. Private trainers may also offer 10-25% discounts for rescued dogs. Most group classes run for six to eight weeks at a cost of $50-350 for the series. The large pet supply superstores often provide group training classes at the low end of the price scale.

Whew, does it sound like you need to take out a home equity loan in order to care for your new best friend? Before leaving the shelter, inquire about which trainers, groomers, veterinarians and pet supply stores offer discounts to new adopters. Then, shop around and look for sales. Remember that you can't put a price on non-judgmental companionship. An unlimited amount of slurpy, wet kisses and joyous tail wags come at no extra charge!

Pledge for New Dog Adopters

# I pledge to make a reasonable commitment of time and effort, and to affect scheduling and lifestyle changes in order to make this relationship work

# I pledge to make sure my dog is not exposed to the elements of weather without proper shelter, shade cover, dry ground, access to fresh water and at least 1 hour of loving companionship and play a day (I understand this is a minimum and will strive to keep the dog with me as much as possible and treat him/her as an important member of my family)

# I pledge to provide appropriate and timely veterinary care for the life of my dog

# I pledge provide my dog with the proper nutrition for optimum health, and to keep my dog the proper weight, neither obese nor emaciated

# I pledge to keep this dog indoors at night, and to include him/her in the activities of the household while we are home, as much as possible

# I pledge to keep my dog groomed and free of external parasites and matting (particularly behind my dog's ears, under his elbows, his tail and thighs)

# I pledge to spay or neuter my dog, if he/she is not already

# I pledge to give my do ample aerobic exercise daily, and make sure that at least three times a week he gets to run and play and get tired out

# I pledge to provide my dog with mental stimulation in the form of either play, interactive toys, training, or off territory leash walks, DAILY

# I pledge to provide my dog with enough training and/or behavioral management so as to enable him to be a welcome part of my community, or managed safely

# I pledge to provide my dog ample outlets for his instincts (such as off territory leash walks/running, opportunities to sniff and explore the natural world, agility training, trick training, fun and rewarding obedience training, play with other dogs, etc.), so that he does not feel constantly frustrated, or develop behavioral problems because he is neglected or under stimulated

# I pledge to provide a home in which my dog clearly knows there are certain rules to which I will insist on and he can count on

# I pledge to provide my dog with enough toys to satisfy his urge to chew

# I pledge to get professional help if my dog has or develops behavior or temperament problems, and, if safe, to manage my dog carefully so as not ot endanger the people and other pets in my community

# I pledge to do everything I can to keep my dog from becoming a nuisance in my community

# I will not allow him to run free/out of my control, chase cars, bicycles, children, etc.

# I will seek professional help to get my dog to be quiet, or keep him quiet both when I am home and away, so as not to disturb my neighbors

# I pledge to "scoop poop" from my dog when off my property, so that my dog and other dogs will always be welcome in public

# I pledge that if I have to move residences for any reason, I am aware that finding housing that accepts pets can take longer than average, but that I will commit to moving with my dog, as I would move with a member of my family

# I pledge that if, for any reason, I can no longer keep this dog, I will not abandon this dog, and

# I will return the dog to the shelter (if required) or leave ample time to find a new, appropriate home, tell the new owners truthfully all the dog's behaviors, good and bad, and follow up occasionally to make sure the dog is safe and content

How to Choose Your Next Dog from the Shelter

Animal shelters everywhere are filled with wonderful dogs, and filled with problem dogs. The ability to know which dogs are wonderful and which are problems is the 8th True Wonder of the universe. This ability (or lack of) is what steers caring and responsible potential pet owners away from shelters, and what has, until this workshop, kept thousands of professional dog trainers and competitors from adopting. The perfect dogs are out there-in abundance-and capable of fulfilling their next owner's needs and wishes. Trainers and competitors avoid adopting shelter dogs because of a misguided notion that in order to find true working ability and soundness they must research lineage and start with a carefully bred purebred puppy in order to raise it "without issues".

Since there is a new and more welcoming attitude towards mixed breeds in the world of dog sports, so it is time to change the attitudes we have had towards shelter dogs and "rescue" dogs. No longer should we view shelter dogs as pathetic creatures needing extra medical and behavioral attention. No longer do we need to view adopters or rescuers as altruistic martyrs who have opened their hearts and homes to the "special challenges" of the "rescued" dog. You can CHOOSE to adopt a pathetic, problematic dog, or you can choose to adopt a phenomenal dog, whose worst flaw is no-one has yet attempted to train it. (Which is great-a clean slate! Ooh, no one to blame but yourself for training problems.) Adopters should be seen as lucky, savvy individuals who have wisely selected gems with whom to share their homes and hobbies.

If you know what to look for, the animal shelter has the perfect dog for you. This workshop will teach the skills necessary for effective assessment of mental and structural soundness, a dog's temperament and personality, and ability to cope with stress so that the animal shelter can indeed be the premiere place to find a dog.