[LouiseEvelyn]

hello everyone!

My name is Louise, I've been a dog lover all my life. Sadly, i had to rehome my dog last year due to a change in sircumstance. Now, however, things are stable and i feel ready to offer a rescue dog a forever home.
My local dog shelter is very swift with rehoming. In fact, you can take home a dog the day you choose it, providing you have your household with you to meet the dog. Dogs are coming and going constantly, so its important that when you find the right dog you're ready to take it. I struggle a little with this concept as i'd like to have a bit more time to get to know the dog, take it for a walk etc.
So i joined this community to seek some advice on judging a dogs personality from its body language etc in a small amount of time.

ALL advice and tips are VERY welcome!

thanks guys,
Louise

[City Dog's Mom]

Hi,
We have gotten every dog we have had for the last 15 years from the pound or had been dumped at our place except this last baby we got @48 hours ago. Most of them have been wonderful. But what I have always gone by is if they are glad to see me, I am glad to see them. Pretty much anything can be fixed with love, consistancy and training.

CDM

[LindaLinda]

I am a strong believer in adopting. I always look at the dogs that are calm. That was Lily (our current dog) to a "T". She was just sitting in her cage playing with her toys. She seemed like she hadnt a care in the world. We knew we wanted her but just for fun we walked around the room and looked at the other dogs. I kept looking back at her and she was following us with her eyes. We had lost our male beagle mix and i felt like Zeke wanted us to get another beagle but one of a different sex. This was perfect. We spent some time w/her in the "get acquainted room" and she seemed friendly, and came up to us right away. The attendant left us alone with her for a while. It was as if she knew us for a long time. My husband looked at me and said, "that's our girl!" After they approved our app. and made us view a video on responsible pet ownership we took her home. Lily sniffed all around the house for a while, and then went into our bedroom and plunked down on the rug near my side of the bed. She looked up at us as if to say, "Hey Mom and Dad, I'm home!".

With the dog before her we called the shelter and asked what dogs they had available b/c we know the ones they mention are usually the ones that have very little time left. As was the case when we adopted Zeke. He had been dropped off at the Humane Society in the county, adopted out, only to be returned a few days later to the Humane Society city shelter where we go. Since he had bad luck being adopted out and was about 5 or 6 years old his time was coming. to be put down. My husband told them we would be there that day. We took one look at him and fell in love. He looked scared but very glad to be rescued. I am surprised with his history he was so trusting of us. We got him home and we had 9 wonderful years with him. I sometimes wonder if we had not made that call that day...

[Lunareclipse]

Go to a shelter and adopt one or two. They'll love you for life. Luna tried to sleep on me the first night we brought her home. Felt like an elephant sat on me, but I was sooo happy that she wanted to be close that soon after coming home.

[Lara's mom]

I'm the worst person to ask about something like this. It take me about 30 seconds to absolutely fall in love with almost every animal I meet...

[lil mutt]

Welcome mate, so good to hear you are about to give a wonderful home for a dog. I think shelters can understand if you have to take your time, besides you're just making sure everything will go smooth as you got a companion that you will care of forever. Good luck and keep us updated..