Pros and cons of adopting a dog from a dog breed rescue group.

Cara Takahashi:

"I wanted to express how much I am enjoying your web site. Everything I have read so far is right on the money! I am a trainer by profession, a rescuer and a purebred exhibitor. I will be picking up your book as soon as I can and sending people to your web site, for what I can honestly say is the best advice I have seen on buying a dog - period."

Dog breed rescue groups are made up of dedicated dog lovers who maintain a network of temporary foster homes for adoptable dogs.

Bill Ford:

"You are a wonderful writer -- your dialogue is so down to earth, so compelling. I have by no means read everything yet. But it is certain I will. Your style of writing is not only a compelling read, it is certainly informative and on an educational level that anyone can readily understand. Bravo! I have bookmarked your web site as a place to go for some serious down-to-earth, logical, realistic and up to date canine information. I am very impressed not only with the wealth of information you provide but in how it is so well presented."

Some dog breed rescue groups specialize in one dog breed, like Jack Russell Terrier Rescue. Other rescue groups accept related dog breeds (Terrier Rescue), while others take in (and offer) all dog breeds, crossbreeds, and mixed breeds.

Ms. Joey McDonald:

"Your insight and expertise in raising dogs is unlike anything I've ever read or seen before. You truly have a gift, and I'm just so glad that you've shared it for clueless people like me. I'm also so glad that I found this now, before I got a puppy, so that I can be completely prepared for when I finally get my little companion. I'm going to recommend your site to everyone I know who has a dog!"

Dog breed rescue groups offer dogs who have been evaluated in a home setting, so they can tell you how the dog behaves as part of a family.

David Needham

"When I decided to start looking for a dog for my family, my son said we should adopt a dog instead of buying a puppy from a breeder. So I bought your book and we learned about the advantages of adopting adult dogs...it totally convinced me that we were doing the right thing for our family. I called some of the dog rescue organizations you recommended and we went to visit three dogs. We did the temperament tests in your book and one of the dogs was clearly the winner! We are now the proud owners of Willie Wonderdog. Thank you so much for walking us through the adoption steps....without your book we wouldn't have known where to start or how to choose the right dog for us."

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Adopting a Dog From a Dog Breed Rescue Group

By Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2010

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Dog breed rescue groups, unlike animal shelters and humane societies, don't have a central location where dogs are housed for public viewing.

Instead, a dog rescue group is a small group of dedicated dog lovers who maintain a network of temporary foster homes. When a dog is turned over to a rescue group, he is placed into a foster home for an evaluation period. The foster family provides health care and basic training while the rescue group searches for the right permanent home -- which might be YOU.

Some dog rescue groups specialize in one breed (like Pug Rescue of Sacramento). Others accept several related breeds (Northeast All-Retriever Rescue). Still others accept all breeds, crosses, and mixes.

Advantages of dog breed rescue groups over animal shelters

• A rescue dog, as opposed to an animal shelter dog, has been evaluated in a home setting and the foster family can usually tell you a lot about the dog's habits and behaviors. They know if he's housebroken, if he barks a lot, if he likes children, if he gets along with other dogs and cats.
• A rescue dog has usually received some housebreaking, socialization, and training from the foster family.
• A rescue dog will always be spayed or neutered, and has had any health problems treated (or at least diagnosed and treatment begun).

Disadvantages of dog breed rescue groups

• Dogs from rescue groups have similar disadvantages as dogs from the animal shelter -- uncertain behavior and health. Quite a few dogs in rescue have been abused, are shy, and need some behavioral rehabilitation.
• The vast majority of dogs offered by rescue groups are adolescents or adults. (Though this is only a disadvantage if your heart is set on a puppy.)
• Uncommon breeds may have almost no dogs available through rescue.
• Even with a popular breed, you won't have a whole catalog of choices! You can't call up a Dachshund rescue group, for example, and order a miniature, longhaired, black and tan, 8 month old female who loves cats. A dog breed rescue group will have whatever dogs they have at the time and if they think you might be a good match for a specific dog, that's the one you will get to consider.
• It's usually more expensive ($100 to $400) to adopt a dog from a rescue group than from an animal shelter or humane society. But keep in mind that the rescue group has neutered the dog, treated health problems, started a flea and heartworm preventative program, provided grooming, and invested one-on-one time and effort in basic training and socialization. Rescue groups do NOT make money -- indeed, their adoption fees often don't even begin to cover their costs.
• It can be difficult to adopt a dog from a rescue group. There is often a waiting list and you need to fill out a lengthy questionnaire, provide references, submit to an interview, and often allow a visit to your home, as though you were trying to adopt a child. Most dog breed rescue people try to be very careful with their dogs, so their adoption requirements are often strict.
  
  

  If you find this kind of screening process offensive or intrusive, a rescue group might not be a good source for you.

If you think a dog breed rescue group might be a good source for you, I hope you'll consider using my book as a guide to help you navigate the rescue process . . .

Everything you need to know about adopting a dog from a rescue group

"Read this book BEFORE you get a dog. Don't make the mistakes other dog buyers have made, or you might end up with an unhealthy, bad-tempered pet."

How To Buy a Good Dog includes. . . How to find rescue groups The typical adoption process -- what to expect Questions you'll be asked by a rescue group The adoption contract -- what to expect -- and what to watch out for How to use a simple walk-on-a-leash test to evaluate a dog's suitability as a pet The four types of handling tests you should do with a rescue dog What you can learn about a dog by simply playing with him for a few minutes How to test for possessiveness and aggression in a seemingly friendly dog What to look for in a simple check of a dog's eyes, ears, nose, skin, gait, and more Plus, How To Buy a Good Dog . . . Helps you sort out what kind of dog to get -- the pros and cons of purebred dogs, crossbred dogs, and mixed breed dogs. Helps you choose the right breed based on 17 key characteristics Compares male and female dogs Compares young puppies, older puppies, adolescent dogs, adult dogs Compares animal shelters, rescue groups, performance breeders, show breeders, pet breeders, pet shops, and owners giving their dogs away Learn more about How To Buy a Good Dog