There is no doubt that puppies are cute, cuddly and bundles of fun, so why on earth would you want to adopt a dog?
As the majority of royalties from this lens will go to support Dogs Trust, I have to point out that you can adopt puppies there too, but I would really like to get the point across that there are benefits to adopting an older dog too...
Here are a few reasons why you should consider adopting a dog:

• You get to see the finished package, warts and all. When you take home a puppy, it is easy to go for the cutest, or the most bubbly. What you will not be able to predict is how that pup will turn out as an adult. By adopting an older dog, what you see is what you will get. He will have been assessed by a behaviorist and you will know how he is likely to react to children, other pets, strangers etc..


• House training can be easier. Aside from any issues related to your dog adjusting to his new home, when you pick a dog to adopt, you can choose one who is proven to be already house trained, or is consistently clean in the rehoming kennels. This can be a big plus for some families.


• You can choose a dog based on your lifestyle. When you apply to adopt a dog, you usually fill in a questionnaire. This supplies the rehoming organization information about your lifestyle, your expectations from the dog and how much time and money you can afford to spend on your new pet. This means that there is more chance of you keeping your dog for life than suddenly finding you are not compatible with each other

One other "benefit" that can be a deciding factor for some is that the initial "cost" of adopting a dog (ie, the adoption fee paid to the shelter) is the same regardless of breed. Providing you are compatible with the dog, you can adopt a prestigious breed or a mongrel for the same contribution. Speculators be warned - if you adopt a purebreed dog with the sole purpose of then selling it, Dogs Trust (and probably others) will expect you to sign a contract stating that the dog is returned to them if you cannot keep it. Only loving, permanent prospective homes are welcome!

For all intents and purposes, this lens offers a way to support Dogs Trust (80% of the royalties from this lens will go to Dogs Trust, with the other 20% going direct to the ASPCA), so by simply leaving a rating or comment and sharing this lens with friends or by social bookmarking, you will be doing your bit.

There are other ways to help Dogs Trust, too - especially if you are in the UK or Ireland. Here's how you can help:

#1 Donate your time (by volunteering as a walker or foster carer) or cash directly to your nearest Dogs Trust shelter (don't forget to fill in a tax aid form, so they can get a bit extra from the taxman too ;-])

#2 Donate any spare dog food or bedding and toys

#3 Buy Dogs Trust merchandise! You can do that here: Dogs Trust Catalogue

#4 Recycle your old cellphones and printer cartridges for Dogs Trust. You can get pre paid envelopes to recycle them, with a contribution going to Dogs Trust for every item recycled Here

Deciding to adopt an older dog is likely to be a decision based on the lifestyle of you and your family. Giving a home to an older dog has many advantages to taking on a puppy. He may be more settled, already house trained, leash trained, and probably already spayed or neutered if it has come from a reputable shelter like Dogs Trust. However, there is still a great deal to consider before adopting an older dog, no matter where he comes from.

The first thing to research beforehand is the history of your potential new dog. Find out whether or not he was a stray (and, if so, where he was found). Older dogs are often calmer, having already gone through that mad period known as puppyhood! This will mean you can focus your efforts on more specific training methods when you take him home.

Next, find out why the older dog is now up for adoption. This makes a difference only if the dog has a violent background. It also makes a difference whether the violence was rooted in the dog's situation (eg, physical abuse or neglect) or if the dog simply possesses an aggressive dominance over his own environment. If your dog is going to be around children, it's extremely important that you know ahead of time how your dog acts when kids are about. The one thing you should always remember when searching for a dog to adopt is that most dogs in shelters are there through no fault of their own.

One factor that puts off potential owners from adopting an older dog is the potential health issues that come with age. Nowadays, this should not be a problem if you take on a dog with a "clean bill of health", as it will be really easy to get insurance against high vets bills. A big plus to taking on an older dog from Dog's Trust is that they will often contribute towards vet's bills for any pre-existing condition a dog may have, so that all dogs get a chance of ending their days with a loving family

There are some serious reasons why you should adopt a pet dog or puppy from a shelter rather than go to a pet store or similar buy one.

Let me firstly say that there are many responsible breeders out there whose only goal is to produce a wonderful puppy from excellent bloodlines. Every need of the pup and mother are catered for regardless of cost and both receive love and attention.

Unfortunately, you are not likely to come across one of these dogs in a pet store.

The simple fact is that pet stores and some less than scrupulous breeders are in it for pure profit. The more "product" they can create for the lowest cost, the better. The result of this is the equivalent of battery farming dogs. Conditions are cramped. Hygiene and health care are poor. Bitches are bred continually without rest until their bodies can take no more. At that time, they will probably end up being killed (inhumanely - because it is cheaper) or abandoned and left to fend for themselves. The lucky ones might be rehomed through shelters like Dogs trust if they are found in time.
Then there are the pups produced in this way. How healthy do you think they will be, having been born into such poor conditions? Do you think they get any health care other than the bare minimum to make them saleable? No.

If you want to find out more about puppy mills, you can find some useful information HERE, but please be prepared for some distressing images and videos

When you adopt a dog, there is a chance that he has not received the best training in the past, so it is important that you only use positive dog training methods.

Chet Womach is one of the best dog trainers I have seen who uses positive training methods. You can see a sample of his "hands off" training methods in This Video: (a new browser window or tab will be opened and you will probably have to click twice to play the video)