There are so many great reasons to adopt a rescue/shelter adult dog. Millions of dogs are killed every year in shelters simply because there are not enough homes for them. Most of these dogs were given up because there was a mismatch in personality with the previous owner, not because there is something wrong with the dog.

Shelters offer a wide variety of dogs; mixed and purebred and even puppies. If you really want to adopt a particular breed there are also many rescue organizations that specialize in particular breeds. Just type in your breed and the word "rescue" and you'll see how many pop up on Internet searches.

Shelters and rescue organizations want to make the best matches possible and will work with you to find your ideal match. They have spent time with the dogs and have gotten to know their needs and what kind of owner would best match those needs. What a great way to find a dog that will fit in with your lifestyle! They also have adoption counselors that you can speak with that can help you find the right kind of dog for you.

They are also always receiving new dogs every day so if you don't find what you are looking for on your first trip, don't be discouraged, you can be put on a waiting list for the kind of dog that may match you the best.

Shelter/Rescue dogs will generally be a lot less expensive to buy than purchasing from a breeder, plus this should include things like: spaying/neutering, shots, deworming, vaccinations, etc.

When you adopt an adult dog you have so many benefits. For example:

1. What you see is what you get. Unlike puppies, you know how big your dog ended up.

2. You can match their personality to your lifestyle-and make the best match! With puppies, it can be hard to determine what kind of adult dog they will be.

3. They are housebroken. Puppies are a lot of work! You need to let them eliminate about every 2 hours and they do not do well alone for long periods of time like an adult dog can.

4. Your adult dog has passed the "chew everything" phase that puppies have.

5. You'll sleep better at night with an adult dog. Puppies are very demanding at night!

6. Puppies need a lot of trips to the Vet for vaccinations, neutering/spaying, etc. Your adult dog should be all set up!

7. With an adult dog you can begin going out right away with your new dog, exploring the world together! With puppies you have to wait until they are all up to date on shots, etc.

8. If the dog is a mixed breed you can have advantages to the best of two or more breeds, plus they are generally healthier and less prone to genetic problems.

To locate your local animal shelter, check the Yellow Pages under "animal shelter," "animal control," or "humane society." Volunteers who have a lot of knowledge and love of a particular breed usually run breed Rescues. They've rescued these particular dogs and keep them in volunteer foster homes until suitable adopters are found. To locate a particular breed rescue you can contact your local shelter or search online.

[PGAA Note: You can contact PGAA for assistance in finding a dog for adoption by sending an e-mail to PGAA Adoption Assistance. Please included the type of dog you're looking for and your zip code.]

This article was contributed by Julie Bjelland Lokhandwala the founder of webDogTrainer

webDogTrainer is a popular website that offers Consultations with Julie, the dog trainer, LIVE about any dog-training related questions you may have! Also on the site you will find more in-depth information on how to train your dog to be the kind of dog you always wanted and how to fix problem behaviors should they occur.

Contact info:
www.webDogTrainer.com
info@webdogtrainer.com