Adopting a dog is a decision that will shape your daily life for the next decade (potentially more), which is why it deserves more than just a few basic questions before signing the paperwork. Asking the right questions helps you understand the dog’s history, health, temperament, and needs before bringing them home. This ultimately helps you not only avoid surprises, but also makes sure that your dog is a good match for your lifestyle and household.
In this article, we will cover the essential questions to ask when adopting a dog, along with why each one matters and what to listen for in the answers. Read on to know these answers so that you’re fully prepared for your next shelter visit or adoption interview.
Most Important Questions to Ask When Adopting a Dog
Below are the top questions to ask when adopting a dog. Keep in mind that even though shelter staff, rescue volunteers, and previous owners may not have answers to every single one, directing these questions will allow you to learn more, ensuring you’re fully prepared for the dog you intend to adopt.
1) What Is the Dog’s History?
This is an essential question that helps you understand where the dog came from, whether they were a stray, surrendered by an owner, or rescued from a difficult situation. It provides the context you need to better understand the dog and ultimately determine if you two are suitable for each other.
2) What Is Their Medical History and Current Health Status?
Before any temperament traits or individual quirks, always ask for vaccination records, spay/neuter status, microchip information, and any known medical conditions or past surgeries. Knowing chronic conditions like allergies and heartworm treatment can mean ongoing costs and care, which you should be ready for, both for your and the dog’s future well-being.
3) How Old Is the Dog?
Age influences everything from energy levels, frequency of visiting the vet, and their individual care needs throughout the day. Knowing the dog’s age, even if it is a rough assessment, will ensure you set the right expectations for the daily routine with them.
4) What Breed or Mix Is the Dog?
Similar to age, the breed or breed mix of the dog has a direct impact on their overall behavior, everything from energy levels and instincts to feeding and grooming requirements. Even an educated guess about the breed can help you anticipate all these, especially if the dog you want to adopt is still a puppy, as breed/breed mix is what determines adult size.
5) Do They Have Any Known Behavioral Issues?
Separation anxiety, leash reactivity, fear of strangers, destructive chewing, and all the other potential behavioral issues are things that you must know beforehand. It is critical for prospective owners to be honest about what they can manage, as some behavioral issues call for an experienced owner to manage, such as aggression with a human bite history.
6) How Much Exercise Does the Dog Need?
Exercise is one of the most important care needs of a dog. A high-energy dog in a low-activity household can easily lead to a failed adoption, so the dog’s energy level, regardless of age and breed, deserves a question of its own. Ask how the dog spends their day, how they behave after exercise, and how much overall daily activity they realistically need, to know if everything matches your schedule and lifestyle.
7) How Well Is the Dog Trained?
The overall training level of the dog is a must-know for every prospective owner. This allows the prospective owner to set realistic expectations about the training commitment. If the dog already knows basic commands, it can allow the owner to build on top of them to teach house rules, which will help with the adaptation process. If the dog has little to no training, it means that the new owner has to start from scratch.
8) What Adoption Fees, Requirements, and Policies Apply?
Adoption fees can range from just under $50, to $500 or more at rescues and with previous owners, so it is best to know about these before thinking that adoption is the cheapest route to adding a dog to your life. Also, ask about requirements like home visits or landlord approval, and whether there’s a trial period or foster-to-adopt option – these are just as critical as learning more about the dog.
9) What Is the Return Policy and Post-Adoption Support?
Even with all the right questions, some matches don’t work out. Ask if the shelter/rescue accepts returns and whether there’s a specific window for this, as well as the post-adoption support they offer. Many organizations provide training resources, behavioral helplines, and discounted vet services to help new adopters succeed. Knowing the support you’ll get can help you lean towards a dog that you otherwise would be scared to adopt.
Knowing the Questions to Ask When Adopting a Dog
We’ve listed many questions to ask when adopting a dog. In addition to our list, don’t forget to add questions that will help you have a successful adoption.
For example, if you have kids, ask whether or not the dog has been around kids, and if so, how the dog behaved. Similarly, ask questions related to your location; for instance, if you live in Florida, ask questions related to training and their tendency to chase wildlife, considering that someone adopting dogs in Florida would need to know these to set realistic expectations.
