Tips for Dog Owners
 Picking the Right Adult Dog
Picking the right adult dog is an important decision. Prior planning is the most important thing you can do. You'll get a good idea what your family prefers and the Society's staff can help further, giving information the dog's background, habits and personality. Here are a few ideas to discuss with your family before you start looking for a new four-footed family member.
1. Talk to your family about what kind of dog you would like and then search for the dog together. Everyone in your family should get a chance to give input. You don't want a situation where you love the dog and everyone else in the family could care less about it. You want a family pet that everyone is in love with so choose one as a family.
2. Ask yourself how much time does your family have to devote to your dog? Will someone be able and willing to walk him everyday? Discuss who will do the feedings, the backyard scooping, bathing, take him to the veterinarian, etc.
3. Set guidelines on the dog's size and energy level. Do you want a big dog that will lay around and do a great rug impression? Or a small dog whose constantly on the go? Is it realistic with your family's lifestyle to get a dog that needs to run a couple miles every day? If you're renting, are there weight or height restrictions for pets?
4. Are your children ready for a dog? Talk with them about compassion and respect for animals and give examples. Do they understand the time and care the dog will need? Do they know what's appropriate - gently petting the dog's head - and what's not - pulling on the dog's ears or tail?
5. Are there any huge changes in store for your family in the next six months? Lifestyle changes such as moving, a new baby, children starting school or college for the first time, marriage, longer hours at work, and the like can add chaos to family routines and it may not be the best time to introduce another fuzzy variable.
6. Take your time. Reinforce to your family that this will be their pet for the next 10-15 years. Impulse adopting may led to tearful returning of the dog later. Discuss, research and look and you'll find the perfect Fido for the family. Be sure to use resources like the Kansas Humane Society, books, magazines and web sites to find even more information.
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