For most people, adopting a dog is a matter of conscience. Animal shelters have thousands of dogs, which may be euthanized unless someone gives them a second chance. These dogs deserve loving human companionship as much, if not more than pups from a fancy breeder.

That said, it is important that your decision to adopt a dog is the right one, for you and your new companion. Think about the following points carefully, and be honest. If you feel you cannot meet the challenges of adopting a dog, the kindest course is to opt out, leaving dogs available for those who can.

You have to invest your time

First of all, you must be prepared to invest a lot of time, patience and affection in your adopted dog. Most dogs available for adoption have typically had a difficult start in life. They may have been abused, abandoned or left at the shelter by owners who found they could not give them adequate time and attention.

As a result, most adopted dogs have varying degrees of emotional and behavioural problems. For instance, they may lack basic training, be intimidated by a certain tone of voice, or frightened by sudden noises. Whatever their problems, it will be up to you to overcome them. Adopted dogs have to unlearn certain behaviours as well as learn new ones. Most of all, they need to learn trust.

On the positive side, adopted dogs who finally make a connection with loving owners are ultimately remarkably loyal and eager to please. To help you make this connection, pet shelters typically provide plenty of background information and guidance.

Help your dog adjust to children

If you have small children, you need to be sure that they will understand and follow some basic rules before adopting a dog. For instance, that must understand that pets are not toys and can (and often do) react badly to rough handling. Also, that your adopted dog needs gentle handling more than most. If a child is to be responsible for feeding and exercising your dog, you must be prepared to make sure these tasks are carried out.

A new pet is cause for excitement. We like to think our pet is excited too when we take it