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Adopting a dog is a big decision, and many individuals don’t choose dog adoption lightly. However, anxiety and worries over a dog you have adopted from a rescue organization, shelter, or even a breeder can take over your life once you have brought your new dog home. If you feel more like you shouldn’t have adopted a dog, you may wonder what your next steps are. Our article advises you to work through these feelings and figure out when you should consider returning your dog, in addition to the other considerations you must make before every dog adoption.
Is It Possible to Regret Dog Adoption?
It is possible to regret dog adoption, and many individuals may have these feelings as they start to get accustomed to a new routine with their dog. Changes can be difficult, and most shelter or rescue dogs take a few days up to several months to completely adjust to their new life alongside you. You may discover new sides of your dog’s personality each day, as well as new things about yourself and how you interact with your dog, which might feel overwhelming at times.
However, many individuals find that these feelings of regret and anxiety over their new dog often pass as a new routine gets set in place. Once you and your dog get accustomed to life alongside each other and you become familiar with each other’s personalities, you can relax a little bit and start enjoying your time together.
Can I Return My Dog to a Shelter?
Many individuals may wonder before or after adopting their dog whether they can return their pup to the shelter or organization they rescued their dog from. In most cases, the rescue or shelter will accept the dog back, as a dog that is in a shelter and waiting for their forever family is better than a dog that is not being cared for properly.
That being said, most shelters and rescue organizations have strict standards in place for their adoptees that decrease the chances of a dog being returned. This is to ensure that dogs have the best chance of finding their forever homes and to prevent them from being constantly returned, which can traumatize a dog and make it harder for them to find their forever home.
How Do I Know When It’s Time to Return My Dog?
There are a few circumstances where it is a better idea to return your dog to a shelter or rescue and let them find a more suitable home – not every home and every dog is right for each other, and it’s important to recognize this so that you can make the best choice for the dog and for your household.
It may be time to return your dog if they are not getting along well with other dogs in the home and fighting; some tension as dogs adapt to their new lifestyle together is generally expected, but dogs that regularly fight, bite, growl, and try to seriously harm each other are not a good fit.
You may also need to return your new dog if they are overly aggressive to someone in your house, not settling in well to your routine or lifestyle (for example, you may be away at work all day and they need more attention), or you cannot financially provide for them. This typically happens in cases where your new dog develops certain medical conditions or issues that were unknown at adoption, and you are now unable to support them.
Things to Consider Before Adoption
To reduce the chances of regretting your dog adoption or adding a dog that isn’t a good fit into your lifestyle, you should take the following into consideration. These items will help you evaluate whether or not you can adopt a dog and what kind of dog will be suitable for you and your home.
1. Your Lifestyle
Taking into account your lifestyle is incredibly important when you start to decide if you should adopt a dog or not. You need to ensure that you can support a dog and that you have the time to care for your dog. Individuals who are almost never home due to work or other obligations may not be the best household for a dog, especially one that needs lots of exercise and attention.
2. Your Household
The other individuals in your household are also important to consider as you think about dog adoption. You should make sure that all the members of your family are interested in owning a dog, as fear or anxiety about a dog from one person can create an atmosphere of tension when you finally get your dog. You should also think about whether or not any existing animals in your home will get along with a new dog, in addition to ensuring any new dog you adopt will not chase or try to play rough with your existing animals.
3. Your Finances
Financially supporting your dog is a part of responsible dog ownership, and you should be sure that you can provide for your new dog and any other animals in your household once you have them adopted. Financial support for your dog can include things like regular veterinary care, emergency veterinary care, food, toys, and other necessary items to keep your new dog happy and healthy during their time with you.
4. Your Rescue Dog
Always evaluate the personality of your rescue dog, and be sure that any dog you adopt will fit well into your household. Of course, you cannot always be sure how a dog’s personality will be once they are truly settled into your home, but shelter and rescue staff should be able to inform you whether or not a dog will fit in well into a home with children, other animals like cats or dogs, or if they have certain behavioral issues and medical problems that will need extra care.
When adopting a rescue dog, always think realistically about what you can and cannot support and what you are willing to work with or train in your dog.
Reasons to Not Adopt a Dog
In addition to thinking about your lifestyle, home, and the type of dog you wish to adopt, it’s important to also factor in the following reasons not to adopt a dog. By avoiding these reasons, you may be able to make a more informed decision about adopting and caring for a new dog.
- Do not adopt a dog as a gift for someone else or as a way to teach responsibility – if the individual you are adopting a dog for shows no interest in the dog and you also don’t want to care for it, you could end up with a dog that is neglected, unhappy and needs to be returned to find a more suitable home.
- Do not adopt a dog just because they look cute or some other impulsive decision. n Adding a dog to your life needs to have some thought and consideration. Adopting a dog on impulse or because you liked the way they looked might lead to regrets and the adoption of a dog that doesn’t suit your home.
- Do not adopt a dog because you think owning one will change your life – in many ways, dog adoption does change people and allows individuals to form strong bonds with their new dogs. However, you shouldn’t adopt a dog as part of a plan to make you exercise, go out more, or do something similar. You should adopt a dog because you want to raise them and love them, with the added bonus of more exercise and time spent outdoors.
Avoiding these reasons not to adopt a dog can help you figure out if dog ownership is actually the right choice for you. This is something to be sure about before adopting to avoid feelings of regret and needing to return your new dog so they can find a more suitable forever home.
FAQs About Dog Adoption
Dog adoption can be a scary process, and you may have a few questions or concerns before adopting a new dog. Our answers to frequently asked questions about dog adoption can help put any important worries to rest.
Does Returning a Dog Make Me a Bad Person?
Returning a dog to a shelter doesn’t make you a bad person, as long as you did your due diligence when adopting and you adopted for the right reasons. Sometimes, certain dogs just aren’t a fit for certain individuals and lifestyles, and while most shelters and rescues do their best to place dogs properly and avoid these situations, they do still occur.
If you do need to return a dog you adopted because they would simply be happier off and better cared for in a different home, then you shouldn’t feel bad about putting the dog’s care and your best interests first.
Will a Shelter Make Me Wait for a Rescue Dog?
You may often encounter a waitlist or a waiting period before you are allowed to bring a rescue dog home. This period is used to evaluate your household and your suitability for caring for your dog and to give you some time to think about whether or not you really want to adopt that specific dog. The waitlist that shelters use helps to ensure that potential adoptees are fully interested in adding a dog to their lives and ready to care for their new dog properly.
How Long Should I Wait Before Returning My Dog?
If you are having trouble with a dog that you’ve adopted and you believe that you will need to return them to the shelter due to issues with them fitting in or your inability to give them the care they need, you should return your dog as soon as possible. Keeping your dog longer when you know they aren’t a good fit will only result in more difficult feelings as you eventually return your dog to the shelter. A more extended time in your home can also confuse your dog when they end up being returned to the shelter or rescue to find a more suitable home.
Speak to shelter or rescue organization staff if you have questions and concerns about the happiness of your dog and what their process for returning an adopted dog may be.
Is It Possible to Train My Dog to Fit In?
It is possible to train your dog so they are better fit in your home, though this is generally reserved for dogs that are more shy or those who aren’t the best when it comes to playing with other dogs or children in your home. You will need to train your dog consistently, use lots of patience, and ensure that all interactions with other animals and children in your home are monitored to make sure that everyone stays safe and uninjured.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that if your new dog is presenting a serious safety threat to other animals or people in your home, they may not be a good fit, and returning your dog to the shelter might be in the best interest of everyone.
How Do I Get Rid of Dog Adoption Anxiety?
If you’ve just adopted your dog and you’re starting to panic about whether or not your home is the right fit or what to do with your new dog, take a few deep breaths. Chances are, you’ve thought about this decision and ensured that your dog is a good fit for your lifestyle and any other animals in your home. It takes some time to become adjusted to a new routine, so take a few days and don’t hesitate to contact any friends or family to talk through your concerns.
After a few days or weeks, you and your new dog will start getting into the routine of things, and your dog adoption anxiety will likely disappear. That being said, if your new dog is showing extreme signs of fear or aggression or other animals in your home are having a hard time getting along with them, you may need to consider other options for your new dog.
Putting Your Adopted Pup First
Dog adoption can be a life-changing choice, and it’s important that you spend time thinking about the realities of adopting a dog and whether or not you are able to care for a pup properly before you add one to your home. In some cases, it might become evident that you need to return a dog to the shelter in order for them to live their happiest life elsewhere. As long as you are doing your due diligence when adopting and trying your best to give your dog a good home, you shouldn’t feel bad if you need to return your new dog to a shelter.