Certified Dog Trainer Kristi Benson is all for adopting dogs. "I would encourage anyone and everyone who is thinking about getting a dog to consider a dog from a rescue or shelter," she told Bored Panda.
"Homeless dogs are, generally, homeless due to circumstances outside their control (such as the people in their lives experiencing difficulties), not because they are somehow lesser than purebred or purpose-bred dogs. Thousands of beautiful, charming, silly, robust, energic, chill, and well-mannered dogs can be found in rescues and shelters every day!"
"All dogs, no matter their origin, are their own creatures with their own set of challenges and strengths," the dog trainer points out.
But not all people choose to adopt. Some folks want pure-bred dogs, and I myself will admit I used to be one of those people. When I was a kid, I wanted a pure beagle so bad I got my parents to buy me one. Back then, I didn't know about what goes on in puppy mills, and if I had known, I certainly would've done a 180 in a heartbeat.
#2 Elsa Was Found In A Ditch With A Broken Leg, A Broken Jaw, And A Large Abcess In Her Neck. I Just Couldn't Say No To Bringing Her Home. It's Been Six Months Since And She's The Silliest Dog
#3 I Found Him Badly Attacked And Injured, Left To Die. A Few Months Later, He’s Doing Great In His Forever Home
Sadly, purchasing a dog from good breeders is becoming less and less possible. Kristi says that getting a dog from a breeder can be beneficial, but many people might be unaware they're getting a dog from a puppy mill and not a certified breeder.
"A great dog breeder will focus on the physical and behavioral health of their pups and will be committed to finding homes that are a good match for the dogs they sell," she explains. "However, the vast majority of puppies who are sold to the unsuspecting public are not from great breeders -- they are from puppy mills."
"Puppy mills are horrific and dangerous for the parent dogs," dog trainer Kristi Benson goes on, "who live in absolutely abhorrent conditions, and the puppies, who don't experience the quality socialization they need and may suffer medically and behaviourally, along with their new human family, as they grow."
#4 Before And After. We Adopted Lily From A Humane Society Near Los Angeles Six Years Ago. Now Lily Is The Happiest Little Girl
Due to the rising tide of negative press and the shift in public opinion about puppy mills, their owners now go out of their way to mask their practices. "They produce beautiful websites with pictures of lovely family scenes with healthy dogs and puppies," Kristi explains.
"A good search on figuring out if a puppy-selling website is a front for a puppy mill should be the first step for those who choose to buy a purebred or purpose-bred dog, unless they know the breeder personally," the dog trainer adds.
#8 Two Years Ago, We Rescued The Dirtiest, Most Diseased, And Starving Tripod Dog. Today, He Is Gorgeous
#9 This Is Gertie Before vs. After. She Was Dumped At The Shelter At 8 Weeks Old And Was There For Four Months. However, We Adopted Gertie, And We Love Her Very Much
As a seasoned dog trainer, Kristi says that bringing home a rescue puppy won't be that different than a puppy from a breeder. The most important rule still remains: Prepare!
"Read good puppy books written by qualified positive reinforcement trainers, which focus on socialization instead of punishment and obedience," Kristi recommends. "If at all possible, choose a puppy class with lots of free play and socializing."
What if you're bringing home an adult dog and not a puppy? "[This] may include some challenges, but these will be dog-specific and not necessarily origin-specific," Benson says. "If the dog is in need of a bit of remedial manners training, a great dog training class will be a good option. If the dog might have some fears, then a good positive reinforcement trainer can help."
#10 My Recent Foster, Leiah, Was Saved from Euthanasia. It Took Many Weeks Of Medicated Baths To Get Her Hair Growing Back And Extra Feedings To Get Her To A Normal Weight
#11 It’s Been A Year Since I Adopted Kenai. You Don’t Notice A Change Until You Look At The Old Pictures
#12 Cotton's Before And After, One Year Apart. He Was Rescued In A Hoarding Case With 30 Other Dogs (All Suffering From Mange And Malnutrition). He Went From Under 40 Pounds To 80 In 12 Months
"If the dog needs to brush up on their house-training skills after a stay in a kennel, a few weeks of training might be needed to hone this skill as well." Kristi has a house-training course for owners who struggle to housebreak their adult dogs.
But just because a dog comes from a shelter or rescue doesn't mean owners will face challenges. "They need care, exercise, good food, vet care, enrichment, and all the things that we love providing for our dogs! But these are things that we must provide to all the pets in our care," Kristi points out.
#14 Our New Rescue Pup, Tiki. Before Us, She Was Chained, Starved, And Left With A Broken Leg. We Promised To Give Her The Best Life She Deserves
#15 One Year Later Our Sweet Ruby Is Thriving
Kristi says that reaching out to a professional dog trainer is always a safe bet, whether the dog is a rescue or not. "I would encourage every dog guardian to attend a dog training class taught by a [credited], positive-reinforcement dog trainer. Dog training has changed colossally in the last few decades, and we are so much better at helping you and your dog live comfortably and joyfully with each other than we used to be!"
"This is especially the case with puppies, who benefit enormously from the safe environment of a well-handled puppy class to play with other puppies and learn important life skills, such as how to be comfortable at the veterinary office and have their nails trimmed."
#16 Our Beautiful Rescue Boy. His Name Is Kung Fu
#17 When We Adopted Boone, He Was Only 20 Pounds, Malnourished, Wounded From Attacks, Covered In Mange, Smelled Like A Sewer, And Afraid Of Everything. Now, He Is A 50-Pound Sweet And Derpy Dog
#18 My Neighbor Called Me Because She Saw An Emaciated Dog On The Side Of The Road. This Is Her Progress Since Rescue. She Had To Be Hospitalized For 2 Weeks And Is Recovering
But Kristi warns people to look out for unqualified trainers. "Sadly, dog training remains an unregulated field, which means that anyone, no matter their educational history or approach to changing a dog's behavior, can call themselves a professional and take your money."
"So, do some digging around before you slap your credit card down and sign up for the closest class. If there are no good trainers close by, there are oodles of great online classes for everything from basic manners to specialized training and even [how] to deal with behavior issues."
#19 From Being Dumped On A Construction Site To A Couch Potato Who Wears A Cozy Winter Jacket For Walks
#20 Met This Poor Abandoned Girl At A Work Site. Couldn’t Take Her In My Work Truck But Came Back 3 Hours Later And She Was Still There. She Has A New Home Now
