Adopting. 13 Tips to Finding Your Perfect Rescue Dog

When you choose to adopt a rescue dog, not only are you gaining a new family member, but you’re saving a life. And in turn, another life can be saved as there is now another spot available at the shelter.

There are so many dogs waiting to find their perfect home that there is a lot of choice.


So how can you be sure to choose the right dog for you and your family?


Here’s a few things I’d consider when adopting:

  1. Energy levels
    This would be one of the most important things to get right when adopting a dog. The energy levels should match yours. If you want to go running with the dog for miles every day then you don’t want to choose a couch potato. And vice versa. If you’re not a high-energy person then a high-energy dog will be high maintenance for you and you may not be able to keep up.
  2. Size
    Ideally your dog will have plenty of room at his new place but keep in mind that size and energy level do not always relate to each other the way you may think. For example, did you know that Great Danes are known as great apartment dogs as they are so chilled? And that greyhounds are known to be couch potatoes?
  1. Coat type
    If you’re considering a long coated dog, be aware that all that hair has to go somewhere so make sure you can handle it. Longer coated breeds need regular grooming.

You’ll have to make a long term commitment to either spending time on it yourself, or spending money on it through someone else. Some dogs don’t shed but then they need regular clipping so make sure you prepare for the ongoing expense.

  1. Health
    Does the dog have any pre-existing health problems? Or are they a breed or type that are prone to certain ailments? It’s perfectly fine to adopt a dog with a health problem as long as you’re prepared for how to manage it.
  2. Temperament
    This is another huge one! Probably most important is the dog’s temperament. Is the dog friendly to people? To other dogs? To children or all ages? Does the dog have any phobias that could make him difficult to manage? These are all questions you should know the answer to before making your final choice.
  3. Training needs
    All dogs need training, but it’s good to be aware that some dogs may need more training than others. Does the dog you are considering know any basic commands? Are they house-trained? If not, do you know how to go about training the dog? A good place to start is to have our free rescue dog checklist for settling in on hand.
  4. Any serious behavior problems?
    Things like aggression or separation anxiety are very difficult to live with and take a long time to fix. It’s worth knowing about any major behavioral issues before making your final choice.
  1. History
    Knowing that dog’s history can be a blessing or a curse. I say this because one thing I see happen a lot is that if the dog has had a bad past, the owner feels so bad for the dog that they allow them to get away with terrible bad habits. It’s important to move on to a happy and positive future by treating the dog like any other well-loved dog, but also with the same rules.
  1. Your emotions
    As much as you’ll want to take every dog home, you need to make the decision that’s right for you. Choosing a dog because you feel sad for it because no one can get near it is not going to be an easy journey for anyone involved if you’re not a trained behavior expert. By the same token, choosing a dog solely on looks isn’t always the best decision.
  2. Time Commitments
    How much time can you spend with your new family member? Just like energy levels, dogs vary as to how much time they need you to commit to them in training, exercise and just quality time. Research breeds and types that you are considering to get a good idea of their needs.
  3. Expenses
    The cost of both purchasing and owning a dog can also vary depending on the age, breed and size too.
  • Other dogs at home Do you already have another dog/s at home? Make sure your existing dog is likely to get along with your new dog. Just like matching energy levels to you, it’s a good idea to choose a dog with similar energy levels to your current dog.
  1. Age
    Experience puppy-hood or skip the puppy stage? There’s often puppies available in shelters. If the breed mix is unknown, it could be a bit of a gamble as to what you’ll end up with but you can still get a great idea of the temperament and energy levels from a young age. Typically most shelter dogs are young dogs but past the small puppy stage.There are also many older dogs in shelters and they often get over-looked. Could you open up your home to a golden oldie? The time spent with you may be less, but could be twice as rewarding.

While all of these points are important, when you know, you know. And sometimes… You just know. Sometimes people find their doggy soul mate, sparks fly and they drive off into the sunset…

Other times, the bond needs to build up over time. And that’s perfectly okay too.

Either way, there’s several things you can do to increase the bond between you and your new addition as well as to set the house rules in place. See the free Rescue Dog Checklist download to help your dog settle in, bond with you and learn the ropes of their new home.

May you find the perfect rescue dog to adopt and give them the happily ever after that they so deserve…

Here’s the top resources you need to create the most successful and rewarding relationship with your dog through training:

🐕 Get the free ebook that answers the question, ‘Why Does My Dog Do That?” and how you can change it - Get the Why Does My Dog Ebook HERE

🐕 Join the Virtual Dog School self-paced online training program and turn your dog into your dream best friend - SIGN UP HERE

🐕 Take the free reactivity training video series - SIGN UP HERE

🐕 Join the reactivity program, Frantic To Focused, which has helped dog owners all over the world to enjoy walks with their dogs again - JOIN HERE

Featured Course:

Frantic to Focused

This comprehensive course takes you step by step on how to get your dog from a frantic dog to a focused dog on walks. EVEN around other dogs.

Learn More

Popular Ebook: Training Matters

Looking for information online can be so confusing as there is so much conflicting advice. In Training Matters, we explain not just the how of dog training, but the why, so that you know what to do and why to do it this way.

Learn More

Join the Dog Matters Academy!

REACTIVITY SERIES

Dog Matters. All Rights Reserved © 2025

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this website are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I may earn a small commission. We only recommend products and services we endorse and using our links does not affect the purchase price for you, in fact it may save you money. Thank you for your support.

Follow Dog Matters: