Petfinder.com The Adopted Dog Bible: Your One-Stop Resource for Choosing, Training, and Caring for Your Sheltered or Rescued Dog

530 Pages·2009·5.41 MB·English

by  Petfinder.com

Your One-Stop
Resource for Choosing,
Training, and Caring
for Your Sheltered or
Rescued Dog
i
ii The Petfi nder.com Adopted Dog Bible
v
Petfi nder.com

The
Adopted
Dog
Bible
KIM SAUNDERS
Vice President of Shelter Outreach and Public Relations
This book is dedicated to the HEROES who dedicate themselves to making life
better for homeless pets:
the staff and volunteers who run the shelters and animal rescue groups
the foster moms and dads who make room for “just one more”
the donors who make it fi nancially possible
the good Samaritans who take the time to help a lost pet get back home, or
to a safe place
the individuals who make the choice to ADOPT and save a life instead of
purchasing a pet
and the dedicated Petfi nder team I’ve had the honor of being a part of for
these many years
And of course to Kona, who introduced me to the world of rescue and has been
the truest partner I could ever hope for; Mocha, the princess I let go once, but
found her way back; and Mojo, who reminds me every day to laugh and enjoy
life and that there is good in the world.
x
Contents
Foreword by Betsy Saul x
Introduction xiv
1. Shelters, Rescue Groups, Ads—Oh M y! Where to
Find the Right Dog 1
Gimme Shelter 1
Rescue Me! 6
Puppy Personals 8
The Story for Strays 11
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Kirby 15
Resources 15
2. Pre- Adoption Preliminaries 16
Will a Dog Fit into Your Life? 17
Describing Your Dream Dog 24
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Boomer 40
Resources 40
3. Breed All About It 41
Doggie G roup- Think 41
Good Sports: The Sporting Group 42
Elvis’s Favorites: The Hound Group 44
Busy, Busy, Busy: The Terrier Group 47
Contents iv
Great Big Dogs in Very Little Packages: The Toy Group 52
Take This Job and Fetch It: The Working Group 53
Movers (But Not Shakers): The Herding Group 55
Odds and Ends: The Non- Sporting Group 57
A Little of This and a Little of That: Mixing It Up 58
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Feebee and Rosie 61
Resources 61
4. Getting Prepped for Parenthood 62
Checklist of Supplies 62
Dog- proofi ng Your Home, Inside and Out 74
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Pinny 80
Resources 80
5. Choosing the Right Dog for You 81
Before You Go 81
What to Ask the Shelter Staff 84
At the Shelter: Guidelines for Making the Right Match 86
At a Foster Home or Adoption Event 91
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Spike 95
Resources 96
6. Bringing Your New Hound Home 97
Picking Up Your Pup 98
The Drive Home 99
What to Expect During the First T wenty-f our Hours 99
Sweet Dreams: Sleeping Arrangements 101
What to Expect During the First Week 102
Your Behavior: Managing Stress 104
Full H ouse: Introducing the New Arrival to Your Other Pets 104
The Truth About Cats and Dogs 106
Doctor, Doctor! The First Vet Visit 107
What to Expect During the First, Second, and Third Months 109
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Mia 111
Resources 111
7. Basic R e-T raining 112
How Dogs Operate 113
Becoming a Benevolent Dictator 113
Basic Equipment and Management Tools 115
Training Techniques 119
v Contents
Training Some Basic Behaviors 121
Make Your Dog a Good Canine Citizen 130
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Gizmo 133
8. Modifying Undesirable Behaviors 134
Scary Sounds 134
A Touching Problem 137
House-t raining 138
Modifying Problem Behaviors 143
Enlisting Professional Help 150
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Nike 153
Resources 154
9. Dinner’s On 155
Where Should You Feed Your Dog? 156
How Often Should You Feed Your Dog? 156
How Much Should You Feed Your Dog? 158
The Diet Dilemma: What Should You Feed Your Dog? 161
Obesity—Is My Dog Fat or Just at the Top of His Weight Class? 176
What if Your Dog Is Underweight? 178
That’s a Good Boy! Finding the Right Treats 179
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Kiki 182
Resources 187
10. Walks, Workouts, and Play 188
Walking Basics 188
Meet and Greet 193
Workouts 203
Play 207
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Nestlé 211
Resources 212
11. Washing and Grooming for Good Looks and Good Health 213
Grooming Essentials 214
Caring for Canine Coats and Skin 217
Bath Time 225
Ear Care 228
Eye Care 229
Oral Health Care 230
Photographic Insert
Foot and Nail Care 231
Anal Gland Care 235
Contents vi
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Louis 239
Resources 239
12. Neutering Your Dog 240
What Does Neuter Mean? 240
The Benefi ts of Neutering for Your Dog 241
The Benefi ts of Neutering for Your Community 242
Is My Dog Too Young to Be Neutered? 242
Some Common Myths About Neutering 243
The Future of Sterilization 245
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Buddy 246
Resources 247
13. Anatomy 101: Your Dog, Her Body, and How It Functions 248
The Head 249
The Nose and Mouth 250
The Ears 251
The Eyes 252
The Neck and Body 253
The Tail 254
The Legs and Feet 255
The Skin 256
Coat Types and Textures 256
Coat Colors and Patterns 258
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Bruno 260
Resources 260
14. Health Basics for Your Adopted Dog 261
Infectious Diseases 261
Vaccinations 265
Signs and Symptoms of an Injury or Illness 270
First Aid 411 278
Emergency Procedures 280
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Sarah 286
Resources 287
15. Helping the Healing Pro cess: Caring for Your Sick or Injured Dog 288
Work with Your Veterinarian 289
Work with Your Vet’s Staff 292
If Your Dog Is Hospitalized 294
Nursing Your Dog 296
vii Contents
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Ralph 307
Resources 307
16. Managing Problems of the Outer Dog 308
Eyes 308
Ears 322
Skin and Coat 326
Allergies 334
External Parasites 337
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Sam 343
Resources 343
17. Managing Problems of the Inner Dog 345
The Circulatory System 345
The Digestive System 351
The Urinary System 362
The Respiratory System 367
The Musculoskeletal System 368
The Endocrine System 376
The Immune System 379
Cancer 381
The Nervous System 384
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Oscar 389
Resources 390
18. Holistic Medicine 391
What Is Holistic Veterinary Medicine? 391
How Is Conventional Medicine Different from
Holistic Medicine? 392
Types of Holistic Medicine 392
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Arnold 405
Resources 405
19. On the Road (or Plane, Train, or Boat) with Your Dog 407
Canine Cruising 407
Flying the “Furry” Skies 411
Trains, Boats, and Buses 414
Foreign Travel 414
Time for a Break: Traveling Without Your Dog 415
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Belle 420
Resources 420
Contents viii
20. Changes at Home 421
Back to Work, Back to School 421
Time to Move 426
Your New Relationship: Dog Versus Date 429
And Baby Makes . . . ? 430
Dealing with Divorce or Death 432
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Koda 435
Resources 436
21. When You Must Give Up Your Dog 437
Can You Keep Her? 438
Neuter Now! 440
Finding Prospects 441
Dealing with Applicants 443
Finalizing the Adoption 445
Using a Shelter 446
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Coby 447
Resources 449
22. The Toughest Word: Euthanasia 450
“How Do I Know When It’s Time?” 452
Euthanasia Versus a Natural Death 453
Preparing for the Inevitable 454
Saying G ood- bye 455
Coping with Your Loss 456
If Your Dog Dies Unexpectedly 462
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Dexter 463
Dog Biscuits for the Soul: Moose 465
Resources 466
Appendix: Saving Dogs on a Larger Scale 469
More Time than Money? Volunteer! 469
More Money than Time? Donate! 472
Resources 474
Index 475
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Credits
Cover
Copyright
About the Publisher
ix Contents