Adopting a dog: where, how and what to expect

Not every new companion has to be a puppy. Many dogs are waiting for a new home in shelters and with rehoming organisations: young and old dogs, crossbreeds and purebreds. Adoption can be a good choice, provided you approach it as thoughtfully as buying a puppy.

Why adopt?

• You give a dog a second chance.
• With an adult dog you already know a lot about its character, size and health.
• An adult dog is often already house-trained and knows the basics.
• You don’t have to go through the demanding puppy stage if that doesn’t suit your life.

Adoption is not an 'easy' option. Some dogs carry baggage from a difficult past or poor socialisation, and need time and patience.

Where to adopt

• Recognised shelters: in Flanders, animal shelters must be recognised. They know their dogs well and help you choose.
• Breed rescue: many breed clubs and volunteer groups rehome dogs of their breed. They know the breed’s characteristics well.
• Adopting from abroad: several organisations bring dogs from abroad to Belgium, for example Spanish Greyhounds and podencos. Choose an organisation that follows the legal rules: the dog must be microchipped, have an EU pet passport and be vaccinated against rabies, and the organisation must be fully compliant in Belgium.

Before you choose

• Think about what suits you: size, energy, age, experience with dogs, children or other animals at home.
• Ask about its background: how did the dog end up in the shelter, how does it behave with people, children, dogs and cats, and can it be left alone?
• Ask about its health: which examinations and treatments have already been done, and are there any known problems?
• Visit several times and go for walks together before deciding. Let the other people in your household, and perhaps your own dog, meet it too.

With a rescue dog too, read the breed profile if it is a purebred or an obvious cross. That way you know which challenges and health issues to take into account.

Practical and legal matters

A dog from a recognised shelter is microchipped and registered with DogID, vaccinated and wormed, and often spayed or castrated. You pay an adoption fee that covers part of these costs. On adoption, the DogID registration is transferred to your name. You can read more about the rules in Flanders in the guide A dog in your home: costs, time and rules.

The first weeks at home

A commonly quoted rule of thumb is three days, three weeks and three months:

• The first days: your dog is often unsure, may eat poorly and shows little of its character yet. Give it calm, a place of its own and few visitors.
• The first weeks: it learns the household rhythm and gains confidence. Now you can calmly start with rules and short exercises.
• The first months: it feels truly at home and builds a bond with you. Some behaviours only come to light at this stage.

Be patient, keep expectations realistic and reward what goes well. Don’t let your dog off the lead in unfamiliar places at first, even if it seems well-behaved: many rescue dogs run off in the first weeks. Also read the guide Raising a puppy; the principles apply to adult dogs too.

If things get difficult

If your dog is fearful, has problems being left alone or shows reactive behaviour, you can turn to the shelter or organisation, your vet and a qualified behaviourist. A good organisation takes a dog back if it really doesn’t work out; passing a dog on yourself via the internet is not a good solution.

In short

• Adoption is a valuable alternative, but needs as much thought as buying a puppy.
• Choose a recognised shelter or a reliable organisation, including when adopting from abroad.
• Ask about background, behaviour and health, and get to know the dog calmly.
• A rescue dog is microchipped, registered and vaccinated; the registration is transferred to your name.
• Give it time, calm and patience in the first months, and get help if things get difficult.