Subscribe

The best in health, wellness, and positive training from America’s leading dog experts

Home Lifestyle Adoption

Adoption

The animal shelter crisis is causing many animals to suffer.

How You Can Help With the Animal Shelter Crisis

A perfect storm has hit the animal rescue world, and many shelters nationwide are bursting at the seams. Fostering is one way to help during the current animal shelter crisis. By taking a dog out of a shelter and fostering, you may even save another dog's life by freeing up kennel space in a facility.
If you are looking to buy dogs be sure it is from an ethical breeder.

Where to Buy Dogs

With so many dogs needing good homes, deciding to buy a puppy rather than adopt one from a shelter or rescue can be a controversial decision. Many get attached to a specific breed or want a dog who is more likely to demonstrate certain traits and behaviors If you are looking for where to buy dogs, you have some work ahead of you to ensure you are not supporting breeding practices that lead to poor health, animal abuse, and crowded shelters
Puppies are cute, but first time dog owners may not be aware of all they need to know.

What to Know as a First Time Dog Owner

Getting a dog of your own for the first time is a big step. If you're a first time dog owner you need to remember that you're taking responsibility for a living being.
Purebred dogs like these basset hound pound puppies are bred to emphasize traits.

What Is a Purebred Dog?

A purebred dogs is simply a dog bred from parents of the same phenotype while a mixed breed dog is bred from two or more phenotypes.
A boy posing with his dog, a beagle

The Best Family Dogs

If you are looking for a dog who will make a fantastic addition to your family, what you should be looking for is an individual dog with specific canine personality traits that are conducive to family life.
cute scruffy dog up for adoption

An overabundance of needy dogs

My friend Leonora, owner of tiny Samson (my dog Woody’s BFF), is starting to search for a second dog. It’s been over a year...

Are Two Pups Better Than One?

I hear it all the time: “Honey, maybe we should get two! Look how much they love each other! How can we possibly split them...

When One Is Not Enough

For many of us who love dogs, our canine family members are a lot like potato chips - we can't have just one. There...

Basking in Sunshine

In past articles in WDJ, I have advised people who are thinking about adopting a new dog to develop a list of attributes that they must have, would like to have, would prefer not to have, and really do not want at all – and then to use these lists as search criteria. And yet, here we were, not really sure of what we were looking for. Another herding breed? We already have a Kelpie, so maybe, or maybe not. A Bonnie-type terrier-mix? Maybe, but they didn't seem easy to come by.

Successful Dog Adoption, Part 2: What To Do at the Shelter

So – you've made your list of desired qualities and located a well-regarded shelter, rescue group, or breeder, and are ready to start your search. Perhaps you've already identified a prospect on an organization's website. What now? Go meet some dogs!

Successful Dog Adoption, Part 1: Develop an Adoption Criteria

the family doesn't get split in pieces with different people pulling for different dogs

Creating a Great Dog Foster Home

happy in a "forever home" where he is loved

Latest Blog

What If You Get the Wrong Dog?

It’s a sad fact (but a fact nevertheless) that sometimes people adopt a dog or buy a puppy that turns out to quite unsuited for life with those people.