Answers to Go with Susan Smith

Q. My daughter has been begging for a dog. This will be the first dog for both of us, so I’d like to get a dog, rather than a puppy, from the animal shelter. Do you have any books on successfully adopting an adult dog?

A. My keyword search of ‘shelter dogs’ in our library catalog brought up several titles. According to “The Adoption Option: Choosing and Raising the Shelter Dog for You” by Rubenstein and Kalina, the first step is to decide what qualities you’d like your dog to have. Do you have room for a big, energetic dog? Does your child prefer a dog small enough to pick up and cuddle?”

Once you get to the shelter, Rubenstein and Kalina suggest that you draw on the experience of the shelter workers who will have gotten to know the dogs in their care.

Here’s their advice for getting acquainted with a dog you’re considering:

“Remember the dog is going to be a little out of sorts when you first take her out of her cage. Take her somewhere you can really get acquainted. Give her some time to get used to you and to work out her excess energy and/or initial reservations.

“Don’t make loud noises or sudden moves. Crouch down and pet her and play with her. Does she accept and enjoy your affection, or does she act suspicious of you or ignore you altogether? Does she trample and nip you? Does she avoid you? Look for something in the middle: a dog who plays and cuddles with you enthusiastically but not obnoxiously or fearfully.

“Take a little walk around the room. She should follow you happily without attacking your legs or cowering from you. If you have a toy, toss it for her. Does she show interest?

“Keep petting her, talking to her, and playing with her. If she seems at all aggressive – if she growls or snaps at you, or raises her hackles or curls her lip – move on to another dog. If she doesn’t appear dangerous but is nevertheless very rough, she still may be too dominant for you.

“If she slinks around and avoids looking at you, she’s probably a submissive dog who will need lots of positive reinforcement. Some dogs may cower or shake when you try to pet them. Adult dogs often shrink away from human hands simply because they’ve never been socialized and have never gotten used to being touched and petted.

“If a dog begins to accept affection after a few minutes, chances are that she’ll be able to come out of her shell pretty quickly with some good training and lots of love.

“If she remains nervous and terrified, it’s probably going to be a real challenge to turn her into a happy and comfortable member of the family.

“Be on the lookout for a dog who is cheerful, responsive and confident.

“The most important factor to consider as you evaluate a shelter dog is this: Do you enjoy her company? Do you have fun playing with her and paying attention to her, or does she leave you tired and annoyed. You certainly shouldn’t adopt a dog if you’re not crazy about her!”

John Ross and Barbara McKinney, authors of “Adoptable Dog: Teaching Your Adopted Pet to Obey, Trust, and Love You,” think that young adult dogs make desirable, trainable additions to the family. They offer lots of positive training tips on housebreaking older dogs. There are chapters on excessive barking, greeting people without jumping, walking on a leash, etc.

We also have many books on dogs for your child to read, but one title caught my eye: Peg Kehret’s “Shelter Dogs: Amazing Stories of Adopted Strays.”