Let us talk about Adopter Requirements

[blanche]

It occurred to me that some explanation about adopter requirements might be useful--especially given a discussion in an earlier thread about Jem getting adopted to Shannon who didn't technically fit our adopter requirements.

In Jem's case, I had said that he couldn't be crated.  And in my home, crating him was a disaster.  But in my home, he was the ONLY dog getting crated.  I often find that my foster dogs either do or don't do well with crating because none of mine are.  Jem, however, did fine with being gated as long as the other dogs were with him so that solved my containment issues.

Once I realized that Shannon and Shawn had everything else he would need and were willing to work with him on crating, then I was willing to give it a shot.

Some of our adopter requirements ARE written in blood.  Jem couldn't go to a home with a male dog.  He was a nightmare here with Tank and I KNEW that requirement was rock solid.

So you need to realize that while we never list the adopter requirements lightly, there may be some give in some the requirements.

Our adopter requirements are based on our experience with the dog and what we know about the dog's history.  A dog that has had alot of unhappy crating will likely not have a flexible requirement about crating.  I've had two dogs from puppy mills--one absolutely had to have a crate available in order to feel safe and the other HATED the crate and would freak out when in one.  Each dog is different.

And dogs don't always behave the same in one home as they do in another.  I've had dogs that never had accidents in my house and went on to have LOTS with their adopter.

What we want are adopters who are willing to work with a dog that may have some issues, including ones we didn't see in foster care.  A bit of flexibility goes a long way with dogs and humans alike.

Pippin is not good in a crate--again, I suspect it has to do with being the only one crated--but he is great about being gated with the other dogs.  Would he be okay being crated in someone else's house?  Maybe.  Maybe not. 

I personally prefer NOT to crate dogs, but I don't see crating as an abusive or unkind practice IF IT IS DONE APPROPRIATELY and not over used.  Dogs that are crated for long periods of time with minimal attention/exercise when they aren't crated are dogs that have been abusively crated, in my experience.

[Poconut]

We found it confusing when it said that a dog required a fenced yard. We lived in a townhouse with no yard during the time we were looking for a second pug and applied for just one dog through pugalug because we thought we weren't eligible for most because of the yard requirement. I have since learned otherwise. I now have a yard that will have a fence shortly and hope to be able to adopt a pug that needs a home within the next few years.

[blanche]

It can be confusing.  And it depends alot on the dog.  Most of our younger, busier dogs really DO need a yard that is fenced.  Obviously if you live in a condo/townhouse/apartment, a fenced yard may not be possible.  But most of us prefer to place dogs in a yard that is fenced if the adopter is in a house.  You'd be shocked at how many people apply for dogs and have unfenced yards and think tying a dog out is okay or that they can train a dog never to run into the street.

We most often tailor our adopter requirements to meet the needs of the dog so that they get the best possible home for the dog and so that we minimize the risks to the dog and the risk of the dog getting returned.

I have adopted to people who didn't have a fenced yard--but usually only because that wasn't a possibility given that they lived in a condo/apartment and the dog was appropriate for a condo. 

[SpeedyPug]

And as to crating, if it hadn't workled out with Jemmers and he'd not done well with the crate, we were willing to gate Pugdini in a couple of different spots until we found a good place for him, too.  Its definitely about flexibility.  As it turned out, we put Jemmie's box right beside Geeg's, in he went, got his treatie and not a peep put of him.  He's good as gold and ZOOMS to his crate whenever you ask if he wants a treatie.  He's also great with being gated and sleeps through the night no matter where he is...Jemmers is a good boy.  And when you already have a dog, your resident can sometimes help a new dog learn the ropes.  Geeg still smacks Jem into line when he steps off the straight and narrow (like every day!)

[blanche]

And as to crating, if it hadn't workled out with Jemmers and he'd not done well with the crate, we were willing to gate Pugdini in a couple of different spots until we found a good place for him, too.  Its definitely about flexibility.  As it turned out, we put Jemmie's box right beside Geeg's, in he went, got his treatie and not a peep put of him.  He's good as gold and ZOOMS to his crate whenever you ask if he wants a treatie.  He's also great with being gated and sleeps through the night no matter where he is...Jemmers is a good boy.  And when you already have a dog, your resident can sometimes help a new dog learn the ropes.  Geeg still smacks Jem into line when he steps off the straight and narrow (like every day!)

Yep--I do think that alot of the issues in my house with crating for long periods of time are related to the fact that my dogs aren't crated and the crated dog is often lonely or uncertain why he or she is in one and no one else is.  So gating works better for me.  I do introduce the crate to all my fosters if I can and I do use it periodically so that it isn't an entirely new concept to them.  Again--it depends on the dog.  And I do think Geeg helped Jem adjust in a major way.  And she's not a boy which helps a ton.......