OK, so you've decided to adopt a dog from a shelter, but where do you go from there? No one wants to make a commitment to a dog, only to find out later that you it wasn't the right fit. Here are some questions to ask when looking for the perfect pound puppy:

• Is the dog shy or timid?
• Does he wag his tail when people are around or is he reserved and on guard?
• Does the dog bark when excited?
• Ask the shelter staff about the dog's behavior since the dog arrived. Has there been any biting or aggressiveness?
• Does the dog get along well with other animals?
• Are there signs of stress such as hot spots or compulsive pacing or licking?
• How is the dog's overall health? It is over-or underweight? How do the teeth look? What is the condition of the coat?
• Does the dog appear to be trained?
• Does the shelter staff if they know the background or history of the dog.
• Check Petfinder.com: Adopt a pet and help an animal shelter rescue.
  Petfinder is an on-line, searchable database of animals that need homes. It is also a directory of over 2000 animal shelters and adoption organizations. It is possible to find a purebred dog as well as mixed dogs vs. buying from a breeder.

Always spend some time with a dog at the shelter before you make a decision to take him home. Play with the dog, test some basic commands, ask the shelter staff to do a behaviorial assessment to test the dog's temperament. Remember these dogs need loving homes so please i mean really please adopt one