Am I ready for a dog next year after failing my first adoption, and how do I make sure I do it right this time?
I’m planning to get a dog next spring after I graduate college, and I really want to do it right this time.
When I was 16, I adopted a shelter dog (she was a pit mix) and brought her home. She turned out to have leash aggression, and I honestly didn’t know how to handle it. I couldn’t take her on walks, and I felt completely overwhelmed. I loved her, but I felt like I was failing her.
Thankfully, she ended up getting adopted into a better situation and from what I know she has a great life now, which I’m really grateful for.
Now I’m in my late 20s, I have a child, and I currently live at home with my mom, who is 70. I want a dog as a companion for both my son and I, but also one that fits well into our home environment.
I’m being very cautious this time because I don’t ever want to be in a situation like that again.
Here’s where I’m stuck:
• I thought about getting a puppy from a breeder so I could raise it myself, but since I live at home, my mom doesn’t want a puppy in the house.
• I don’t really want a senior dog.
• A lot of the dogs in shelters near me are pit mixes, and while I’m not against any breed, I am a first-time (realistically) dog owner and I want to make the right choice.
I’m looking for:
• Success stories from people who adopted shelter dogs (especially pit mixes)
• Advice on picking the right dog for a beginner
• How to avoid behavioral issues like leash aggression
• What I should be doing over the next year to prepare
• How much I should realistically save in advance
• Any training classes, programs, or books you’d recommend
I’m planning this a full year in advance because I really don’t want to mess it up again. I just want to give a dog a good life this time.
Thank you ❤️