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Why Do Dogs Bite Their Owners?

Dogs may bite their owners for many reasons, and not all are related to aggression. A dog may bite after being startled, because he was scared, or because he is in pain. When a dog bites his owner, that doesn’t necessarily mean the dog is aggressive or must be rehomed, but you do need to figure out what caused the incident and then work with your vet and/or an animal behaviorist to prevent it from happening again.

Why Normally Docile Dogs Bite

If you know your dog has aggressive tendencies, it’s not so much of a shock when he bites. Getting help for an aggressive dog should include assistance from an animal behaviorist with specific experience dealing with aggressive dogs. The good news is that, in many cases, with proper intervention an aggressive dog can learn to live in a family and enjoy a happy life.

But what about when a non-aggressive dog bites? Some of the reasons this could happen include:

Medical Condition: This is a common cause for unexpected aggression. Dogs can’t communicate their pain or discomfort, so it can manifest in various ways including snapping and biting.
Play Biting: Mouthing is part of dogs’ play, and it’s possible a dog will be a little too enthusiastic in their play leading to a bite that breaks the skin.
Stress: Dogs can become stressed out in many different situations such as being around rambunctious kids who haven’t been taught how to behave around dogs. Some dogs react to stress by biting.
Fear: Like humans, dogs want to protect themselves when they are afraid. For dogs, that includes showing signs of aggression, up to and including biting.

After The Dog Bite

After a dog bites his owner, you must take action. Simply hoping it won’t happen again isn’t the way to go. Instead, work with a vet or animal behaviorist to figure out why your dog bit you and to take steps to prevent it from happening again. The prognosis for the dog depends on what triggered the bite and other factors you can discuss with your vet or animal behaviorist who can work with you to develop a plan to prevent future aggression.

How Long Does It Take a Beagle to Get Used to a New Home?

The length of time it takes a beagle to get used to a new home tends to be around three months. Of course, the amount of time can vary based on a wide range of different factors. Some will adapt to the new home sooner, while it might take some dogs a bit longer to become comfortable.

Primary Factors to Consider

As mentioned, many different factors can affect how long it will take your new beagle to get used to their new home. Age can play a huge role. Puppies tend to be more adaptable and should get accustomed to a new home in a matter of weeks, at most. Sometimes, it will take a bit longer, but younger dogs tend to adapt more easily. Older dogs will often take up to three months or longer.

The dog’s personality can be a factor, too. Sometimes, skittish dogs will not adjust to a loud and active household easily if they came come from a quiet house. Dogs that are used to more exercise and being outside for longer periods will take time to adjust to a more laid-back household.

How to Make the Dog Feel More Comfortable

You need to be patient when you are bringing your new beagle home. Expect to spend between one and three months getting the dog accustomed to their new home and surroundings and expect there to be some setbacks during that time. They are going through what is likely one of the biggest changes in their life. The people and places that they knew are gone. Be patient and gentle with them during this time.

Spend time with the dog when they arrive at your home. Don’t just put them in a room or let them wander the house. Essentially, you can give them a tour of the home, so they can see and smell everything. Show them the backyard, other animals in the home, etc. You don’t want to overwhelm them on their first day, but you do want them to have a sense of the home where they will be living.

Training and playing with the dog is always important, but you may find that you have to spend more time when you first bring the beagle into his new home.

Learn About the Dog’s Personality

When you are adopting a beagle, it is important to learn as much about the dog’s personality before you choose to bring them home. You not only need to make sure that she will get along well with your other pets or your children, but you also want to know if they have a skittish personality. This could make it more difficult for them to acclimate to their new home.

The most important takeaway is that you can’t simply give the dog a few days or even a few weeks and wonder why they aren’t fitting in and feeling at home. It takes time. Be patient with them, work with them, and they will start to adapt over time.

What is a Reasonable Rehoming Fee for a Corgi?

A reasonable rehoming fee for your Corgi would generally start at around $50 and would go up from there. The fees can vary quite a bit depending on a range of factors. The age of your dog, whether she’s purebred, and your location can all play roles in the price.

Determine the Usual Rehoming Fee in Your Area

When you’re trying to determine a reasonable rehoming fee, whether you’re the owner or you’re looking to adopt, you should consider what’s typically charged in your area. Take the time to look at the prices of other rehoming fees to get a better sense of the typical prices where you live. Generally, the rehoming fees will be quite similar to what someone would expect to pay when they go to a rescue or a shelter.

Corgis are popular dogs. They’re adorable and fun, and that means that the rehoming fee for a purebred Corgi might be higher than it would for another dog. However, rehoming fees shouldn’t be as much as buying a dog. The purpose of the rehoming fees isn’t to put money into the pocket of the owner or the organization. The fees are meant to serve other purposes.

Why Are Rehoming Fees Needed?

If someone has to give up their dog, you might be wondering why there should be rehoming fees at all. They should be grateful that someone wants to take their dog, right? Unfortunately, the world can be a grim place for pets. The rehoming fees are there to ensure that new owners are willing to invest in their new dog. They’re also there to help keep the dogs safe.

People will sometimes look for free and cheap dogs online or in their area so they can then sell them to labs. Other times, they might use small dogs like Corgis as bait and training for fighting dogs. Having rehoming fees helps to ensure that these types of people are less likely to get access to your dog.

Whenever an owner is rehoming their dog, they should charge a rehoming fee. This is something that those looking to adopt should expect. The only time that you wouldn’t need to charge a rehoming fee would be when you’re giving your dog to someone you already know and trust to be a good new owner.

Making Rehoming Easier

Many people worry about charging rehoming fees, even though they realize they’re important. One of the best things to do is to use Rehome, a platform from Adopt-a-Pet.com that helps to make the entire process simpler. The site, where you can create a profile for your dog, is free for owners to use. The adopters will pay a fee right to Rehome, so owners don’t have to worry about it. You’ll find that the fee is similar to what adopters would pay to a shelter or a rescue. Even better, you can be sure that the money paid goes into helping more animals get adopted.

Does Pet Valu Take Cats?

Pet Valu does not take cats from owners who want to surrender their pets. While adoptable pets are available in many Pet Valu stores, those animals are there through arrangements with local rescues, humane societies, and other organizations. Pet owners wishing to rehome their pet will not be able to take their cats to Pet Valu.

Tips to Rehome Your Cat

If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of needing to find a new home for your cat, there are a few safe methods available. While dropping your cat off at Pet Valu isn’t an option, there are some avenues you can take to be sure your cat finds a suitable home.

Surrendering to a Shelter

Shelters in your area may include humane societies, city animal control departments, and local branches of the SPCA. There is usually a surrender fee which varies by location. It’s also important to learn the organization’s adoption vs. euthanasia rate. Some organizations have euthanasia rates as low as 3% while others are well over 50%.

Working With a Rescue Group

Surrendering your cat to a rescue group is a great option as most privately run rescues are no kill and they work very hard to find safe homes for every cat. The downside is that many rescues are often at capacity, so it can be a challenge to find one with room to take your pet.

Rehoming Your Cat Yourself

The best way to make sure you’re comfortable with your cat’s new home is to screen potential adopters yourself. This may take some time, but it’s worth it for the peace of mind you’ll have knowing your cat is in good hands. The Rehome website has lots of great resources to help you in your search. Create a profile for your cat right on the site and connect with people actively looking for a new pet.

How Do I Find a Home For My Cat?

You can find a new home for your cat by asking friends or family to adopt him or by posting him to Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com. To do either of these, you’ll need to get prepared with all of your cat’s important information, create a biography or story, and then start sharing that info with the right people and in the right places.

Preparing to Find a New Home for Your Cat

Make sure you have all of the necessary information your cat’s potential new family might be interested in knowing. This would include not only your cat’s medical records and health history, but also information on his temperament and personality. Is he good with other cats? How about dogs? Do you think he’d like living in a home with children? These are all questions potential adopters might ask. It’s also a good idea to have at least one or two engaging photos of your cat ready to share (for tips on how to take great pet photography, check out the Pet Photo and Video Tips section of our FAQs).

Create a “Bio” for Your Cat

Now you’re ready to get started. Start by writing a short description of your cat that will give would-be adopters an idea of why your cat would be a great addition to their life. Maybe he likes to snuggle and binge-watch Netflix with you, or perhaps his silly antics are known to keep you laughing for hours. Help others understand why he’s a great cat. This “bio” for your cat, along with those amazing glamour shots you took earlier, are just the thing your cat needs to stand out!

Share Your Cat with Friends and Family

Get your cat seen by adopters. Easier said than done, right? Actually, this part might be easier than you think. We always recommend talking with friends and family as a first step when you must find a new home for any pet. Oftentimes, a beloved pet can remain in your extended family by being adopted by a loved one who happens to be looking for a new pet just as you are looking for a new home for yours. They will appreciate the thorough information you put together on your pet’s personality and health and you’ll appreciate knowing they are in an awesome home!

Use Rehome to Find a New Home for Your Cat

If your family and friends are unable to take your cat, the team here at Adopt-a-Pet.com has a program called Rehome that is available for pet parents in exactly your situation. It’s free, simple to use, and will get your pet’s photos and bio in front of the millions of potential adopters who are searching on our site. Our team will provide guidance along the way including an application interested adopters can fill out right from your cat’s profile and tips on how to review applications for good answers and red flags. We’ll even help you to transfer your cat’s medical records to the new adopter! Get started with Rehome here.

What Do I Do With A Stray Dog?

The first thing you should do with a stray dog is help to reunite him with his family. When you find a dog, you don’t know if he’s been lost, stolen, or abandoned, but always assume there could be an owner looking him.

If you can capture the dog and are comfortable doing so, you can then take the stray dog to a veterinarian, some grooming salons, or shelter to get him checked for a microchip. If the dog is chipped, the owner can be contacted. If not, these organizations can help you with next steps.

If you can’t catch the dog or are uncomfortable trying to, it’s best to call your local animal control. Providing information such as details of the dog (color, size, breed and sex), the exact location (street address or intersection) and which direction the dog is moving will be really helpful for animal control. Many will send an officer out to capture the dog.

Why Reporting the Dog to Animal Control Is Important

Some people hesitate to call animal control when they find a dog because they worry the dog may be put down. If you’re willing to keep the animal or to rehome the pet yourself if no owner is found, let animal control know that. After the holding period, some shelters will let you be first on the list of adopters. Contacting animal control is a smart and necessary first step for two main reasons:

Animal control is the first place people look or go to when they are looking for a lost pet.
Laws about what you should do if you take in a stray vary by city and state. Call your local animal control to find out what the laws in your area are so you can follow them.

If you do want to keep the pet, be sure to make that well known to animal control so that your name is at the top of the waiting list of potential adopters if this is an option the shelter offers. A typical holding period is 3 to 4 days, but this varies by location. Learn the exact date the dog’s hold will be up, and arrive at the shelter when it opens that morning.

If you want to rehome the pet yourself, this is also an option. Sometimes, animal control will allow you to keep the dog in your house during the holding period. Once that holding period is over and no owner has come forward, you can begin the rehoming process. One tool that is especially helpful is Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com. You can create a profile for the stray dog for millions of potential adopters to see.

Knowing what to do with a stray dog is not easy, but if you follow this guide, you’ll do what is best for the dog and help him find a great new home!

How Do I Surrender My German Shepherd?

Those asking, “how do I surrender my German Shepherd,” have likely made the decision that they can no longer keep their pet. While you could surrender him to a local shelter, this leaves him in a situation in which you have no say and no control. The procedure for surrendering your dog varies by location, but it’s a good idea to consider other options before making a final decision.

General Surrender Procedures

As mentioned above, each shelter will have its own process, but it typically looks something like this:

You bring your dog to the shelter and speak with an intake specialist.
In some cases, they will take your dog right away, or you may be put on a wait list.
You pay a surrender fee and sign over all rights to your German Shepherd.

Will My German Shepherd Find a New Home?

Maybe. Once you leave your dog, what happens next is out of your hands. While shelters work hard to find homes for all the dogs in their care, sometimes it’s just not possible. It’s also important to note that some shelters are forced to put down more animals than others, so you should do a little rehome_research about the shelter to which you’re thinking about surrendering your dog.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some dogs become fearful and anxious in a shelter. This could manifest as aggression, which can greatly reduce your German Shepherd’s chances of being adopted.

Your Dog’s Best Chance at a Happy Future

Instead of surrendering your German Shepherd, consider finding him a home yourself. More and more pet owners are realizing the benefits of going the extra mile to rehome their dog—the most important of which is that it keeps your dog out of the shelter and ensures he goes to a home that you choose.

It may take a while to find the perfect home, but you can find advice and helpful tools online on the Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com website. On Rehome you can build your German Shepherd a profile, communicate with potential adopters, and once you find a great home, complete the adoption paperwork.

Give your dog the future he deserves and give yourself the gift of peace of mind knowing that your German Shepherd is living with a loving family.

What is a Reasonable Rehoming Fee for a Shih Tzu?

A reasonable rehoming fee for a Shih Tzu would typically be somewhere between $50 and $150. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the actual fees can vary somewhat. You wouldn’t want to go any lower than $50 but depending on the age of your dog and whether he’s purebred, some rehoming fees could be higher than $150. Much more than that, though, and it’s less of a rehoming fee and more like selling your dog.

Why Are Rehoming Fees Important?

Some people don’t like the idea of rehoming fees. They feel that someone is simply selling a dog that they no longer want. That’s rarely the case. Most people who have to rehome their Shih Tzu are heartbroken because of it. If circumstances were different, they’d keep their dog forever. However, they can’t, and rehoming fees make sense. it’s not about getting money for your dog; it’s about ensuring that only the right people are adopting her.

Rehoming fees can help to keep your dog safe. People who have nefarious intentions toward animals certainly exist. Charging a rehoming fee helps to weed these people out because they don’t want to pay for your dog. Sometimes, these people want to sell them to labs or use them as bait to train fighting dogs. Rehoming fees should always be charged when you’re finding a new owner for your Shih Tzu.

Do Shelters and Rescues Charge Fees?

Those considering adopting from a shelter or a rescue will find that there are fees charged. Most of the time, the fees will range from $50 to $150. Of course, the exact fees can vary based on the location, the shelter, and other factors. You’ll need to contact the shelter to get a better understanding of the adoption fees charged.

Does Rehome Charge a Rehoming Fee?

Yes, when someone adopts a pet through Rehome, they’ll have to pay a small rehoming fee. This amounts to about the same that they’d pay to a rescue or a shelter. One of the benefits of using Rehome is that you’ll never have to charge someone a Rehoming fee. The site will take care of that when someone adopts your dog. The rehoming fee goes right back into ensuring that more pets get adopted.

As an owner who needs to rehome a Shih Tzu, you won’t have to worry about paying any fees when you use the site. All you’ll need to do is create a profile for your dog that highlights their qualities and personality. Always be honest with the profiles. You need to be sure that the family adopting your dog is truly the best fit. After all, if your Shih Tzu is afraid of larger dogs, you wouldn’t want someone who has big dogs adopting her.

You get to choose who can adopt your Shih Tzu. Potential adopters will fill out adoption applications, which you’ll then go through. This gives you control over who gets to adopt her, so you can be sure that she has a loving new home.

Why is My Cat Suddenly Aggressive Toward Other Cats?

If your cat is suddenly agressive towards other cats, it may be due to a medical condition. This is good news and bad news. The bad news is that your pet may be sick. The good news is that when the medical issue is resolved, the aggressive behavior will typically cease. If your cat is suddenly aggressive to other cats, step number one is to make an appointment to see your vet.

The Vet Visit

You many wonder what type of medical condition could trigger sudden aggression, but there is no simple answer other than to say pain may be the cause. If a typically docile, loving cat is in pain, acting out aggressively is a common reaction.
The vet will perform a thorough exam and may order tests to correctly diagnose any issues. Once the problem is discovered, proper treatment can ensue. In most cases, once the cat starts feeling better, they will return to his usual temperament.
If the vet doesn’t find anything wrong medically, she may recommend an animal behaviorist who can help you resolve the issue of aggression between your cats.

A New Feline Friend

Another common reason a cat may suddenly show signs of aggression is that a new cat has been introduced into the household. Even if the now-aggressive cat has always gotten along with your other pets, it’s not uncommon for a new addition to the pack to be the catalyst for aggression. Proper introductions can minimize the chances of such issues, so be sure to ask your vet or read expert advice about how to how to help cats get used to a newcomer.

Whether your cat is suddenly aggressive towards other cats due to a medical condition or for reasons requiring the help of an animal behaviorist, there is good news: In most cases sudden aggression in cats can be remedied to the point that you’ll be able to keep the cats in your home, which is what every pet owner wants.

How Do You Discipline A Cat With Bad Behavior?

You should not discipline a cat with bad behavior because cats do not respond well to discipline. Instead, you should learn techniques to retrain your cat or simply provide barriers to stop the unwanted conduct. The goal should be to find ways to curb the bad behavior, but not through punishment.

Your Cat Doesn’t Think Like You

That might sound obvious, but some cat owners fail to consider that when evaluating their pet’s behavior. The cat who scratches the furniture isn’t being bad. He’s stretching his body and helping to remove the outer sheath from his nails. When he plays loudly all night, he isn’t being bad. Cats were nocturnal before being domesticated.

Understanding behavior from the cat’s point of view will help you find an effective way to correct it. For example:

Scratching: Provide a scratching post in every area of the home where your cat spends time. Sprinkle some catnip on each post to pique your cat’s interest, and spend time encouraging your cat to use the posts.
Urinating Outside the Litter Box: First, have a vet verify it’s not a medical condition causing the behavior. If not, try adding an extra litter box or two (a good rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one additional box) and always make sure all litter boxes are clean.
Nighttime Partying: This is a tough one, but you can try engaging in a play session just before you go to bed to try and tire the cat out a bit. Also, feed the biggest meal at night as many cats want to nap after eating (as do most humans!)
Aggression: This is another case where you’ll want to rule out a medical condition—especially if a once docile cat is suddenly showing signs of aggression. If no medical condition exists, contact an animal behaviorist for guidance.

Yelling at, hitting, or otherwise punishing your cat will not solve any behavior problems and can even make them worse. Realize that your cat isn’t being bad—he’s just being a cat. Keeping that in mind will make it easier to find the solutions you need.