Tag: First Batch

Where Can I Put a Chihuahua Up for Adoption?

You can put a chihuahua up for adoption in many places both online and offline. However, you will want to make sure that you are choosing the best places to let people know your pet needs to be adopted.

Don’t Use the Typical Online Classifieds

You should stay away from certain types of websites to list your pet, including many of the online classified ads. These sites have no way to determine whether the person who wants to adopt your dog would be a good fit or not. You do not know whether they can provide your dog with everything they need, including a loving home. Naturally, you want your pet to have a great place to live, where they will be happy and taken care of properly. These sites are too much of a gamble.

Rescues Could Be an Option

You could find rescues, including those that specialize in small breed dogs like chihuahuas that could take your dog and help to get it adopted. Once you relinquish your pet to these facilities, they can try to find the right people to adopt your dog. Some shelters will do the same. You will want to examine the policies of the rescues and shelters you are considering so you can ensure they will be the right choice for your pet while they await adoption.

Consider Using Rehome for Your Pet

Another option that should be high on your list when you are putting your chihuahua up for adoption is Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com. This is one of the easiest and safest ways for you to get your pet adopted. Instead of giving your pet to a shelter or trying to find them a home through an unsafe online classified site, you can use this free service.

Pet owners who are unable to keep their dogs can create a profile for the pet on the site. They can include a bio of the pet, along with photos and videos. You can let the potential adopters know more about the personality of the pet, as well. Let them know whether the dog is good with other animals and with kids, for example. This ensures that the adopters have a better idea of whether this will be the right dog for them or not.

Rehome has a range of tools and guidance available for owners as they get everything set up on the site. They even include a thorough application with tips on what good answers might be to the application questions. This can help you to determine whether the person would be a good option for adopting your chihuahua or not.

This service is free to the pet owner, and the adopters will only need to pay a small fee that’s about the same as what they would pay at a shelter.

Whether you need to put your chihuahua up for adoption because you can’t take care of the pet financially or physically any longer, or because you have to move, you can find a perfect home for them. Let Rehome help make it possible.

Why Do Dogs Howl When Left Alone?

Some dogs howl when left alone simply because they are lonely. Dogs are very social, and they want to be around their families. In some cases, howling can be a sign of separation anxiety—a condition that must be properly treated in order to stop it from getting worse over time. If your dog only howls when left alone, it’s probably loneliness or anxiety. On the other hand, some dogs are just very vocal and will howl whether you’re there or not. 

Helping My Dog With Loneliness 

No good pet owner likes the idea of leaving their dog alone—and hearing them howl as you pull out of the driveway only make the guilt worse. While you may not be able to quit your job and spend the entire day pampering your pooch, there are some things you can do to help ease his loneliness.

  • Try doggy daycare or hiring a dog sitter. Daycare is great for dogs who enjoy playing with other dogs to get lots of exercise and be happier and less anxious on days when they are left at home.
  • Leave him treat puzzles and other interactive toys. Keeping his mind occupied is a good way to ease his loneliness.
  • Consider a second dog to be his companion. This way, he will never have to be alone!
  • Check out more tips to help your dog’s loneliness in our blog article here. 

Dealing With Separation Anxiety 

If the howling is accompanied by destructive behavior, escape attempts, and excessive chewing, your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety. This is not something that will get better on its own. In fact, when left untreated, it often gets worse. Treatment depends on the severity of the anxiety, so talk to your vet or a qualified animal behaviorist for advice about how to help your dog if you suspect separation anxiety.

Some breeds howl more than others, but if your dog becomes vocal only when he’s alone, these tips may help to ease his loneliness. 

Why Does My Dog Cry At Night?

There are many reasons your dog may cry at night including loneliness, anxiety, pain, and alerting you to noises he hears outside. Since there are so many possible reasons for the crying, it can be difficult to pinpoint the reason without looking at context and then working to eliminate each potential cause. The good news is that, more often than not, it’s no cause for alarm when your dog cries at night.

Ruling Out A Medical Issue 

Anytime there is any notable change in your dog’s behavior, a visit to the vet is warranted. Since dogs can’t tell you when they feel sick, you have to rely on other cues to know when something is wrong.

If your dog has typically been pretty settled at bedtime but suddenly has started crying at night, it’s a good idea to schedule a vet visit to rule out a medical issue. Also note that some dogs begin crying at night as they age even in the absence of a medical problem.

Dealing With A Crying Dog 

Once the vet gives your dog a clean bill of health, you’ll have to decide how to deal with the crying. It sounds unkind, but don’t run to comfort the dog every time he cries or he’ll quickly learn that crying in the middle of the night equals attention.

Instead, keep these tips in mind:

  • Puppies in a new home will cry. It’s to be expected. Once they settle in and realize they are safe, it will stop on its own.
  • It’s possible that the crying stems from a lack of exercise. Try giving your dog an extra walk or two during the day.
  • Limit food and water as it gets close to bedtime.
  • Try playing soft music or the television to calm your pet.
  • If the crying only occurs when you’re out of the room, it’s possible your dog has separation anxiety. Make note of any other behavior that seems off, and mention this to your vet.
  • While you may have the urge to run to your pet anytime he cries at night, doing so only sets you up for the crying to continue indefinitely. Instead, try the tips above. If none work, talk to an animal behaviorist for advice tailored to your pet. 

Why Is My Dog Whining For No Reason?

If your dog is whining, there likely is a reason—even if you’re having a hard time figuring out what that reason is. Puppies and dogs use whining as a form of communication, so the whining could be because he’s trying to alert you to something, he’s hurt or sick, or to let you know he wants something. In most cases, whining isn’t an issue, but if it’s excessive, you may need the help of an animal trainer to curb the behavior.

Is Your Dog Sick? 

One thing that is important to rule out is a medical condition. Sometimes it’s easy to tell when the whining is due to pain, but other times it’s not. If it started suddenly and occurs at random times, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your vet to make sure nothing is medically wrong.

Is Your Dog Alerting You? 

If your dog is whining and running to the same spot or staring out the window, it’s likely that he’s trying to alert you to something. This could be anything from a stranger in the yard to a stray plastic bag stuck in a bush, but it’s always a good idea to check things out. Once your dog sees that you’ve given the all clear, he’ll likely stop whining. Be sure to praise him, so that he’ll know that alerting you to potential danger is the right thing to do.

Is Your Dog Looking For Attention? 

Some dogs will whine for extra food, more treats, or additional playtime. While you want to supply your dog’s needs, you also want to be careful not to teach your dog that whining = getting what you want.

If your dog whines to get certain things, only supply that thing once the whining has stopped. This will reward silence rather than whining.

Whining rarely happens for no reason, so try to pinpoint the cause so you can stop the behavior. 

Why Does My Dog Bark At Nothing At Night?

Your dog probably isn’t barking at nothing at night; he’s likely just barking at something you don’t recognize. If your dog barks at night, it could be in response to sounds that his sensitive ears pick up that you can’t hear. It could also be because he wants to be closer to you instead of being crated, or because he’s frustrated, in pain, or lonely. If you can figure out the reason behind your dog barking at “nothing,” you’ll be in a better position to stop the behavior.

Did the Behavior Start Suddenly? 

Anytime there is a sudden change in your dog’s behavior, an underlying medical reason could be the cause for the change. If nothing else has changed, and your dog has started barking at night on a regular basis, a visit to the vet is in order.

Could There Be a Threat? 

Some pet owners just tell their dog to be quiet when he barks at night without considering he could actually be trying to warn you of a potential threat. It could be an actual threat or just someone venturing a little too close to your yard. Either way, if your normally quiet dog is barking at what seems to be nothing, it’s a good idea to check things out.

Dealing with Nighttime Barking 

If your dog barks at night and you can’t figure out why, try changing something about the environment. For example:

  • Try playing soft music.
  • Move his crate into your room.
  • Take him for a long walk shortly before bed.
  • Feed dinner closer to bedtime.

When your dog barks at night it’s a hassle. If you can’t figure out how to curb the behavior on your own, don’t give up. Talk to a vet or an animal behaviorist who will help you understand the underlying cause for the barking and figure out a way to stop it. 

Will A Dog Eat Itself To Death?

It would be highly unusual for a dog to eat himself to death, but some dogs will certainly overeat if given the chance. Free feeding is a common practice among pet owners, and it may work for some dogs who will stop eating when satisfied. Other dogs, however, will continue to eat until they make themselves sick. Fatalities from gorging are extremely rare. That being said, bloat is a serious condition that can be caused by eating too much too quickly and can be fatal if not treated immediately.

Problems With Overeating

While your dog isn’t likely to eat himself to death in one sitting, long-term overeating can certainly shorten his life and lead to a myriad of medical conditions including:

  • Diabetes
  • Heart Disease
  • Arthritis 

As is the case with humans, ensuring your dog eats a proper balanced diet is important to his good health. If your dog tends to overeat, then free feeding is not the way to go. Instead, you’ll want to put out measured amounts of food two or three times a day.

Why Do Some Dogs Overeat?

Like humans, some dogs tend to eat until satisfied while others overeat anytime they have the chance. There is no one simple answer as to why some dogs overeat, but potential causes include:

  • Boredom
  • Anxiety
  • Former food deprivation
  • Hormone imbalances 

No matter the reason, curbing your pet’s overeating is important in order to help him maintain optimal health. Free feeding may be convenient, but if your dog doesn’t know when to stop, then it’s detrimental to his health.

Even though your dog isn’t likely to eat himself to death in one sitting, long-term overeating could lead to serious health consequences. If you’re not sure how much or how often your pet should be eating, talk to your vet for advice specific to your dog. 

 

Why Is My Dog Peeing Everywhere?

Some reasons your dog may be peeing everywhere include medical conditions, improper training, fear, or infrequent walks. If the pet is a puppy or a dog that is new to your home, you’ll need to exercise some patience as some dogs take longer to train than others. If a housebroken pet has started peeing everywhere, you’ll need to try to pinpoint a reason.

Common Reasons For Inappropriate Urination 

Once your dog is properly housebroken, he shouldn’t start urinating in the house unless there is an underlying reason. These may include:

Medical Conditions

This is a common cause of a trained dog to start peeing throughout the house. Medical conditions that can cause this behavior include urinary tract infections, kidney issues, bladder stones, diabetes, and certain injuries. In many cases, dogs will show no other symptoms, so you should make a vet appointment as soon as you notice that the dog is urinating in the house.

Submission

This is most common in puppies, but it can occur at any age. If someone startles the dog, reaches for, or scolds the dog, he may urinate out of fear or to show his submission.

Marking

You can recognize marking as it tends to be very small amounts of urine in certain places. Spaying or neutering can help, and the earlier you fix your pet, the less likely they are to mark.

Infrequent Walks

An easy-to-fix issue is that your dog simply isn’t being let out enough. If you’re gone for 8+ hours a day, your dog may not always be able to hold it until you return home. If putting in a doggy door is not a feasible solution, consider hiring a dog walker to stop by each day.
Until you can figure out and address the reason, you’ll want to be sure to use an enzymatic cleaner to fully eliminate the odor left behind by the urine. If you don’t, the dog will be attracted to urinate in that spot again—as may other of your household pets.

The good news is that the behavior can usually be successfully addressed either by the owner, the vet, or, in some cases, an animal behaviorist. 

How Do I Give Up My Maltese?

You can give up your Maltese by rehoming or by taking him to a shelter or rescue. However, before you decide on just how you’ll be giving up your dog, it’s important to understand the differences between these options. Ultimately, your goal shouldn’t be just to give up your dog, but to ensure that you find him the best possible home. Below are things to keep in mind.

Consider Ways You May Keep Your Dog

Before you give up your dog, you should make sure that you’ve exhausted every other possibility. Sometimes, you might feel that you don’t have any other choice, but that may not be the case.

If you have a dog with some behavioral issues, such as barking too much or going to the bathroom in the house, training could be a solution. Consider working with a local trainer or behaviorist. If you can’t spend time with your dog during the day, consider doggy daycare. Maybe you can’t afford to have your dog spayed or neutered. Look for low-cost and free options in your area.

Of course, there are situations that won’t allow you to keep your dog no matter how much you might want to. In those cases, there are resources to help you find him a new home.

Allowing Someone You Know to Adopt

A simple and effective solution when you need to give up your Maltese might be to let someone you know adopt. Maybe you have a relative who needs a companion dog or a friend who wants a dog for the family that’s hypoallergenic. There could be plenty of people in your life right now that would love to adopt your dog. You just need to talk with them about it.

However, this doesn’t mean that you should let just anyone you know adopt your dog. You still need to be sure they’re the right fit for him, and that they’ll be capable of providing him with all the care and attention he needs.

Rescues and Shelters

There’s also the possibility of using shelters or rescues when you need to give up your Maltese. Rescues are often full, though, because they have no-kill policies. This means that you might not find a local rescue that can take your dog. Still, they are worth trying when you find yourself limited on choices.

Shelters could work, as well. These facilities only have a limited amount of space, though, and to ensure there’s room for incoming animals, they may euthanize. It’s not something they want to do, but they don’t have a choice.
Whether you choose a shelter or rescue, be aware that you’ll have to pay a surrender fee when you drop off your dog. This fee can vary, so contact the organization to check their prices and policies. 

Use Pet Adoption Sites

Pet adoption sites like Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com are another excellent solution. Rehome allows you to create a detailed profile for your dog that is then put in front of the millions of potential adopters that visit Adopt-a-Pet.com every month. They can learn more about your dog and submit applications to adopt. You’ll then review the applications to find the best new home for your Maltese. The site is also full of resources to help you pick the best new home for your dog. It’s an easy and safe option.

How Do I Rehome My Pit Bull?

 When giving up a dog, many pet owners ask, how do I rehome my pit bull? In order to do it in a way that is responsible and ensures your dog’s safety, you’ll need to screen potential adopters, charge a rehoming fee, and follow a few other guidelines to make sure your dog’s new owners are capable of properly caring for the dog. The Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com website has valuable resources to walk you through the process as well as tools to find potential adopters.

Steps You Should Take When Rehoming Your Pit Bull and Why They Are Important

What NOT To Do When Rehoming A Pet

If you’ve ever scrolled through an online classified page, you’ve seen the ads: Pit Bull Free to a Good Home. Sadly, many dogs in “free to a good home” ads end up getting picked up by predators looking for free dogs to use for dog fighting, to sell to labs, and for other illicit activities.

  • These people go to great lengths to convince the dog owner they are looking for a family pet. Some even bring along a child to make it look good. It’s horrifying to think about it, and that’s why you should avoid listing your dog in this manner.
  • Do not rush the process. Whatever the issue that makes you want to rehome the pet, you can likely find resources to help that would allow you to keep your dog. Rehoming should be a last resort after all other options are exhausted. And, if you’ve deciding rehoming is the best course, take your time evaluating potential adopters.

What You SHOULD Do When Rehoming A Pet

Now that you know what you shouldn’t do; here are some things you should do to keep your pet safe.

  • Charge a Rehoming Fee: When you charge a rehoming fee, it reduces the risk of adopting your dog to people looking for dogs for nefarious purposes. Plus, if someone is unwilling or unable to pay $50-$150 or so to adopt the dog, they may not be able or willing to care for the dog properly.
  • Screen Potential Adopters: Screening is a crucial step in making sure you dog ends up in a safe home. There are several questions you can ask to weed out people who are unable to properly care for your dog. For example, if they have had dogs in the past, ask who their vet was and then call for a reference. With Rehome, you’ll find advice on a wide range of screening tools. People will say anything they think you want to hear. That’s why screening them is so important.
  • Sign a Contract: Once you find your pit bull the perfect new home, Rehome will help you finalize a contract with the new adopter. The contract will outline exactly how ownership will be transferred and the experts at Rehome can guide you through the entire contract and rehoming process.

It might seem like a lot, but taking the appropriate steps gives your pit bull the best chance of ending up in a happy home!  

How Do I Surrender My Catahoula Leopard Dog?

If you surrender your Catahoula Leopard Dog, it means that you’re giving him up to a shelter or a rescue. The process for surrendering your dog to one of these facilities can vary from one place to the next. You need to understand the policies of the organization you’re considering before you give up your dog.

Check the Site

The first thing you should do is to check the shelter or rescue’s website to learn more about them. Does the shelter have a specific policy on how long they hold dogs before euthanizing them? Does the rescue specialize in certain breeds? Does the shelter offer sales and adoptions? Check out the site to learn as much as you can about the organization and to get their contact information.

Get in Touch

Once you have learned about the facility, it’s time to call them. During the phone call, they’ll want to know about your dog. They’ll need to know things like his health condition, age, temperament, and the like. This will give them a better idea of what to expect with your dog, and they may get a sense of how easy or difficult it will be for someone to adopt him.

Additionally, they may ask you why you need to give up your dog. They want the best for the animal, and sometimes that means keeping your dog with you. For example, if your dog has behavior issues, they may know some trainers in the area that could help. Often, shelters and rescues will have a list of resources that they can provide.

Of course, we know that it’s not always possible to keep your dog no matter how much you love him. Maybe you have to move and the new place won’t allow dogs of his size. There are countless reasons that you might need to give up your dog. In those cases, the shelter can make an appointment for you to drop him off. They’ll also let you know the cost of the surrender fee.

These fees are generally $50 and up. However, just like the policies, they can vary from one organization and location to the next.

Consider Other Options

While surrendering your dog to a shelter or a rescue is a possibility if you don’t have another choice, take some time to think about your other options. For example, you might have people in your inner circle, such as a friend from work or a cousin across town that’s been thinking about adopting a dog. See if they might be interested in your Catahoula Leopard Dog.

Also, you can find online pet adoption sites that help to make finding a great new owner easier. Rehome is part of Adopt-a-Pet.com and could be a great choice. You can create a profile with images, videos, and a bio of your dog. Interested people can then submit adoption applications that you can review. This gives you the ability to choose a great new owner for your dog that will match his needs.

Photo credit: Krystal Hamlin