Second Hand Dog
Kay King

Admiring my neighbor's pet a few weeks ago, I asked their son how he liked his new dog. Very seriously, he informed me that it was a used dog they had adopted at the local animal shelter. After some discussion, we decided that second hand dog sounded better.

If you've decided it's time to get a dog (or get another dog), do yourself a favor and visit your local animal shelter. Dogs there are not inferior to the pet shop variety. They have come to the pound for many reasons. They may have been lost, abandoned or abused; they may have arrived due to illness or death of their previous owner.

It is not at all uncommon to find well trained dogs, both mixed breed and purebred, in a city or county animal shelter. This is especially true in areas with large military bases where pet owners may be transferred out of the country with little notice.

Many dogs are simply brought in to shelters by owners who complain that the dog 'won't do what it's told' or that it barks, etc. Usually, the problem is not the dog, but rather an owner who doesn't understand dog behavior and training.

There is no more devoted friend than a Second Hand Dog who has been given a 'forever home'. That said...a previously owned dog may bring some baggage with him. A lack of obedience training is not hard to remedy but other problems may require a great deal of patience from the new owner.

Adopting an older dog, with an unknown past, can be a challenge yet the rewards can surprise you. Petting, kind words, and regular meals are usually all that's needed for your second hand dog to fit right into your family.

Perhaps the hardest hurdle is gaining the trust of a dog that has been abused. My own Blue Heeler came to me when he was about one year old. Though he seemed friendly, I quickly noticed some bothersome behavior. When I put flea drops on his skin, the dog panicked, growled, snapped at me and backed away.

When I sat quietly, the little dog would come to me wagging his tail...but any quick arm or leg movement caused him to cringe and whine. At the vet's office the following day we found numerous small scars that looked like cigarette burns, as well as one and two inch long narrow scars we could not identify.

Unsure of my ability to help the dog, but determined to try, I took him home and named him 'Doodah'. Month after month I worked with the dog, taking him with me in the car and for walks, very basic obedience training, lots of praise. As Doodah gained confidence and claimed his new home, I discovered a dog that loved learning new things. I added more advanced training and he picked it up very quickly.

That was five years ago. Today, Doodah is with me all the time. He goes from room to room when I do, sits under my desk while I work. Best of all, he is the happiest little second hand dog I've ever seen....and a natural clown, too.

Author Kay King works at home (with Doodah) on the Mississippi Gulf Coast... For more articles and information about dogs and their people, please visit her site www.my-dogs-rule.com