Getting Started

• The first thing to do when deciding to adopt a pound puppy is locate a shelter or local rescue organization. Which of these you choose to go through will depend on many factors; shelters and pounds are facilities that take in stray animals, while many rescue organizations work with volunteer foster homes and focus on specific breeds of dog. If you're interested in a certain kind of puppy, a rescue organization will probably be your best bet.
  
  

Considerations

• When visiting pounds or foster homes, understand that many of the dogs that have been abandoned or given up were left because of behavioral problems. These problems can run the gamut from normal puppy issues that a family was ill-prepared for (such as potty training or chewing), to major behavioral or medical issues that will require a great deal of special care (such as aggression or blindness). Make sure to speak with the family or shelter about any possible problems the animal may have and be ready to deal with these problems should you choose to bring it home.
  
  

Expense

• The actual cost of bringing a dog home from a shelter can vary depending on the organization. Some shelters require a small fee (usually $20 to $75) to help recoup their costs, while others give the puppies to good homes for free. Additionally, there are a few expenses you should prepare for no matter where you get your puppy. Count on medical expenses such as shots and flea prevention, as well as basic needs like bowls, a dog bed, toys and dog food. Many pet stores have a checklist of things to buy before bringing a puppy home for the first time.
  
  

Choosing the Right Breed

• It is tempting to select the "cutest" puppy or the one that seems to be the friendliest, but there are a lot of considerations in choosing a breed. Every breed of dog is different and has its own demands, so consult a breed guide and make sure you know what you're getting into. Some basic things to think about here include the total cost of food for big or small dogs, the exercise requirements of the breed versus the time you have to commit, and the safety of small children with larger dogs. Because so many of the animals found in a shelter are repeat visitors, be absolutely certain this puppy will fit into your life before you adopt. Remember, puppies won't stay puppies forever; make sure you're comfortable with the adult dog.
  
  

Integrating the Puppy

• Once you've selected a puppy and are certain it will fit within your budget and family environment, there are a couple of things you can do to smoothly introduce the pet to its new life. For starters, enroll the puppy in a training class; this will help with socialization, and will also help the dog build good habits into the foundation of its new life. This is also a good time to sit down with your friends and family and discuss expectations of how the dog is to be treated; consistency is a key factor in training a new puppy. Finally, get your house ready for a puppy by checking that your fence is secure, gating off areas the puppy shouldn't be in, and getting toys and clothes off the floor and into toy boxes and hampers.
  
  

Alternate Methods

• Visiting a local shelter is a great way to adopt a puppy; however, many shelters maintain an online database of the puppies they currently have available. Be sure to check your local pound's website before making the drive. Additionally, PetFinder.com lists tons of animals from many different shelters and will provide you with an easy way to search all of your local adoption agencies at once.