Before you bring a dog into the home, it would be wise to observe or test to see if the dog will be welcomed by everyone in the family. If someone strongly objects, put it on hold until that is sorted out.
There are several clues you can look for to predict whether things are going to work out or not. Let’s assume we are questioning whether one person in the family is going to reject the new dog. Go meet some dogs together observe the following:
Does that person
1. Want to keep the dogs out of their personal space?
2. Avoid touching the dogs?
3. Does the person perceive dogs as being “dirty” and “smelly”?
4. Are they suspicious or afraid of dogs?
5. Do they tolerate the behavior and presence of the dogs?
6. Do the dogs elicit affection and care taking behaviors from that person?
7. Do they act in a threatening manner?
8. Do they seek to play with the dogs?
9. Are they overly concerned about the mannerliness of all dogs in their presence?
10. Do the dogs stress them out?
11. Do they have past bad experiences with dogs that make them not want the dogs near them?
12. Are they actively asking “buying signal” questions from the people who own or are fostering those dogs?
13. Are they overly concerned about limiting and suppressing the freedom of movement and friendly gestures of the dogs, especially if the dogs are puppies which are jumping up, pulling on their shoelaces and biting at their hands?
14. Are all the comments of a negative variety?
15. When you get home, do they show any signs of being allergic to those dogs?
16. Where do they expect the dogs to live in the home? Any rooms excluded? Are they to be banished to the back yard?
17. Do the dogs accept and like that person?
Try this out. It is better to not get a dog at all than to get a dog and then make that dog’s life miserable.
Plan accordingly.
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