How much do you earn every month?
Retired service dogs often need a lot of care and assistance. They can have all sorts of conditions that need to be addressed and cared for because of either injuries sustained from work or simply old age. Medical bills can be expensive considering that they will need constant checkups to make sure they're in good health. In addition, they might also need additional training for home life by a professional trainer, especially if you have other pets in your house that they need to get accustomed to.
Do you have experience adopting a pet dog?
Adopting a retired service dog is not for first time adopters. It can even be difficult for those who have experience adopting but no experience handling big dogs. Overall, you need a lot of experience in taking care of dogs before, ideally both big and elderly dogs, to adopt and care for a retired service dog with confidence.
Do you have free time in your week?
Spending time with your retired service dog is important for them to become comfortable adapting to home life. On top of this, they have a lot of energy that needs to be expended or else they might start feeling anxious or uneasy. It's also important to give them other activities to do such as games where they can do similar activities to when they were working to keep them active and happy.
Are you physically healthy?
As mentioned before, these dogs often have a lot of energy and like to stay active. As such, having a good level of physical fitness yourself is important to keep up with these dog's energy. Be prepared for long walks and to be able to rein in these big dogs if they ever try to stray from a route.
Are you willing to spend for additional expenses for a pet (medical, training, etc...)?
It's important to note that adopting a retired service dog might cost a bit more than adopting a standard pet. You will have to consider the additional expenses that you will need to provide, on top of their basic necessities. Things such as their medical care, including medicine and checkups, as well as other needs such as their diet and any additional training they might need are all important factors to consider within your budget.
Do you have any other pet in your home?
Cohabitation is one of the big challenges when it comes to adopting a retired service dog. These dogs are often not used to sharing the same space or territory with other pets, so they might be aggressive or fight over dominance for the space. This can prove an issue especially if your pets at home are reactive and show aggression towards the retired service dog.
Are you well-informed about the special needs of retired service dogs?
Experience with adopting other dogs is important, but being properly informed is even more vital. These dogs have their own unique quirks, behaviors, needs that are important to know about. It's important to learn about their background, what type of service they participated in, their common challenges in adapting to home life, etc... If you haven't done the research on what makes these dogs different from other pets, it would be good to do that research before adopting one to make sure you're prepared and ready.
Do you have any nearby vets with experience handling retired/elderly dogs?
As these dogs have various medical needs, it is important that you have nearby veterinarians who, if not experienced handling retired service dogs, are willing and capable of handling big and energetic dogs such as these. It is a big benefit to have a veterinarian nearby who has specific experience with handling retired service dogs as they will be more knowledgeable on what to look out for and what you will need to do as an owner for these dog's long term health.
