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Unless you have a very specific reason for buying a dog of a particular breed, please, please, please, consider adopting a dog who is in a sanctuary! These dogs really deserve to be loved, and also have a lot of love to give. At any given time in Malta, there are hundreds of dogs waiting for someone to take them into their home and give them the love they deserve.

The choice of a dog from a shelter requires a lot of thought. First of all, the same considerations I mentioned in my previous article on making the big decision, apply.

Shelter dogs offer a number of advantages:

1) They cost less. At most the sanctuary will ask for a small charge for having neutered and chipped the dog.

2) If the dog is slightly older, the staff at the sanctuary will have a fair idea of the dog’s temperament and health status.

3) Most of them are crossbreeds / mixed breeds. They are less prone to genetic diseases.

When choosing the dog, try to find out the following:

1) How does the dog act around children? Around other dogs?

2) Are there any particular situations that scare him / her or that trigger aggression?

3) Level of activity – this needs to be match yours! If you’re a couch potato, don’t chose a hyperactive dog.

4) The size of the dog. Usually, by six months, an experienced person would have a fair idea of the size the dog will grow to.

5) How the dog responds to being touched, in both pleasant and mildly unpleasant ways. Most dogs like being stroked under the neck, but do not like it when you place your hand on the top of their head or on their shoulder.

6) How excitable the dog is, and how quickly he / she calms down. Does he / she bark a lot?

7) How rough or gentle the dog is when playing.

8) How the dog reacts if approached or handled when he / she in possession of food or an edible chew.

9) How he /she responds to strangers.

10) How he / she responds when startled.

Try and find out all these from all the members of the staff. If there is a resident trainer who helps out, he and she can give you a lot of information, but so can the person who cleans the kennels every day. Do not make an emotional decision.

If this is your first dog, I would not recommend you take in a dog that is still in need of rehabilitation. And do not consider remotely any dog that shows any sign of aggression in any way at any time.

Also, do not feel pressured to chose from the choice there is at the time. This is a choice that will stay with you a long time, so please do take your time to make this choice. Don’t just choose a dog and walk off with him / her, (though most sanctuaries will not allow you to). Visit the dog a few times, and take him / her on a few walks. If you already have another dog, walk them together to see how they get on.

One more point, but one that is at heart; don’t rule out an older dog. These dogs would have had a rough time for most of their lives, and would never have had a loving owner. Please do consider a senior dog.

I’ve compiled a list of the dog sanctuaries in Malta I’m aware of; do let me know if I’m missing any, so that I can immediately add them.