Most energy related problems have more to do with owners than pets, but may make the dog unadoptable if the neglect has been long term. If you are thinking about surrendering a dog because of energy-related behavioral problems, please research information in print or on the internet and complete a training course (The time and exercise for the dog's mind and body afforded by the classes and practice can go a long way in eliminating behavior problems).  Denver Dumb Friends League offers valuable information through their website at www.ddfl.org.  The Women's Humane Society offers dog obedience classes (please see that section of our website).  Also, keep in mind that high protein, high performance dog foods provide dogs with energy.  The average healthy house dog can be maintained on 19-23% protein.  If you are feeding high protein food to a dog you assess is too active, you are contributing to the problem.  Reduce the protein and increase the exercise.  If you are crating an overactive dog for greater than 6 hours a day with little aerobic exercise when the dog is not in the crate, you are creating the problem.  Sporting breed dogs under the age of three, can be expected to need up to 2 hours of aerobic (fetch, a brisk walk, or run in an enclosed area) exercise.  Explore canine day care or dog walking options or commit to an exercise time with your pet before and after work.

Dogs that are not housebroken are unadoptable to most potential adopters or run a high risk of abuse, neglect or return when adopted.  If a previously housebroken pet begins soiling, begin with a veterinarian exam to rule out a medical foundation and consider crate training for a humane period of time (not greater than 6 hours at a time on a daily basis).  While some soiling issues can be eliminated, we may not include in our adoption program animals surrendered because of soiling issues or those who display such issues while at the shelter.  Soiling can be a stress response and any new home is going to be a stressful change.  Just as you cannot cope with it, please do not expect a new owner to go through what lead you to surrender the animal.

Most fearful or anxious dogs are unadoptable under the stress of a shelter environment.  If you are considering surrender of a fearful or anxious dog, please learn more and use strategies to reduce your pet's fearful or anxious behavior.  Help can be found at www.fearfuldogs.com.  There are free tips and books you can buy at this web site brought to our attention by the dog owner that developed the website.  Additionally, our trainers can work with you and your dog on strategies to reduce your dog's fears.  For more information see our Obedience Classes page.  It is very likely that a fearful dog can be pressed into fear aggression in new or stressful situations and we will not offer dogs that display indicators or risks of fear aggression during their stay at our shelter.

There are certain breeds of dogs that we do not offer for adoption including:

Pit Bulls or Pit Bull mixes.  This group of dogs was bred to fight other dogs and is therefore prone to what appears to be dog aggression with the same incapacitating and deadly results.  A high game drive can be very dangerous to other pets in a person's home and community when the owner is not savvy about game drive indicators.  Too many Pit-loving/sympathetic, but inexperienced, people can confuse the game drive with a play drive with dangerous consequences for the Pit, other pets in the home and their community.  Pit Bulls are terriers and have the tenacious personality of such.  Many people have bred and treated these dogs irresponsibly and there are many more that need homes than there are owners willing to take them and able to provide a safe and fulfilling life.  While there are loving and responsible Pit owners out there, the power and protection oriented breeds have a disproportionate number of irresponsible owners.  This has lead to an increase in home owner's insurance providers and rental property providers prohibiting the coverage on or the allowance of certain breeds.  While refusing coverage on or increasing home owner's rates based on breed is illegal in the state of Pennsylvania, it can be very difficult to secure home owners' insurance if you are not savvy and have the time to assert your rights.  Because of these factors, many loving owners also find themselves in life style changes that lead to surrender.  They are without friends and family willing to provide for them with their dog or their dog alone.  If you need to surrender a Pit or Pit Bull mix and are desirous of adoption for this pet, go to www.Petfinder.com and run a search on Pit Bulls.  This will allow you to view the shelters and rescue groups who do try to place these dogs.  As you contact these groups, be prepared for: a potential lack of a response (as overwhelmed volunteers can't do it all), waiting lists, and no guarantees on the amount of time they can maintain your dog. 

Chows or chow mixes.  We did at one time adopt out Chows and Chow mixes and most were returned following a bite to someone in their new home.  Most primitive Asian breeds (Chows, Akitas, Jindos, Shiba Inus) display risk factors that make them unadoptable when surrendered by their original owners.  Primitive Asian breeds are known for bonding to one person or family and being very indifferent or aloof to people outside the family.  This aloofness can be pressed into aggression under conditions in which other more social dogs would not pose a risk to people.  This requires a very experienced owner and commitment to keeping visitors and community members safe.  If you own a primitive Asian breed, it is very important that you socialize it well and do not encourage or support aggressive behavior towards welcomed visitors in your home and friendly strangers in your community.  Know the indicators of pre-bite behavior and take steps to ensure everyone's safety.  For some, this includes muzzling when in public.