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.   The ancestors of all domestic dogs were bred with a purpose and according to how well they served this purpose.  "Bully" breeds are called such because they were originally bred to bait bulls for sport.  This required the dog to bite down upon the nose of a bull and hold on tight, hence the underbite on these breeds that made it easier to hold onto the much larger animal's nose.  The American Pit Bull Terrier and some other "bully" breeds were then bred to fight other dogs in the gaming pits for sport and gambling; hence the term "Pit".  The dogs with the highest game drive, strength, and fighting skills won fights and were bred.  A game drive involves the level of desire to engage in the game for which the dog was bred.  This group of terriers was bred to fight other dogs. While it is no fault of the animal and clearly lies in the intent of handlers and breeders long ago (and still some today), the risks of harm to that animal and others are very real.

It is very important that the owner of a Pit Bull be savvy about game drive indicators and supporting a hierarchy in a multi-pet environment.  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.  If your dog locks its eyes on another dog, stiffens with its tail and head held tall, this is a game drive response.  A play response is wiggley, loose, and a lowering of the head and front end of the body in a play bow.  Another dog acting rambunctiously may stimulate the dog with a high game drive to attack as its ancestors were bred to do.  If the other dog has a dominant personality, it may respond with the same indicators and preparedness to fight; starring the game driven dog in the eye, stiffening, and an unwillingness to back down.  The dog fight can occur and worsen as the dominant dog refuses to submit and the game-driven dog continues to be stimulated by the other dog's response.  If a game driven dog interacts with a submissive dog, their play is often too rough for an anxious or insecure dog and if that dog responds with fear aggression, the game response can escalate into a fight that leaves both dogs injured.

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 adopters willing and able to take them and provide a safe and fulfilling life. 

While we recongize that there are Pit Bulls with a low game drive, we are not willing to risk a trigger that does tap into the drive and causes harm to that dog or others. 

While there are loving and knowlegeable Pit owners out there, the power and protection oriented breeds have a disproportionate number of irresponsible owners.  An irresponsible owner is one who envies or nurtures dangerous behavior and one who refuses to recognize risk factors and protect their dog and others from gaming behavior.  Such owners facilitate the harm that becomes the media hype that does damage to the breeds' image. 

Home owner's insurance providers and rental property providers prohibiting the coverage on or the allowance of certain breeds occurs largely because naive pet owners do not recognize pre-bite behavior and the drives that lead to a dog defending itself, disciplining others, or gaming.  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.