Before adopting a dog, make sure you ask the right questions about their health, history, behavior, and the rescue or shelter’s policies. These questions can prevent surprises, save money, and ensure you’re bringing home the right dog for your family.Stay organized during the adoption process with my Dog Adoption Workbook. It includes checklists, worksheets, and notes pages so you won’t forget anything.
Why Asking Questions Before Adopting a Dog Matters
Adopting a rescue dog is exciting… and a little nerve-wracking. Without asking the right questions, you may know very little about the dog’s background, health, or behavior. That uncertainty can be even more concerning if you have kids at home.
By asking the shelter or rescue staff the right questions, you’ll uncover important details that help you decide if a dog is truly the right fit. Think of it like a job interview, but for the dog you’re about to welcome into your family.
That said, no matter how many answers you get, remember this: a dog may act one way in a shelter or foster home, and a completely different way once they feel safe in your living room.
📖 Read the 3-3-3 rule to learn about the adjustment process.
Shelters and rescues may not always know the full story, and that’s okay. It’s impossible to fully assess a dog until they’re living in a real home. This is one reason I love foster-to-adopt programs.
General Questions to Ask When Adopting a Dog
- How did the dog end up in the shelter or rescue?
- How long has the dog been in the shelter or foster home?
- Why was the dog surrendered?
- Is there any history of abuse or neglect?
- How would you describe the dog’s personality?
- Where do they sleep at night?
- Have they been to a groomer before? How did it go?
- Do they allow nail trims, ear cleaning, or baths?
- Are there any special needs this dog requires?
- What are the adoption fees for this dog?
- Will it be possible for my current dog to meet the adoptable dogs before adoption?
- Do you have a foster-to-adopt program?
Health & Medical Questions
- Has the dog had a general wellness exam by a vet? When?
- Do you provide any health guarantees or support shortly after adoption?
- Is the dog neutered/spayed? If not, does the rescue provide a voucher or require the procedure once the dog is old enough?
- Are vaccinations current? (Rabies, Distemper/Parvo, Bordetella)
- Are they current on heartworm and flea/tick preventative?
- Have they had a Snap 4 DX test? (A 4Dx snap test is a blood test that is run by a vet. While not required, it provides valuable information. The test is a screening process for six vector-borne diseases: Heartworm, Lyme, Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia ewingi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Anaplasma platys.)
- Is the dog microchipped?
- What food do they eat now (brand, formula)?
- Do they have any food or environmental allergies?
- Have they had dental problems?
- Any history of injury or surgery?
- Do they have ongoing medical conditions?
📖 READ Dog Food Transition: A Quick Guide for Healthy Switches
Energy Level Questions
- How much exercise does this dog need?
- How would you describe the dog’s energy level?
- How many times a day do they need to be walked, and for how long?
- Do they know how to settle down when playtime is over?
- What types of activities do they enjoy (fetch, frisbee, swimming, hikes)?
📖 READ Dog temperament testing
Behavior & Temperament Questions
- Has the dog undergone any behavioral assessments or training while at the shelter??
- Are there any known behavioral issues?
- Does the dog have any resource guarding issues with food, toys, or anything else?
- Are they independent or clingy? Are they anxious or shy?
- Do they show any signs of separation anxiety?
- Do they bark excessively when left alone?
- How long can they be left home alone?
- Do they chew furniture, shoes, or kids’ toys?
- Do they like playing with other dogs?
- Would this dog prefer to be the only dog in the house or with other dogs?
- Are they dog-friendly on leash and off leash?
- Have they been to a dog park? How did it go?
- Have they lived with cats? How do they act around them?
- Do they have fears or triggers, such as thunderstorms, men, or cars?
- How do they react to strangers?
- Is the dog child-friendly? What ages have they been around?
- Have they ever nipped or bitten anyone?
- Do they bark at the doorbell, delivery trucks, or on walks?
- How do they act in the car?
- Can they jump fences? Do they need a secure yard?
📖 READ Rescue Dog Separation Anxiety Solutions
Training Questions
- Is the dog potty-trained? How often do they need to go out?
- Do they have a signal for going outside?
- Have they had formal obedience training?
- What commands do they know? (Sit, stay, down, recall)
- How do they walk on a leash? (Collar, harness, prong, etc.)
- Do they pull or lunge? At what?
- Can I walk them with another dog to see how they do?
- Do they come when called?
- What training tools have been used?
- Are they food-motivated? If not, what motivates them?
- What type of correction works best?
- Are they crate-trained?
- How do they behave in a crate?
- If not crated, do they free-roam? What happens when left alone?
📖 READ Rescue Dog Training & Behavior Resources
Questions to Ask a Foster Dog Parent
If the dog you’re interested in is living with a foster family, these questions will give you a better idea of how the dog behaves in a real home environment.
- How does the dog behave in your home?
- How does the dog get along with your pets?
- How does the dog act around guests?
- What’s their potty training status?
- How are they left alone in your house?
- What toys or activities do they enjoy most?
- What quirks or challenges can I expect initially?
Questions to Ask When Adopting from a Previous Owner
If you’re adopting directly from someone who is rehoming their dog, use these questions to learn about the dog’s daily life, habits, and history.
- Why are you rehoming the dog?
- How long have you owned them?
- What’s their daily routine?
- Have they had major health issues?
- Are vaccinations and vet care current?
- How do they behave with kids, dogs, and cats?
- Any history of aggression?
- Do they have a favorite toy, routine, or comfort item?
Questions to Ask When Adopting a Puppy
Adopting a puppy comes with unique challenges and responsibilities. These questions will help you understand their health, socialization, and what to expect as they grow.
- How long did the puppies stay with their mother (recommended at least 8 weeks)?
- Are the puppy’s parents known, especially the mother’s breed and temperament?
- Has the puppy been dewormed and vaccinated?
- Has crate training or house training started?
- How does the puppy behave with littermates?
- What socialization experiences have they had so far?
- Have they been around kids or other pets?
- Any signs of health concerns?
Future Support and Follow-Up
Ask about post-adoption support or resources available. Inquire if there are plans for follow-up communication or check-ins after adoption. Having ongoing support can be beneficial as you navigate the initial stages of welcoming your new dog.
No one ever intends to have issues after adoption day. But it’s a good idea to be prepared just in case things don’t work out as you planned. These questions will help make sure you get the support you need.
- Do you offer guidance to help dogs transition into new homes?
- Are training or behavior classes available for adopters?
- Can you recommend local trainers or behaviorists?
- Do you have an adopter support group or online community?
- What steps should I take if the dog shows illness or distress?
- What if the adoption doesn’t work out?
- What’s the return policy?
- Are there fees or conditions if I need to return the dog?
Final Thoughts
The more you know, the better chance you have at finding your perfect match and giving your new dog the forever home they deserve.
After asking all your dog adoption interview questions and finding a potential match, take a step back and really think it through.
Adopting a dog is emotional. It’s easy to fall for a sad story or an adorable face, but focus on whether the dog’s personality and temperament truly fit your family. Make sure everyone in the household agrees, and remember, no dog is perfect.
The goal of these questions is to prepare you as best as possible so you can find the right match for your family. Did I miss an important question? Share it in the comments below!
Want to stay organized during the adoption process? Grab the Dog Adoption Workbook and bring it with you when you meet your next potential pup.
When is their birthday
Cannot get pdf to download, will not allow copying
The PDF does not allow you to copy the text. But you should be able to download directly from the email if you signed up for the free PDF. Also available in our free resource library.
Oh and “How affectionate is he?”
Another idea is “Has he had a dental cleaning?”
Hello! Great list! Wanted to suggest two more questions.
54. What are his favorite kinds of toys? Fetch toys, plush toys, squeakies, tug toys, floating toys, food-dispensing, interactive?
55. Does he like the water?
I’ll let you know if I come up with any more during my search.
I have had dogs my entire life and I love them all dearly. My dog recently died and I am temporarily living with a friend. She is really concerned about getting a dog from a shelter, she is afraid of destructive or aggressive behavior. I don’t want to get a puppy right now, I wanted to adopt a middle aged guy. Do shelters ever let prospective owners take home a dog to see how it goes for a week or two? I would pay the fee first. Does anyone do that, or is it unheard of?
It’s possible. Usually more likely with a rescue than a shelter. Maybe sign up to foster a dog, that will allow you to take the dog on a trial run and adopt if you decide he’s a good fit. Check with the rescue first to make sure they offer a foster to adopt program. That’s how we adopted our dog Ginger.
Why not try fostering a dog from a shelter until you are ready to adopt again?
Some shelters have that option. The shelter here has a Rent-a-Rover. half day is $20 and over night is $40
If only rescues could answer all of these questions. It sure would be handy if abandoned dogs at shelters came with their full background.
I feel like you need to specify some of these questions apply to more long term fosters.
I agree Kelly, it would be nice to be able to get answers to all these questions. I do mention that the amount of information that you can get will vary. Every situation is different as is every dog.
Very great list of questions. Really helpful.
I’m glad you found the list helpful. Good luck on adopting your pup!
You brought up some very valid questions in regards to what needs to be asked prior to adopting a dog; the crate training questions were also really good! A lot of people decide to adopt a dog simply based on the “cuteness” level, without really thinking about deeper factors. Great post!
This is a very comprehensive list! The shelter may not be able to answer all of them but it’s important to get as much info as possible. Shared!
Love & biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Thank you and thank you for sharing!