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.
Sometimes dogs are abandoned, picked up on the street or road, so a dog rescue centre would have absolutely no idea re a dogs history. Rescue dogs in the UK are usually collected from someone who has come into possession of the dog and faced with either having the dog destroyed or trying to find them a good home. Most dogs are dumped by unscrupulous dog breeders and have been I’ll treated, undernourished and neglected. They are not house trained. Fir this reason rescue dogs will be placed in a dog foster home to be assessed for common sense questions like whether or not the dog is used to children, or cats, and if they walk nicely on the lead. I doubt many rescue centres would know if a dog had previously had agility training or if it would be necessary to ask so many question. Whilst I agree questions need to be ask, anyone rehiring a dog is quite clueless as to a dogs personality type until the dog has been lovingly cared for for at least 3 months or longer to give them time to settle, feel safe and establish a healthy bond with its new family. Most rescue dogs will be stressed, confused and have some kind of behaviour problem when first re homed but with kindness, patience and gentle training these problems can be managed. Most people have unrealistic expectations therefore, many dogs are returned because the new owners can’t cope or aren’t prepared to give the dog the time and degree of care a rescue dog needs. That said there are many happy endings for rescued dogs and their owners. One important factor that needs to be mentioned is rescue dogs are not happy to be lone dogs because their pack animals, so I believe it’s much kinder to have at least 2 dogs so they always have company. A great way to resolve many problems with rescued dogs is to give them a routine with plenty of exercise, don’t like to be left alone for hours – they chew because their distressed for example. No one should adopt a dog if they have children under 7 or if the owner goes out to work fall time it’s cruel to leave a dog on its own all day. Most I’ll health in dogs is caused through feeding dogs human food. Dogs need a diet which is similar to what they would eat naturally ie chicken, fish, offal, fruit and veggies and have access to fresh water daily. Dogs need a comfortable bed where they can be left undisturbed which is off the ground and of adequate size. I wish more dog owners were educated as to a dog’s basic needs, rather than all the emphasis put on the dog. Most responsible dog rescue centres do try to re home dogs in good, loving forever homes.
Always ask if you can "Foster to Adopt" Usually dog stays with you for 7 days and you can see behavior outside and in home. That way not committing to dog until more ready. Our shelters in midwest rarely know anything about the dog because they're strays and stay at the center in kennels. So 90% of these questions they don't know the answer to. They should test though for dog and child friendliness
This is a great list, I agree. One thing to note is that even if a dog tests well with one dog or several, they still might not like all dogs (just like people!). Same for testing with kids – what holds true in the past might not be the same going forward, or with age, so caution is always a good thing when introducing a dog to any new situation.
I would inquire if any temperament tests have been done. Reputable breed-specific rescues routinely do them and will not adopt dogs who don’t pass a temperament test.
I would also ask if there is any history of wandering, either by jumping fences, digging under fences, or just being a clever escape artist.
For female dogs, you might inquire about any breeding history, litters, birthing or mothering issues, because they may have had a litter before coming into rescue. Some purebred males may also have been used as stud dogs in puppy mills.
It is wise to ask about any history of abuse or neglect because this can explain behavior. You need to know if there is any possibility that a dog came out of the fighting circuits, they are trained to attack to kill at a signal, for example snapping their collar. They have no normal hierarchy of aggressive response but are conditioned to go immediately into killing.
I find it worth noting that even with as much information as possible, you still may not know all the dog’s triggers.
Wow! What a comprehensive list! I am meeting a senior dog this afternoon to potentially adopt and I had only thought of maybe 20% of these questions. I also really appreciate the tips & additional info from your commenters. Thank you!
Having had “rescue” dogs for decades, I have learned specific medical questions to ask. We almost adopted a small dog with Luxating Patellas. I already had spent thousands for one of our other dogs to get necessary surgeries, and I knew it was primarily a small dog issue. The woman looked stunned that I had asked, because YES, the dog DID have luxating patellas. She was not going to disclose that. I also ask about heart murmurs. That can run into lots of heartache and money down the line. And, I ask about allergies, Cushing’s, dental issues.
Dogs, like people, have genetic or breed-specific issues. There is no perfect dog and there are no guarantees. My brother had a mix-breed dog who lived to be 22 and only ate Purina Dog Chow and whatever critter he could catch in the back yard. You just never know which dog is going to be incredibly long-lived and healthy. But, you have to ask questions. A lot of questions!
GREAT RESOURCE! While we think we are asking all the questions in the moment of excitement and meeting a new dog who may be your new family member it’s so easy to get caught up and forget some of these really essential questions! We had the experience of this recently and although I asked many of these questions I did forget some really important ones and the owners themselves either forgot or neglected to tell us intentionally — this dog had to go through the stress of coming to our home only to be taken directly back to his owners within an hour of arriving at our home. That’s not fair to him or anyone involved and frankly it could have very easily turned into a dangerous situation. The questions are so so important because how a dog behaves in certain settings when you meet them is really not a clear indication of who that dog will be in YOUR home. We learned a valuable lesson from this experience and we are grateful for this list for the future! We are just fortunate that no one got hurt and including the poor dog who deserves so much more than being put into situations such as that. As adopters it is OUR responsibility to ask the all of the right questions for our safety and happiness but just as much for the dog’s safety and happiness. THANK YOU FOR THIS INSIGHT!
What was the question you forgot to ask? What was the situation that sent the dog back within an hour?
I’m thinking about getting a rescue Anatolian. My boy died last March, greatest dog ever. My kennel person, a professional dog trainer, asked me to check on the two dogs’ temperament test. What does that entail, and what questions should I ask? Thanks. Bill Muehlenweg
Read this article: https://www.rescuedogs101.com/temperament-test-dog-before-adopt/
Ask how much grooming/ bathing is required, especially with long haired breeds. Has the dog been socialized with children? I just adopted a rescue long hair dachshund. He is too small to go outside by himself in a fenced yard because of hawks and owls. He is great with children but scared to death of my husband. I just read about the 3-3-3 rule… 3 days to get used to the new environment, 3 weeks for personality/ bad habits to show up, 3 months to settle in. We are almost at 2 months, so this was helpful/ hopeful.
How is the dog with men is a good question to ask if you aren't sure it's been around men. A neighbor of ours got into a bad situation with a Golden Retriever who was downright aggressive with men. It should never be taken for granted what experiences a dog you are considering might have.
Also if you have or are visited by elderly or people with mobility issues/aids you should ask if the dog has experience with them and consider asking if they can be tested. A dog can easily trip up an adult with mobility issues just as much as they can knock over a toddler. Some dogs can also be fearful/reactive.
When in doubt about your dog's experience always consider some positive association training before bringing introducing someone vulnerable/ don't hesitate to put your dog in a crate or behind a gate while they get used to someone/something new in their environment.
Thank you for this article! I am going to pick up (I hope) my rescue dog today and am happy to have all these questions to ask/consider. Much appreciated!
I always adopted a dog. Knew this dog was abused thus considered it.
Eventually the dog came to trust me and love me. Never had a dog that I miss dearly.
I only want to rescue another dog. Matje Matten