Marco Reggi / Stocksy
All dogs have a great capacity to learn, perform tricks, and, of course, convince you they deserve another treat. A “smart dog,” however, is often thought of as a dog who is highly trainable. But according to dog trainer and behaviorist Karen London, Ph.D., a dog’s intelligence can be measured in many different ways, and the characteristics that make a dog smart can vary widely. Some of those qualities include being highly trainable (including being able to learn new commands quickly), adaptable, able to learn complex tasks, and possessing good problem-solving skills. Smart dogs are also emotionally intelligent and able to interact positively with humans and other animals.
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Best of Adopting a Dog, Best of Dog Behavior and Training, Dog Breeds |

By Savannah Admire

Shava Cueva / Stocksy
Deciding to foster a dog, which involves temporarily taking care of a dog from a shelter or rescue organization, is a huge commitment, but it can make a major difference in the life of not just the dog you take into your home but also other animals in the shelter. Fostering helps prepare dogs for life with their forever family and frees up space for the organization to take in and care for more animals, saving lives one pet at a time.
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Best of Adopting a Dog, Best of Dog Tips, Helping Pet Adoption, Pet Adoption News |

By Savannah Admire

Jimena Roquero / Stocksy
If you’ve spent much time with a dog, you likely already know how soothing their presence can be. Research has shown that animals can have a therapeutic effect on people who are stressed, anxious, or suffering from conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therapy dogs are dogs who are trained to provide comfort and support to people in need and have become common volunteer workers in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, care facilities, and even disaster areas.
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Best of Adopting a Dog, Best of Dog Behavior and Training, Best of Dog Tips |

By Savannah Admire

Alvaro Lavin / Stocksy
Pet adoption transport is the process of moving adoptable pets from shelters in areas with high pet overpopulation to sites with a demand for pets. This process allows overpopulated shelters in other regions of the country, such as the South and Midwest, to send adoptable animals to shelters with a high demand for — and low supply of — pets. Pet adoption transport organizations provide transportation by air, ground, or rail and offer food and medical care for pets during transport. Pet transport ultimately ensures that as many animals find forever homes as possible.
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Best of Adopting a Dog, Best of Cat Safety, Best of Dog Safety, Happy Beginnings, Helping Pet Adoption, Pet Adoption News |

By Julie Zeilinger

Huy Phan / Pexels
There’s plenty to do before adopting a cat, from buying the necessary supplies to prepping to introduce your cat to your home or any resident pets. But perhaps one of the most important is to cat-proof your house.
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Best of Adopting a Cat, Best of Cat Basic Care, Best of Cat Tips, Household Tips |

By Julie Zeilinger

Gabi Bucataru / Stocksy
There has never been a better time to consider fostering an animal: Animal shelters across the country are at capacity to overflowing and understaffed. Fostering, or temporarily taking care of an animal in need, not only provides animals with safe homes and the attention and love they need to be more adoptable until they find their forever homes, but also frees up space in already crowded shelters.
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Adopt-A-Pet.com News, Happy Beginnings, Helping Pet Adoption |

Ivan Ozerov / Stocksy
If you’re a cat parent who is considering bringing a new kitten into the home, or if you’ve already adopted one, you’re likely wondering how best to introduce your resident cat to their new family member. Introducing a new kitten to a resident cat can be challenging, and, depending on the cats’ ages and personalities, it may take days or months to do so successfully. However, it’s important to introduce cats slowly and carefully to prevent aggression or fighting.
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Best of Adopting a Cat, Best of Cat Tips, Getting Along with Your Pet, Household Tips |

ZQZ Studio / Stocksy
One of the top reasons shelters are given by those who surrender their pets is that they are moving to a place that does not allow pets or due to a landlord’s pet restrictions. It’s true that finding a rental apartment or house when you have pets can take extra time, patience, flexibility, and effort, but isn’t keeping your pets worth it?
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Best of Adopting a Cat, Best of Adopting a Dog, Best of Adopting Other Pets, Household Tips |

By Julie Zeilinger

Samantha Gehrmann / Stocksy
It’s a thought many pet parents of older dogs have: Should I adopt a puppy for my dog? It’s a well-meaning and valid question, but one that should be carefully considered. While bringing home a young dog or puppy might “liven up” your older dog and help them stay young, this is not always the case. Sadly, the reverse is often true.
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Best of Adopting a Dog, Best of Dog Behavior and Training, Household Tips |

Melanie DeFazio / Stocksy
If you adopted a single kitten under the age of six months, you may begin to notice some troubling behavior over time. If your kitten is excessively vocal, destructive, and/or aggressive, they are likely experiencing “single kitten syndrome,” a condition that can develop in kittens who are not raised with other kittens or cats.
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Best of Adopting a Cat, Best of Cat Behavior and Training, Best of Cat Tips |