Kudos to you! You have made the decision to adopt a dog from an animal shelter. You have thought through the pros and cons and ultimately decided that giving one of the millions of adult dogs in our country a loving home is the right thing to do. Moreover, since you’re financially able to provide proper veterinary care, as well as a stable, loving environment, it’s now time to visit your local animal shelter and find the newest member of your family.

So, have you thought about what it really means for a dog to be adopted, especially a dog that was a stray and/or neglected? He’s so happy to start his new life. Having a family to love him is all he has ever wanted and now he has one. But what happens when his new family discovers they aren’t fully prepared for the not so appealing issues that may come with him? He’s not housetrained…being chained to a tree didn’t offer him much of an opportunity to learn that skill; or, he’s food aggressive from having to fight for what little food he got in his prior life. Unfortunate but true, many dogs with issues like these are returned to the shelters they came from because families, good intentions aside, expected too much from dogs that came from abusive or neglectful situations.

As important as love is to a successful adoption, patience is key when it comes to adopting a dog that may not have been trained, socialized, or provided basic care in his prior life. It’s an unfortunate fact that most dogs that end up in shelters do not come from loving homes. Yes, there are those that are surrendered by caring people who, for financial reasons, illness, or a change in living situation had to make the heartbreaking decision to give up their dog to a shelter. Fortunately, because these dogs were well trained and cared for, they spend much less time waiting for a new home than those who were strays or neglected. But the reality is that the majority of dogs waiting in shelters do not come from ideal situations, and when they are adopted, usually after lengthy shelter stays, they need enormous amounts of love, training and patience to ensure that the adoptions are successful. They need time to adjust to their new homes and the people who come and go from them.

These poor dogs have been given a second chance at a good life. They are just waiting for their forever families to teach them the finer points of being a wonderful pet, and patience is vital for this to happen. But when your patience is tried, ask for help. Someone may know just what to do to bring out your dog’s true potential. Likewise, the Internet is a great source of dog friendly information for the dog lover in search of guidance. Type in the keywords “dog training” and be prepared for an abundance of tips and advice; however, keep in mind that short, consistent sessions of calm, assertive training are the easiest for your dog to understand and will set him up for success.

It is amazing, but even a dog that was physically abused or neglected is able to show unconditional love to his new family members. For that, doesn’t he deserve a little patience? Patience is key.

Deb Cloutier is the founder of Western Maine Pet Project and an animal welfare advocate.