Dog adoption checklist
What to settle at home and what to ask a shelter, a rescue or a breeder before you bring a dog home.
Runs entirely in your browser: nothing you enter is sent to this site. Results are estimates for planning, not veterinary advice.
What it is
A printable checklist for the weeks before you choose a dog. It starts with questions for you and your household, then lists questions for a shelter or rescue, questions for a breeder and what to look for when you meet the dog. Tick each item as you go and press print to take it with you.
How to use it
Go through the first group at home, with everyone who lives there. A dog is a commitment of ten years or more, and the honest answers to those questions help you pick the right dog as much as the right moment. Take the second or third group to the shelter, rescue or breeder. A good one will answer every question openly and will ask you some in return.
Where it stops being right
A checklist cannot tell you whether a particular dog is right for you. Shelters know a dog from a few days or weeks, and a breeder knows a puppy for eight, so read what they say as the best available information rather than a promise. Expect some adjustment in any new home, and ask a veterinarian or a qualified trainer for help with specific health or behavior concerns.
Nothing here is legal or veterinary advice. Rules on licensing, vaccination and the number of dogs differ by city and state, so check with your local animal control office.
Last reviewed November 8, 2026