Introduction

Adopting a street dog is a unique and rewarding experience. These resilient animals, having survived tough conditions, offer a remarkable blend of intelligence, loyalty, and character that makes them incredible companions. However, the process comes with its challenges, from helping them settle into a home to addressing their health and behavioral needs.

This guide is broken down into 3 parts:

1. Before adopting a street dog: What you should consider
2. You’ve decided to adopt a street dog: Happy Doggo’s five-step adoption process
3. What to expect living with a street dog: Stories from Happy Doggo’s adoptive parents

With this information, you'll be better equipped to decide whether adopting a street dog is right for you, as well as how to help these dogs adjust and thrive in their new homes.

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Before adopting a street dog: What you should consider

Street dogs can make wonderful pets, but it largely depends on their individual personalities and your lifestyle. Many street dogs are loyal, loving, and smart, often forming a deep bond with their human families once they’ve settled in. These dogs have spent their lives surviving and, in many cases, interacting with humans for food or comfort. They are quick learners and often train well because of their strong problem-solving skills.

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However, street dogs can also come with challenges. They may be reactive due to trauma or exhibit stubbornness, as they’re used to surviving independently. They are likely to need plenty of outdoor space and mental stimulation to keep them content. If you're ready to invest time and patience, a street dog could become your most loyal companion.

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1. Make sure there is a good fit for a street dog in your life

‍Questions to ask a dog rescue

For many people adopting a street dog, they won’t meet them before they come to live with them. While most rescues will be truthful about the dog’s temperament and character, it’s important to ask questions to make sure they’re definitely the right dog for you.

For example:

• Have they ever had any issues or altercations with other dogs?
• Do they have any issues with particular dog breeds?
• Is there anything they’re really scared of?
• How do they cope with situations that may happen around your neighborhood? (For example; fire engines, busy streets, other dogs etc.)
• How much exercise do they need per day?
• Do they have a tendency to chew, bark, or whine?
• Are they generally a more dominant or submissive dog?

The rescue might not know the answers to all of these, but it’s important to find out as much as you can.

If you’ve met the dog on holiday or they’re local to you, try to spend some time with them and test out different situations before you make the decision to take them home. How do they get on in your house? Do they hate cats and you have four? Are they likely to scavenge?

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Questions to ask yourself

Apart from finding out more about the street dog you are interested in, it is also helpful to ask yourself these questions to ensure that you are the right person to adopt a street dog.

• Do I have time to help a street dog adjust to a home environment?
  • Settling into a house is a new experience for street dogs and will likely require you to adjust your lifestyle for up to three months. They may need potty training and will require time to adjust to their new environment. Fortunately, because of their sharp intelligence, these dogs typically pick up training quickly and become loving, loyal members of their families.
• Do I have access to open space?
  • Street dogs are likely to need plenty of outdoor space and mental stimulation to keep them content.
• Do I have resources to train a dog?
  • Street dogs often inherit traits from their street-dwelling ancestors, such as high intelligence, a strong prey drive, and resource guarding tendencies. These dogs may have experienced trauma or lack of food early on, which can lead to food aggression or territorial behavior. Despite these quirks, street dogs are quick learners and tend to adapt well to homes with consistent training.

All of these are important questions that might affect your decision.

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2. Learn about the challenges of transitioning a street dog to home life

Adopting a street dog is not without its difficulties. Here are some key challenges to keep in mind:

• Fight or Flight Reactions: Street dogs often exhibit fight or flight responses, especially when feeling threatened. Some dogs may become aggressive toward other animals or humans (fight), while others may try to run away (flight). It’s crucial to provide them with a secure environment and handle their behavioral triggers with care.

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• Health Concerns: Many street dogs have underlying health issues due to poor nutrition or injuries sustained while living on the streets. Conditions like heartworm, kidney problems, and arthritis are common. A thorough vet check-up and regular health care are essential when adopting a street dog.

If you’ve learned about street dogs and are interested in adopting a street dog from us, next, you should familiarize yourself with our adoption process.

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You’ve decided to adopt a street dog: Happy Doggo’s five-step adoption process

From start to finish, our adoption process involves five steps and takes 4-6 months until we consider a dog fully adopted. Below, we’ll walk you through each step of the journey.

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1. Rehabilitation and Behavioral Assessment

When a dog arrives at Happy Doggo Land, they are often in poor health. In addition to visible injuries or illnesses, they might have conditions like tick fever, parasitic diseases, or heartworm.

We never send a sick dog to a new home—plus, they aren’t allowed to fly while ill—so we focus on getting them back to full health. Whether overweight or underweight, we provide them with top-quality food and supervised exercise, all under the care of local vets. During this time, we also assess their behavior to determine if they’re ready for travel and adoption.

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2. Applications and Interviews

Our goal is to find the perfect forever home for each dog, ensuring they will be happy and well-suited to their new family. This also means matching the right dog to the right people. For example, a highly active dog may not thrive in a sedentary household, and a nervous dog may struggle in a busy home with young children.

To make these matches, we ask prospective adopters to fill out a thorough application form and undergo at least two in-depth interviews. We ask about their living situation, other pets, daily routine, and provide as much information about the dog as possible.

While we do our best to share everything we know, we can’t fully replicate a home environment at the shelter. Therefore, we ensure all applicants are fully prepared for the reality and potential challenges of adopting a street dog.

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3. Medical Preparation

Once a home is chosen, it can take several months before a dog is ready to travel. During this time, the dogs remain at Happy Doggo Land while we complete the necessary medical tests required for them to meet the import regulations of their new country. This process typically takes 2-3 months. In parallel, we organize their flights and find a flight volunteer to accompany them to their forever home.

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4. Travel and Logistics

Flying can be a big ordeal for our dogs, as many have never left their familiar surroundings. Airports, planes, and crates are new and overwhelming experiences for them.

To ease this transition, we work to get them used to their crates ahead of time. Since street dogs are accustomed to freedom, being in a crate can feel confining, so we feed them meals in their crates and encourage them to view it as a safe, comfortable space. We also train them to drink from the water bottles in their crates to keep them hydrated during the journey.

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When it’s time to fly, they travel to Bangkok airport via pet taxi, where they meet their flight volunteer. The volunteer ensures they are safely loaded onto the plane and accompanies them to their destination.

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5. Settling Into Their New Home

Once the dogs arrive, some may be excited, but it’s more common for them to feel overwhelmed after such a long journey. Rather than planning a big welcome, we recommend giving the dog time to decompress and gradually adjust to their new surroundings.

While each dog is different, we suggest following the 3/3/3 rule for the transition: 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to settle in, and 3 months to feel fully comfortable in their new home.

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What to expect living with a street dog: Stories from Adoptive Parents

Despite the challenges, adopting a street dog is an incredibly rewarding experience. Many adopters have shared stories of how their street dogs have enriched their lives with love, loyalty, and intelligence. These dogs may have difficult pasts, but with patience, training, and care, they blossom into loving companions.

Owners often find that street dogs are some of the most affectionate pets, always seeking cuddles and companionship. Their sharp intelligence makes them quick learners, though they may have a strong will that leads to a bit of stubbornness. Whether they’re bonding with their humans or making creative escapes, these dogs bring joy and uniqueness to every home.

If you’d like to find out more, check out our YouTube video on what it’s like to adopt a street dog. We sat down with some people who have adopted a street dog from Happy Doggo to show you the highs and lows of the adoption experience as well as share insights that may help you in your adoption journey.

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Conclusion

Adopting a street dog can be one of the most fulfilling decisions you’ll ever make. These resilient dogs, shaped by their experiences on the streets, are often loyal, loving, and intelligent. While they may come with challenges, the bond you’ll form with your adopted street dog is unlike any other. With the right training, love, and patience, your street dog will thrive in their new forever home, offering you a lifetime of companionship in return.

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