If you are interested in adopting from Shaw PBR, please answer the Pre-Adoption Questionnaire and view our Adoption Agreement.  If you qualify, a Shaw PBR representative will be in touch, soon.

After being approved as a qualified adopter, but before you bring an adopted dog home, we suggest you prepare yourself, your family and your home for a new canine companion. 

Adopting is a family affair, so please make sure that everyone in your household is ready, willing and able to provide a loving home for a new dog. Many adults and children have a difficult time adjusting to a new schedule or routine. Make sure everyone is ready for this new addition to your family. 

Be realistic about your time commitment to the dog.

Planning where you will keep your dog before you bring him home will make the entire process easier for everyone. When you first bring a dog home, you’ll want to confine them to a single room, such as a kitchen or family room. This room should not be an isolated room, but a room where you spend a large part of your day or evening, as dogs are pack animals and want to be with you. This room is especially important when you’re at work or away from the house, as it will be a new environment in which they need time to become familiar and comfortable. 

Use a baby gate to block off the entrances to other rooms. By keeping the dog in one room, you’re helping prevent “accidents” that may occur because of stress or adjusting to your routine. (Even a house-trained dog might have an accident or two during this adjustment period.) For dogs that are not house-trained, keeping them confined to one room will help start this important training as you must be able to monitor their activities. You can also use a crate in this room for times when you are away from the house. See Crate Training.

Keep your dog on a leash at all times when outdoors unless in your secured fenced yard. When in a secured yard, you must supervise him at all times. It is very common for a rescue dog to try and escape so always supervise your dog. 

Do not place your dog around other strange dogs, as we often do not know the dog’s past history.  

Items you may need 

Food and bowls

Crate

Bedding 

Odor neutralizer - to clean housetraining mistakes

Flea comb/brush

Toys such as: hard rubber balls, Kongs, fleece toys, rope toys or nylabones. Do not give your dog hooves, rawhide, pigs’ ears or vinyl toys that can cause diarrhea or choke the dog. 

Flat buckle collar - Collars are provided with each adopt-a-bull. 

Leash

Training treats

Transporting your dog 

The safest way to transport your dog from the rescue to your home (or anywhere else), is in a secure crate in the back of a SUV or truck. The crate should be secured so that it doesn’t tip over or move around. Another option is to use a grill between the back of the vehicle and the back seat. If you have a sedan, then you may be able to secure a crate on the back seat. It is always a good idea to put a blanket down under your crate or in the back section of your vehicle, so that if your dog becomes car sick, or has an accident, the blanket will protect your seats and carpet. If you can’t fit a crate into your vehicle, your dog is safest in the back seat. Use either a special harness for your dog that hooks on to a seat belt, or a leash that attaches to the seat belt. Avoid letting your dog ride in the passenger seat next to you. Not only can your view be obstructed, but if you brake suddenly your dog could get injured by hitting the windshield, or by the air bag. 

You might need a few treats to encourage a dog to jump into a car. If you can get a dog to put his front paws up, then you can lift his back end by supporting his hind quarters (as if he were sitting on your crossed arms). If you need to completely lift your dog, the best way is by putting one arm behind his hind legs and one arm in front of his front legs – essentially a scoop. Another way is to have one arm just behind his front legs, and one hand behind his hind legs. This way the dog's weight is being supported in the same general area of its legs. Keep in mind, most dogs don’t really like to be lifted. Remember to always keep a handle on his leash.