Before surrendering a pet, trainers recommend behavior support, structure, and honest evaluation of your lifestyle match.

Many pet parents assume that dog adoption red flags only refer to obvious behavior problems, such as aggression or biting.

Pet rescues have used interviews, strict adoption criteria and adoption take-backs to protect animals. The methods have plenty of critics.

Our first-time dog owner guide covers what you need to know before adopting a dog — from choosing the right breed to preparing your home.