Summit Dog Rescue Adoption Application

Full Name of Applicant
Occupation:
E-mail
example@example.com
Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip CodeCountry
Phone Number
Format: (000) 000-0000.
Co-Applicant (Spouse, significant other, roommate):
Personal Email:
Occupation/Employer

Please list all the people in your household. NOTE: MT GSD RSQ DOES NOT PLACE DOGS IN HOMES WITH CHILDREN UNDER AGE 5.

Rows	Name	Age
Self
Person #2
Person #3
Person #4
Person #5

Please list all pets in your household. Include both current AND past.

Rows	Species & Breed	Age	Gender	Spay/ Neuter?	Temperament	Residing with you?
.
.
.
.

Is everyone in the household on board with adopting a new dog? Please note each person’s level of commitment to the new dog using the following 1-to-5 scale: 0 indicates “don’t want a new dog in the house,” 1 indicates “I will be ok with having a new dog in the house but do not intend to be responsible for his/her care”; 5 indicates “I am excited about adding a new dog to the home and look forward to being responsible for his happiness, training, and wellbeing.”

Rows	1	2	3	4	5
Self
Person #2
Person #3
Person #4
Person #5

Do you have your heart set on one specific dog? If so, who is that? It helps us to know whether you are only applying for a particular dog or are flexible in your options.
Environment

Please describe your residence & environment:
Urban, suburban, or rural?
Do you own or rent? Is this house, condo or apartment?
If rent, include property owner's name, phone number, address, and email.
How long have you resided at this location?
Do you have a fenced yard? (answer YES or NO).
If you do have a fence, please describe: height, material, approximate size of enclosure:
Do you have any health concerns or condition that affects the kind of dog that would be a good fit, or may do so in the future? If yes, please describe (i.e. asthma, allergies, lyme disease, arthritis)
Please describe your typical weekly schedule, including *how many hours your dog will typically be alone, and *for how long, and *where will your dog be when left alone? :
Doggie Wishlist

The following questions are to help us get an idea of what dog would be a good fit for you. There are no right or wrong answers, so please be as honest and accurate as possible.
Why do you want a dog?
Will your dog be allowed on the furniture? Please rate on a scale of 1 to 10 your rules and expectations about the couch and/or bed. 1 indicates “ I do not want a dog to be on the furniture and will take great measures to make sure it is not on the furniture, including training and management”; 5 indicates “I would prefer my dog NOT be on the couch, but if the dog is accustomed to being on furniture, or likes furniture I will make accommodations (i.e. cover couches, buy a second hand couch etc.)” ; 7 indicates “I don’t care either way” ; 10 indicates “ I prefer to adopt a dog that likes furniture”.
Describe how your dog be exercised daily i.e. a few blocks during the week, playing fetch in your yard, daily hiking on trails on leash, hiking off leash, long walks in neighborhood park, weekend hikes:
What daily activities are important for you to have your dog partake in i.e. dog park, hiking, good with other dogs, going to brewpubs, waiting in car while you run errands (when not hot), going to barbeques at friend's homes with other dogs/kids, joining family gatherings?
If you need to relocate, how will your dog fit into that plan?
Do you regularly have children or other guests visit your home? How often do children visit specifically? Will your dog be exposed to children on a regular basis (in parks, playground, home settings).
If you are in a relationship and you and your significant separate, what would happen to your pets?
Do you foresee any major life changes over the next two years? (e.g., promotion/transfer at work, military deployment, relationship change such as marriage, remodeling your home or yard, having children)
What physical and personality characteristics are you looking for in a dog (e.g., low-shedding, male/female, energy level, a training project or more of a stable dog with lots of history)? (the more info we have here, the better)
The Montana German Shepherd Rescue, rescues dogs of indeterminate origin from shelters, individuals, and organizations throughout the United States. While many of our dogs look like purebred or nearly purebred, and we guess as to what breeds they may be, we do not make any guarantees as to their breeding or that their temperament will resemble that of the breed they look most like.

What do you consider to be part of annual vet expenses?
In the case of a treatable medical issue (example: bloat $5,000 surgery), what do you consider reasonable and manageable in terms of medical treatment, cost, quality of life, etc?
What brand of dog food will you feed your dog? Why this brand?
We highly recommend researching dog foods and their ingredients at www.dogfoodanalysis.com and www.dogfoodadvisor.com.

Have you ever had a dog with behavior problems? If so what behavior(s) and how did you work with your dog on this issue?
Adopted dogs experience an adjustment period of at least several months. What do you expect that to involve and you are fully committed to adjusting your life to help your new dog learn to feel safe?
Please refer to our website and read more about adjustment periods for newly-adopted rescue dogs.
Behavior

The first few months upon adopting tend to be the most difficult. Your new dog has been through many transitions, and your home is just one more transition in his mind. New behaviors can crop up, or previously seen behaviors can be amplified during the transition period. Working through these issues can be challenging and time consuming, and so please be as clear and honest as possible so we can help you get as close to the right fit as possible. Please note that dogs have the emotional capacity of a 2-3 year old child.
Please identify behaviors you would NOT be willing to work with:
(e.g., growling at strangers, Lunging on leash at other dogs, nipping children, separation anxiety, leash pulling, housetraining accidents, counter surfing, other)
Many dogs thrive with a guardian who will carry a treat pouch with high value food rewards when out on walks (or when seeing new stimuli). Would you want a dog that requires (for success) that each walk entails dispensing a cup or two of food rewards? Or would you RATHER adopt a dog who DOES NOT require that much regular, consistent need for food rewards and training? :

How important is it to you to modify any behavioral challenges the dog may have? Please give a number between 1 and 10 based on the following criteria: 1 is “I will find time to work with my dog twice a week for 5 to 10 minutes”; 10 is “I will make significant changes in my own behavior in order to help modify my dog’s(s) behavior.” Each adult who is involved with the dog(s) should answer this question.

Rows	Training Commitment
Self
Person #2
Person #3
Person #4
Person #5

Please consider the following scenarios. Please indicate if you would consider returning the dog. What action would you take if a week after adopting your new, mild-mannered dog, he began barking and attempting to nip at unfamiliar person who entered your home?
What steps would you take if upon adopting a dog that was represented as housebroken, your new dog began marking your furniture? Would you return the dog?
What would you do if your new dog shows signs of separation anxiety? Such signs can include destructiveness, barking, whining, chewing, and scratching at doors. Would you consider returning? What would you do?
Please list the TOP THREE most important behaviors that you would like to see reasonably quickly in your newly adopted dog (i.e. friendly with kids, good with cats, easy to walk on leash, housetrained, okay alone in the house, crate trained, quiet, food-motivated, okay with loud noises etc):
If this dog will be an addition to an existing dog(s): Would you expect them to get along right away? Would separating them with babygates or crates in your home be something you would do to try and help them develop a positive relationship? How long would you consider to be reasonable to ease in a new dog (i.e. days, weeks, months?) Please answer in detail below:
What would you do if after several weeks at home with you, your newly adopted dog started barking at strangers whenever you took him for walks?
Under what circumstances would you consider returning your adopted dog? Please think through this answer carefully i.e. nipped a jogger, bit my child, attacked my cat, bit my mother in law but did not require medical visit, bit the UPS man etc:

What is your training budget? Our Trainer at Moon River K9 offers 15% off on all programs after adoption. They offer basic obedience, tracking, service dog training, personal protection, agility, and more

Rows	$
Basic manners (total amount)
Behavioral issues (total amount) ($0; up to $950; over $3,400)

Have you ever lived with a dog from a rescue organization or shelter?
Are you pre-approved or currently applying with other rescues? (This does not hinder your approval with MT GSD RSQ, but could help us process your application more efficiently, as many rescues work in collaboration with each other.) If yes, please say who you are applying with.
What is your timeframe for adopting?
Do you agree to contact The Montana German Shepherd Rescue if after adoption you are unable to continue to be a guardian for your adopted dog, and either return your dog to us or work with us to find another suitable home for your dog? Please answer YES or NO.
Do you agree to pay the $800 adoption donation? (Unless a dog is stated as “sponsored” , that is our standard adoption fee – a few “sponsored” dogs are a lower fee adoption fee, because an angel donor sponsored a portion of their fee). Please answer YES or NO.
Please give a veterinary reference if you have one. A past reference is fine. Name, address, phone number please! Thank you.
Please list three personal references, whom you have known for at least three years, who can vouch for your character as a pet guardian. Give name, address, phone, and email:
Reference #1; Name and Relationship, Address, Phone, Email
Reference #2; Name and Relationship, Address, Phone, Email
Reference #3; Name and Relationship, Address, Phone, Email
The full Montana German Shepherd Rescue adoption process includes a phone interview, a personal reference check, a home check (zoom) Submission of this application confirms that you understand and agree to the need for screening of adopters, and certify that the information supplied on this application is true and correct. The terms “guardian” and “owner” shall be considered interchangeable. Please initial here that all your responses are truthful and complete.
Should be Empty:

Environment

Doggie Wishlist

Behavior