How to Adopt a Hound Dog
If you want to adopt a new hound dog for your home, ask your veterinarian to recommend a local animal shelter that frequently has hounds, and make sure that the shelter is clean, well-run, and is a registered charity. Once you've found a reliable shelter, take some time to look at the hounds and play around with any dogs you think you might want to adopt so you can get an idea of what their personalities are like. Don't rush this process, you can always come back again if you don't feel a connection to any of the hounds. When you find the right pup, fill out the necessary adoption forms and be prepared to pay several hundred dollars in fees.
Read about a hound's temperament and personality. Hound dogs are intelligent and energetic dogs that may be difficult to train. Since they're pack animals, they need the company of other dogs or shouldn't be left alone for long periods of time. Hound dogs are noted for their ability to hold a scent and track prey, so you'll need to keep them leashed or fenced when outdoors. Hounds are also notorious for the very loud and distinctive braying noise that they use to communicate when tracking. Consider researching one of these popular breeds of hound dog to learn more: Coonhound Foxhound Basset hound Bloodhound Greyhound Research a hound dog's needs. Some hound dogs have high energy levels, so they'll need a lot of exercise. Others, including Basset Hounds and Bloodhounds, have very low activity levels and enjoy relaxing and being with their family. Since hounds are intelligent hunting dogs, you'll need to give them plenty of mental stimulation as well. You'll also need to research the specific type of hound dog you want to adopt in order to determine how much food they'll need and how large they'll grow. You should also find out what activities the hound dog you want is interested in. For example, some breeds are used for tracking, hunting, or running. If you decide on a breed that has lower energy levels, you'll still need to walk them and let them enjoy the outdoors, but maybe not quite as often as high-energy breeds. Spend time around hound dogs. The best way to tell if a hound dog is right for you is to just be around them. This will give you a good idea of how they interact with you and other dogs. Go to pet stores and ask to sit with the hound dogs, ask friends if they have hound dogs you could visit with, or go to the adoption agency to see the dogs they have. Find out if there are any breed-specific hound rescues in your area that you could volunteer at. This could help you get a feel for which breed is best for you. If you know someone with a hound, you could offer to pet sit so that you can see what they are like at home in their regular environment. Taking the time to interact with the dogs before you adopt one is also good practice for caring for a pet. You'll need to invest your time and effort in taking care of an adopted hound dog. Talk with a vet about any medical issues. Once you've narrowed your list to a few different breeds, ask the veterinarian about any congenital conditions they may inherit. This way, you can be prepared about what kind of care you might need to give your hound dog. For example, if you're considering a Blue Tick Hound, the vet may tell you that they often have cartilage problems in their joints and may develop neurological conditions. You can also use the Humane Society's online database to search a breed's genetic predispositions. Find a reputable hound dog adoption agency. Ask the veterinarian to recommend a local animal shelter that frequently has hounds. Ensure that the shelter is a registered 501(c)(3) charity and is run by a board of directors. The shelter should have volunteers working with the animals and the animals should be well taken care of. The animal shelter should be clean, well-run, and organized. The animals shouldn't be crowded and they should get medical attention while they're at the shelter. The agency should have clear adoption policies and rules and rules, complete with forms and suitability checks. Select a hound dog. Visit the animal shelter and spend time looking at the hounds they have up for adoption. Once you think you've found a hound you'd like to adopt, take the time to play with it and get to know it a little. You should also spend time with several other hounds even if you think you've made up your mind about one hound. This will give you a chance to compare personalities and temperaments. Don't feel rushed to choose a hound on the first visit. If you don't feel a strong connection to a hound, you can always wait a little bit and return. Fill out the adoption application. While your specific shelter or agency's application may be unique, most adoption applications will ask for your basic contact information. They'll also want to know about your home environment so they can ensure that the dog will be in a safe environment and will be looked after. Most applications also ask for: Employment information Who lives in your house (other pets and people) Your salary and monthly mortgage or rent cost How much time and money you expect to spend on your hound Landlord permission to own pets (if you're renting) Any previous experience you have with owning pets Pay any adoption fees. Check with the shelter about any fees they charge to adopt a hound dog. Usually, these fees go towards giving the dog medical treatment. For example, the hound dog may get spayed or neutered, be tested for heartworms, get vaccinations, be microchipped, and get any preventative treatments (like flea control). Fees may vary depending on the age of the hound dog. Be prepared to pay several hundred dollars in fees to adopt your dog. Some of the adoption fees may be included in order to help keep the shelter running and keep the dogs fed and taken care of. Submit your personal references. Most adoption agencies will require personal references to prove that you can care for a hound dog. You may need to give one or two references that could be friends or family (as long as they don't live in the house with you). You'll have to give the phone numbers for your references so the agency or shelter can call and talk with them about you. Let your references know that they should expect a call from the animal shelter before you use them as references. Gather supplies for your hound dog. Have all of the things you need to take care of your dog ready at home. This way, you won't be scrambling to get basic supplies while you could be bonding with your new dog. Make sure to have: Food and dishes for water Bedding A crate A collar A leash Toys Make arrangements with the adoption agency. Once the animal shelter has accepted and approved your application, talk with them about picking up your hound dog. You'll need to schedule a specific time to sign any last paperwork and pick up your dog. Give yourself plenty of time to finalize the adoption. This is a great chance to ask any questions about your dog or how to care for him. Ask the shelter what kind of food they are feeding the dog, how much they are feeding the dog at once, and at what times of day. You may want to buy the same brand of food if it is working well for your new dog. Bring things to make your hound dog comfortable. Make the transition from the shelter to your home easier for your new dog by bringing along any of its personal things. For example, the shelter may let you take one of its favorite toys. If you'll be in the car for a while, you may want to bring water for the dog or something comfortable for it to lie on. Consider having a friend or another member of the household come along. They can sit with the dog and keep it relaxed on the drive home. If the shelter won't let you take home any toys, drop a toy off beforehand. That way, the toy will smell like the shelter, which will make your new dog feel more comfortable when you take it home. Set aside some time. Try to bring your hound dog home on a day when you have lots of time to spend with it. You'll need to help your dog get used to its new home and begin house training it. You should also spend some time playing with and becoming familiar with your new pet. If possible, bring your hound home on a Friday. This way, you'll have all weekend to get your new dog accustomed to its new home and help it feel comfortable. You can also use this time to get your dog on a schedule so that it can adjust faster. If you have other pets, remember to spend time with them too or they may become jealous of the new member of the family. 
Read about a hound's temperament and personality. Research a hound dog's needs. Spend time around hound dogs. Talk with a vet about any medical issues. Find a reputable hound dog adoption agency. Select a hound dog. Fill out the adoption application. Pay any adoption fees. Submit your personal references. Gather supplies for your hound dog. Make arrangements with the adoption agency. Bring things to make your hound dog comfortable. Set aside some time. 