50 Times Dogs Got A Second Chance And Transformed Into Beautiful, Loving Dogs (New Pics)

Certified Dog Trainer Kristi Benson is all for adopting dogs. "I would encourage anyone and everyone who is thinking about getting a dog to consider a dog from a rescue or shelter," she told Bored Panda.

"Homeless dogs are, generally, homeless due to circumstances outside their control (such as the people in their lives experiencing difficulties), not because they are somehow lesser than purebred or purpose-bred dogs. Thousands of beautiful, charming, silly, robust, energic, chill, and well-mannered dogs can be found in rescues and shelters every day!"

"All dogs, no matter their origin, are their own creatures with their own set of challenges and strengths," the dog trainer points out.

But not all people choose to adopt. Some folks want pure-bred dogs, and I myself will admit I used to be one of those people. When I was a kid, I wanted a pure beagle so bad I got my parents to buy me one. Back then, I didn't know about what goes on in puppy mills, and if I had known, I certainly would've done a 180 in a heartbeat.

Sadly, purchasing a dog from good breeders is becoming less and less possible. Kristi says that getting a dog from a breeder can be beneficial, but many people might be unaware they're getting a dog from a puppy mill and not a certified breeder.

"A great dog breeder will focus on the physical and behavioral health of their pups and will be committed to finding homes that are a good match for the dogs they sell," she explains. "However, the vast majority of puppies who are sold to the unsuspecting public are not from great breeders -- they are from puppy mills."

"Puppy mills are horrific and dangerous for the parent dogs," dog trainer Kristi Benson goes on, "who live in absolutely abhorrent conditions, and the puppies, who don't experience the quality socialization they need and may suffer medically and behaviourally, along with their new human family, as they grow."

Due to the rising tide of negative press and the shift in public opinion about puppy mills, their owners now go out of their way to mask their practices. "They produce beautiful websites with pictures of lovely family scenes with healthy dogs and puppies," Kristi explains.

"A good search on figuring out if a puppy-selling website is a front for a puppy mill should be the first step for those who choose to buy a purebred or purpose-bred dog, unless they know the breeder personally," the dog trainer adds.

As a seasoned dog trainer, Kristi says that bringing home a rescue puppy won't be that different than a puppy from a breeder. The most important rule still remains: Prepare!

"Read good puppy books written by qualified positive reinforcement trainers, which focus on socialization instead of punishment and obedience," Kristi recommends. "If at all possible, choose a puppy class with lots of free play and socializing."

What if you're bringing home an adult dog and not a puppy? "[This] may include some challenges, but these will be dog-specific and not necessarily origin-specific," Benson says. "If the dog is in need of a bit of remedial manners training, a great dog training class will be a good option. If the dog might have some fears, then a good positive reinforcement trainer can help."

"If the dog needs to brush up on their house-training skills after a stay in a kennel, a few weeks of training might be needed to hone this skill as well." Kristi has a house-training course for owners who struggle to housebreak their adult dogs.

But just because a dog comes from a shelter or rescue doesn't mean owners will face challenges. "They need care, exercise, good food, vet care, enrichment, and all the things that we love providing for our dogs! But these are things that we must provide to all the pets in our care," Kristi points out.

Kristi says that reaching out to a professional dog trainer is always a safe bet, whether the dog is a rescue or not. "I would encourage every dog guardian to attend a dog training class taught by a [credited], positive-reinforcement dog trainer. Dog training has changed colossally in the last few decades, and we are so much better at helping you and your dog live comfortably and joyfully with each other than we used to be!"

"This is especially the case with puppies, who benefit enormously from the safe environment of a well-handled puppy class to play with other puppies and learn important life skills, such as how to be comfortable at the veterinary office and have their nails trimmed."

But Kristi warns people to look out for unqualified trainers. "Sadly, dog training remains an unregulated field, which means that anyone, no matter their educational history or approach to changing a dog's behavior, can call themselves a professional and take your money."

"So, do some digging around before you slap your credit card down and sign up for the closest class. If there are no good trainers close by, there are oodles of great online classes for everything from basic manners to specialized training and even [how] to deal with behavior issues."

"If your new dog is showing worrisome behaviors, such as aggression or fear, or is not fitting in well with your family, hiring a professional trainer can absolutely help," Kristi agrees.

"We can help you meet your dog's needs, meet your needs, and keep everyone feeling safe and joyful. If hard decisions, such as a return to a rescue, need to be made, a trainer can also help clarify and talk you through this."

Even as a professional dog trainer, Kristi is not against people who want to train their dogs themselves. She says there is plenty of respectable material online. "Check out resources at your local library or online, or head to your neighborhood bookshop and look for books by Jean Donaldson, Zazie Todd, Victoria Stillwell, Karen Pryor, and Marc Bekoff to start!"

"Most dogs settle into their adult behavior by about age three: their sociability to other dogs and people, their exercise needs, and so on," Kristi explains.

"So, looking at dogs who are at least three years old at the rescue or shelter is a good bet, especially if the dog was in a foster home. You'll have a sense of what the dog is like and how they'll fit into your home and your life!"

Kristi also points out that not all rescues are the same. Some might have questionable practices, too. "Some rescues pull dogs from places far from home (which may or may not be an ethical issue)," she goes on.

"Some use outdated and dangerous training techniques to mask worrisome behaviors in the dogs in their care, and some may not vet well for health and offer little or no support post-adoption. Many rescues are wonderful, though, and take great care of the animals they place with adoptive homes."

The dog trainer also tells people to consider adopting a senior dog. "These dogs are often less active, which means they fit in nicely with a more casual home (I don't get up at six to jog for an hour, do you?). And nothing will fill up your heart quite like being a soft and gentle spot for a homeless senior dog to land after a stretch in a rescue or shelter."