Some of the dogs that are housed at AHS come housetrained and have basic command skills. However, as with the stress of any change in environment there will be an acclamation period for these guys to adjust to a new routine. Some dogs come with no prior training and a team of amazing volunteers try to get those guys working on house training first. The key to any successful adoption is patience, understanding and time. More often than not these dogs (and cats) just need to be shown that someone loves them and won't give up on them. Things tend to come easier for a new owner who is actively trying to build a bond between themselves and their new family member.
The selection of dogs changes daily and they live in kennels so they learn to not go where they sleep. A foster dog owner would more likely train the dog better, I would ask about that. But, a dog is a RESPONSIBILITY, too many people want a pre-trained perfect dog and are not willing to train the dog themselves. Training the dog yourself builds the relationship between you and your dog. You just have to be willing to work with the dog and not expect to take home a perfect pet from a shelter. Read some books.
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