Home Check Form

Your name?

Your email address?

Your phone number?

How big an area is fenced?

If the driveway is enclosed, is there antifreeze on the driveway?

Describe fencing materials.

Is the area properly shaded?

Flooring of the dog kennel or yard?

Will digging create major problems with landscaping?

Are there places where the dog can leap off decks, etc. and get hurt?

Is there anything stacked near the fence the dog could climb on to get out?

Is there a swimming pool, hot tub etc and is safely fenced off from the dog possibly getting into it?

Are there potential escape routes? (Low places in the fence, evidence of digging at the fence line, holes in fencing, loose or too-high gates?) Point them out.

When you pointed these out to the potential adopter, how did they react?

Do you think they will fix the problems?

Do you think a dog would have escaped if you had NOT pointed out the problem?

Are there locks on the gates (against children and theives)?

Is the fence shared with neighbors?

Are there loose dogs in the neighborhood?

Are there children in neighboring yards?

Are there potentially poisonous plants in neighboring yards?

Are there dogs or livestock on neighboring property?

Can any of them get into your dogyard?

Describe surrounding area (rural, suburban, urban).

What potential hazards are there in the neighborhood/community?

Where will the dog be when company comes? (Crated in the basement, outside, inside, other?)

Where will the dogs spend the night?

Where will the dogs spend the day?

Check the day area for dog houses, beds or crates.

Check for water & shade.

How is waste removed?

Does the area look recently cleaned?

Is there evidence of small children (toys, food scraps)? Remind adopters that dogs WILL destroy them if not put away.

Are there sewing kits, bobbi pins, wash cloths, sponges, small trash cans, razor blades, etc. at dog level?

At counter level? Point them out.

Are there exposed electrical cords? Point them out.

Are there chemicals in the garage, basement or storage areas where a dog could get to them? Point them out.

Do the dogs have access to these areas?

Do the furnishings of the house appear to be dog proof (glass objects or dried flowers at low levels, expensive rugs or furniture that could be knocked over easily)? Point them out.

How is the trash handled in the home?

Can the dog get into the cans? Point them out.

What plants are in the dog yard (which might be poisonous)? Point them out.

Any sharp objects that could injure the dog in the dog yard?

Is the water bucket clean?

Fresh water?

How does the family respond when you pointed out these potential dog hazards?

Ask how long it takes to get to the nearest emergency vet.

This is the most important part of the interview - how does the adopter interact with his current pets.

Are the current pets well socialized?

Are they reasonably clean?

Are they hand shy in any way?

Can you touch their ears & tails?

Are they friendly and do they approach you in a friendly manner?

How do they react to strangers in the house?

How did they greet you?

After you have spent some time with them, do they relax and accept your presence?

How do they react towards their owners, and do they respond to commands?

If not, how does the owner handle it? (Are they heavy handed or accepting? Do they force the issue or accept the disobedience?)