Senior dogs are also believed to be less capable of bonding with their new owners. While this may be true for some cases such as for dogs that have lived with abusive families this is not necessarily the case for all aging dogs. It only takes time for them to build and close that bond. Once you have established its trust level and confidence on you though, it would be much easier for you and your dog to bond. Men therefore have to be obeyed and would need as much cooperation from the dog similar to how the dog will respond to a pack leader in the wild. In spite of all these, dogs are predators. They have always been and even behind centuries of domestication, they have not totally lost the instinct. They respect hierarchy. Do this by allowing the potential dog to sniff you. Ignore it for a few minutes while observing its behavior. The ideal dog is not clingy to its owner. It is people oriented and sociable but it should not force you to pay all your attention to him. If the dog wanders away and goes back to you after a few minutes, it is a good sign that it is a well-behaved, independent dog. On the other hand, there are dogs that are shy and would occasionally refuse. Either way, dogs need regular exercise. When dogs refuse to walk for reasons that are not obvious to you at the moment, the following tips might help. Release the dog from the leash and let him walk alone in the yard. Sometimes without our knowing it, dogs may not necessarily be ill but just the same, the dog is not feeling very well. A puppy that has a swollen belly is a good indication that it is harboring worms. Chronic sickness - Be warned with puppies that have chronic sickness. No amount of medical attention can help if the puppy is chronically sick. Also, a sick puppy often grows with major health problems into adulthood. Check if the puppy is socialized. It is very possible for them to forget their training while in the shelter because there is simply not enough personnel to attend to their needs. You should prepare yourself for remedial housetraining. Clarify your house rules Your new dog cannot guess which behavior is appropriate at your house and which are not.