Imprinting, he explained, meant that there was a brief, critical period in a young animal's life during which it became attached to other beings. His research, incidentally, was done with geese. Many potential dog owners subscribe to the theory that the only way to make a dog a family member is to raise it from puppyhood. It talks about what to look for in a puppy, choosing a mongrel puppy from an animal shelter and buying a purebred puppy from a breeder. Nowhere does it mention adult dogs.
Some people get one anyway.
My neighbors are such a family. The puppy spends his day in the backyard while the family is gone. He cries for hours. Frequently, he up ends his water dish, which can have serious consequences in the Arizona sun. Some days he digs holes all day.