Hello again! I recently adopted a dog and I thought I'd share some of the tips and ideas I was told before I adopted my little pup. I know how nervous I was trying to pick the right dog and if I could pass along what others told me and my personal experience to help more dogs find the right home then the world would be a better place! In the past I had only purchased dogs from local breeders as it was all I had known. A few years ago my brother adopted a little mutt puppy. When my last dog passed away at nearly 14 years old it only took a few months before I was ready for another dog. Living in Colorado I was lucky to live with lots of people who have dogs, so I've been able to be surrounded by dogs all the time. But I knew I wanted a little best friend to go everywhere with me. I wrote a little about this in a recent Instagram post, but I wanted to spend some time expanding on the points made there. My suggestions for finding the perfect dog is knowing exactly what you want. Know the general characteristics of different breeds and what pros and cons may be prevalent in a breed or mixed breed of dog. For example a working dog breed will have lots of energy and will need to be exercised daily and will require a lot more effort. Small breeds are also often energetic and yappy. Make a realistic list of what you are looking for, what you will tolerate and what are deal-breakers for you. Even if you come across a dog that has a deal-breaker don't waver, what is a deal-breaker for you may be perfect for someone else! And in the end the dog will be happier with that person. I applied to several dog adoption agencies simply to have a wide range of options available at all times. I found a dog in about 2.5 weeks, but I anticipated it being harder or taking longer. The applications do take some time, but it saves time when you are there in the moment trying to adopt a pup. They make you fill out the application even at the in-person events, so save yourself the time and the drama of doing it in-person by doing it beforehand. Many places require you to fill out an application before you can even meet their dogs. At adoption events it is noisy, busy, and chaotic. Trying to fill out paperwork when you are holding a brand new dog on a leash, surrounded by many other dogs, people, kids, etc. is difficult and can be stressful for you and the dog. There will be adoption papers to fill out that will take enough time, don't add to it by also needing to fill out their application. The best advice I received from my fantastic Instagram followers! Their advice was to let the dog choose you. Walk past the dogs within your criteria and see which ones seem to click with you, only visit those ones. Interact with them, see how they interact with you. Do they come to you even if you don't coax or encourage them? Are they displaying traits that you are looking for? If possible, take them as far from distractions and stress as possible. One-on-one interaction is an important way to see how they are with just you. You may meet the right dog right off the bat, or you may need to see a bunch before you find "the one". But you'll know when you've found the right dog. It's also normal to feel stressed, nervous, or second-guess yourself. If it goes away in 24-48 hours then you'll know you made the right choice! My little Holmes is the perfect fit for me! I cannot imagine why anyone gave him up in the first place, and I'm so sorry he had to go through being in foster care. But I could not be happier that he found me. He is exactly what I was looking for, friendly, playful, equal parts snuggly and energetic, small (5 pounds when I adopted him, 8 pounds now), likes to be carried, good on car rides, and plays with my families' dogs'. Know what you are looking for, don't waver, persevere, and know you *will* find the perfect dog! Let me know if this helped you! Or tell me your adoption stories or advice in the comments below! Much Love, Jess
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AuthorJessica Marie Cunningham - Intentional lifestyle blogger, aspiring author, and podcast host. All things Slow Living, Books, Writing, Art, creativity, Christianity, and personal stories. Archives
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