Finding the Perfect Furbaby: Part 2

Our previous post was advice on how to prepare for your new furry family member. Here's the story of how we finally found Gryffindor!

     When my girlfriend had hand surgery, we knew she would have some downtime. Loooooots of downtime. Turns out, breaking your hand makes it near impossible to work, cook or drive, let alone take a shower or get dressed. Fortunately, I worked a very flexible job, and took time off to become Mr. Mom. With both of us home all day, we decided that this would be the best opportunity to get our new puppy, because we could devote the time and energy (and love!) he needed.

     Over the course of about a week, we visited all the local rescues, shelters, and dog pounds. What an eye-opening experience! Sadly, at the county shelter, the dogs were essentially kept in a concrete holding cell. The good news, however, is that due to spaying and neutering efforts, the number of intakes has plummeted, allowing for less crowded facilites, and a better opportunity that one of those dogs gets adopted. Unfortunately, our goal was to get a puppy, and at the time, there were none to be found.

     Before moving on, we stumbled upon a beautiful black dog, young enough for us to consider adopting, but showing an odd tick. The dog moved about normally, and was clearly in high spirits, but every 5 seconds appeared to flinch. When asked about it, the adoption coordinator explained that this was a neurological condition, due to an infection received when the dog was a baby. While the dog was expected to live a full life, our greatest fear was that we would fail to adequately provide for a special needs dog. Fortunately, the adoption coordinator was very protective of this pup, and ensured us that she would only be adopted by a family truly prepared to meet her needs.

     After feeling a bit discouraged by the limited selection at each shelter, we decided to try one more, just a bit farther outside the city. Lo and behold, we found so many dogs to choose from, we couldn't decide! Across several litters of puppies, we watched and waited, deliberated, second-guessed ourselves, and started all over again. For literally hours, we walked back and forth, observed their interactions, and imagined our adult dog's reaction. What a difficult decision!

     We narrowed our choices down to three dogs, and we asked an employee, "Which puppy is the perfect one?". "They all are," she replied, "they're basically blank slates". Can you believe it?!? After all that deliberation!!

     Finally, the deciding factor for Gryffindor was his personality. "Blank slate" as he may be, he definitely appeared to play well with other puppies, play well with humans, and appeared all-around well adjusted. And the eye contact! Of all the dogs we saw, Gryffindor was the only one to make prolonged eye contact, as though he had already imprinted on us! Who can deny a dog like that? When we brought him home, our older dog loved him immediately, and acted as though he had fathered his own progeny!

  Also as an update, because my honeybun has such a big heart, she continued to check in on the black dog. After two days, she saw she had been adopted into a well-qualified home :)

Finding the Perfect Furbaby

We finally found the right match, a chocolate lab mix puppy. Was it love at first sight? Yes. For many dogs. In many litters. At many locations. For us, finding the perfect addition to our family was a grueling process, because we loved them all. But in the end, there could be only one. Here's how we ended up with the perfect fur-baby for our family. This first part of the series, focuses on how to set yourself up for success at home.

Home, Sweet Home

Before deciding which dog we wanted, we considered what kind of home we could provide. Most important was 1) the size of our living space, 2) our other pets, and 3) OUR activity levels. Unfortunately, many failed adoptions are due to bad-fit, and can result in behavioral problems, health problems, and returned pets. When adopting our dog, we knew that HIS welfare comes first.

Energy is Everything

When you live in a small space, such as a condo or apartment, dogs with high energy will struggle. A common misconception is that large dogs need large spaces. False. One easy example is the Great Dane, who can fill up a couch, and snooze away the day. Compare this to a German Shepherd or Labrador, both known for their high energy and intelligence, and who will need frequent playtime to prevent destructive behaviors.

When choosing our pup, we watched his playfulness, as well as his ability to relax. Some pups were hyper, constantly wrestling or yapping, or simply running around their cage. Gryffindor, our eventual rescue, was playful with others, but took regular downtime to chew on a toy and relax. All good so far!

Proud Papa

Dobby, our well socialized 5 year old Dachsund/Lab Mix, thinks he's the world's alpha. Due to his nature, we wanted to avoid territory disputes, so we opted for a puppy, rather than an adult dog. Our theory was that he would take ownership and protect the pup... and it worked!

With Gryffindor, we watched his aggressiveness. Some dogs were toy hoarders and aggressive bullies, while others were afraid to engage and shyly sat in a corner. When Gryffindor wrestled, he appeared confident and played fair, and he often took turns dominating or being dominated by his playmates. Today, our older dog and our pup have a healthy relationship sharing the home.

You Do You

Occasionally, dog owners think "If I adopt an active dog, then I will be more active". But we are creatures of habit, and so are our dogs. If you love to hike, run, and go-go-go, so will your Collie, Husky, or Vizsla. If you love to read, relax outside, and sleep in, so will your Pug, Cavalier, or Mastiff.

For us, our life is a balance between walks or trips to the dog park, and TV-time snuggles. Our Dachshund mix knows us well, and finds comfort in our daily routine. Consistency allowed our Choco Lab puppy to quickly catch on. He walks, wrestles, eats, goes potty, and sleeps at appropriate times, because we already have a pattern, and we stick to it.

Next Up..... Buying a Lemon, and Making Lemonade (aka, Making it Work)

Your Dog is Not a Pizza

It's hot out, so stay cool!  Dogs don't sweat like we do, and they are covered in fur. Here's some tips to keep them cool.

Just Chill

Lounging in the shade can be relaxing, but on hot days, daytime exercise can be too strenuous. Your dogs will probably want to lazily sleep around the house anyways, so let them chill! Save your walks for cooler temperatures in early AM or late PM.

The Floor is Lava!

Your dog's paw pads can get burnt, just like your own feet. If you wouldn't walk barefoot, consider your pup's toesies as well.

Drink Up!

Always, always, always keep your pup hydrated. Keep their inside bowls full, and carry a full bottle with them during doggie daytrips.

Humidity Hurts

Humidity can be a major factor in how heat "feels". When dogs feel hot, they pant. When they pant, they dehydrate. If you find your dog panting, keep him hydrated and seek out cooler temperatures.

Your Dog is Not a Pizza

Don't leave your dog to bake in a parked car, a locked room, or any other enclosed areas. Even with cracked windows, the temperature of a parked car can reach 120 degrees!

Hopefully with these tips, your fur-babies can beat the heat.  Stay cool! - Puppy-Pad

Dog Blog is Now Active!

This is an intro post to our Weekly Series of Dog Blog!  Dog Blog will be a source of information regarding dog training, dog product reviews, resources for dog owners, local dog events, and more!

Puppy-Pad is committed to the safety and well being of both dogs and dog owners.  We also support companies and facilities which go above-and-beyond to support a happy and healthy dog.  Our purpose is to share information, serve our community, spread awareness, and create a positive forum for discussion.

See you next week!