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)