If you have followed me for much time you’ll know that I believe there’s an art to finding the best rescue dog for you. Sure, sometimes things just fall into your lap but otherwise, it takes some straight-up dedication to find your perfect match. 

I’ve found that a lot of people who will say they are looking for a rescue dog are really just searching casually on Facebook and Instagram while occasionally checking Petfinder. 

To me, this is the best way to get frustrated and prolong your search. In this episode I’m going to shine some light on why this approach is not setting you up for success and a few ways I am going to encourage you to search like it’s your job and to me that means frequently, consistently and thoroughly.

FYI: This is not about working harder, it’s about working smarter. Let’s capitalize on the effort you’re putting into finding a compatible rescue dog.

3 reasons why social media could be cramping your rescue dog search:

The Algorithm: Social media has an algorithm that determines what you get to see. If you are seeing a particular post it likely means that this post is quite popular and has a lot of engagement. The likes, share and comments are a good indication of this. So when you see an available rescue dog show up on your feed it’s likely that that dog has received a decent amount of interest and if you choose to apply you will likely be applying for a dog that is going to get A LOT of applications. Now, don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean it’s not worth applying it just means you are entering a much bigger pot so there will be a good likelihood that someone else will outshine you in the application process.

The Timing: Often, but not always, available dog profiles are first put up on the dog rescue’s website or their Petfinder profile. Because there have been large numbers of applicants for dogs, many rescues will cut-off applications at some point in order to spare themselves an impossible task. This means it’s helpful to find the profile first on their website or Petfinder because if the profile is there you can almost always apply, whereas by the time you see that profile on social media you are more likely to go to where you need to apply and find that they are no longer taking applications. I’m sure you’ve seen those social media posts from rescues where they post a dog but say they’ve already received sufficient applications or are “no longer accepting applications.” You can avoid this by going right to the source.

The Discouragement: Not unlike a lot of things on social media, if you perform your search and constantly see dogs that are not filtered or are highly sought after you are likely to deal with a lot of mental dialogue. For instance, you may be seeing a lot of dogs that don’t meet your needs or you may get a bit invested from seeing their picture before you really know much about whether this dog is suitable for you, all because there’s no way to filter on social media (unlike Petfinder). On the other hand, if you are seeing popular dog rescue posts and do get excited and are thinking about applying you often see the number of post likes, shares or comments and immediately think “Well, why bother - there’s hundreds of comments and there’s no way I’ll get the dog!” This ability to see others’ interest just allows you to cast doubt on your ability to adopt the dog. It truly NEVER hurts to try if the dog’s profile is compatible with you - no matter how many people have seen the post but many people will be influenced by the overwhelming response these posts get and will discount it altogether. All of this creates a sense of impatience because you are bombarded with pictures of available dogs that don’t suit you or seem unreachable. Impatience is your biggest enemy in your search for a great rescue dog. 

That is why I suggest you keep your social media search casual for adoptable dogs. Put the time and effort in elsewhere while allowing the Facebook and Instagram rescue dogs to slip into your feed. Listen to the full episode to get some tips on bettering your rescue dog search or join the Pawdoption Guide Membership Experience to get assistance during the entire search, application, adoption and integration process - stop struggling and start thriving with your rescue dog.

www. pawdoptionguide.com/pgme