This week’s episode addresses the DREADED dog adoption application. Why do we dread it so? Maybe because they can be so long, have some VERY specific questions as well as what may feel like “skill-testing” questions - we all love those, right?!?

Filling out applications is a weak spot for many but it’s also the spot where you have the most potential to improve and this can mean the difference between being considered or discounted. 

So, if you’ve ever filled out a job application or sent in your resume to a company you should know (I’m talking about you Gen Z) that it’s important to sell yourself. You’ve got to make that employer notice your talents and good qualities and you do so through selective wording and offering up pertinent experience. 

Well, the dog adoption application process is not unlike this! Think of your application as your pet ownership resume and the dog rescue as the employer. Despite many applications being mostly multiple choice or short answer, you’ve got to seize the opportunity to highlight your strengths. Any time you can write out an answer, see if it is possible to embellish is with a strength of yours. 

Of course, when I say embellish, I do NOT mean lie! Just as I would never suggest you lie on a job application you do not want to do so on a dog application. The goal is to bring your good qualities to the forefront. There’s so many adjustments you can make to your application to make it stand out in the crowd of applicants. That’s why I created the Dog Adoption Application Survival Kit. It’s an affordable digital download system filled with videos, pdfs and exercises to help you take your application to the next level. This kit is for YOU,  if you feel that applications are tedious and time-consuming and you’re never hearing back from rescues because you are always getting filtered out! Get it HERE today!

So ask yourself, what perks does a dog get when living your lifestyle?

Some strengths could be:

Big backyard

Rural property

Spending a lot of time in nature

Living near trails or water (especially for dogs that enjoy swimming)

Enjoy hiking or exercising with your dog

Work from home (permanently)

Can take your dog to work

Include dog in errands/outtings regularly

Include dog in vacation plans/camping

Own a cottage or frequent a cottage

Work with animals (vet clinic, pet store, grooming etc.)

Work schedule(s) that require dog to be alone for short periods

Plan to have a dog walker or use doggy daycare

Lots of spare time to spend with your dog

Many strengths can alternatively be seen as weaknesses with an incompatible dog. Basically this means that the rescue reads your answer and thinks “This won’t work for this dog.” That's okay though because this process is not about getting a dog as quickly as possible, it's about getting the right dog for you. However,  when your dream dog (aka the dog that is a great fit for you) is up for grabs your strengths will amplify your application!

Today’s episode takeaways seem pretty obvious since we really honed in on a more specific topic this week.

Your application needs to impress!

Brainstorm what makes you a great dog owner or your lifestyle appealing to a dog and write a list.

Highlight your strengths throughout your application, wherever possible and don’t get silly - I’m talking tasteful embellishment.

If you’re not hearing back from rescues, give my Dog Adoption Application Survival Kit a try!

I hope today’s episode drove home how important that first impression is with your dog application and gave you some helpful advice on standing out in the crowd of applicants! Leave me a comment below, if you found this tip helpful.

You may have noticed that I’ve been rotating through topics on this show to make sure there’s something for every one of you no matter where you are in your dog adoption journey. There’s been the occasional tangent and some shows help with multiple aspects of the process but in general, there’s the search, the adoption and the integration of your dog into your home.

This episode is mainly about the dog adoption search and even the decision to adopt versus purchase a puppy. I often hear that people have fears about getting a rescue dog and that’s why they go the other route. Well, one of the most common fears amongst people looking to adopt is adopting a rescue dog with pre-existing health conditions. This could mean getting a dog that has undiagnosed issues, chronic issues or concerns that are not disclosed to the adopter.

Certainly, this fear is not unfounded. I myself adopted two sick cats that had to be euthanized just months following adoption. However, I look back now and know there are some questions I could have asked that may have helped me avoid this. So, I have some great tips in this episode to serve you well while you do your best to get a healthy new member of the family.

However, first I want to address how people often remark that this fear is why they got a puppy; ‘it’s a ‘fresh start’ with a puppy’. Although, it’s not untrue that it can be a ‘fresh start’ when it comes to training as you are starting at square one. It is not true that getting a puppy means they will not have or develop, it doesn’t develop health conditions. As an RVT working in an animal hospital, I’ve seen many puppy owners struggle with chronic diarrhea, allergies and malocclusions (teeth abnormalities) among other things, shortly after they settle into their new home. So let’s just agree that no matter what way you choose to get a dog, there can be health concerns that arise - you will not always know what is coming down the pipe. This is why I think it’s best to be prepared and get pet insurance, have money allocated monthly toward your pet or have an emergency fund set aside to cover routine healthcare concerns and emergency expenses as well. 

Tips to avoid adopting a dog with preexisting health conditions:

BREED - If you’re looking for a specific breed or come across a mixed or purebred dog that you’re interested in, look up the common health concerns for that breed. This way you can be aware of possible conditions that could arise or that can aid you in asking more specific health questions prior to adoption. For example, I knew some of the main health concerns for dalmatians when I was considering adopting Rory: bladder stones, allergies, blindness/deafness and epilepsy were among them. This helped me ask detailed questions to the rescue about her diet and if she has shown any symptoms of any of these conditions. It also helped me watch for any signs of those conditions during the meet and greet. The Discovery Planet list of dog breeds I mention in this episode is no longer available. However, Petfinder has a comprehensive resource for dog breeds that includes a health section under each breed, this is a great place to start your research.

RECENT VETTING - Only adopt a dog that has been seen by a veterinarian recently. Reputable rescues will ensure that any dog they take in is up to date on vaccinations and spayed or neutered. These occasions require physical exams and ensure that any health concerns that are observed are communicated with the rescue. Make sure to ask outright that the dog has been given a clean bill of health from a vet and when they were last seen. 

REPUTABLE RESCUES - A reputable dog rescue will be upfront with potential adopters about health concerns in the dog’s adoption profile. This is because they have the rescue dog’s best interest at heart and want to ensure the adoptive family is ready and willing to take on any preexisting conditions. Check out my podcast on How To Use Petfinder and Avoid Petfinder Scams to find some criteria that will help you decipher reputable rescues from scams.

CHECKLIST - Use a checklist during your search and even during the meet & greet to remind you to assess the rescue dog’s health. When you become a member of the Pawdoption Guide Membership Experience, you get access to a detailed checklist that walks you through what to look for during your meet and greet and what questions to ask before and during it to be as informed as possible before deciding to adopt a rescue dog. Just a reminder that my membership is launching soon in 2022 and you can join the waitlist if you’re interested in finding out more.

For now, make sure you have assessed the dog’s:

skin

hair coat

eyes

ears

mouth

nose

feet

walk

If you notice any abnormalities, ask about them! Upon Rory’s meet & greet, we noticed she had red bumps on her under belly skin. I asked the rescue about allergies and they didn’t have concerns. As it did not seem to bother her so I wasn’t too concerned. It turned out to be a bacterial skin issue and she was good as new following one course of antibiotics. 

In all honesty, you can do all of these things and still find health concerns following adoption but this is no different than the health concerns that could arise with a puppy. This is simply a possibility with dog ownership.

The great news is that reputable rescues have improved their transparency about health conditions as well as their response. Whenever possible they have usually started treatment or fully treated issues prior to adoption. Dog adoption has really come a long way in this regard. The best way to safeguard yourself from taking on a dog with a preexisting health condition is to follow the tips I’ve shared with you today and get pet insurance. Being a responsible dog owner means being there for your dog through sickness and health and the best way to do that is by having secure funds which support you in taking them to the vet whenever the need arises.

Today’s topic is something I’m especially passionate about. Honestly, I wasn’t going to do a Christmas themed episode because I always feel like I avoid themed podcast episodes because they don’t offer as much value but then my husband asked if I was going to do an episode on holiday pet hazards and so I thought I should at least entertain the idea. 

Well, we’ve been doing more entertaining in the past few weeks and in doing so have noticed how our dogs are not as used to social gatherings as they used to be, thanks to the pandemic. We’ve been extra on top of things because of this to ensure they feel comfortable and don’t develop bad habits. 

Not only are our pets less socialized but so are our kids. They are still coming around to bigger gatherings again. This means they may have no knowledge on how to greet pets or have less than they once did because they aren’t putting it into practice during ‘COVID times.’

This all made me think about the fact that my number one concern when hosting people at Christmas is the comfort and safety of my pets and company.

If you look up lists of holiday pet hazards, or pet safety tips at Christmas you’ll see recommendations about:

Securing your Christmas tree

Keeping cords and wires away from pets or taped down

Restricting access to holiday foods like chocolate, raisins/grapes, onions, garlic, fried or fatty foods like gravy and cheese

You’ll also see suggestions to have a safe room for your pet away from all of the chaos. 

I was happy to see this included on most lists but what this solution doesn’t take into account is the average, happily, social dog or cat that wants to be amongst people but also be respected. This is the tip we’re missing. 

So, my number one holiday pet safety tip is…

DEMAND RESPECT FOR yOUR PETS FROM ALL GUESTS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN!

The best way to keep our guests and children safe is by advocating for our pets at every turn. I don’t think locking our social pets away in a room is the best scenario for them. After-all, we can’t learn without opportunity.

It’s up to parents and pet owners to teach their children to give pets space or offer interaction that gives the pets a choice.

So how do we go about teaching our kids and guests to respect our pets? Well, it starts the first time they interact. 

Lay out the ground rules such as: don’t feed them people food, don’t walk on dog beds, don’t leave doors open, don’t bother pets when sleeping, no chasing pets

Guide introductions; have people seated and pets calm before they can greet guests. Tell people to call dog over and suggest a pet under the chin or on the back if the dog hangs around out of choice. For cats, tell them to kneel or sit with hand out, index finger extended and let cat come to them. Can pet cat on back or head if the cat bumps the finger and stays around.

Don't leave children unattended with pets. (If your Christmas or holiday is anything like mine, the adults often sequester from the children - this is a big opportunity for something to go wrong between the pets and kids - adult supervision is absolutely necessary - so this is a good opportunity to ensure the pets are with the adults instead or in a safe room away from the kids).

Show them how and where your pet appreciates touch., or what ways they can engage in play with your pet safely (if they can)

Point out your pet’s body language and signals when they are unhappy.

Don’t allow children to disrupt your pet’s meals, rest or personal space. (can feed them away from the chaos)

Remove your children or your pet when boundaries are not being respected.

Reward positive interactions by giving food or praise to pets and praise to children.

It’s really easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays but if we can slow down and look at these gatherings as opportunities, we can teach our children and guests some really important fundamentals about our pets and how to interact with them. We have to set the precedent or we will forever have to lock our pets away for no fault of their own. 

Any dog or cat has the ability to injure a person with their teeth or claws. Every time they're put in a position to defend themselves the chance of injury increases.

We cannot expect our pets to distinguish children as harmless individuals. Rather we must teach our children to be harmless individuals towards our pets, training them to be pet-friendly.

Most importantly, DO NOT yell at or punish your pet for growling, barking, hissing or swatting at your child. These are warnings which can save your child from further injury. If this has occurred, you likely should have intervened earlier and should immediately remove your child from the situation or can take your pet to a safe place (kennel, bed etc).

Respect begets respect, let’s lead by example! I’ve created a revolutionary course to debunk the myth that dogs should inherently be kid-friendly. It’s called Pet-Friendly Kids: A Guide for Parents & Pet Owners. With just 2 hours of your time, you’ll be perfectly equipped to build better relationships between kids and pets so you can create a happy and safe environment for everyone. Get started today!

I’m going to be vulnerable with you. I’ve had big trepidation about this episode and sharing it with all of you. I always knew I would because I’m nothing if not honest but I also allowed myself some time to process it and get to a better place. So I think I’m ready.

Just over 7 weeks ago, my rescue dalmatian, Rory, bit someone. I never thought I’d say that. 

Despite knowing her stranger danger ways and reactivity on leash I never thought I would allow that to happen. Yet, I will say I always knew she was capable of biting someone - as any dog is. I just thought that if I had controlled the situation for 6 years, I would always be able to control it.

This experience has been incredibly humbling and is undoubtedly meant to be a part of my journey. 

Now I’m going to share the series of events with you that lead to her biting someone and leave you with my top takeaways and how it’s made me a better dog owner. 

I have been counter-conditioning my dogs against triggers while on walks for some time now due to some dog aggression they were showing when we came across strange dogs. This involves giving them treats consistently while passing other dogs or people on our walks. They’ve shown great improvement and only have the occasional outburst which usually occurs when another dog is reactive or when we’re not on our treat game. They will rarely redirect aggression at each other. We have been managing great on walks with this approach but I have not challenged them with many social interactions, mainly due to COVID times.

We have also been doing some focused obedience training as I started a 10 week masterclass with them as my subjects. I felt like we were making great progress with this training too and was ready for another challenge.

With this additional confidence I decided to sign us up for a fundraiser photoshoot being run by a rescue in the greater Toronto area. I knew it would be a challenge for us as there would likely be an increase in distractions at the photoshoot, however, I felt our hard work was preparing us for this very situation.

The day of the photoshoot, I took the dogs for a walk prior to our car ride. It was shorter than I had hoped but if you’re a mom you can relate that you’re pretty much always running late. The car ride did not go as expected. First off, the dogs were in the back of the car together, not our SUV, which is less space than they are used to for the duration we were driving that day. Geller started whining or what I like to call “hooting and hollering” midway through the trip which is his way of displaying anxiety and impatience. Rory’s always been the type to follow Geller’s lead so I believe her anxiety was increasing too and as we arrived at the location they started to spar, showing some redirected aggression.

So I stopped to separate them as quickly as possible. Of course, when I got them out of the car another dog starts walking behind us. I quickly take them to the front of the car to regain their focus and do some obedience training to get them in a calmer state. Following this, the dogs led me to the photoshoot location. I don’t usually let the dogs do this but I was in a rush and thought I could regain control once we got to our location and away from the distractions of the parking lot.

Once there, I met Tori the photographer. Geller was pulling toward her so I said that he was okay to greet on leash but that Rory was not. She seemed like a very dog-savvy person.

Then we headed to another area for the photos while I profusely apologized for how misbehaved they were being because Geller is still vocalizing and they’re both pulling on their leashes. It was so embarrassing because I usually have great control of my dogs.

We then start to take some pictures, it was 5-10 minutes of us moving around here and there. They seemed to be improving a bit but we’re all really rushing. We know we have about 15 minutes to get these photos and we’re not really paying good attention to the dogs.

Toward the end, I was using some treats to get the dogs to sit. Geller was still focusing but Rory has received her treat so I let her leash lag a little in my hand. Out of the corner of my eye I see Rory approaching Tori and didn’t think much of it because she was focused taking photos. However at that moment, Tori made a slight hand movement toward Rory (and I meant SLIGHT) and she bit Tori without hesitation. For most dogs that movement would not have been concerning but because of where Rory’s mindset was and all of the trigger stacking that was happening she reacted in fear.

That’s when the photoshoot stopped, we were all completely shocked by what happened. I apologized and shared my information with the photographer. I told her I needed to take the dogs to the car while she cared for her hand. She immediately was very understanding about the dog bite and said that she has a reactive dog herself, I shouldn’t feel bad and that she shouldn’t have reached for her. Meanwhile, I was mortified but it was certainly helpful that she wasn’t cursing at me and was understanding in that moment.

As I whisked the dogs to the car, separating them this time, I overheard that she needed a first aid kit. I was able to offer her the one in my car and pleaded her to update me during her recovery.

It was the craziest experience I’ve ever had with a dog and was immediately heartbroken by the situation.

I want you to know that I didn’t take the photoshoot lightly. I had thought at depth about their training and felt that this was an acceptable challenge for us to undertake. However, in hindsight I realized that we weren’t challenging them with social situations and training around stationary dogs which was really crucial in this scenario.

After this, Tori and I connected and discussed how she was doing and possibly debriefing about this event after we’ve had some time to recover.

Our video call was very cathartic for me. I wanted to ensure her needs were being met by asking her about the rest of her shoots that day and by checking in on her mental health as I know, as an RVT, being bit by a dog can cause anxiety and stress going forward. She said that she did continue shooting after I left and did just fine.

I was dealing with a lot of shame from the experience and having her be so vulnerable and open with me helped me move through that and not get stuck on that feeling of inadequacy as a dog owner. It helped me realize that I did do some things right. I’m not a bad dog owner, bad things can happen but I did try to prepare and more importantly I put in the effort to learn from the experience.

Some of the takeaways regarding the event and its environment were:

Outlining more specifics of what the atmosphere/environment/location were like would possibly be helpful in giving owners another opportunity to questions whether this event would be a good situation for them

Listen to your gut. What chaos is okay and what chaos is not okay? How could we try to pay more attention to the dogs in this scenario?

Have a first-aid kit provided by event host in order to ensure prompt care following injuries.

I am incredibly thankful that it was Tori opposing me in this situation, although I hate that my dog bit her. She said that she would have reported Rory had she thought she was a danger to the public but she at no point thought this or that I was inadequate as a dog owner. These words really put my mind at ease and helped me to grow past this traumatic event despite how mortified I had been feeling.

Here are the reminders from that day that have made me a better dog owner:

Listen to your intuition and gut when it comes to your dogs! I should have paid attention to what the dogs were saying the moment we pulled into the parking lot. Looking back, we should have cancelled our photoshoot and never got out of the car in that state.

I’m not perfect! Unexpected things can happen despite planning; dogs and people are not perfect. However, how we react to what has happened is just as important as getting something right. How we find a way forward or take the opportunity to learn from something traumatic is what defines us.

Be a better advocate for your dog. I hadn’t properly prepared my dogs for this scenario. It’s not uncommon to get complacent with time or when you have had reduced exposure to triggers (especially due to COVID). You forget to employ strategies you once used daily. We used to have Rory wear a vest which says “ Ask before petting” we stopped using it because it seemed as though she never got close enough to people. It always seemed like we could control the situation. I realize now that you can’t really control every situation, stuff comes up, so now we have her wear it every time she is out in public in order to make everyone safer.

As an owner of a dog you may go through traumatic events such as this and it’s incredibly helpful to have a community and guide to help you through it. Between one-on-one consultations, the growing membership community of dog owners and monthly Q&A’s you can find the support you need for your dog ownership journey in the Pawdoption Guide Membership Experience! Join my membership waitlist today in order to be a part of this community in 2022!

This episode goes out to every dog owner who experienced a reactive moment like this and questioned their leadership. Our dogs need us, yes, sometimes we can do better but we cannot always avoid situations that go bad. Take your worst day and learn from it; that is how you can be the best owner for your dog. Lastly, don’t keep it quiet or hide it away. Doing so will bring you shame about it and if you’re ashamed you won’t grow but your feelings of inadequacy will and that will harm you and your dog more than you know. If you’d like to ‘out’ your worst day as a dog owner with me, know that I’m a safe space and will be a listening ear, feel free to send me a voice note or message on Instagram or Facebook. You can become empowered by that day once and for all. 

HUGE thanks to Tori Masters for being the amazing human being she is, allowing me to share this story and helping me grow in the face of it.

Dog adopters are easily frustrated these days by not hearing back from rescues.

Who can blame them…

Rescues used to respond to most applicants even if they were not a match

Dog adoption applications are more time consuming and arduous than they were

They’re emotionally invested in the outcome and often don’t have any perspective on the number of potential dog adopters interested

The dog adoption criteria set by rescues has become much more extensive causing people to be easily discarded/out of the running - in the process

However, there are some common mistakes that people are making when applying that can really affect your chances of being approved or moving onto the next part of the process.

Below are 3 of the most common dog adoption application blunders I see dog adopters making:

Applying for incompatible dogs: Many dog adopters make the mistake of not reading the dog’s entire bio or getting swept away by the dog’s picture. Don’t waste your time or the rescue’s by applying for dogs without knowing their bio. It’s just as crucial to set realistic expectations for what you are willing to take on so that you don’t get in over your head with dog behaviour problems that are beyond your time and patience.

Lack of effort in their application: Many adopters fill out applications as if they’re entitled to the dog because they’re inquiring. This kind of thinking will get you nowhere with dog adoption and will be quickly filtered out by dog rescues. A dog adoption application might as well be a job application. It’s important to be honest but also to sell yourself. Find opportunities within the application to point out your strengths and impress the rescue with your dog ownership skills, preparation and plans. This means thinking through your answers and not just putting the first thing that comes to mind down. For example, if the application asks why you have chosen to adopt or rescue a dog a subpar answer would be: we wanted a dog and liked this one on your website. A great answer would be honest but state why RESCUING is important to you such as not supporting puppy mills, giving a dog a second chance or making a positive impact on a dog’s life.

Poor explanation about previous pets: Almost every dog rescue application will prompt you to tell them about your previous pets and how they died. This question can be incredibly hard to answer because let’s face it, there’s a lot of details that surround a pet’s health and quality of life. You don’t want to be too brief here, lay out enough details that the dog rescue isn’t left with major questions. One thing I know veterinary professionals and dog rescue organizations don’t like to hear is “Died of old age.” Believe it or not, age is not a disease. There is a lot that can be done to improve an old animal’s life so it’s important to lay out things like they had an unmanaged disease, the vet recommended they be euthanized due to the extent of the cancer or their quality of life was really poor as they had no appetite anymore. All of these answers have an appropriate amount of detail that helps the dog rescue understand that you take pet ownership seriously and are committed to your pet.

Don’t be discouraged by the dog adoption process any longer! All of these mistakes and more are addressed in my Dog Adoption Application Survival Kit. It’s an inexpensive digital download system that allows you to nail down the strategies that matter, take the guesswork out of applications and stand out! It’s as simple as reading the PDF’s and watching the videos, when it works for you, and implementing the methods, language and tools I personally use with clients for securing them a compatible rescue dog. 

As always thanks for listening and feel free to join my Pawdoption Guide Membership Waitlist if you’d like to work with me to adopt your dream rescue dog in 2022!

We’re talking about Petfinder today! If you haven’t heard of Petfinder, it’s a search engine for adoptable pets in North America. Many rescues and shelters regularly upload available pet profiles to Petfinder as well as their own website or Facebook page. Petfinder then categorizes these pets so you can easily use specific search criteria such as breed, age, size and gender to find compatible matches. 

A very common question amongst Googlers right now is “Is Petfinder a scam?” 

Petfinder is a great resource for pet adopters BUT it's not foolproof.

 I myself have used this tool to find my own rescue pets and to assist in my search for clients. It's not all encompassing so I also use a spreadsheet of 50+ rescues to make sure I see as many available pets as possible.

Some basic tips on how to use Petfinder:

Start specific: Use the filters on Petfinder to narrow your search and get the most compatible results off of the bat. Remove certain filters as needed to broaden your search, when necessary.

Use the desktop version: The mobile app is not great for filtering or loading many profiles at once so I find it much more efficient to use Petfinder on my desktop or tablet.

Be flexible with your location: It can be frustrating doing a search on Petfinder in Southern Ontario because we’re located so close to the border that we end up getting a lot of U.S. matches. I have yet to find a way to filter out matches from other countries on Petfinder so adjusting the location to be more northern can help reduce how soon you see those matches. Also, if you’re in a rural area you may want to choose a closest urban location to get better more results.

Avoid out-of-town or out-of-country dogs: I’ll be sharing more about this later but for now just trust that this is a good rule of thumb for first time dog adopters.

Petfinder has made pet adoption much more accessible and this is both good and bad. Good because it shows pet adopters a wider range of adoptable animals and increases your likelihood of finding a good match. Bad because it has made it easy for everyone and anyone to upload adoptable pet profiles. Unfortunately, that means scammers and less-than-reputable rescues are making use of this resource.

What do I mean when I say less-than-reputable rescues? These are organizations that are focused on profit rather than the animals’ well-being and are cutting corners with care (veterinary or otherwise) or even providing false information such as the source/breed/age/behaviour of their adoptable animals.

So Get Smart With Petfinder And Consider These 4 Questions Every Time You Use This Tool:

1. Does the rescue or shelter have a quality website or a long-standing Facebook page with an active following?

An established rescue organization should have an online ‘home’ that looks professional and is easy to navigate and understand. If they only have a Facebook page you should peruse their posts to see what kind of pets they've had available and scroll down to the “Page Transparency” column on the left of their page to check when the page was started. Hint: if they regularly have puppies available assess why that is, most rescues get a litter here and there but would not have constant access to pups - this could be a puppy broker (seller of puppy mill puppies) and not a rescue at all. If they just have a Petfinder profile I'd look elsewhere!

2. Is the rescue or shelter a registered charity or have not-for-profit status?

This shows they've taken professional steps for their organization, provides a sense of permanence and adds legitimacy to their organization.

3. What is the rescue or shelter’s process?

Most rescues and shelters follow this format:

Application

Phone/Video Interview

Reference Check/Home Check

+/- Follow-Up Foster/Rescue Interview with details on adoptable pet

Meet & Greet

Contractual Agreement

If the process does not follow this general format and is as simple as inquiring or sending in an application this is not likely a quality establishment to adopt a pet from.

4. Is the animal currently in your country?

Lots of 'out-of-town' pets are posted on Petfinder and many of them require adoption and payment sight-unseen with no foster-to-adopt policy/agreement (FTA). This is the perfect scenario for puppy mills, brokers or illegitimate rescues to operate under. I highly recommend not engaging in this type of adoption.

Here’s a friendly reminder for you, if it seems too good to be true it probably is!

I hope this information has been helpful, I’ve had a few people tell me about unfortunate experiences with Petfinder scams or illegitimate rescues lately and I want to save others from facing these hardships too. Employ these 4 questions with every search to ensure you’re using the tool and it’s not using you!

Have you found some questionable rescues on Petfinder? Message me @pawdoptionguide on Instagram or Facebook to tell me more. 

Of course you can’t start your search unless you’ve narrowed down what you’re looking for! Grab my FREE Are You Ready to Get a Dog? checklist today and be prepared to start your dog adoption search tomorrow.

Simply put, dog adoption can be broken down into 3 steps; locating, adopting and integrating. In episode 5 we delve into integrating your rescue dog and what to do when they’ve hit a plateau and you’re not seeing the training progress or improvements, in dog behaviour, that you want to see.

I often liken this to your fitness journey and how you can start by seeing great results and this keeps you motivated to continue working towards your goals. Training your rescue dog can be rewarding when you see progress being made but what about when you don’t? This is a crucial point that can make or break your bond with your rescue dog. It’s so important to understand that your dog has limitless potential and you don’t need to just accept bad behaviours. This plateau your experiencing is a reminder that it’s time to adjust your approach in order to make bigger gains in your dog training.

Here’s 5 ways to improve your dog training when you’ve hit a plateau:

1. CHANGE YOUR REWARD - Think about what you’re using to mark wanted behaviours in your dog (treats, praise or toys) and assess whether it is an appropriate motivator for your dog. Do you need to find a more enticing treat (aka a high value reward) such as freeze dried liver or jerky bits? Is it worth seeing if your dog would rather work with a toy during training sessions? Maybe you have fallen off track and been using praise but it’s no longer getting results, time to go back to where you were last successful and reinforce that good behaviour again.

2. BREAK IT DOWN - Are you pushing too much too fast? Try breaking things down into smaller steps. Your rescue dog might not have grasped what you’re trying to teach them because you’re advancing too soon or not consistent enough to solidify the knowledge you’re working on.

3. CLICKER TRAINING - Try adding a ‘marker’ to the behaviour by clicking when your dog offers the desired behaviour (or at least some part of it). Remember that a click is ALWAYS followed by a treat in order for your dog to have a positive association with the clicker. This ‘marker’ helps signal the exact moment they got things right which can really expedite the learning process for your dog. Better feedback means your dog with learn exponentially faster about what behaviour they should repeat. Members in the Pawdoption Guide Membership Experience will have access to my clicker training tutorial when it launches early 2022!

4. ASSESS YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS - Is it possible that you’re having a negative impact on your dog’s training? Are you easily frustrated? Are you feeling unsure or lacking confidence? Take a moment to reflect on your current approach and see if there’s a way to take a break, prioritize one behaviour or get help from another family member. Remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup!

5. PROFESSIONAL TRAINER OR TRAINING CLASS - Maybe a new perspective is all you need! Look up professional dog trainers near you to find the best fit. The most experienced trainers will have the initials CPDT-KSA next to their name. This means they are Certified Professional Dog Trainers that have had their knowledge and skills assessed with both a regulated exam, skills assignments and 300 hours of dog training experience. A behaviour consultant is another professional worth seeking when your rescue dog’s behaviours are not improving. If you choose to sign up for an online/virtual dog training course, be sure the course has been designed by someone with great credentials like these!

Lastly, if your rescue dog is difficult on leash and you’re dreaming of the day when you can walk them proudly, check out my FREE Walk Your Dog with Confidence Mini Course!

We’re getting right down to business with the biggest mistakes people make when rescuing a dog. Episode 4 touches on topics like getting clear on your ideal dog, not ignoring red flags in dog adoption profiles, obtaining as much detail as possible from the rescue or shelter, prioritizing dog adoption profiles over pictures and building the best bond with your dog by making them a well-mannered part of your family.

Mistake #1: People START WITHOUT A DREAM. How can you know what you want if you haven’t sat down and really thought about your goals? What would be absolutely ideal? What are your needs? What will and won’t go with your current lifestyle? Lots of people think they will adjust their lifestyle to fit their dog but this is a recipe for disaster - especially when it involves your daily exercise regime!

Mistake #2: They GO OFF-COURSE. Adopters are often easily waivered from what they first set out to adopt just based on current inventory. Don’t settle when adopting your first dog, what’s the rush afterall? Filter out the riff raff on Petfinder and focus on the best rescue dog for you, even if that means waiting for more adoptable dogs to be posted.

Mistake #3: A LACK OF CURIOSITY. Please ask questions. It’s not enough to know that an adoptable dog doesn’t like dogs or cats or kids. More details are needed so that you can know what you’re getting yourself into! When you’re informed you are more satisfied with your dog adoption journey and can set better expectations which your rescue dog will appreciate. The Pawdoption Guide Membership, launching early 2022, has resources for this very purpose! Reduce surprises by finding out important details that can make or break the dog adoption.

Mistake #4: They WAIT FOR IT TO FALL INTO THEIR LAP. Getting a haphazardly rehomed dog is often not the match made in heaven you’re looking for. Being intentional about your search and what you want is the way to fulfill your dog ownership dreams.

Mistake #5: It’s LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. Falling in love with a picture will not ensure your happiness or your dog’s. The dog adoption profile is much more important and should not be ignored. Remember that rescues are getting savvy at filtering incompatible adopters so don’t waste your time if the adoptable dog is not a good match- walk away from those red flags!

Mistake #6: They GET LAZY. It’s easy to think that the hard work is done when you bring your dog home but this is where you must double-down to mold your newly adopted dog into a well-mannered member of your family. Integrating your rescue dog requires patience and prioritizing. Put in the work following adoption, even with minor behaviours that bother you, and you’ll have a better dog and better bond for it!

The last thing I want to mention is how dog adopters commonly lose their patience! Dreams don’t happen overnight. If you want a great rescue dog you need to be patient for the right dog, scenario and timing to occur. If you truly are ready to get a dog there should be no time limit on your search. This is the best way to get everything you’ve dreamed of!

Auguste Rodin said it best: “Patience is also a form of action.” Don’t make the mistake of being impatient because finding that special rescue dog is a reward like no other!

Starting the dog adoption process? Avoid mistake #1 with my Are you Ready to Get a Dog Checklist freebie! Get prepared for your search and save yourself some homework when you fill out your first adoption application.

The pandemic has created a lot of barriers for people looking to adopt a rescue dog. This episode shares what makes it so difficult to find a dog today and 5 ways to overcome these challenges.

In episode 2, I bring you insight on my dog adoption experience with Geller and Rory, as well as my cat adoption experience with Hudson. Although the adoption process varied for each one of my pets I had no difficulties navigating adoption applications, rescue interviews, house tours and meet & greets.

The integration of my rescue dogs and rescue cat was where I struggled most. Between transitioning your rescue pet into your home, introducing your rescue dog to your cat and taking on an alert and nervous rescue dalmatian, my hands were full! Now grab your headphones and listen to me share the top behaviour problems I acquired with each pet and the solutions I found for them.

Make sure you stay to the end to find out which rescue pet is responsible for me starting my own pet adoption business!