Quantity versus Quality

I've probably written a blog or two on the subject before, but it's something I'm always thinking with new fosters coming and going and especially if we get multiple applications. Dogs, like people are all different. What they need and want out of a forever home is all a little different. Some dogs need someone home more, some dogs need much more exercise, etc, etc.  What they want, and what they need is very much a part of making the right match for them.

Take the two fosters here now.

Floof is a quantity time dog. He's a dog that would absolutely love to have his person around almost all day, go putter in the garden with them, storm the beaches with them. He's not needy (that's Lemon) but he is a stay-close, want to be with someone dog. He's a bit of cling-on, preferring to be wherever you are. Whether or not you're actually DOING something with Floof, or if you are working from home with him snuggling on your lap, or watching TV, or playing computer, video games, whatever, it doesn't matter to Floof. Being WITH you is where he wants to be. He's a dog who couldn't care one bit if you were training him, making him think or challenging him. Of course he could be trained -easily actually-, but he's a companion. Quality time with Floof will always beat out quality time with Floof. So, he needs someone whose around quite a bit.

Cinderella on the other hand is a totally different dog.

Cinderella is not a quantity time dog at all. She is reserved, content to please herself, sit two cushions down from you on the couch type. She is affectionate here and there, playful here and there, but honestly I don't think she'd be phased staying home 6-8 hours a day. As it is, even when we're both home for her, she's content on a dog cushion and doesn't bother with us a lot. In ways, she reminds me of Beckett. Content to chill. However, Cinderella is shy of new people and sometimes new situations so she's a dog that requires someone that will give her quality time to bring out the dog inside her. Here Cinderella is happiest when she gets to go for a car-ride and go somewhere. Sometimes she is frightened when we arrive at a new destination, but she gets over it fast. She could easily have a person that is around less, but when they are around they are highly focused and dedicated to her. She seems almost like a single person's dog, where she can bond very strongly to one person and one person only.

Of course you get dogs that are kind of split down the middle too, or you get puppies that fall into the requirements of both spectrums.

Just for fun I've gone through my foster dogs and divided them up: Please note that puppies are always a mix, and a few dogs I only had about a week. Things definitely could have changed in the new home as they bond with new people over time too.

All quality time refers to is actively doing something with your dog, such as walking, training, jogging, playing, etc. Interactive time if you will. Being really present with your dog.

QUALITY	BOTH/MIX	QUANTITY
XENA	TUCKER	MAY
BUSTER	YAYIS	TINE
GIO	HONEY	TOAST
TRUNK	EVEE	CHULA
HANK	DAYO	NETTY
ADAM	REN	LEMON
ALLIE	ALVIN	HELEN
CHOWMEIN	ALPHIE	RUPEE
ZEPHYR	MIGO	BARLEY
JASMINE	DIMSUM	HANNA
MAX	PIKA	MOMO
DICKORY	TWIST	COLEMAN (FLOOF)
JOSH	BUCKWHEAT
LUMA	ONYX-VUDU
KAHLUA	GINGER
MEGAN	TRUFFLE
URCHIN	FREDDIE
VIBO	EMMETT
LEILA	SUZIE
NEELA	CHEDDAR
RILEY	PENNY
CINDERELLA	SUNSHINE
	WRANGLER
	POLLY
	DUKE
	GG

As for my own dogs, I have one in each category. Beckett is and has always been a quality time dog. He wants his 1-2 hours of freedom time and other than that he is content to hang on his big dog bed and at time come ask for a scratch. Lemon is a quantity time dog, almost to a fault. She would be mauling you with love 24/7 if she was allowed.

Jinks, as a pup still she a mixture and she'll probably stay a mixture but if she had to choose she would choose 1-2 hours of serious quality time complete with training, rigorous exercise than "just" have me around. She would go crazy if she only got quantity time.

It's almost important for the matching of people too. Some people want a dog that is a cling-on, their partner, doesn't mind a shadow following them around the house. Some people prefer a Beckett type, who is content to do his own thing most of the day, but always ready to go out for an adventure.

After all, an adoption is a relationship set to last a lifetime. The more you know about each other going into the agreement, the better.