Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make me a Match

Petfinder is online dating, but for dogs. The downside however is we get one chance, one pick. We can't say "I'll try you" and dump them if they don't work out.

A dog is a lifetime commitment. You'll be spending years together. It's a "till death do us part" kind of arrangement. So, in fairness to both yourself and to the dog you are applying for, rescue needs to figure out if you're a match. Now that's not to say that there won't be learning curves or some days where you slam your head against the wall wondering what on earth brought the two of you together, but you deserve the best possible chance at being happy with your new companion, and your new companion deserves the best possible chance at being happy in their forever home.

So it's hard sometimes, when you get a lot of great applications, but they aren't necessarily right for that particular dog, or they could be, but you have to pick the best out of multiple great options.

It's hard explaining your qualities just don't line up. A one-person quantity time dog would be absolutely miserable here, just as a Beckett type dog -active and requiring dog company- would be absolutely miserable as an only dog with someone who is around a lot. Jinks would be a horrible fit for anyone with minimal dog experience, and could even become dangerous in different hands. Shane I'm sure could fit in anywhere and be loved and give love, and there are lots more like him. Dogs that are so adaptable you just have to tell them what they should love most and they will.

Some dogs do best with someone home most of the time, some dogs couldn't care less as long as they get to do tons of fun stuff, lots of other dogs are adaptable either way.

So some tips to see if you're a match.

1) Make sure you thoroughly read the adoption ad. Important details are usually in there such as whether they would prefer a home with other animals, or a home to themselves, whether they are cat safe or not, a good fit for children, and if they have any behavioural problems. You'll get an idea of energy level too. Don't get stuck on the picture. A pretty face is just a pretty face. You'll give yourself a slap upside the head if you adopt a pretty face that is a menace underneath that beautiful exterior. Not saying you shouldn't get a dog you like the look of, but make sure you read the ad. Oh, and before you reply to the ad, PLEASE read it. I really dislike and usually dismiss queries that have the exact information you're looking for right in the ad.

2) Examine your own lifestyle carefully. The idea of a high energy dog is nice, but living with one is usually a whole different ball game. A low energy dog doesn't mean he's incapable of any exercise or adventure, it just means he can happily be a couch potato. Most medium energy dogs require about 1 hour of dedicated exercise a day, and then up from there.

3) Decide on puppy/not puppy. To me, a puppy is any dog under 5-6 months of age. After about five months they are teenagers. They are easy to housetrain, can stay home a reasonable amount of time by themselves, and are over their big socialization periods so not nearly as much time and effort as a little bitty puppy. That said, they are now teenagers who haven't had stability in their previous lives, so you might get yourself into more trouble with a 6-10 month old. Still, go by bio.

4) Don't be offended if the rescue doesn't find you to be the best match for the dog in care. You have every right to know the reason(s) why, but please know we are trying our best to make a match, which involves two parties, but one of the parties is completely reliant on us to get it right.

5) Be open to another match. Of course have some requirements, but do let the people who know the dogs best help you decide. Unless you require your dog to be under a certain weight for house restrictions, be open to 10-25 pounds lighter or heavier either way. Be open to a gender switch, an age gap, and perhaps a totally different breed mix. Keep the focus mostly on your needs. Not to say you shouldn't be picky, just to say that if you open yourself up you might just find the dog you've been looking for but didn't stumble across yet. Your soul-mate with paws might just end up in a totally different package than you predicted.

Above all, try not to take it personally. It has been the rare dog in the last two years of fostering that does not have multiple applications -unless they're black and/or have some issues. We can't clone dogs, and there are always dogs getting overlooked for their prettier/younger/more photogenic counterparts. The easy, pretty dogs get lots of applications, its just how it works.

After you've adopted your dog, even if it takes months to find "the one" you won't remember how long it took to find them. I promise you that.