Question 1

Can you tell me what breed my dog is?

Accepted Answer

If we know we will tell you! If your dog has an unknown history or was previously adopted and his/her breed is unknown, we will do our best to figure out the breed, but we may be unable to do so in some cases.

Question 2

What is the adoption process like?

Accepted Answer

An interested adopter will fill out an application either looking for a potential match or for a Rock n' Rescue dog that has been listed as adoptable publicly. Once we receive the application and decide whether or not to move forward we will have a phone interview.  If an application is not approved we will be in touch as to why the decision was made. We may require a home check as well as proof of home ownership or permission from landlord or condo association to ensure that a dog is allowed in an adopter's residence. We will require a face to face meeting with all adopters in the home as well as all other dogs within the home in order to establish if the match will be a successful and comfortable one for all involved in the dog's daily life. Once an adoption has been approved the adopter will be required to fill out an adoption contract that includes a commitment to training and updates to Rn'R as well as submit the posted adoption fee. Once all is complete an adopter will go home with his or her new furry family member!

Question 3

How do I know if the dog I want is a good match for me?

Accepted Answer

Choosing a dog who fits into your lifestyle and your expectations depends so much on matching your expectations with the dog’s individual personality, energy level, breed traits and characteristics, as well as social and behavioral history. 
Keeping an open mind to meeting your lifelong buddy may sometimes mean you walk into the shelter looking for a confident Lab/Pitbull mix puppy and instead find that you made an instant connection with a slightly shy Chihuahua/Corgi mix.  This is a common adoption scenario that often results in the most successful pairing of human and dog! Discovering the ideal match is a process that should involve research into the breed types you imagine bringing into your life, patience and thoughtful consideration when interacting with dogs who fit your physical description of the best match, as well as an ability to recognize if your ideas of what you want in a dog fit with realistic expectations of what that particular dog needs to thrive in your environment, and understanding if you are able to meet those requirements.  For example, loving the high-energy, focus, intelligence, and agile beauty of Australian Shepherds and wanting to adopt one without having the ability to provide her the daily routine of mental and physical exercise she needs to avoid her developing behavioral issues to manage her boredom or frustrated energy is a signal that regardless of how much you love the idea of adopting this type of dog, there may be another breed/mix that is more suited to your abilities and lifestyle.
 
A few basic factors to consider to help determine if you’ve met your match:
 
Body language:  How is the dog you are considering responding to your presence?  Eyes averted and head turned, curious but shy in approaching, happily greeting with loose body posture and friendly glances, etc. 
Initial impressions in a shelter or other temporary environment are not always telling of all aspects of a dog’s personality that will be revealed with time in a stable home environment, but noticing how easily or not a dog approaches you, whether friendly eye contact is made or eyes averted, can help you assess your and the dog’s social comfort level.  
Are you willing to commit to the time and patience it will take to gain a dog’s trust who is undersocialized and fearful and may not be able to meet the social expectations you have in mind, or do you feel this would make you anxious?  Is a confident, high-energy puppy just your speed or a calm, confident older adult dog?
 
Energy level:  The quiet dog peering at you with eyes wide from his curled up position on his kennel bed may become the most playful, exuberant dog off-leash in your backyard.  Understanding breed traits and characteristics of the dog you are considering to adopt is essential to pairing your expectations with what the dog is capable of meeting successfully.  Are you a sedentary person who prefers to drive everywhere rather than take daily walks and considering a Shepherd/Husky mix puppy?  Or an avid hiker who expects a dog companion to keep up with you on weekly mountain treks?
 
Home environment/Lifestyle:  An active home with sudden changes in environment involving lots of family members and friends coming and going routinely may be ideal for some dogs and highly stressful for others depending on past socialization history, individual personality, and overall temperament.  Do you head to every neighborhood event and are a social butterfly wanting a dog as your companion, or do you rarely have guests visit your home and prefer quiet walks on the beach with your dog?  Do you work outside of your home five days a week and have the budget to have a dog walker visit once or twice daily?  How will you ensure that your dog is engaged mentally and physically every day?

Question 4

Am I prepared to bring home an adopted dog?

Accepted Answer

Bringing an adopted dog into your home will require patience as your new buddy adjusts to the incredible diversity of smells, sights, sounds, and overall sensory experiences that come with investigating her new environment, as well as the process of trusting that this new home is stable, predictable, safe, and here to stay.  All of this will understandably take some time, and will be different for every dog depending on personality, social history, and your commitment to creating positive associations with your dog’s new space.  
 
There is never a need to force or rush your dog into building confidence in her new environment and trust in you and other members of her new family.  Allowing her to initiate contact with you on her terms and resisting the urge to shower her with affection if she is still shying away when approached, or otherwise attempting to micro-manage her space as she explores this new world will only keep her guessing as to your intentions of giving her the time she needs to feel safe and secure with you and her new home.  
 
Noticing behaviors that are signals your dog is attempting to manage stress is helpful in keeping you aware of how best to set your dog up for success in her new environment.  Shake-offs, one paw lifted, jowl huffing/panting, shaking, excessive sniffing or yawning, lip licking are all signs of stress.  Jotting down some of your new dog’s initial triggers that bring on cautious, stressed, or anxious behaviors can help you address these issues right away before they become bigger behavioral concerns.
 
After an adjustment period anywhere from several days to weeks to months depending on how quickly your dog begins to trust you and her new environment, it is a great idea to consult with a professional force-free positive reinforcement trainer for help in addressing basic behavior concerns as well as specific issues that may have come up from the time you brought your dog home and she was cautiously exploring to the period several weeks later where her comfort level has risen significantly and she is now attempting to counter-surf or hide every shoe in the house every chance she gets. Bark n’ Roll’s training team will be available for support throughout the life of your adopted buddy.