Introduction

1) Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?

• I have been the primary caretaker of one Southern Black Mouth Cur. She came to me when she was older, so I don't have a lot of experience with training.

2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a reputable breeder?

• I do not have a preference.

3) Describe your ideal dog.

• My ideal dog is cuddly and affectionate, small-medium sized, gets along well with at least people and other dogs. I prefer short-hair breeds.

4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?

• I really like Staffordshire Terriers because of their size and shape, and because of their temperament. I also am interested in Basset Hounds, American Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, and Boston Terriers (though I have ethical concerns).

5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?

• I would like to train my dog to be calm in public and be able to sit outside at restaurants and things of that nature. I want basic commands like sit, stay, etc to come easily for it. Nothing fancy. I like "dumb" dogs.

6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport?

• No, I would prefer a dog that does not have a strong prey or work drive.

Care Commitments

7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?

• I would like to devote 4-5 hours per day with my dog, essentially any time I can outside of work hours.

8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park?

• I can exercise my dog 1-2 hours per day on average. I'm thinking playing, walking, or dog park.

9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly?

• I am willing to groom my dog at home or take it to a professional.

Personal Preferences

10) What size dog are you looking for?

• Small-medium. Anywhere between 20 and 45 pounds is ideal.

11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?

• I would prefer a short-hair breed, but shedding is fine. Barking is natural for dogs, so I don't mind, but I definitely can't handle excessive noise. Slobber is A-okay.

12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?

• It would be nice, but it's not that important to me. Low priority.

Dog Personality and Behavior

13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?

• As snuggly as physically possible.

14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please?

*I want a dog that's eager to please, but will not tear up the house if no one is home to provide attention.

15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors?

• I would prefer for my dog to alert me that there is someone at my door or in my yard via barking. I would prefer for my dog to greet guests with a happy demeanor but not jumpy. Sitting at the door and wagging their tail is ideal.

16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?

• No

17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?

• I want to avoid clothes, shoes, garbage etc being torn up. However, I understand that that's part of dog ownership.

Lifestyle

18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone?

• The dog will be left alone for less than 5 hours at a time, 1-2 times per day.

19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?

• We agree on preferences, we will be equally involved.

20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?

• I have one Southern Black Mouth Cur dog. I would like to always have 2 dogs, so dog aggression is absolutely out of the question.

21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

• No

22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?

• Yes, weight restriction is 40 pounds and "aggressive breeds".

23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?

• I live in Boston, I'm unaware of any laws.

24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?

• 85 degrees F in summer, 30 in winter.

Additional Information and Questions

25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant.

• NA

26) Feel free to ask any questions below.