The Meet Your Match Puppy-ality Adoption Program is part of the Meet Your Match Canine-ality Adoption Program. Puppy-ality is designed to identify current behaviors that either need reinforcement or modification in the immediate future, setting up adopters (you) for success from the moment they get their puppy home.

Because behavior in dogs less than six months old is difficult to predict, and constantly changing, the Puppy-ality Assessment is intended to provide a “snapshot” of what the puppy is like right now. The assessment is not intended to predict future behavior.

Our adoption counselors can provide you with information about a particular puppy, helping to ensure you have the correct information and increasing the chances for bonding and permanent placement.  The Puppy-ality Assessment also provides a consistent adoption process for you as an adopter, regardless of whether you are interested in a puppy or a dog.

The Puppy-ality Adoption Program uses the Puppy-ality Assessment and Puppy-ality cage cards, which are specific to puppies. The program uses the Dog Adopter Survey and Meet Your Match guest passes used in the Canine-ality Adoption Program.

What Does the Puppy-ality Assessment Evaluate?

The Puppy-ality Assessment evaluates each puppy’s:

• Level of comfort and exploratory behavior in a new environment
• Social response and arousal
• Interest in play
• Frustration tolerance and response
• Ease of handling
• Tendency for food guarding

Our evaluator uses the assessment scores to select the appropriate color (green, orange, or purple) for the puppy. Each color category represents the level of training and attention that is likely required for puppies scoring in that category.

Within the color category, our evaluator then selects the appropriate Puppy-ality description from the three Puppy-alities in that category. The puppy’s source of motivation internal, external, or social (i.e. human attention) determines which description the evaluator selects. The evaluator then fills out the color-coded cage for the puppy. The card is pre-printed with the Puppy-ality description.

To learn about the nine Puppy-alities, read the Puppy-ality descriptions.

You Can Learn about Your Puppy-ality Preferences and Yourself

The Dog Adopter Survey identifies adopter preferences that correspond to characteristics measured in the Puppy-ality Assessment (and the Canine-ality Assessment). You can complete the one-page Dog Adopter survey in a few minutes.  Download the Dog Adopter Survey.

You can enjoy completing the survey and finding out what "color" you are:

• Green adopters are most successful with puppies who like to be physically and mentally engaged.
• Orange adopters are a good fit with middle-of-the-road pups who are responsive and like regular activity and interaction.
• Purple adopters are comfortable with puppies who show a laidback attitude and enjoy an easygoing lifestyle.

Next Steps

Complete your Dog Adopter Survey and bring it with you to the shelter or to one of our many offsite adoption events.  We have extras on-hand if you prefer to fill it out there.   We'll give you a color-coded guest pass corresponding to your survey responses and you can then introduce yourself to puppies whose cage cards identify them as green, orange, or purple. You aren't limited to puppies in their color category - love at first sight does happen. The Puppy-ality Assessment enables you to be prepared for your new love's response to your home and to be ready to help the puppy adjust.

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Page Last modified October 03, 2009
Copyright ©  Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter  All rights reserved.   Adoptions, Donations, and Volunteers always appreciated.
2661 Greenfield, Dearborn, MI 48120, 313-943-2697, friends@dearborn-animals.com,  www.dearborn-animals.com