Puffin

Description

Adoption fee: $650     Meet Puffin: The Puppy Everyone Stops to Meet   Puffin is a 14 week old, 15-pound puppy who was born in our rescue, adopted, and recently returned through absolutely no fault of her own. While that was not the beginning we hoped for her, Puffin has taken every change in stride. She is a cheerful, adventurous, remarkably adaptable puppy who seems to approach every new experience with the same question: “What are we doing next?”   And wherever Puffin goes, she attracts a crowd. People cross the street to meet her, ask to take her picture, and declare that she looks like the puppy from a dog food commercial. Puffin is delighted by her growing fan club. She happily approaches adults, children, people on bicycles, and even people using wheelchairs with an enthusiastic bounce and plenty of potential kisses. She is ready to become the unofficial mayor of whichever neighborhood is lucky enough to welcome her.   Adventure Puppy by Day, Champion Sleeper by Night   Puffin may be young, but she already has an impressive travel résumé. She has stayed in hotels, traveled in an RV, relaxed on a houseboat, enjoyed long car rides, splashed in a baby pool, and even taken a few trips in a covered dog carrier on the back of a cruiser bicycle. New environments do not faze her for long. She looks around, takes everything in, and settles remarkably quickly.   The car is one of her favorite places. Puffin loves watching the world pass by and will eventually curl up and sleep soundly for hours on a longer trip. She would be a wonderful companion for a family that enjoys walks, road trips, and bringing their dog along for the adventure.   Puffin is also an exceptional sleeper. She generally sleeps from approximately 9:30 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. without needing a potty break. She is comfortable sleeping in a crate but is equally happy snoozing in bed with her people. During the day, she will even put herself into her soft crate when she is ready for a nap.   Puffin’s Daily Schedule   Puffin begins her day with an immediate trip outside, followed by breakfast, a little playtime, and another nap. She wakes again later in the morning for a potty break, a snack, and a longer play session before settling in for a substantial afternoon nap.   Her mornings tend to be fairly relaxed, but her energy picks up as the day goes on. She loves afternoon play sessions, backyard time, and walks. Dinner is generally served between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m., followed by her signature evening zoomies. After racing, playing, and being delightfully silly, she usually needs a little quieter play and attention before she is ready for bed around 9:30 or 10:00.   Puffin especially loves being outside. Give her a secure yard with grass and she will run, roll, sniff, and explore before finding a comfortable patch of grass, concrete, or a cushioned chair for a well-earned nap. She also enjoys winding down with her family in the evening and has been known to watch television during couch time.   Smart, Attentive, and Eager to Learn   Puffin is an inquisitive puppy who pays close attention to her people. She responds enthusiastically to her name and is highly motivated by verbal praise, treats, and an encouraging voice. She already knows “sit” and “come,” and she responds well to a whistle or cheerful coaxing when she becomes distracted.   She is also doing exceptionally well with house-training for such a young puppy. Puffin will whine near the door when she needs to go outside and has learned a verbal potty cue. She has even remained nearly house-trained while staying on a boat, where she used an artificial-grass mat when necessary. With continued consistency and supervision in her new home, she should be well on her way to mastering this important puppy skill.   Puffin is comfortable in both soft-sided and wire crates. When left alone, she may whine or give a few quiet barks for less than five minutes, but she then settles down to sleep or entertain herself with a chew toy. She has not displayed signs of separation anxiety and has successfully spent up to approximately two hours crated during the day.   Born to Walk—and Occasionally Bounce   Puffin is surprisingly good on leash for a puppy with very little formal training. She generally bounces happily alongside her person and follows their lead. If something catches her attention or she has a particular destination in mind, she may pull on her harness, but treats, praise, or a little sweet-talking are usually enough to get her moving in the right direction again.   She is interested in dogs she sees while walking but has been respectful and does not bark or whine at them. She has not yet had significant off-leash playtime with other dogs, so any canine introductions should be handled thoughtfully. She has also not spent extended time playing with children, although she enthusiastically wants to greet people of all ages.   A Perfectly Playful Puppy   Puffin is playful, energetic, and currently teething, so appropriate chew toys are a must. Her chewing is generally part of play rather than something she does out of boredom. She may investigate loose dirt with a little curious digging, and while she is not a frequent barker, she will occasionally use her voice when she is excited and playing.   Puffin’s Forever Home   Puffin would thrive with a family that is excited to continue her training, socialization, and house-training while including her in everyday life. A secure, fenced yard with grass would be a wonderful bonus for this girl, although regular walks, playtime, and opportunities to explore will be most important.   She is affectionate and loves attention, but she is not constantly attached to her people. Puffin may watch someone leave the room or get out of the car, but she does not typically whine or bark in protest. She is most likely to snuggle immediately after waking up; once she is fully awake, there is simply too much of the world to investigate.   Puffin is sweet, friendly, adaptable, intelligent, and just the right combination of energetic playmate and excellent napper. Her first adoption may not have lasted, but that was no reflection on this wonderful puppy. Now she needs a committed family who will give her the training, stability, adventures, and lifelong love she deserves.   Be prepared: adopting Puffin means sharing her with a very enthusiastic public. Wherever she goes, people notice her—and once they meet her, they absolutely adore her.