Pet of the Week, Aurora! (Guest blogged by Aurora’s foster family)

Meet Aurora! The first thing we have to tell you about Aurora is that we call her Pepper, short for Peppermint (suggested by a friend’s lovely little girl). Aurora, while a lovely name, was just too much of a mouthful for us. That being said, it isn’t hard to rename a puppy to whatever you’d like. We've had the pleasure of getting to know Pepper for the past seven weeks and we can tell you that she is a great little puppy who won’t be little for very long. When the vet handed her to me I was shocked to learn that she was only eight weeks old – she was twice the size of most puppies we fostered at that age!  

As soon as we got Pepper home she was off running and playing as happy as could be in our backyard. This is what Pepper is usually like: happy and goofy. Pepper has a lot of energy and is always ready to go - if there is another dog around or something going on she doesn’t want to miss a thing. Since she has so much energy we have found that it is very important to make sure she gets a lot of walks (a number of shorter walks each day), lots of time to romp and play, and mini training sessions to engage her mind. Pepper can get over-excited, and while this has improved dramatically, sometimes she still needs help to calm down. Because of this, she would probably do best in a home that was cool calm and collected, but willing to provide her with the exercise needed for a growing puppy. 

When there is nothing going on, Pepper is very laid back. She is happy to flop out in the kitchen and watch the world go by. She also loves to lie in the backyard and chew on a stick, antler, or Kong. She loves scratches and belly rubs and will roll over on to her back as you walk up to her so she doesn’t miss an opportunity for one. 


Housetraining took all of 3 days, and she now asks to go out by whining or barking at the door. Pepper has learned to sit and lay down on cue, and will also target touch your hand with her nose. We are working hard on loose leash walking and building a solid recall. Pepper sleeps happily in a crate and generally makes it through the night without needing a break. 


We do not have cats, but Pepper has been exposed to them a few times and seems to be more curious than anything else. She loves every dog she meets and would do well in a home with another dog who loves to play as much as she does, although older dogs or shy dogs may find her too exuberant. She would also be fine in a single dog home. 


Pepper is very smart, but she is also an independent soul who knows what she wants. We think it will be important for her new family to commit to spending the time to train with Pepper and build a strong relationship with her. This isn’t hard to do at all since she is so much fun to work with.

Pepper is an amazing puppy with a lot of personality. She will be an excellent addition to the right family! If you think that Pepper is right for your family, make sure you fill out an online application!