Welcome back to the Whole View, episode 402 - not 42. (0:27)
Sarah is full of punny jokes.
Stacy and Sarah are excited to finally share Sarah's big news!
This episode is being pre-recorded because on the normal recording day, Sarah is bringing home a brand new puppy.
Sarah grew up with all kinds of pets, and as an adult, she has had cats.
However, she has wanted a dog forever, but she has been waiting for the right time.
Sarah's husband grew up with no pets and doesn't have much comfort with dogs.
The girls have also been skittish around dogs to date, and she knew that a puppy would be a good starting place for them.
Sarah has been waiting for a long enough break from travel to be able to commit to a puppy.
When Sarah's health crashed last fall her daughter told her it was the perfect time to get a dog, and Sarah couldn't have agreed more.
This has been in the works since then.
 
Sarah's Experience with Finding a Dog
Sarah has been researching dog breed characteristics and they decided to get a Portuguese water dog.
She did her research to not just find the right breed for her, but for her family as well.
With various levels of anxiety in Sarah's family, she knew that supporting mental health was a key piece in this all.
She wanted a dog that was social, cuddly, and interactive.
Having a dog that gets Sarah out of the house was also key, as she wanted a breed that needs a lot of activity.
The other piece that Sarah was looking for was a smart, highly trainable dog.
Portuguese water dog checked all of these boxes.
They need physical exercise as well as mental exercise every day.
Getting a hypoallergenic breed was also a must.
Once they found the breed they wanted, they did a ton of research to find the right breeder.
Sarah shared more on how she selected the breeder.
They will have a new family member!
 
Stacy's Experience with Finding a Dog
Stacy noted that we are all individuals in our health and lifestyle needs. (12:30)
We are also individuals in our pet needs.
From personal experience, Stacy's family has rescued probably about twenty animals over the course of her life.
Stacy shared more on her experience with bringing a rescue dog into their family.
They were not considering bringing a dog into the house again until the boys prepared a presentation about the different types of dogs and their traits.
The kids selected three breeds and provided explanations on why they thought these were good options for their family.
It was Matt and Stacy doing more research that allowed them to determine that an emotional support therapy animal was actually a really good idea for their family.
In doing research and finding a breeder who specializes in emotional support therapy animals, they were able to find the right dog for their family.
Selective smart breeding, like Sarah, was a key detail that Matt and Stacy looked for.
 
The Impact of a Pet Joining the Family
Stacy has never had a dog that she has bonded with that has made such a difference in her life the way that Penny has.
There is a difference in a special needs home, and an animal (regardless of what kind) can have a lot of benefits to the mental health of each family member.
Stacy wants to put it out there that this is not an advertisement for purchasing a puppy mill puppy.
She is not here to tell anybody what they should or should not do, or that the choices they made are either right or wrong.
There is no guilt or shame associated with the route you take.
Just like with health and lifestyle, looking back and having negative emotions is never productive.
What we can do is say, now I'm educated and I'm going to make the best choices that I can with the knowledge that I have.
It is important that you understand what kind of pet you are getting, especially if you have a high needs home.
Be mindful of what you are getting into, which encompasses so many different perspectives.
There are different animals that have different temperaments based on both genetics and how they have bee