Looking for a Dog on Craigslist? Read This First

Every once in a while, I come across an article that does such a good job explaining a problem that I feel compelled to share it.

This is one of those articles.

First, let me be clear about my opinion: Craigslist is not a place to get a dog.
There are simply too many great dogs sitting in local shelters and rescues — dogs that would do just about anything to have a true forever home — for people to be rolling the dice on anonymous online listings.

That said, I also know how Craigslist works.

People browse.
People get curious.
People convince themselves they’ve “found the perfect dog.”

Unfortunately, I’ve been called in many times to help fix situations that started exactly this way. Behavior issues, medical surprises, aggression concerns, unrealistic expectations — these are the kinds of problems that often show up after a Craigslist adoption, not before.

The article below does an excellent job outlining the red flags that I — and many other trainers — see over and over again. If you or someone you know is even considering getting a dog through Craigslist, this is absolutely worth reading.

Honestly, it’s worth sharing.

Click here to read the full article:

Looking for a Dog on Craigslist? Run Screaming If You See Any of These Red Flags
http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/craigslist-dogs-adoption-red-flags

A Practical Note from a Kansas City Dog Trainer

At KISS Dog Training (Keep It Simple, Stupid), I work with dog owners throughout the Kansas City area, and one of the most common things I see is this: people don’t set out to make a bad decision — they just don’t know what they don’t know.

Dogs from unknown backgrounds can absolutely succeed, but context matters. Temperament, early socialization, genetics, and medical history all play a role in what shows up later. When those pieces are missing or misrepresented, owners often end up overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next.

If you’re looking for help from a dog trainer in Kansas City, you can learn more about my in-home training approach here:
https://kissdogtraining.com/dog-trainer-kansas-city/

I also offer books and resources that help dog owners better understand behavior and set realistic expectations from the start:
https://kissdogtraining.com/merchandise/

And if you have questions about a dog you’ve recently adopted — from Craigslist or anywhere else — you’re always welcome to reach out through the website:
https://kissdogtraining.com/contact-us/

“A ‘perfect dog’ usually comes with missing details.”

— Mike
KISS Dog Training