If you are writing boring dog bios for your shelter, stop!
Take a peak at these dog bio examples that will stand out from the crowd and help bring exposure to dogs in need of a home.
Think about it. Social media streams are busier than ever – and you have just a second or two to get your adoptable dogs noticed.
Sometimes you get lucky on FB and are able to save dogs like this bonded pair was saved!
But sadly, it is more common that users are scrolling right by your profiles.
That is why it is critical you showcase your adoptable dogs in their very best light.
It starts with a great adoption profile picture, but then it is the description that can make a big difference in whether a user clicks to learn more about a dog.
Below are some guidelines to help you write enticing dog adoption bios followed by some pretty creative examples!
How To Write A Dog Bio Example
I always recommend keeping dog adoption bios light and funny.
These usually ignite more interest and can help get a dog adopted quicker then a negative or boring description.
There are several options for creating a great bio:
- Write it from the dogs point of view. Let them tell their own story and share what makes them fun and awesome.
- Write it in the the 3rd person and talk about the dog while sharing their likes and dislikes.
- Create an interview style biography where you can interview the dog and share the questions with their responses.
The Opening Lines
The first few lines of any dog bio should be like an “intro” to a story.
It should be engaging, witty, possibly funny and entice people to want to learn more.
This may very well be the most important part of the bio, so crafting the perfect intro is worth the time!
Most of the time I will see a first line of a bio that reads something like:
“Hi, I am JoJo – a 2 year old spayed Beagle that is looking for a place to crash”.
Or maybe something like this:
“Jojo is a 2 year old spayed Beagle looking for a quiet home with lots of love to give.”
Do either of those excite you or make you want to click?
Yeah, me neither.
They are both bland and boring and do not make me want to learn more.
That opening line or 2 can make the difference in the exposure your adoptable pets receive so make them powerful.
Whether you decide to write it from the dog’s point of view or in the 3rd person, make it fun – and strong enough to want people to learn more.
Below are a couple of bio examples written in the first person.
This one might be great for an active dog who loves fetch, who wants to share their own story:
“Did you know that I have been considered a Frisbee champion for my mad fetch skills? If you love your Frisbee as much as I love mine, you should hit me up so we can be a champion team”
…another fun play is this one – for a dog that may be less active and more of a couch potato…
“I may not be winning any fetch awards, but I will definitely win over your heart with my mad snuggling skills. If a night of snack, snuggling and sitcoms is your thing – we may be a perfect match”.
Here are a few written in the third person.
This is a good example for a special needs dog:
“Callie’s eyes and ears may not be as strong as other dogs, but her heart sure is. If a 5 mile walk is your thing, Callie is all in and when she is done she will let you know she is ready for some snuggle time by jumping on the couch. She doesn’t realize she has needs – she just knows she is special. If snuggling, long walks and a little patience are your thing, she may be your perfect girl.”
…and here is one for a dog that may be a bit “attached” to their people…
“Wally is the neighborhood flirt who always wants to be the center of your world. He is always on the hunt for cuddles and snuggles and will be loyal – maybe too loyal as he can often be found in the bathroom with me. If a constantly wet ball is your thing, Wally can spend hours playing fetch in the yard – as long as you are by his side. A true best friend, Wally is waiting to see if you are his match so come on down and meet him.”
After the intro is written then you can start addressing the basics which should include:
- Age
- Weight
- Breed
- Special needs
- Disposition
- Type of home that they would be best for the dog
Below are some additional items to maximize your bios!
Keep Your Dog Bio Positive
Keep it positive! Even negative things about a dog can be turned around with a positive twist.
In this day and age with so much negativity going on, promoting a dog with a positive twist can make all the difference in drawing potential adopters in.
Below are some ways you can spin those “negatives” into positives.
1 | Dogs that should not be with small kids.
Not every dog should be with little kids – and that is fine.
But when you word like this “no kids under 12” or “no small children” it just sounds like they are aggressive or not friendly and that can be a big turn off.
Better bio options for dogs that should not be with small kids can be:
“I am a big dufus who can sometimes forget just how big I am and I would not want to mow down your little ones, so a home with adults or older kids might be best.”
Another option might be:
“I can be a little scared when too many people are jumping or running around me, and would love a home with older people so I can feel safe.”
2 | Dogs that are not good with other dogs or cats.
Instead of the traditional “not good with other dogs” or “not good with cats” there are a few ways it can be reworded to be more positive.
“Lulu would love to spend her nights snuggled up with just her people while getting belly rubs and giving kisses.”
Another possibility is:
“I can be a little frightful around other 4 legged critters but I am sure I am enough to keep you entertained and loved.”
Of course you will eventually tell a potential adopter about any issues that a dog may have in more detail before they adopt a dog, but starting out on a positive note can make the difference to closing the deal.
Dog Bio Examples
Now let’s look at some dog bio examples to help inspire you to write your own amazing adoption bios.
Most of these are funny dog bio examples that really make someone giggle!
You can also visit some of the pet adoption websites we recommend and spend some time reviewing their pet profiles to see what stands out for inspiration.
Prancer The Chihuahua
This one went viral – and for good reason.
Foster mom Tyganee Fortuna did an amazing job with this write up and took all his “not so desirable traits” and turned them into something down right hilarious.
The original post received over 72K shares the last time I checked and had over 51K reactions.
Not too shabby for a pet adoption post!
The best part is that Prancer did get adopted.
Why did this work so well?
Because it is honest and funny.
Prancer is a handful, we get this – but the funny side of his personality really shines through as well.
So you can envision him being quite the challenge to raise – but he may also be a boatload of fun as well.
It lets you know that he will require a certain home and thankfully he did in fact find it.
Eddie The Terrible
Ironically, also a chihuahua.
Am I sensing a theme here?
Eddie’s post also went viral back in 2014 for the awesome write up he had.
With phrases like “goes from zero to Cujo in .05 seconds” you know the bio is going to be good.
Similar to Prancer’s above, it does such a good job of showing his true personality but in a fun way.
The addition of some creative images emulating American Horror Story and A Nightmare on Elm Street really bring another element to a great description.
Eddie did get his happy ending as well being adopted by a self-proclaimed “reasonable-antisocial retired couple” – a perfect match.
Tinder Inspired Profiles From A Purposeful Rescue
A Purposeful Rescue, is located in CA and works hard to save the lives of dogs located at high kill shelters, many who would be considered hard to adopt.
They took a creative approach with their dog promotion by creating “Tinder” profile style bio.
These write-ups are so fun and perfect for those pooches that are single and ready to mingle.
Below is Sprout’s bio which focuses on how she was “married” and left high and dry.
She is a girl not looking for games and has no desire for children.
It is fun – and engaging!
And then there is Tato, an introverted home body who can be a little afraid of the great outdoors.
Would enjoy nothing more than some snuggles and meatballs.
Please Adopt Hank (this hellion)
This one goes a step further!
The foster mom of Hank created his own mini website to profile his uniqueness.
It uses a lot of cursing and makes Hank sound like one over-caffeinated psycho dog, in a really funny way.
“This dog is a Peloton coach after a triple espresso” is a classic and clearly shows he is not a dog for people like me, which would be a couch potato.
Another line I love is “he has so much energy, Governor Abbott called and and asked if we could plug the TX power grid into him.”
Seriously a funny dog bio.
Here is a quick video that shows him in his most natural light.
But you can see – even amongst all the creative writing that this dog is loved and will make a great buddy to someone!
And damn he is handsome!
Creating Eye Catching Social Images
Social is huge for pet adoptions so it is important to create imagery and text that makes an impact.
Eye catching images with witty bios are a great way to gain more exposure for your adoptable dogs.
Below are a few examples to inspire you to do something different to break through that crowded social stream.
Kole’s bio is a perfect example!
An adorable dog wearing his tie with a play on words about him showing up at work dressed “inappropriately” for casual Friday.
Belle’s bio offers creative typography that draws the eye in.
This style of social promo will require a great image to allow the text to shine though.
There are some overlays available on Etsy if you do not have someone who can offer this type of design for you.
These biographies work!
Even if they do not directly get a dog adopted, they help bring awareness to the rescue or shelters, which is priceless.
They help showcase rescues in a less “scary” light by bringing some humor to a not so funny issue.
Check out more animal rescue marketing inspiration here if you need inspiration!
Have you seen any other amazing dog biographies that shelters have done? Please let me know because I really want to add them to the list!
Thanks so much!!! I’m on my 4th foster and keep coming back to your article for inspiration on writing an eye-catching bio. It makes this tedious task way more fun. Of course, the best part is when the pup gets their forever home. Thanks for helping on their journey.
I appreciate this so much! After years of posting dogs for the rescue I work with, I’m out of creative ways of promoting our deserving dogs. Thank you SO much for this helpful article!
Emilie
Adoption Coordinator
Sato Heart Rescue