Raya
FEMALE | BORN APPROX JAN 2025 | WHIPPET X
LOCATED IN AUCKLAND
Meet Raya
Raya is proof that sometimes the best things really do take time.
She is a shy, sensitive girl who is still learning that the world isn’t quite as scary as she once thought. New people, new places and new experiences can take a little time for Raya to process — but put a confident dog beside her, and her whole world changes.
Raya absolutely blossoms around other dogs.
A confident canine friend gives her reassurance, helps her navigate unfamiliar situations and brings out the happy, playful girl hiding underneath those nerves. Because of this, Raya must be adopted into a home with another confident, well-adjusted dog who can continue showing her the ropes.
And once Raya feels safe? That’s when you get to meet the real her.
There are zoomies. There is silliness. There is enthusiastic cardboard destruction. There’s a cheeky, playful girl who starts to forget she was ever supposed to be nervous in the first place.
She’s even recently added restaurant dog to her résumé! With the support she needed around her, Raya handled the experience incredibly well — a huge milestone for a dog who has had to work so hard to build her confidence.
Raya has already come leaps and bounds since arriving in our care, but we want to be very clear that her confidence-building journey isn’t finished yet. She still needs a lot of support, patience and positive experiences to help her continue moving forward.
Her ideal people will be dog-savvy and, ideally, have experience with nervous or less confident dogs. They’ll understand that Raya may not walk through the door and immediately behave like she’s lived there forever. They won’t rush her or expect too much too soon. Instead, they’ll celebrate the little wins, give her the time she needs and understand just how rewarding it is when a dog like Raya decides she feels safe with you.
Because of her sensitive nature, Raya is not suitable for a home with young children.
RAYA'S MUST-HAVES
🐾 Another confident dog in the home
🐾 Dog-savvy, patient people
🐾 No young children
🐾 A family committed to continuing her confidence building
🐾 Plenty of time to settle in at her own pace
🐾 An appreciation for zoomies and sacrificed cardboard boxes
And we have to give a massive shout-out to Raya’s foster family, who have been putting in the hard yards to help her get this far. The progress she has made is a reflection of an enormous amount of patience, consistency and love.
Raya isn't looking for someone who expects an instant best friend.
She’s looking for someone who understands that trust is something you build.
Someone who knows progress isn’t always a straight line.
Someone who can give her the confident canine friend she relies on and continue showing her that the world can be a pretty great place.
Give Raya the time she needs, and you might just get the privilege of watching a nervous little dog become the happiest version of herself.
Good things take time. Raya is one of them.
Further Info
Good with dogs: Yes
Good with cats: No
Good with other animals: No
Good with kids: No
Energy Levels: Med
Home Experience Level: Experience needed
Health: Healthy
Weight: Medium dog
A Note on Training and Adopting Our Dogs
Our dogs are wonderful, and we invest a great deal of time and effort into their training and preparation. However, no dog is “perfectly trained” or ready to adopt without any ongoing work.
All dogs go through normal life stages and changes — puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood, aging, moving homes, and adapting to new environments. Any of these can lead to stress, uncertainty, or moments of testing boundaries.
Because of this, ongoing training is essential. Training isn’t a one-off task; it’s a continual process that helps you understand your dog’s needs, support them through transitions, and set everyone up for long-term success.
We would expect adopters to maintain the training we’ve started and seek further guidance if needed. We’re always happy to help with information and recommendations for trainers, and provide advice during the trial and adoption process also.
Can't adopt Raya? You can still help.
Although we charge a small adoption fee, this doesn't generally cover the costs of us getting our dogs ready for adoption. Desexing, grooms, vet care, vaccinations, registration, training and variety of other things can go into these dogs. If you'd like to help either on a one off or regular basis we would be grateful for your donation.
