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EDIT 2017: Thank you so much for the wonderful support! This post has gotten over 190 favorites which is just absolutely amazing. I wrote this when I was 15/16 and although my advice is the same, I feel like I can add more info for people who are using this guide. Because of this, I am going to tweak this post to be more informative, I hope you enjoy!

Before I begin:
What is a furry?
"Someone who says they are furry is generally expressing an interest in anthropomorphic animals and/or creatures (and perhaps some affiliation to furry fandom ). They may express that that interest in a variety of ways - through art and stories through to roleplay and performance. How deep or meaningful an interest in Furry is varies greatly from person to person." - Wikifur

What is a fursona?
"A fursona (pl. fursonas, rarely furson/fursonae), derived from the terms furry and persona, is someones avatar or identity in the furry community." - Wikifur

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Hello everyone, and welcome to Ruffimutt’s official fursona guide! A lot of people have trouble making a fursona! So, I decided I might as well help!

Although it’s called a 'fursona' you can have any sort of organism as your fursona! Ranging from an ant to a dragon, and even hybrids!

First thing you gotta do is pick an animal! I recommend picking an animal that matches your personality! here is just some examples:

bubbly, always happy - toy breed dog, panda or bird

shy and sweet - any animal that is a pet, and sloth
Nice unless threatened; very loyal - bear, bee, wolf, cat, and guard dog.
Jokester- fox, pug or ape/monkey.
Always angry - chimp, Tasmanian devil, cat and badger.

Feel free to pick ones that are not on the list!

Very common fursona species: Dragon, Fox, and Dogs.

Next thing is the most important; design! First pick out some colors, maybe your favorites, colors you wear or colors that represent you! Try to avoid a plain fursona, there might be a fursona that already looks like yours! Don't make it too flashy however!

Cliché color patterns: Red and Black, white and red, etc.

Design Tips:

*If you put rainbow(s) on your fursona, only make a maximum of 3 parts rainbow, avoid using a all rainbow body.

*Add accessories to your fursona! This includes: headphones, glasses, scarf, hat, etc! Not too many though!
*I used to have a suggestion on here that said making a fursona with a commercial species (Pokemon, Ottsel, etc.) shouldn't be done as that's more of an oc or different sona than a fursona. However, I want to make it clear that's just more of my personal opinion and you are totally free to do that if you wish, no one will judge you for it!
*Do not make your fursona OP (Over-Powered) meaning that they are the most special and amazing fursona ever and are better than anyone else.

* It is ok to include your disability or quirks into your fursona! If you are missing an arm, it is ok to make a one-armed fursona! You can also add quirks just for fun, but if you add some very unique quirks it's best if the rest of the design is conservative.

* You can add wings or other unrealistic things to your sona, it's up to you!

For furries under the age of 18: Although the stereotypes of the fandom are generally incorrect, you should still avoid making your fursona sexually appealing (aka big boobs, abs, etc) as this can attract the perverts of the fandom. I recommend using the same body type as your own.

Try not to make your fursona have powers its species wouldn't normally have. You can, however, choose your fursona to have unnatural colors, markings, which was stated in the design section of this journal.

If you are a minor, your first sona is likely to change over the years just like you do! If you feel like your sona is no longer like you, you can redesign it or simply make a new one!

Third thing you have to do, is decide who is your fursona? Is it just like you or different? Whats its sexuality? What gender is it? What does it like and dislike? Write down any differences you might need to remember!

Fourth thing is if you haven't already, decide what you're using your fursona for! If you are using it for art, like most people in the furry fandom, you should draw out a reference of your character! You should take your time with your characters reference, it should at least take you a hour to make, even if you use a base!

Also tell people what they can and can't do with your fursona! You don't want some pervert eyeing your fursona! For example, I allow people to draw my fursona as long as they credit and the art is SFW!

Now the last step is to name your fursona! It doesn't really matter what name you pick!

Try to give it a name that related to its personality or design! If you have trouble picking a name, pick an adjective that represents your personality and looks through the thesaurus to choose your favorite!

**please note your fursona DOESNT have to be like this, this is just something to help!

FAQ

Can I make a fursona that is more like who I want to be or the polar opposite of me?
Absolutely! Just remember that the basis of a fursona is something that represents you.

Can I make a fursona that is an unrealistic hybrid?
Of course! Thats the fun of making a sona, the possibilities are endless!

What if I can not draw, is it ok to use a base?
If you can not draw your fursona, you can use a F2U (free to use) base, just search on deviantart free (insert species here) bases!

Can I use a Mythical animal as my fursona?
Yes! There are no limits to what your fursona can be!

Can I make my own species and have it as my fursona?
Yes, although making a species requires a lot of additional information. You can also use someones open species to make your fursona, or ask to use a closed species! Personally, I prefer when fursona's are not original species but it's up to you!

Can I make more than one fursona?
Yes, in fact most furries actually have more than one! However, most furs have one that they use the most, similar to their own mascot of sorts. any fursona that is based on you but you barely use it, that is a secondary sona!

RESOURCES
species list: Pick a species and browse to find your spirit animal!
Wild Dog species: tinyurl.com/yady5rql
Dog Breeds: dogtime.com/dog-breeds/profile…
Small Wild Cat species: tinyurl.com/y9kb7w5j
Big cat species: tinyurl.com/y9kb7w5j
Cat Breeds: www.petmd.com/cat/breeds
Bird lists: www.birdphotography.com/index.…
Moths and Butterflies: www.britannica.com/topic/list-…
Mythical Creatures: www.lizaphoenix.com/encycloped…
Bear species: www.bioexpedition.com/bear/typ…
Snake species: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_…

OC info: helpful info involving OC
Example of a bad OC: tinyurl.com/yao5yyka
Bases: www.deviantart.com/darelated/d…

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