Entered: 11/12/2016
Status: Adopted
Age: 4
Color: Black/White
Weight: 55 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Shady Side, MD
Health: UTD, HW-, overall good health
Temperament: Good with adults and very young children, nervous with/afraid of school aged children, good with other dogs although he may growl initially, has learned not to chase cats
Original: “Auggie sleeps with his foster folks at night, but during the day, the couch is his favorite sleeping spot and he’ll jump over it to celebrate his folks’ arrival.”
Auggie was found in a Maryland shelter and was particularly afraid of being touched by humans. He would freeze, cower, and shiver. His foster family found what a sweet yet shy guy he was and learned from a shelter volunteer that he was much friendlier in a home environment and followed her dogs around with confidence. This loving MAESSR family felt they could offer him a space to overcome his fears and increase his chances of adoption.
Auggie’s biggest obstacle is always fear, but patiently applied desensitization techniques have helped him expand his confidence. He bonds deeply to one person and then slowly adapts to others. He relies heavily on leadership from other pets in his foster home. He cannot tolerate being scolded or punished in any way and is very sensitive to anger. He hesitates to comply for food and is nervous around that treat.
This handsome guy is housetrained to a dog door but does not seem to signal when he has to go out. He is not crate trained and should not be crated. During the day, he is kept in the house’s living area with access to the dog door. He is able to open lever doors, cabinets, and trash cans, so his living space needs to be completely Auggie-proofed. He has an affinity for all edibles, but also a special desire for chocolate—not a good thing, Auggie!
This love’s house manners are a work in progress. He doesn’t understand that barking outside after sundown, counter-surfing, trash diving and puppy-like chewing inappropriately are unacceptable behaviors. Auggie sleeps with his foster folks at night, but during the day, the couch is his favorite sleeping spot and he’ll jump over it to celebrate his folks’ arrival.
Auggie knows “come, “sit,” and “stay.” He is a good walker, does not pull and enjoys hiking, but really loves running the property off lead. He rides well in the car and, while scared, was not aggressive at the groomer and vet. He is compliant with having his nails cut and ears cleaned once trust in his person was established
Rawhide, stuffed toys and new discoveries are great fun for Auggie. He plays with his foster siblings, engages the puppy in games, and follows the older dog’s lead as a way to gain confidence. He loves to be active but does enjoy relaxation afterwards. When meeting other dogs, this guy sometimes is scared and tries to run away; other times, he jumps up in curiosity. He has not shared why he does one instead of the other. No resource guarding of toys or food for this handsome lad.
This fellow is building his confidence level and will need a home where folks will take him on long walks to an off-leash area. He would also like to have a neutral sibling to copy and with whom to bond. He’ll warm up to dog-savvy kids and cats, but needs an owner/family who will give him time to adjust and understand that he is very sensitive and needs reassurance.