Entered: 08/31/2017
Status: Adopted
Age: 9
Color: Black/White
Weight: 75 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Dumfries, VA
Health: UTD, HW-, receiving joint supplements for arthritic front legs, deaf
Temperament: Good with people of all ages, good with other dogs, unknown with cats but probably would be fine
Original: “He is a gentle giant who is sooo sweet.”
When his owner died, Hank was relegated to a Virginia shelter. Shelter staff contacted MAESSR to help this sweet senior find a new home.
Arriving in his foster home, Hank was in poor shape but now he is on the mend. Although he limps on his front right leg due to arthritis, he has been on a glucosamine joint supplement which has helped him. He will continue with this treatment for the rest of his life. His vet visit included an X-ray which confirmed the arthritis diagnosis. Despite this and his deafness, Hank is in good health. A good boy at the groomer and for his nail trim at the vet, Hank doesn’t mind being touched anywhere and he takes oral meds like a pro!
Hank is a gentle giant who is sooo sweet. His lovely temperament makes him good with other dogs and kids. His foster mom believes he could handle even young children because if they bothered him, Hank would just stand up and move away. Being deaf, the noise of young children would not bother him. Although he has not had contact with cats while in foster care, foster mom believes he would be fine since a cat could move more quickly than he can. He is so gentle that his foster mom can put her hand in his mouth and touch him anywhere. He has had no formal training but is quick to learn even though he is deaf.
Hank has the run of the house and is not crated. He is housetrained, and does not chew or counter-surf or get on furniture. He does not go upstairs to the bedrooms but sleeps on his doggie bed in the family room. He walks well on the leash and rides well in the car. He waits patiently until he is shown the leash and then he happily gets up and goes for a trip outside. He also sits politely before receiving a treat. These are two things he learned in a week at his foster home! He can be indoors all day without a bathroom accident. Hank wants to be indoors and will lie contentedly next to his people. His big head looks up adoringly waiting for a hug or kiss. What a love!
Still playful at nine, this senior loves to play with a ball and he will bring it back to his person one or two times then he is off to play by himself. Hank is a low energy boy who does not bark, loves sleeping and enjoys taking walks. Hank will go and wade in the water of a nearby stream but has not shown any inclination to swim. He likes to run in the fields with a dog friend on his foster parents’ farm but if no one is going to run around with him, he will just lie down and rest.
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Hank would make a great family dog. This healthy, gentle, and smart boy does not require a lot of exercise and care; he just wants to be loved by the family. He would also make a wonderful companion dog for someone with little space and needs a quiet dog.