Luca

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Update 9/7/03:

Luca has been adopted into a wonderful home!

Original:

This boy was brought into Pet Adoption League in PA after being found running loose. He had been tied up to a shed and was not cared for properly. This boy has been sadly neglected. He came to us with a very badly matted coat that had to be clipped short. Lucas has hearing loss as well as some cloudiness in his eyes.

Luca has the basic skill of sitting for treats. He will need lots of socialization and training for basic commands. He does take food gently from a hand. He will hunt for food and has reached up to the countertop and on the kitchen table. He has a tendency to root out any delicacies he can find; including pantyhose, socks, sometimes shoes. He will constantly prowl around for something to chew even though he has been given many hard chew bones. He may startle if touched from behind and he doesn’t hear you coming. 

Luca gets along with the family’s Springer Spaniel as well as their children, ages 9, 7, and 4. Luca doesn’t really know how to play. We’re trying with a ball out in the yard, but he is more interested in sniffing out any squirrels or bunnies. He seems to do well with cats, he has been nose to nose with an outdoor cat in the neighborhood and didn’t seem to want to chase him. He also was at a PetsMart and he went right up to the cats in crates and just wagged his tail.

Luca will require special training because of hearing loss. Training should include hand signals. Luca should always be on a leash or in a fenced in area. He does not always respond to whistle, calling, etc. Sometimes he does seem to hear loud sounds – especially when his foster mother claps her hands loudly. He will follow you around, but remains independent, mostly due to being used to be tied up. He likes a crate and will go in to sleep without any prompt. Luca will bark for food/treats and will throw his head back almost like he has been used to having food thrown at him. 

Overall, Luca is a great dog. He is becoming more attentive for hugs and pets though remains independent. He doesn’t act at all like one would expect a 7-8 year old to do. He is very active. He is kind of like a toddler who must be followed around constantly!