Entered: 04/11/2018
Status: Adopted
Age: 5
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 60 lbs.
Gender: Altered Male
Location: Aston, PA
Health: UTD, HW-, slightly overweight
Temperament: Good with adults, reportedly good with children over six, may be better with female dogs, unknown with cats but reportedly has a high prey drive
Original: “He’s well-mannered, mumbles under his breath when happy, and will wag his short tail with just a little encouragement.”
When Nugget’s Virginia owner was diagnosed with brain cancer and could no longer care for this handsome guy, his children stepped in. However, since they all have full time jobs and multiple dogs of their own, they reached out to MAESSR to find Nugget the perfect new home.
His overall health is good except for being a bit overweight possibly since the owner wasn’t able to really give him exercise after last summer. His teeth are clean, ears are good and he’s had regular vet visits since he was a pup.
Nugget is good with all people and reportedly grew up around the owner’s seven year old grandchild. He can be reactive with some other dogs and will bark at dogs when he is being walked. In his foster home, he’s grumbled once or twice at the older resident male dog. His foster mom just leashed him and tethered him to a nearby railing. This was a few days after coming into foster care and having lost the person he’d known his whole life. Perhaps a bit of insecurity about having to share was on his mind. Nugget hasn’t been exposed to cats but his prior owner reported a high prey drive.
His foster mom isn’t sure if he has a signal to go out. Since there’s an older dog in the house who goes out frequently, Nugget is given plenty of opportunity to do his business. He prefers company in the fenced in yard after dark—it’s always good to have an escort. Usually he gets last call about 9:30 P.M. and goes out with the older dog at 7 A.M., although he probably doesn’t need such an early start. Fed with the other dogs at 7:30 in the morning and 6-ish in the evening, he is gated away from the residents. He’s not a quick eater, nor does he guard his food from humans, but since the other dogs eat slowly, get special treats to whet their appetites and Nugget could lose a few pounds, that procedure is just easier for the foster folks.
This well-mannered boy doesn’t dig, chew, jump the fence, submissively urinate, raid the trash or counter-surf. He does like to get on the sofa and will pout but go if told “off.” He had been used to sleeping in the owner’s bed and wanted to sleep in the bedroom at his foster home. However, he quietly settled the first night right outside the door and by night two, was sleeping under the breakfast nook table on a blanket.
Nugget is a smart dog that hasn’t had any formal training but knows “sit” and “paw” and somewhat “stay,” “come,” and “down.” Reportedly he was never crate trained but since he’s been 100% reliable with housetraining and respects a puppy gate, he has the roam of two rooms while the humans are away. He pulls a little on leash but soon settles down for a walk; however, he really cannot be trusted off leash. He loves car rides and grooming, including having his ears or feet handled. Since he is fully vetted, his foster family doesn’t know how he’d be at the vet, but reportedly he was fine. No separation anxiety at all out of this guy, although he puts his feet up on the low window sill and looks sad when the people go and is a happy wiggle-butt when they return.
Nugget enjoys chasing a ball for a short time, going for walks, and, in particular, snuggling. He also likes rushing after his hound foster sister when she senses “critters,” real or imagined, in the yard. He’s never been swimming. The new guy in the house goes with the flow, energy wise. If the resident hound scampers off to check something in the yard, he’ll follow at a more leisurely pace, just to make sure he doesn’t miss something. If his foster mom is working at home from her desk, he’ll be flopped two feet away on the hard floor or a small rug napping. If a leash is picked up, he’ll do a slow motion happy dance and be all set. Since his activity opportunities have been limited until recently, he’s starting slowly with ¼ mile jogs, or ½ mile walks. Neighborhood smells just make him happy.
Having grown up as an only dog, Nugget might prefer a family of his own but might also fit in just fine with a female buddy. He seems to like all the humans that he’s met so far in this new “situation.” He’s well-mannered, mumbles under his breath when happy, and will wag his short tail with just a little encouragement. He’s a beautiful dog on top of all that and is looking forward to finding his new forever home soon.