Pete

---

Original:

When his Pennsylvania owner decided to get out of the breeding business, Pete ended up in MAESSR’s care. He had lived as an outside dog his entire life with very little human interaction. Pete’s introduction to foster care was no doubt a whirlwind of new experiences for him, starting with what was likely his first journey of several hours in the car. 

Pete spent his first few days in foster care changing locations between his crate in the bedroom, and his favorite spot behind the shed in the backyard. He is gradually getting bolder, and his foster parents have “caught” him exploring the other rooms in the house when he doesn’t think anyone is watching him. Since he was not used to being indoors, his housetraining needed a little work. Otherwise, Pete has excellent manners – no counter-surfing, trash diving, or attempts to get on furniture. He does not know any commands, although he can be lured into a “sit” position with a treat. Because he was so submissive and fearful when he entered foster care, Pete’s foster parents have been rewarding any interaction that he has with them, and not asking for any other behaviors. 

During his first trip to the vet, Pete was an outstanding patient. He was poked and prodded, received three vaccinations had his blood drawn for a heartworm test, and got his nails clipped! Through it all, Pete lay quietly on the exam table. The vet said she wished all her patients were so well-behaved! A few days later, Pete went to the groomer for a bath and a haircut. She reported that he was a little head shy and timid, but he still got an A+ for his sweet temperament. He arrived home looking and feeling much better without all that extra hair.

As a former outdoor dog, Pete is clearly more comfortable outside. There, he approaches his foster parents readily for attention, and is happy to rest his big, beautiful head in a lap for some petting and ear rubs. One of the first signs of personality his foster parents saw from Pete was when he gleefully chased their indoor/outdoor cat over the fence in the backyard! Once she was on the other side, he went toward the other cat in the yard to attempt the same thing. That kitty hissed and batted at him, and he backed away quickly. At that point, his canine foster sister approached him with a play bow, as if to say “Quit bothering those cats and come play with me!” Unfortunately, Pete is not yet interested in canine play behaviors, and retreated to a grassy area to lie down. 

Pete is quickly becoming more comfortable with the hustle and bustle of everyday household life. At first, he thought his foster home just consisted of a long hallway that connected the outdoors and the bedroom where he liked to sleep in his crate. He recently discovered the dining room, family room, den and his favorite, the kitchen! Who knew that when that wonderful giant box opened and released cold air there would be some tasty morsels inside? Initially startled by the sound of the dryer door closing or the dishwasher starting, Pete has now stopped avoiding those areas of the house. He is also learning that with three cats and four dogs, his foster mom is going to have to use the vacuum on a daily basis, but it poses no threat to his safety. The other day, Pete decided that getting his ears rubbed by his foster mom while she watched TV was worth the trip to the family room. Big progress for this shy boy!

Pete rides nicely in the car whether he is crated or not. He also does well being crated at night and when his foster parents are away. They have not heard a single peep from Pete while he is in his crate. He appreciates having a safe space to call his own, and will go there when he is nervous about something or needs a break. Right now, Pete appears to be a very mellow boy, but this may change as he gets increasingly comfortable with his new surroundings. It won’t be long until Pete is ready for a forever family to welcome him into their hearts and home!