Tessa

---

Original:

Tessa needs a new home because her family is moving so they can provide in-home care for a partially paralyzed elderly relative. They are going from 5 acres in the country to 1/3 acre in town, and health care professionals will be visiting the house daily. It is a heartbreaking decision for everyone.

Tessa is housebroken. She has been through one session of obedience and knows all her basic commands. She will come to a whistle, and gives her paw to shake. She pulls a little on the leash. Tessa is not much of a barker, except when cyclists pass by her yard. She only chews on rawhides and pig ears. She doesn’t usually dig, but has been known to if she smells a mouse. If you’re digging holes, she’s glad to help. And watch out if you’re cleaning up autumn leaves, Tessa can’t resist jumping in a pile! Her family’s property is not fenced, but Tessa respects the boundaries. She has not been formally trained off-leash.

Tessa has full run of the house, and sleeps/snores in her owner’s bedroom. In the morning, she’ll run from one side of the bed to the other as if to say,Get up!, but will not jump up. The furniture has been off-limits. She was crate trained, but hasn’t been crated since she was one. Her current family believes Tessa will easily adjust to her adoptive family’s schedule.

Tessa is playful with other dogs and friendly with people. She will jump on people to greet them. Her early years were spent with a teenager. The family’s 7mo. & 2yr old grandchildren come for weeklong visits, and Tessa allows the kids to crawl all over her. She’s fine with cats, Tessa has been known to mother kittens, and will step in to mediate between fussing cats in her own household. She is not food aggressive, and even lets the cats eat out of her bowl. She will catch, but not hurt, mice. Unfortunately for the mice, she gives them to the cats. Tessa ignores birds, squirrels, and rabbits. She was fascinated by a garter snake once, and will lunge at frogs to make them jump.

Last summer, Tessa’s home was hit by lightning. Ever since, she’s been scared of thunder. If she’s outside, she wants to come in and be close to her people. She doesn’t freak out, but she becomes distressed.

Tessa is good for the groomer, and behaves in the tub. She has no issues with her paws or ears being handled. She absolutely loves to play Frisbee. She’ll fetch balls, but sometimes plays keep away. Squeaky toys are quickly shredded, and the squeaker pulled out. She’s been swimming in both a creek and kiddie pool. She’s all muscle from running around outside. Even in the winter, she has fun playing in the snow, and like a little kid, doesn’t want to come in!

Can you give Tessa a new forever home?