Update on Buddy - 9/10/10

Buddy is a smart dog. He knows sit, stay, come, and wait. Sometimes his excitement gets the best of him and he gets a little attention deficit though. For example, we have been working on making him calm down, sit, and stay before he walks out a door. It sometimes takes a good 5-10 minutes to get him over the excitement. The good thing about Buddy is that once he calms down, he is a loveable snuggly dog! Plus he is very food motivated. His food of choice is baby carrots. Just dangle a bag of carrots in front of him, and he instantly switches into command mode and will whip out all the tricks he knows; whatever he can do to get his paws on a carrot! He will sit and high five. 

He has his bursts of energy and silliness, but then he calms down. He is a great car rider and rides co-pilot no problem. When he gets bored of the front, he’ll climb in the back and lay down for a nap.

A pinch collar is suggested with Buddy when you go out to walk because he is a strong boy, and you need something to snap his focus back. He does great in a crate, and loves blankets. So he could probably sleep wherever. Right now, we have reinforced that he is not to go up on furniture, just in case he goes to a home that doesn’t want him hanging out on the couches.

He’s very curious about other dogs, and wants to play with them. We’ve had him at adoption events with at least thirty different dogs and he’s not met one he doesn’t like. He is a little high energy though, so in terms of off-leash play dates with other dogs, they would probably have to match his energy and play style. An older dog may just get annoyed at his persistent will to play, play, play.

If you’re outside in the yard with Buddy, he will stay in the yard and hang with you. But he has figured out that he can hop a four foot fence (chain link or privacy fence). Ideally we would recommend him for a home with a six foot privacy fence, or a home that is willing to use a tie-out for when he is outside. However, he really is fine being in the yard as long as you are out there with him. The only time he has hopped the fence is when he’s at the kennel and hears another dog on the other side of the fence beckoning him to play. He just wants to see what’s going on, say hello, visit with the other dogs. He then comes back to his original yard. No altercations or problems – just curiosity because he wants to say “Hi – I’m buddy!” 

Buddy is a very sweet, affectionate boy who likes to be talked to.  He does have a sensitive side when other dogs bark at him - seems like he can't figure out why they are doing that when all he is doing is saying Hi so he does look for reassurance from whoever is on the other end of the leash or nearby. He is very submissive as well. 

He's a GREAT dog.  Put in a home with someone that loves, understands and works with him, he can be someone's dog of a lifetime.

Buddy wandered into one of our volunteers yard with his little friend Star.  He is a handsome guy with unique markings.  He is currently living with a cat and other dogs and does fine. He loves to play and be petted.  He weighs about 45 pounds and is an american bulldog/terrier mix, but he is a friendly boy who just needs to have a home where they won't let him wander around where he could get hurt.

11/29/2010: His adoption fee is usually $175, but to get home sooner, we are accepting $100.