BuddyBoy-adopted!!

Update 6/25/08: Buddy Boy is available! Buddy is doing very well in foster care. He has learned sit and will sit on command the majority of the times he is asked. He is very treat oriented and it doesn't matter what that treat is. Although still somewhat possessive over toys with the resident dog he will allow his 10-month-old foster siblings to take away his toys. He is fed separately from the resident dog to prevent him from eat her food as well as his own. If you ask Buddy he will tell you he's starving although he's at a very good weight.

Buddy is 23" at the top of his shoulders so he is a little large. He can be somewhat clumsy - like most big dogs with matching feet - so he needs to be supervised with children but overall he's very good with the children he's met.

Today Buddy went for a walk with his foster dad and the resident dog. Although he pulls a little on the leash he improves drastically with a gentle leader headcollar. He is so intent and focused on his walks that cars going by with little dogs yipping barely attract his attention.

Sadly, Buddy would be best in a home without cats. Occasionally Buddy will see cats and ignore them but more often he will lunge at them. Whether this is a game or not his foster mom isn't sure but it's best to err on the side of caution and he is mostly kept separated from the cats.

Update 6/17/08: Hi everyone! My name is Buddy Boy but my foster family just calls me Buddy. I know my name, as well as "no", "leave it" and "sit". I worked really hard with my foster mom for a week so I could go to the fifth class in a six class obedience course and the trainer praised me and said I was a very nice dog! I was very excited at first to see all the other dogs but then I was fitted with a gentle leader head collar and did very well. I went over some of the agility equipment, practiced sit, sit stay, heel and come. It was such a great experience I would love to do it again with my forever family!

I am black with white on my face and paws. Because I am part Labrador Retriever I am a reasonably tall dog. At first my foster mom wanted me to go into a large regular plastic crate but I wasn't comfortable in the closed space. Then she put me into a wire crate with a nice pad and I'm much happier and will go in there on the command "in your house".

There are two babies in my foster family and boy are they noisy! They crawl all over the floor (and me if my foster mom can't catch them in time!) and seem to like my toys better than theirs. That works out because I like their toys too! But my foster mom is kind of strict and takes the baby toys away from me and gives me a nice Nylabone to chew on. That's okay though, because even if one of the babies takes my toy away from me while I'm playing with it I know my foster mom will get it back for me. My foster mom praises me all the time for my outstanding patience for the two babies.

Because I've gotten the hang of this house training thing, I have only spent one night in my crate. All the other nights I've slept on the floor in my foster mom's room with the other dog. She is a little smaller than me, playful and submissive, so we get along all right as long as she doesn't get too rambunctious! I am very mature for my age and have lower energy needs than she does. I think I'll have to make my decisions about new dog friends on a case by case basis, however, because I do like to be the boss.

I love going for walks on a loose leash, fetching tennis balls and going for rides in the car. I don't find squirrels and small animals interesting and I am VERY pack oriented. I don't like being by myself if I can be with my family! I am very smart and learn quickly but I do have just a teensy bit of a stubborn independent side that comes out if I don't feel like doing what you're asking me for. I would LOVE a new home with a calm assertive pack leader!

Update 6/9/08: After a few days in his new foster home Buddy has made a couple of key discoveries: he's realized that toys don't go away and that he will be fed regularly. His protective urges, particularly regarding his supper dish, have vanished as predicted and he is playing well with the resident dog.

Buddy is a very intelligent pup who learns very quickly. He's starting to figure out sit, stay and down. He is treat motivated and occasionally has selective hearing but is overall an excellent companion dog and very friendly.

Although NO dog (no matter how sweet) should ever be left unsupervised with a child Buddy has shown himself to be incredibly patient with his foster family's two small infants. The babies are able to crawl to him, around him, and occasionally on him, and he takes it all in stride.

Buddy is slightly larger than a large crate so he spents the majority of his time loose in the house. Every night he has been allowed to sleep in his foster parents' bedroom on the floor near the resident dog and there have been no accidents or problems. Overall he's a wonderful dog who will make a great addition for some lucky family!

UPDATE 6/6/08: Here's Buddy Boy! He's so relieved he made it north and found a foster home. It wasn't looking so great for him for a while, since our partner shelter is desperately crowded.

Buddy is feeling pretty laid back right now as he adjusts into his foster home. The hot weather and the stress from the trip have him pretty tired, but once he adjusts his energy level should bounce back to normal. Buddy is probably a medium energy dog. He's interested in tennis balls and squeaky toys.

Buddy is housebroken, but does not appear to be crate trained. Because of his EXCELLENT behavior he was allowed to remain outside of his crate his first night and did very well. As long as he was allowed to be in whatever room the humans were in, Buddy was content to curl up and nap on the floor.

Buddy's foster mom is working on same basic obedience training. Right now he's learning about walking on a leash.

Buddy did get possessive of his toys this weekend. This is normal at this stage for a rescue dog who has most likely never had a toy. Otherwise Buddy and the resident dog are enjoying one another's company. He thinks it's fun to have a friend.

Notes from our partner shelter in Arkansas: Urgent: Buddy Boy has lost his foster home in Arkansas and is now considered Urgent, as the shelter is FULL. He is approximately 50 LBS at this time.

4/25/08: Buddy Boy is a sweet puppy with an expressive face and ears and an easy smile. He loves to play with the dogs and kids (age 9 and 11) in his foster home. He's good at fetch, although he likes to romp and chase, too.

Buddy Boy was found stuck outside in one of the most violent storms of the season, soaking wet, scared and abandoned. He was fortunate to find a temporary foster placement in Arkansas, but he cannot remain there indefinitely. Once his time is up, he will be sent to a high kill shelter, and his odds there as a black mutt are grim.

Buddy Boy's foster mother reports that Buddy Boy can sit, stay, lie down and come on command. He also knows the word "no." Buddy Boy walks well on a leash, although he is still a bit apprehensive about on coming cars. He is also afraid of thunder storms, which is understandable considering he was stuck outside during one of the worst ones Arkansas has seen in years. He needs calm reassurance when the sky starts to darken and rumble.

Buddy Boy loves playing with toys (something he'd never have in a shelter!) and hanging out with people. He likes to know where all the family members are, and he makes little rounds to check that everyone is accounted for. At first Buddy Boy spent nights in his crate, but now he sleeps, without any problems, on the loose in the house.

When he's wiped out from running and playing, Buddy Boy likes to catch a quick nap, either close to the people or wedged onto the resident dog's bed.

Buddy Boy is approximately 4 - 4 1/2 months old in these pictures taken March 8, 2008. That would make him about 5 1/2 months old now. If you're looking for a young, happy go lucky friend, please consider saving Buddy Boy from an unhappy ending that's all too common for black puppies in the South.