Duke

Very high energy and very smart, that’s me! Plus, I’m one-year old, which adds to my enthusiasm for activity. If you’re looking for a dog to sit and relax with most of the day, that’s not going to be me. My forever family will need to be active people in order for us to dwell happily ever after.

Once my energy has been expended, my foster mom describes me as “sweet, appreciative of petting, and quite snuggly.”

A day in my life in my foster home starts with exercise. A brisk morning walk is one form of activity.  I pull just a bit ‘cause I’m so excited, but I’m good with the leash. Foster mom thinks swimming is an excellent form of activity for me. Man, I come home from swimming and I’m “out for the count!” Throughout the day, it’s good for me to have the opportunity to investigate in the backyard and/or play chase or tug with toys inside. My furry siblings and I play together. Sometimes mom will throw a ball or a toy, we’ll chase it down, grab it and play tug together. Squeaky toys are fun, and I really enjoy the snuffle mat mom bought just for me! If I’ve had plenty of physical activity, the afternoon means siesta time with my brother and sister.

I was 10-months old when I was rescued by As Good as Gold. My foster mom and the AGaG support team noticed that I showed some fear in the beginning. I’d run straight to my crate when I’d come in from being outdoors and seemed fearful. I feel less afraid now. And I’ve learned “doggie ways” from my furry foster siblings.

Foster mom and the As Good as Gold team have been helping me to reach this point. In addition to physical activity, the vet gave me medication that helps me to focus and calm down a notch. I’ll be taking this until I become perfectly confident in my surroundings.  Foster mom said this is not an expensive medication, less than $10 for two months. I don’t have any money, so I don’t quite get this. I do get “paid” with treats for doing a good job. Training has helped me immensely; this is often where the treats come in and why I now can play more calmly with my furry siblings. If I get too excited, foster mom calls, “Touch!” Woah! To me, touch means “treat”! I come over to her, touch her hand with my nose and voila, a treat is dispensed! I also know the word, “settle,” and am getting much better at it. Training is rewarding too because I can see that foster dad and mom are so proud of me. Dad taught me to roll over in 15 minutes!

Some requisites for my forever home:

• A fenced yard. I don’t have one now and mom thinks I’d be thrilled to have a yard in which to run freely.
• To be the only dog or have another dog who wouldn’t be overwhelmed with my energy. On occasion, I can be mouthy—not mean, just a serious “rough and tumbler!” My owner will need to be patient and understand dog body language.
• Training classes to increase my confidence and keep me busy. Agility training might be just the ticket!
• Older children in the home would be preferable to youngsters.

Additionally:

• If I were the only dog in the house, chew bones or toys might keep me engaged for a while. A second dog would make this more difficult as I might resource guard.
• My foster family has a cat, and we get along just fine.
• When left alone in the house, my siblings and I respect our home and don’t touch a thing.
• At first, I was afraid to go upstairs, but now I head upstairs at night and comfortably sleep with the family.

Foster mom says that I’m “blossoming as a companion.” She describes me as “a love,” and says I could become “someone’s really good dog,” I just hope to find that special someone.