Demi

Living successfully in a foster home for 3 months. Has lived in 3 different foster homes, all with dog experience. Successful integration in a home with small dogs, similarly sized dogs, and large dogs of both sexes. All foster homes have been two adult homes and report that this dog can be left home alone, and be crated.This dog had a successful adoption meet with an adult female and her adult daughter, with slow introduction at the foster's home. Foster reported that this dog was still initially skittish upon approach, but instructed the adopter sit on the couch and to ignore her while interacting with the confident resident dg. After 15-20 minutes, this dog was sitting on the couch with the potential adopters allowing gentle petting on her back and accepting treats.Changing to yellow level handling. Best placement for this dog would be in a multi-dog home, where confident resident dogs can model behavior.

Has been in a foster home for 2 weeks with a staff member. This dog lives with two adults, and a resident female pitbull.Foster reports that this dog is mostly housetrained, sleeps in a crate overnight and can be crated during a work day.This dog is described as low energy, skittish to humans approaching, spooks and tries to run away from loud sounds. Has not shown affiliative behaviors (like coming over for petting or comes when called) but will follow the resident dog around the home. Stays close to the resident dog, tries to go into the crate with the resident dog. Foster is able to manage this dog in the home by using the resident dog as a "helper dog" when needing to walk this dog, go outside for potty breaks, etc. Tolerates being handled all over, but will run away or into her crate. Foster can have this dog loose in their home, but keeps a drag leash on when doing outside to potty in a fenced in yard. Foster parent noted that this dog will whine, cry, and paw at the crate when separated from the resident dog so the foster parent keeps her in the same room as the resident dog.Foster recommends a quiet home with another social resident dog. Adopters should be counseled on giving this dog her space, to not force interaction or experiences beyond what this dog is able to comfortably handle. Given that this dog has shown to run away from humans, adopters should be counseled to always have this dog tethered securely in their car when going home, keeping a drag leash on around the home until this dog is comfortable. Adopter should be advised to seek out a qualified positive reinforcement trainer or behavior consultant.

Demi has been in foster for ~3.5 days in a two-adult home and is currently working on housetraining, with a couple of overnight accidents noted; she has been using indoor sod for elimination but has not used pee pads. She spends much of her time resting in a chosen bx00safe spacebx00 under a desk and may retreat there after outings, though she has begun taking treats directly. On leash she walks with a loose leash, occasionally pausing but continuing after a moment, and is gradually becoming more comfortable with the routine. She shows calm, observant behavior around other dogs, passing them without pulling or avoiding, and generally ignores people on walks. She has not begun training cues yet as she is still adjusting to the environment. The foster recommends a quiet, patient home without children and an experienced adopter to support her continued adjustment and confidence building.

Background:B owner surrender of group of 5 dogs. Dogs have priorly been living in basement and provided with food/water, but limited human interaction. Dogs were said to be getting into scuffles at home. Blue dot at intake d/t not walking on leash

O: Lying in kennel on approach during early interactions, huddles next to other dog. Dog is now in a PG ward and crew volunteers have been working with her. Dog will now stand at front of kennel. Allows leashing but may exit slowly. Walks best following another dog on leash, and walks with starts and stops. Will follow familiar handler(s), allows all over touch of body and face. Allows carrying. Still will pancake on leash at times. No interest in treats or toys currently. Entered the kennel w/o issues.

A: Apparently undersocialized/shy young adult, hard to assess in shelter. Slowly improving with frequent, consistent socialization and PG.

P: Potential adopters should understand dog is extremely undersocialized and have a lot of experience with shy dogs, may do okay in a home with another gentle, confident dog or as a solo dog. Unlikely to be a fit for a home with young children or in a very busy environment.

S: Dog-dog evaluation with a male and female tester dog. Tester dogs selected due to their ability to politely greet and not escalate conflict.B

O: Dog carried into the catch pen. Stood still and sniffed the male tester briefly. Hunched over. Carried into the yard. Dog stayed hunched over as the male approached and sniffed her. Ears up and back, soft eyes as she looked around as he sniffed her. Dog never moved as the tester approached and walked away several times.

A: Independent, Low Energy, Low Contact, Neutral Social Dynamic, no Corrections or Conflict observed, Playgroup Size 2-3.

P: Recommend placement with appropriately matched dogs, or placed as a solo dog with appropriate dog friends.

Sweet Demi has come such a long way from the days when she was living in a basement. Initially under-socialized, she's spent time with a few fosters who let her come out of her shell on her own terms.

Patience is key with the shy ones. And Demi learned to trust her foster families. At home, she's been an absolutely easy foster - quiet, potty trained, crate trained and can be left home alone. She stays close to her foster siblings in and out of the house.

Demi is 3 years old and 36 pounds. She'll need a patient and experienced adopter with resident dogs.

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