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he adult children, but unfortunately, they were kept penned outside with little care or attention. Thankfully, a groomer who had been a friend of the owner learned of their situation and stepped in. She took all three pups into her care until rescue could be found. These dogs are incredibly lucky someone advocated for them. Because of her actions, Gage has a chance at the love and life he deserves.
When Gage first arrived, he was understandably timid and unsure in his new foster home. It’s clear he didn’t have much exposure to the outside world, and his circumstances only worsened after being isolated in a yard. He’s currently living with three other dogs and multiple cats in his foster home and has done well being part of a pack. We checked in with his foster mom, Jenn, to see how he’s settling in.
FOSTER MOM Q&A
How is he doing with your pack? Gage is used to being around other dogs and is totally solid with my cats. While I think he could be okay as an only dog, he seems more confident with a dog buddy or as part of a pack. He warmed up to me and my mom right away. Men make him a bit nervous at first, but with time, he does warm up. Initially, he was terrified of my dad and older son, but now he’ll sit on the couch with my son and is more comfortable with my dad.
Energy level? Gage has a moderate energy level. He enjoys having access to a fenced yard, but also does fine on a leash. About a week after he arrived, he started playing with toys, so his playful side is definitely emerging.
Is he housetrained/crate trained? Yes, Gage is housetrained and is crated when I leave the house. I don’t leave my dogs alone with fosters unsupervised as a rule, but he does fine in the crate. He doesn’t go in on his own, so he usually needs a little encouragement. At night, he has free range of the house and chooses to sleep wherever my dogs do, sometimes in my room, sometimes in the living room. I don’t think he’d need to be crated long-term as long as his environment is safe.
What’s he like—confident, shy, cuddly, independent? Gage was initially very head shy and would back away when touched, but that improved significantly after the first week. He’s still timid and follows the lead of my other dogs, but he’s making progress every day. He’s not aggressive, just nervous and in need of time and space to decompress and trust. He’s started following me around like a little shadow, and he now jumps up in the chair with me, throws his whole body against mine, licks my face, and begs for belly rubs. It’s so rewarding to see his personality coming out.
Best home environment? He does startle easily and gets overwhelmed when things are loud or chaotic, so a quiet, calm home would be best for him. I would say no young kids or busy, urban settings. He’d do well with another dog or two to keep him company and help him feel secure.
Leash skills? Gage walks on a martingale collar and does well overall, but he gets nervous in very busy environments. Because he tends to back up when scared, I recommend a martingale collar and/or harness to ensure he’s secure on walks.
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Gage is doing wonderfully and is a fantastic little guy. He just needs a little patience and a calm home environment, and he’s going to blossom into a devoted, snuggly companion. Apply today to learn more!
BREED ESTIMATE: Chi Mix (with Basset or Doxen)
GENDER: Male
APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 17 lbs
APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 2 to 3 years old
COAT TYPE: Short coat
ADOPTION FEE: $425
OTHER INFO: utd on shots/neutered/microchipped
LOCATION: Centreville, VA
FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to adopt.worthydog and complete the application.
You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to foster.worthydog and fill out an application.
Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area.