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s his walks in the early morning and evening, and as long as he gets his regular exercise, he is content to be a couch potato for much of the day. As with all intelligent dogs, he does require enrichment and mental stimulation. He loves working on his commands: sit, stay, wait, ok, come, leave it, and kennel up. He also loves his new lick mat.
He is very sociable with other dogs and does well at the dog park. He is also good at meeting other dogs on leash, although he can get really excited and start pulling. His prey drive does come up occasionally on walks, and he can lurch forward quickly if he sees cats, birds, or other small animals. He seems to be interested in saying hello to cats if they approach him, but his prey drive kicks in if he smells or sees one in the bushes.
Cletus is very strong; he will require an owner who can manage him and be aware of their surroundings at all times. A sturdy harness with a handle will be a great tool for him.
Cletus is fully potty trained and has never gone to the bathroom inside, even without a dog door at his foster parents’ house. He prefers to go potty on his walks as opposed to the backyard. He is an affectionate dog once he gets to know you but can be aloof and cautious with strangers. It is best if strangers do not pet him, but he has been getting used to the neighbors in his current neighborhood while out on walks and usually gives them a quick sniff because he is more interested in the dogs.
Cletus is a surprisingly easy dog, but his behavioral issues are complex and nuanced, and he will need someone who is commanding yet kind and patient. They will be rewarded with a loyal and affectionate companion. Due to his resource guarding, he will require an animal- and child-free household. His guarding issues occur mostly with food and toys, but occasionally with his spot on the couch, with his humans, and if someone taps on the car window. His foster parents have been working with him on fetch, give, and drop it, as these have been more challenging commands due to his resource guarding. He is making progress.
It will be imperative that his new owner(s) slowly build trust with him. He will snap without warning toward strangers. Once trust has been built, Cletus will warn—ears back, a snarl, and/or a growl—when he is uncomfortable. It will be important for his humans to be aware and to read his signs in order to set him up for success. (His new owner(s) will need to be able to hear his growls, as this is an important part of his communication.)
Cletus absolutely wants to be a good boy. Positive training and reinforcement, along with a structured routine, have been really good for him. He is a very quiet dog for being half husky. He is most vocal when he hears sirens and has the cutest “ahwoos.” Otherwise, he is not very talkative and only occasionally barks.
He is patient and tolerant with his daily brushings because he knows he’ll get a treat for being a good boy. A month in, his foster parents took him to a self-wash and dry, and he did really well with lots of treats. He does not do well with traditional grooming, particularly with nail cutting. His foster parents are currently working on getting him used to being in the presence of clippers but have not yet had a chance to clip his nails.
Cletus’ foster mom recently observed him being fearful of children. Coupled with his resource guarding, he will need to be in an adult-only household at all times. While not tested, his foster parents believe eventual doggie playdates with other large dogs are a possibility as long as they are constantly supervised and all toys and food/water bowls are put away.
Cletus loves cuddling on the big bed in the evenings with his foster mom but is used to sleeping in the living room with the bedroom door closed. He really likes to sleep under a fan, especially in the summer.
Additional notes: – Harnesses easily and handles well on a leash. – Cannot be walked off leash in a non-fenced area due to his prey drive. – Cannot wear a collar in the house. Due to the shape of his neck and how he rubs his face on furniture, the collar can shift upward and get caught in his mouth, which he cannot remove himself. For his safety, his fosters only put his collar on when he is outside. – Cletus is grumpier when it’s hot out and can get overheated even when temperatures are lower but the sun is strong. – He prefers to be fed where he can see what is going on around him. His current fosters moved his bowl from around a corner to a more open area to help him feel safer. Previous fosters mentioned that when he first came to live with them, he wanted someone to sit within sight or he wouldn’t eat. His current fosters believe this is part of his resource guarding—he wants to observe where you are while he is eating until he trusts you. His current fosters decided not to engage in this behavior and would move to another room. If he chose not to eat, the food was left down until he became hungry enough to eat without someone next to him. Once he finished eating and moved away from the bowl, it was placed on the counter. After a few months, the empty bowl could be left on the floor without issue. He is very good at sitting a few feet away and waiting to be released to his bowl with an “ok” once it’s placed down and the person steps away. He is fine while food is being prepared. – His fosters have started working on the command “off,” and he is still learning it. – Building trust slowly and concentrating on his food and walks for the first couple of weeks while he settles in will be best for him. – Non-destructive in the house. – Does not need a huge yard, but a decent-sized one would be nice. – Can be rough without realizing it. He loves to run around the backyard, and when he loops back, he may jump on his human. His nails are sharp, but he is just playing and does not mean to hurt. – Loves vegetables and fruit: purple sweet potato, sweet bell peppers, cucumber, zucchini, and mango; blueberries are just okay. – Previous fosters said he was not food-motivated, but his current fosters have observed him being somewhat food-motivated. He enjoys his treats, and they are especially helpful for training. – His favorite dog treats are Trader Joe’s beef and sweet potato stuffies, sweet potato and salmon treats, Mint-a-Breath Bones, and North West Naturals freeze-dried minnows.
Leash trained, Crate trained, Does well in a car, Likes to swim, Likes toys, Protective/territorial, Predatory, Obedient, Playful, Skittish, Independent/aloof, Affectionate, Eager to please, Intelligent
If you are interested in meeting this dog, please visit our website for our online application .underdogaz