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ull of patience.
Tommy originally came to NBRAN as part of a large-scale owner surrender. It was immediately clear that he had spent his life outside and had never experienced the "soft life" of an indoor home. Everything—from the sound of a kitchen to the feeling of a gentle human hand—was entirely new to him. But day by day, Tommy is choosing bravery. He is a shy, submissive, and deeply sweet boy whose beautiful, curious personality blooms just a little bit more every single morning.
Tommy’s ultimate happy place is the great outdoors. The moment he steps into the backyard, his inner athlete comes alive! At any given moment, you will see him doing joyful full-speed laps and figure-eights around the grass. Because of this, a physically fenced yard will be best. He relies heavily on other dogs to build his confidence. Thanks to the guidance of his foster siblings, Tommy has successfully mastered the art of backyard lounging, walking beautifully on a leash, and figuring out exactly how fun toys can be. He is also a quiet roommate and a stellar car rider who loves to follow his trusted humans from room to room just to keep them in sight. While he loves the companionship, he is not one to seek out pets. So, he will not jump up on your lap and cuddle with you. He is still actively coming out of his shell and we do expect this to change once he is fully comfortable and completely trusts his human. Tommy is now enjoying the softness of his dog bed, and loves to curl up in it. He'll collect all his toys and even other random items, like a pinecone or shoe to stockpile into his bed. He listens though, and will drop the things he is not supposed to have.
To help Tommy keep thriving, his forever family must fit a few specific needs:
Preferably, a Female-Only Household: Tommy is very afraid of men and requires a quiet, low-traffic environment with a female adopter (or adopters). Because of his skittishness around fast movements, he should not live with young children.
At Least One Resident Dog: Tommy requires a confident canine brother or sister. He copies their behavior to learn how to navigate the human world and needs them around to feel safe.
A Patient Routine: Tommy thrives on predictability and needs an owner who can be home more often than not. He is fully crate trained, but he prefers his crate to be in the same room as his people or dog friends.
Tommy is making incredible progress with his housebreaking, though he did experience a minor, normal setback due to a recent change in foster homes. He is actively learning, and improving every day.
An Important Note for Playtime: Tommy absolutely adores balls and bones! However, he recently underwent a comprehensive dental surgery where 16 teeth were removed. Because of this, he can never have hard bones to chew on. His forever family will need to spoil him exclusively with soft plushies, fabric toys, and rubber balls to protect his healing mouth.
Tommy's trust is a sacred gift that is well worth the wait. If you are ready to move at his pace and show him what a safe, loving home truly feels like, please submit an NBRAN Adoption Application and mention his name. Tommy is ready to show you the true meaning of resilience.
Tommy is currently located in NC and is available for transport up to 1400 miles away, with the adopter driving the last 100 or so miles of the journey. Tommy is heartworm negative, and up to date on vaccinations. His adoption fee is $400 to help offset some of his medical costs. For any additional questions, please reach out to Jessicathesouthernway