COURAGE (VA) - RAT TERRIER (SHORT COAT) DOG FOR ADOPTION

Description

Dog Breed: Rat Terrier (short coat). Courage came into rescue in January as part of a hoarding case. Just 9 months old, he was terrified, unsocialized, and overwhelmed by change. He had never known that people could be kind. For five months, his foster family has patiently helped him gain confidence, and while he's made meaningful progress, Courage still needs an adopter with deep patience and realistic expectations. Now 1 year-old and 7 lbs., Courage has learned to trust his foster family and a few familiar people. However, he does not permit being picked up, isn't a fan of leash walking, and prefers to be pet by specific trusted humans. He thrives on routine—any disruption causes anxiety. With a predictable environment, he's a funny and happy little guy. Courage is house trained as long as he's let out regularly. He's clean in his crate, which serves as his safe space, and he follows the command to go in. He also eats his meals there. The rewards for taking on a dog like Courage are huge. He may never be a social butterfly who enjoys errands or busy outings, but when you finally earn his trust, it's a feeling that makes your heart burst. When he feels safe, he's playful and funny, with a soft spot for butt scritches and chin rubs. He enjoys other dogs he knows and would likely do well with a cat. Due to his semi-feral tendencies and insecurities, Courage needs a quiet home without kids or lots of visitors. His adopter must be prepared for setbacks, including hiding or fearful behavior. But his foster mom is fully committed to supporting whoever takes the leap for this special little guy. Here are several videos to see some of his progression: youtube/shorts/lYjg_gPwnGo?si=Qa5nn3rhZiEA5ljD Courage early on youtube/shorts/fcVsmsDK7AY?si=klxLow8QdJAVg79V Slow improvements youtube/shorts/iyLq5oXPJUE?si=WURr0MRD0FGgSsr4 Before we could pet him .facebook/share/v/15DSv2bCEq/ Courage coming for attention .facebook/share/r/1EuD4Uhgmk/ The first time we could pet him and give him butt scritches youtube/shorts/wJVHPFvKrvA?si=VAV3aKgro8qLpFTb Sometimes you can pet him, sometimes you can't More photos of Courage are available in this album: imageevent/newrattitude/courage If you are interested in adopting this dog, PLEASE READ THE DETAILED ADOPTION PROCESS information on our website at . NewRattitude/adopt/ From there, you can access our adoption application or contact our Adoption Team for more info.

• Physical Attributes

  Eye Color:	Brown
  Ear Type:	Erect
  Coat Length:	Short
  Grooming Needs:	Low

• Behavioral Characteristics

  OK with Kids:	No
  OK with Dogs:	Yes
  OK with Cats:	Yes
  Energy Level:	Moderate
  Activity Level:	Moderately Active
  Exercise Needs:	Moderate
  Obedience Training:	Has Basic Training
  Other:	Housetrained

• Personality

  Personality Characteristics

  Timid Skittish

• Additional Information

  Was the Dog Found	No
  Other	Up-to-date on Vaccinations