LUNA - AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER / POINTER / MIXED (SHORT COAT) DOG FOR ADOPTION

Description

Dog Breed: American Staffordshire Terrier / Pointer / Mixed (short coat). Meet Luna! This gorgeous girl was adopted as a four-month-old puppy and received some early training, but as she matured, her family didn’t continue the structure and consistency she needed. Luna is an active, intelligent dog who thrives with leadership, daily exercise, and a predictable routine. Without those things, she became overstimulated and developed some resource-guarding behaviors with the other dog in her previous home. Luna was fortunate to connect with one of our favorite trainers, Brittany. When Brittany first met her, Luna was heavily medicated. A behaviorist had prescribed multiple high-dose anti-anxiety medications, which unfortunately increased her anxiety and failed to address the root of the issues. Brittany requires all client dogs to be off behavioral medications so training can focus on true behavior change vs. masking the dog’s behaviors. Luna was carefully and fully weaned off all medications, and a very different dog emerged. She began thinking clearly, rediscovered how to simply be a dog, and made tremendous progress through training. Despite Luna’s improvement, her family chose to rehome her, stating they couldn’t meet her needs. Sadly, Luna never had the chance to show them how far she’d come. When Brittany realized the family wasn’t invested, she stepped up without hesitation, offering to foster Luna and continue her training. Luna has been living with Brittany, her husband, and their balanced pack of four dogs, and has been completely off all medications for the past six months. We recently checked in with Brittany for an update: “Luna is goofy, sweet, and playful. She’s very loving and enjoys snuggling on the sofa when invited, though she can get a little enthusiastic about affection. She’s earned free-roam privileges in our home, but we still crate her at night and when we’re away. She’s incredibly fun to work with and picks things up quickly. We love taking her on outings and off-leash adventures. Socially, you can take Luna just about anywhere. She is not reactive, very neutral towards other dogs in passing and viewing. Though she can be excitable, she’s friendly towards new people and enjoys playing with dogs she knows. Luna is an active dog with moderate drive. She loves learning and thrives when she has goals or a ‘job.’ She’s not a couch potato; she needs both physical activity and mental stimulation, and will do best with an experienced owner who will give her the structure she needs and a calm living environment." Luna loves: *️⃣ Training and learning new skills *️⃣ Playing ball and frisbee *️⃣ Walks, hikes, patio outings, off-leash runs, and swimming in the local creek Luna is great with people of all ages, though we think a home with older kids would be best. She has solid dog-to-dog social skills but needs the right laid-back canine companion in her home. While living in a balanced pack has helped her a lot, Luna would also thrive as an only dog. She truly loves being a companion and wants to go on adventures together. Luna has received extensive training and knows commands including Sit, Down, Heel, Come, Stay, Place, Up-Up, Out, Touch, and more. Her adoption includes two private training sessions with Brittany, plus lifetime discounted lessons to support a successful transition. Luna is looking for a home that understands her needs, is ready to keep her engaged, and wants to build a deep, rewarding bond with a smart, active girl. If you think you could be her perfect match, or know someone who might, please reach out or apply today! BREED ESTIMATE: Pointer/Staffy Mix GENDER: Female APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 63 lbs APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 3 years old COAT TYPE: Short coat ADOPTION FEE: $425 OTHER INFO: utd on shots/spayed/microchipped LOCATION: Frederick, MD 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.

• Physical Attributes

  Coat Length:	Short
  Likes to Vocalize:	Some

• Behavioral Characteristics

  OK with Kids:	Yes
  OK with Dogs:	Yes
  Energy Level:	High
  Activity Level:	Moderately Active
  Exercise Needs:	Moderate
  Obedience Training:	Has Basic Training
  Owner Experience Required:	Species
  Other:	Leash Trained Crate Trained Housetrained Good in a Car Likes to Fetch Likes to Play with Toys

• Personality

  Personality Characteristics

  Obedient Playful Affectionate Eager to Please Intelligent Goofy

• Additional Information

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