My name is Coco!

Coco is a very handsome and highly intelligent dog. With the right family he will do extremely well and will learn quickly and be a wonderful companion. He is not a dog that will enjoy lying around the house or that would do well left on his own for long working days. If you don't give him something to do, he will find something to do. He loves to play!! But, he also loves being with his people and is a very affectionate dog. He is still a puppy and has lots of puppy energy. He is approximately 8 - 10 months old and currently weighs 22 lbs.

Here is what Coco's foster family had to say:

Small but mighty, Coco is a very young, clever boy with energy to spare! He has an endearing face and a confident swagger. He loves playing and cuddling with his humans in equal measures. We love his cuteness and enjoy laughing at his silly puppy antics! He is a handsome boy with a beautiful, soft golden brown coat. He is still just a puppy figuring out the world around him. Coco is very fast and loves to run around with a toy and can entertain himself (and us humans) with this for quite some time. He is highly intelligent and most definitely needs a "job" or an outlet for his energy such as running and playing fetch at a fenced-in park, or agility training. I think he would be an ideal trainee for flyball. He is quite the athlete and would thrive with an owner who can provide him with a physically and mentally stimulating activity on a regular basis.

Coco has not had much opportunity to socialize with anyone besides rescue volunteers and his foster parents. He can be a bit protective of his territory when people come to the door but warms up once he knows they are welcome. He's a real sweetheart and took to his foster parents immediately. Coco has not been around children but would probably do best with older children as he is very fast and strong. When playing he sometimes "mouths" our hands, but this is a typical puppy behaviour that can be corrected with consistent training. Coco has not shown any shyness towards people, although he is reserved when he first meets new people. Coco socializes appropriately with our senior dog. Unfortunately our dog gets overwhelmed by Coco's young energy, and Coco needs to be separated from the old guy to give him a break. He has not been around cats.

Coco is very curious about the world around him, all the different smells and sounds. He does not show any fear but rather a wariness of loud noises. He LOVES TO PLAY! Give him a toy, any toy at all, and he will proceed to sprint around the house with it, amusing himself, and "showing off" to any observers. He loves to sprint around outside at the fenced-in area we bring him to. He is also a lap dog that loves to snuggle right into you and happily accepts belly rubs while bathing you with puppy kisses! He is crated when we are away from the home and at night so he does not have the opportunity to be destructive. He is a puppy still and needs someone that will be consistent with his training. He is eager to please and intelligent so he learns quickly. Coco is mostly quiet in the home, only letting out a bark or two when someone comes to the door.

Coco has pretty good manners in the house. He is still learning about boundaries and what he can and cannot do in our home. To Coco, scarves and slippers can be so easily mistaken as chew toys, and why can't he just jump up on the couch whenever he pleases? He is learning quickly, however, and with an experienced dog owner and consistent training he will continue to develop good manners. Coco has not tried to counter surf or steal food, but would certainly help himself if you left something out within his reach. Coco does not know any commands whatsoever (or is really good at pretending he's never heard of these words before!) We are working on teaching him to sit on command, and he's getting the idea of "off" or "out" when he is on/into something he's not supposed to. He is also learning to "drop" a toy. He is a smart and treat-motivated dog and with the right trainer he will surely learn everything he needs to and more.

Coco is house trained. We are also proactive in letting him out to do his business every few hours. Coco is crate trained. He willingly goes into his crate when you throw a bone or toy in for him, and he always gets a treat once he goes in. He is crated when we are out of the house, at night, and for periods of time throughout the day. He may whine sometimes, but only for a minute and then quickly settles into chewing his bone, playing with a ball or having a snooze. He knows the crate is his "den" and will collect toys and hide them in there. He is also known to meander in on his own and have a rest when he feels like it. Coco has likely not been on a leash before he came to us. He can pull but with more practice he should be a great walking/jogging companion. He has not tried to escape from the yard but very well could if he wanted to as he is smart enough to figure out his way over an obstacle. He is not left in our yard unsupervised. Coco is uncertain but very calm and still in the car.

Coco is full of life and joy! Being a young pup he is essentially a blank slate for the right owner. Coco would be an ideal companion for someone who has the time and energy to put into training and playing with him. He would need a firm and confident leader. Ideally he would need someone with dog experience and would not be a good choice for a first time dog owner unless they were really willing to make the commitment to his training. Because of his energy and love of running around he would not be suited for apartment living.

If you think you have the time and are able to make the commitment to this intelligent boy, please submit an application for consideration.