My name is Blue!

Blue (formerly Scruffy Blue): 1 year old neutered male Black Lab mix, ~ 65 pounds

This adorable puppy has gone through a lot in his short little life! Scruffy Blue was born with a liver shunt. Basically this means that he had an unusual connection between veins allowing the blood to bypass his liver such that his liver didn’t filter his blood, and his body basically poisoned him. And all of this while he was just a few months old! For a while his condition was kept under control through prescription diet and meds, but he really needed surgery to correct the condition, or he would die. Fortunately for Scruffy Blue, the wonderful team at the UC Davis teaching hospital stepped up, and accepted Scruffy Blue for surgery (you might have seen our fundraising to cover his surgery). While he still his a few months before complete recovery, Scruffy Blue is now on the mend!

Blue comes from a loving family that has owned him since he was a young puppy. One parent is a black Lab and the other is a Weimaraner, making Blue one gorgeous dog, with the features of a Lab and the coloring similar to a Weimaraner. Scruffy Blue has grown up with children ages 4, 5 and 8 and a cat. He’s housebroken and sleeps in a crate at night. He knows Sit, Stay, Down, Come, Drop, Speak, Free and Wait, although he’s been pretty stingy demonstrating them in his foster home. In a new home he will need a refresher (because he’s a puppy and a Lab and has a short attention span!) but he’s a quick learner. Like any puppy, he needs a lot of supervision and regular exercise. He may be a year old, but he’s definitely still puppy: he’s gangly, gawky, playful, mouthy and he’s a bit of a chewer; he’s chewed through 2 leashes already, and has found a couple of shoes. He also enjoys eating paper and toys if left where he can get to them (He’s a PUPPY!). This might get better once he’s off exercise restrictions n the next few days, and can have more active play (A tired [puppy is a GOOD puppy!) He likes to chase the ball, and he’s got the most delightful run, more of a prance. He’s not super excited about the crate, but he’s sleeping nicely on a blanket in his foster parent’s room.

He likes to play fetch and tug, and he’s very interested in other dogs; he’s done well with the dogs he’s met on walks, but could probably use more socialization with them; he is currently in a foster home with another dog to show him the ropes. He does have a few bad habits to overcome: in addition to digging in the yard if left on his own (unsupervised), he will jump up and he barks or whines when left alone (or if he wants attention). There are also a few neurologically based behaviors as a result of the shunt but they don’t occur often and as he recovers these behaviors should disappear. He does have quiet moments too; he’s quite content hanging out on the dog’s couch or with his foster dad in his office.

What Dog’s Rescue Rep says:

Lab Rescue would like Blue to go to a home that is experienced with puppies, and has the patience to work with both the normal puppy requirements (obedience training, etc.) but also to help him get through the 2 to 3 month recovery period. He is currently on prescription dog food and medication but will likely be weaned off of them over the next couple of months. He will probably be on Prilosec for the rest of his life.

Blue would benefit from continuing with crate training and attending a refresher obedience training. He is accustomed to sleeping in the crate at night and if left alone for a few hours during the day. He needs regular exercise (a tired puppy is a good puppy!) which means a walk every day, at least once a day.

Mostly what Blue needs is a family where someone is home with him most of the time, and can build on the training that he has already had. Someone who is experienced with puppies and comfortable with providing the leadership and consistency he needs to grow up into a wonderful dog would be ideal.

What we are looking for in Blue’s new home:

We would like Blue to go to a home with experienced puppy parents (in other words, a family that has raised a puppy before and survived, even thrived on the experience). Blue’s new family should be comfortable with crate training, willing to take him to obedience training and then provide consistent leadership and reinforcement of his training. We would prefer a family where someone is home much of the time to help Blue become the great dog he can be. Blue requires regular exercise, at least an hour a day walk or run (a tired puppy is a good puppy!). Like most puppies, Blue is a project, but for the right family he will be a very rewarding project and well worth the effort. Blue’s new family will also need to be prepared to manage him through the remaining few weeks of his post surgery recovery period.

Blue would be fine in a home with dog-savvy kids; having a patient adult dog around to show him the ropes would be great but not required. A home with dog savvy kids who are not afraid of his size and energy would also be good. The most important thing we want for Blue is an experienced, committed home that will give him the training and time he needs AND can manage him through his recovery period. An active family that can consistently give him the exercise he needs is a must; a tired dog is a good dog! Medically we expect Blue to live a normal life, although it is possible he might need special food and meds. He will certainly need Prilosec for the rest of his life. We’ll know better at his 8 week post surgery follow up in March whether the special food & meds stay or go.

Blue is neutered, current on vaccinations, heartworm free and on preventive, and micro-chipped. Blue is located in Moraga.

If you have the time, energy and experience to work with a great pup like Scruffy Blue, and are interested in making Scruffy Blue a part of your family, call Rescue Rep Debbi 408-613-2044 or email dragonflydebbi@gmail.com.

(Please keep in mind we are all volunteers, most of us work full time and we all have personal lives. I do call everyone back within 2-3 days so please be patient and I will be back in touch with you. When the dogs are in foster homes then it may take longer as we need to touch base with the fosters for updates on the dogs. We work very hard to make the right matches for the dogs and for the new owners. We get 3-5 dogs per week and we do not have a facility that we keep the dogs housed in. They are scattered all over the Bay Area.)