Buddy is a very handsome, loving dog. He is incredibly smart and although timid at first he has now become a great companion. He loves children and seems to get really excited when he sees a stroller so we think he was previously with a family with young children. He is naturally obedient and enjoys the company of other dogs. Buddy is a young adult approximately 2 years old and weighs 63 lbs.
Here is what else his foster family had to say:
Buddy is a beautiful dog. He is timid and very slow to warm up to men. He displays absolutely no aggression towards people (but he does growl at some men out of fear). The growling amounts to nothing however as he will allow the man to pet him, but he has a worried look which diminishes over time. Once he trusts you he is such a great companion.
He is incredibly smart. He learned to sit and give a paw for cleaning by day two. He follows the other dogs and learned the household routine very quickly. He is calm and very quiet, but will play in short bursts with the other dogs. Buddy has obviously lived with babies/children and it is heartbreaking to see him get excited when he sees a stroller from a distance thinking it may be his people. He is a loving family dog who lost his family. He was quite despondent for the first day and he had no recognition of the name “Smokey”. When we stumbled on “Buddy” he perked up and responded with spirit and familiarity. So Buddy it is.
Buddy is a head turner – people often stop to comment on how handsome or beautiful he is and ask what breed he is. Walking beside a Newfie he looked like his little brother, with his blocky head and shiny black coat but he definitely has some retriever in him.. Buddy is non-reactive to dogs outside so is a great walking companion. He responds to the word “no” stopping what he is doing immediately. He is very obedient even though he has no real training. He is the dog you can take to the baseball or soccer game and he will lie quietly at your feet for hours. He does bond with his human companion quickly and wants to be near. He responds so nicely to affection in a low key but very appreciative way, and he loves to be brushed and groomed. When his feet are dirty he is more than happy to let you wash them one by one in a bowl of warm water, although he was quite afraid the first time. Now he loves the attention.
Buddy just hangs out when left alone. We have left him loose in the house for several hours with the other dogs without incident and also crated him, also with no problem. He goes into his crate and settles very nicely. Generally speaking he is free to roam the house with the other dogs. He meets other dogs on a walk in a very civil manner, wagging his tail and greeting them in a very calm way. He is sweet with the cats but usually ignores them. He did try to engage the cat in play but it didn't work so he just ignores them now.
Buddy mostly likes to lie around the house but he does have a playful period every night where he will run around outside with one of the dogs. They can go for a long time playing collar tag. He would love a nightly walk or trip to the dog park. Buddy knows to sit and give a paw but did not know any commands when he arrived. He does come when called fairly reliably. He responds very well to the word “no” and really wants to be a good boy. Buddy is housetrained. He does not make a sound when he needs to go outside but will definitely go to the back door. You have to watch for his cues as he doesn't yet seem to be able to wait for very long. Buddy has a wariness about going out as he has obviously been tied up outside and prefers to be inside with humans. He will only go out if he needs to go to the bathroom, sees a squirrel or bunny, or if he feels like playing with the other dogs, but he is more than happy to go for a walk on a leash. He now knows how to jump in the car and he settles down nicely and is very calm and quiet.
Buddy would do well in a female household, or in a family where the males are willing to give him the time he needs to warm up to them. Buddy would probably like a lower energy and calm dog or cat as a companion. He would also be a great single dog if he had human companionship. He does play but he doesn't want to be around a dominant dog or one that is in his face. He gets along with both male and female dogs. Buddy does growl at strangers entering his space when indoors but stops when told, so he fancies himself as a protector. He is all talk and no action but he can look fierce. If I didn't know he was so gentle and docile I would think he was a guard dog. He is definitely the dog to growl at your daughter’s new boyfriend but it ends there. I love Buddy and his low key loving manner. His eyes are so expressive and he tries so hard to be good. He is very sensitive and gets worried about me leaving him behind or if he hears a raised voice. He really wears his heart on his sleeve. He is an interesting combination of a momma’s boy and a tough guy. I think he is perfect!
If you think Buddy would be a good fit for your family, please submit an application for consideration.
