My name is Bentley!

Bentley's Story
-Written by Bentley, a 2-year-old, 64lb male Great Pyrenees mix.
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For two years I was loyal. For two years, I stayed at my owner's home. For two years I watched while the tiny and cute small dog got to come inside but every time I tried I got a big NO and a door in my face. The worst is I remember getting to be inside. When I was a cute little puppy, they let me stay inside. They played with me and were so smitten with me. Then, I started to get bigger. I was shedding, I was getting into things, and I wanted to play like any puppy. They decided that I no longer belonged in the house and cast me outside. That is where I stayed. I would get so excited when they came out and would run up to them for love. I got a couple head pats and then they would get into the car and leave. So, I would wait until they came home and then once again begged for attention. I got a couple head pats and then inside they went and outside I stayed. I was so bored. I didn't understand why they didn't let me inside the house. I would often lie in front of the door in hopes that they would let me in, but they never did.

They were my family though, so what was I to do? They were mine to love and mine to stand by. I tried so hard. I begged for scraps of attention day in and day out. I begged for them to love me more, to make me feel like I was a valued family member but things never changed. I started wandering off from home, I always came home but I started going further and further. My breaking point was when I had gotten myself lost and was gone for most of the day and when I finally came back...my owners acted as if I had never left. I don't know if they even knew that I had disappeared that long....or if they had even cared. I left that next morning, I wanted to find something more. There had to be more out there. I spent many days and many nights on my own, and a couple times I regretted it because I was all alone and hungry. I kept going though because there was nothing else I could do. I came across people on my travels but it wasn't always all that great. Some people shooed me off their property, some people gave me some scraps of food, and others simply ignored me. One day a person actually came up to me and I was so excited. This was my moment, someone was finally going to take me in and give me a home! Instead, I ended up at the shelter. I wondered again what I had gotten myself into.

There were whispers wondering if I would have a family reclaim me and for a short time I had hope. It had been awhile since I left so maybe my family would come for me. Maybe they finally realized that I wasn't waiting for them when they came outside. Maybe they would finally realize how much I love them and change. It never happened though, it was all a dream. I ended up serving my stray hold and turns out no one was searching for me. When a shelter staff told me one day that it was time to go, I was SO scared! I wasn't ready to lose my life and I had found out quickly what happened to dogs that didn't have owners looking for them. I didn't go to the room that no animals ever came back out of though, instead, we went to the front of the shelter and I went home with a very nice lady who turned out to be a foster for this rescue!

I daydreamed about the day that my family would finally let me inside and make me feel like I was a part of their family. When my foster brought me into her home, I froze. I had no idea what to do. The moment I had always hoped for finally came...and I didn't know what to do. As the days have gone by, I have started to feel more and more comfortable. I am starting to open up more and more. I like to follow my foster mom around the house and am always close to her. The days of me being all alone may be over but that doesn't mean that I don't still want to always keep my people in my sight! When my foster family has visitors over, I do okay. I am unsure about them initially but eventually, I get up the courage to go to them and get loving. My last family never really had people come over and if they did they paid no attention to me, so I am still adjusting to the fact that I am truly part of a family now. I do enjoy the company of other dogs and do well with them. I was initially indifferent to them, but now that I am starting to feel more secure in my home I have started playing with them. I have been introduced to the cats and do well with them for the most part. Sometimes, they will make a snide remark or do something that catches my interest but I will usually just watch them. I am being fostered around kids and do well. I am not used to always having someone in my space and/or trying to get me to interact with them so the kids should be older. Ones that will calmly pet me, but also let me have my space when I need it.

If my foster has to leave the home, I am given free roam of the house and do great. I am potty trained and am not a chewer. In fact, my foster family has tested my willpower a few times and left some shoes out and I haven't touched them. With that said, I still recommend my new house initially be puppy-proofed until you know how I do with you. Shoes may not be my thing but that doesn't mean that I may not grab something else that interests me. I am only dog after all ;) My foster family has never kenneled me since there has not been a need to. Along with that, I am used to having wide open spaces so do not believe that I would do well with being kenneled. At night, I like to sleep in the bedroom with my foster parents. They have invited me onto the bed a few times, but I will just lay my head on their bed for pets. After, I will settle down by the side of the bed and fall asleep. I am not a big barker, but that doesn't mean I don't bark so don't get too excited. I really only bark when someone comes to the door. It is a pretty good feeling to be alerting my family that someone is at the door from the inside, instead of doing it when I am outside.

Speaking of the outside, I love going for walks! I do very well on the leash and don't pull or freak out when I see other dogs on our walk. While I love going for walks, I think I have had enough of the great outside and don't believe that I would be a fan of hikes. The short walk around the neighborhood works just fine for me. My foster family has tried showing me the game called fetch, but I am uninterested. In fact, as of right now I have not shown any interest in toys at all. I have waded into the water a few times, but haven't actually played in it. I am still opening up so maybe one day I will.

I am still learning what it means to be a part of a family. My tail is slowly starting to wag more, and I am starting to become more playful. I have decided that I really love mealtime and will crack my foster mom up when I eat. I will plop down on the floor and eat out of my food bowl that way...every...single...time. I do still jump at strange/new/loud noises, so would appreciate a quieter home.
I never got to play with toys, with the other dogs, play in the water, or just get to have fun in my last home. I spent most of my days bored and left to my own devices. I am slowly starting to open up and see a side of myself that I hadn't seen since I was just a puppy! I would love to share my journey with my forever family. I would love to grow with them and find someone that will love me like my former family never did. I would love to hang out with you while you work from home, I am a quiet boy so will be perfectly happy lying by your feet! I would love to go on a couple walks with you and then come home to just chill. I am still unsure of lots of noises and changes(remember I was only in the yard day in and day out so wasn't exposed to much). I would really love a home that is on the quieter side that doesn't have a lot of people coming in and going. One that is on the calmer side but also still likes to play some as well. I would do fine with or without other dogs in my new home.

What I want most is to feel like I am part of the family. Sometimes, I still cannot believe that I get to be included in my foster family's activities and get to do things with them. I love being close to my people and love feeling like I am wanted... as I belong. If you would like to adopt me and have another lovable fluffy butt join your family then please apply for me at
https://www.pyrpawsandfluffytailsrescue.com/adoption-app

Once you have submitted your application, it will be sent on to my foster family for consideration. I had no say in my last home, but this time I do. Having my foster family review your app is just as much for me as it is for you. If we are going to be together forever, then we need to make sure that we have similar wants/needs.

I am currently residing in Edmond, OK.
If you have fallen for me and are out of state, please don't let them stop you from bringing me home. I actually ride really well in the car and like to look out the window. Once I am tired of that, I will plop down in the backseat and chill.

My adoption fee is $250.
That will include my DHLPP, Rabies, and Bordetella. I will be micro-chipped, have a fecal done, be de-wormed, be spayed/neutered, and will be current on heart-worm and flea/tick prevention