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Posted over 6 months ago
| Updated over 3 months ago
I found a new home! Plenty of my friends are looking for one too. Check out other pets at this shelter, or start a new search.
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My basic info
Breed
Doberman Pinscher/German Shepherd Dog
Color
Brown/Chocolate - with Tan
Age
9 months old, Puppy
Size
Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg) (when grown)
Weight
–
Sex
Male
Pet ID
–
My details
Good with kids
Good with dogs
Good with cats
Shots current
Housetrained
My story
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Here's what the humans have to say about me:
Gentle, playful, wonderful with young children - Twix is the perfect dog for a young family. He's an alert pup, clearly very smart and aware of his surroundings. Somehow Twix mislaid most of his tail before he came to us; we're not sure how - but the result is a cute, perky look and no loss of confidence.
HISTORY
The five Cocoapups were very young babies when they were dumped on a country road near Prosser, in Eastern Washington, in early September. A rescuer took them in and called on HART for help. We were able to place them in a foster home after a few weeks, and they have been growing and thriving ever since.
It's difficult to guess the breed mix of dumped puppies, and when these little guys first came to us we assumed they were part Border Collie or Heeler. Then we fed them and they GREW, and now we're pretty sure that Mama was at least part Doberman, while they may have different fathers. We believe Twix's papa was a German Shepherd.
Twix is located in Toppenish, Eastern Washington, and his litter mates are in the Tri-Cities.
SOCIALIZATION
Twix was very timid when we first took him in, and he's still cautious when meeting new people, but he warms up quickly to new human friends. His foster family includes several adults and two children aged 8 months and 6 years old. He is interested in the baby but gentle and cautious, and he LOVES playing with the 6-year-old girl.
His foster family also includes several dogs - a couple of tinies and a bouncy young Mastiff mix. Twix loves to play, especially with his bossy little Yorkie-Poo foster sister, who insists that he must lie down for playtime. He enjoys games of tag and wrestling with the Mastiff - although he calmly disengages if she gets too rough.
There are two cats in Twix's foster home, and he is respectful toward them, although sometimes he gets more affectionate than they really like. He'd do fine with a confident, dog-savvy kitty companion.
Twix has lived with ducks and chickens in both the foster homes he's been in, and while he enjoys watching them now and then he's not all that interested. He appears to have very little prey drive.
TEMPERAMENT, BEHAVIOR
Twix is playful, moderately energetic, and interested in the world. He enjoys going for walks and loves the stimulation of visiting new places with people he trusts - but he's also the best companion for laid-back couch time and Netflix binges.
He loves his toys, especially chew toys - he's an enthusiastic chewer who needs a good supply of bones, kongs, and similar chews. He loves things that squeak or crunch, and he'll be taking his favorite duck with him when he moves.
'
He quite enjoys chasing things that you throw ... but after a few retrieves he'll sit on the toy or hide it in his crate. But he'll keep working on a puzzle for as long as it takes to figure it out - he loves the mental stimulation!
This boy is exceptionally submissive. When cats and other dogs ask to share his toys he may sit on the toy to hide it, but he never shows any sign of guarding behavior. Cats, dogs and small children are all welcome to share the contents of his food bowl.
Although Twix is a remarkably good, HE IS A PUPPY, and the best of puppies can be HARD WORK! He may chew things he's not supposed to, and in his first foster home he enjoyed digging in the yard. He has been known to grab yummy stuff off counters, and can be persistent in asking the children he lives with to share their treats.
TRAINING
He's still learning, but overall Twix has very good house manners for a pup his age. He's reliably potty trained and he likes his crate. He's comfortable on a leash, although he may pull a little, and he knows basic commands like sit and down.
Twix is very eager to please and is treat-motivated, and is clearly very smart. This boy will be a dream to train!
PHYSICAL & HEALTH STATUS
Based on their teeth and the fact that they could barely lap water, we estimate that the Cocoapups were maybe six weeks old when we took them in. We have assigned them July 23, 2023 as their birthday.
He is in good overall health, and have been vaccinated, treated for intestinal parasites, and microchipped. We expect him to weigh around 70-75 lbs when full-grown.
HART does not support pediatric spay and neuter. We believe, based on current research, that pups develop best when they have an uninterrupted supply of sex hormones for at least the first five months of their lives. The Cocoapups' adopters will be contractually obligated to ensure that their pup is sterilized between five months and one year. HART will refund $100 - equivalent to the cost of sterilization by our usual veterinary clinic - when you provide proof that your pup has been sterilized.
ADOPTION INFORMATION
The Cocoapups are living in a private home, and will be available to meet you after your adoption application has been approved. Please email HearthfireART@gmail.com to request an adoption application form.
For more pictures of the Cocoapups, please see their Facebook albums at https://www.facebook.com/HearthfireAnimalRescueTeam
