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My basic info
Breed
Pit Bull Terrier/Mixed Breed (Medium)
Color
Tan/Yellow/Fawn
Age
Adult
Size
Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg) (when grown)
Weight
40 lbs (current)
Sex
Male
Pet ID
D1162
My details
Good with dogs
Shots current
Spayed / Neutered
Housetrained
My story
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Here's what the humans have to say about me:
If you would like more information about Rufus or are interested in adopting him, please send an email to tgverrall@gmail.com or contact this number, (713) 206-2274
Rufus is a stray that was living under some railroad equipment in downtown Houston near my home. I had been interacting with him off and on for a few weeks when he began seeking out interaction with my other dogs in the dog run at my apartment complex. He was friendly but wary of humans. He had no issue interacting with my five small dogs on his own – he was not aggressive at all but was curious and interested in playing with them.
I got concerned about his wellbeing due to ongoing railroad work near his “nest” and the impending cold weather. Shortly before the truly cold weather hit, I was able to entice him inside.
I have been fostering him pending a successor or forever home, but I cannot continue to do this indefinitely. I already have five rescues and I am not able to keep an additional dog at my complex.
I have introduced him to several larger dogs, and although he appears to get along fairly well with females, his inexperience with other larger dogs had led to some conflicts. I suspect that he was not previously a member of a pack and just doesn’t know how to behave himself when in the company of an established hierarchy. He is a fairly quick study and has gone from being a bit nervous and unruly to understanding where he is supposed to be and what is acceptable and unacceptable indoor behavior. He responds well to direction and appears to be very trainable. He has been remarkably good at house training matters.
There are many things about civilized doggie life that he still does not understand, so he may be nervous about new things until he understands that they present no danger. He is a good passenger in the car and enjoys seeing the world. He tolerates a harness well, but he is going to need some further training on leash manners. He is a strong dog and will pull on his leash.
Thus far, he has not shown any propensity to chase squirrels or cats despite being exposed to both. I don’t know that I would assume that he is good with cats as roommates without further evidence, but he doesn’t display any immediate prey drive with them (as my larger dogs most certainly do).
He was initially uninterested in toys, but as he has become more comfortable, he is showing some real athletic talent. He is quite acrobatic and loves playing catch. I don’t know if agility might be his thing, but he will chase and catch balls for as long as you care to toss them his way.
He is not a picky eater, but he is unsure about treats and will need some additional education about why they are yummy.
This may simply be a result of his circumstances, but he is very attentive to me and is a bit of a “Velcro dog.” I think this is probably just because he hasn’t had a lot of reliable and kind human attention and is worried that it might go away. He does bark but not to excess in my observation. He will growl if he sees something concerning or fear-inducing, but he has not been mouthy at all and quickly calms down once he is reassured by a trusted human – he seems to be looking for guidance about how to respond in unfamiliar situations.
This animal posted is not under the care, custody, or control of Friends For Life and shall at no time be considered the property of Friends For Life. Friends For Life makes no claims to have evaluated the behavior or medical status of the animal posted. Friends For Life shall not incur any liability for any injury or damages to any person or property caused in the future by this animal, nor from any causes of action, claim or demand that may arise as a result of such injury or damage.
This listing is strictly in the spirit of our commitment that providing support to the independent rescuer community is a valuable step on the path to a No Kill Houston. We know networking works and to the extent that we can provide a platform for animals to be seen and placed, that is our intention.
