My name is Buddy!

This goofy, lovey boy is so much fun to have around! Just watching him live his life will keep you entertained for hours - only you won't "just watch", because when he loves you he'll invite you to engage.

HISTORY
Buddy was picked up as a stray in December 2024. His rescuers asked HART to help find him a new home. We found his original owner and learned that they'd bought him from a backyard breeder in Idaho, decided they didn't want him, and dumped him. They weren't willing to provide much useful information. He was a pretty worried boy when we took him in, but he's gained weight and confidence in a loving foster home and is now ready to meet his forever family.

SOCIALIZATION
This boy LOVES his people SO much! He watches over them 24/7, observing everything they do. He loves to be petted and will ask for attention, but he's not needy.

Buddy can be slow to warm up and is wary of strangers, and he is generally more comfortable with women. His foster mom is working on that, taking him out in public where there are people. However, he's a Cane Corso, bred to guard his family, and is true to his breed! But once he decides you're okay he's polite - he'll calmly sit himself down on your feet and request pets, but he won't be pushy.

He has been exposed to few children while in our care. Cane Corsos are generally not a good choice for young children, and he would probably do best in a home with adults and teens. Based on his interactions with the foster's nieces, however, he would likely respond well if a confident, kind grade-school-age child visited his home.

He's had very limited exposure to other dogs. He appears to be friendly and playful, but opportunities to play are restricted because of the risk that he might get hurt due to hip dysplasia. He's about to start working with a trainer to socialize him to other dogs.

He is probably not safe with cats or other small prey animals. He is kept separate from the cats in his foster home, and will bark if he sees them. Buddy has never had an opportunity to hurt a cat, but we'd consider the risk high.

TEMPERAMENT & BEHAVIOR
He's a moderate energy boy who would probably do well in a ground-floor apartment. (No long flights of stairs please!) He would like to have access to a yard big enough for occasional zoomies, but his physical limitations mean he can't exercise too long or too hard. He enjoys short hikes and neighborhood walks, but is not a good candidate for a dog park because he can't play hard with other dogs without hurting himself.

Buddy LOVES toys! He will entertain himself for hours tossing toys around or working on a chew. And when his foster mom is available there's nothing he enjoys more than a good game of tug or fetch.

Car rides are also fun! He has some trouble getting in and out - he'd probably benefit from a ramp - but once in he loves to chill out on the back seat and watch the world go by.

Generally Buddy is a quiet boy. He doesn't bark for no reason. However he will bark at strangers entering his home. His foster is working on this and he is learning to sit while visitors arrive, and to accept their presence calmly.

Buddy needs plenty of mental stimulation. He is very smart and will figure out ways to entertain himself. Most recently he's learned to open the gate at his foster home; he's not an escape artist, but he does want to know what's out there!

TRAINING
His house manners are generally good. He is crate trained and reliably house trained. He will sometimes eat the bed in his crate if he's bored and has been known to chew blankets and towels. He's also not too keen on having his nails trimmed. Otherwise he has no bad habits.

Buddy's recall needs work; he can be bribed, but tends to think long and hard about whether he wants to come when called. He walks well on a leash with minimal pulling, and he knows the basic obedience commands.

This boy is smart and wants to please, but he's typical of his breed in that he also has opinions of his own. He needs a strong, patient leader who will win his trust and work consistently on training.

HEALTH
We were told Buddy was around 11 months old when he came to us, so we've designated January 11, 2024 as his birthday. He weighs around 100 lbs and could reach 130 lbs when full grown.

He has been sterilized, fully vaccinated, microchipped, and treated for internal and external parasites. All his available veterinary records will be provided at the time of adoption.

He does have some health challenges. He has a sensitive gut that is prone to occasional diarrhea, and requires a carefully managed diet. His foster is working on determining what foods work best for him, and this problem is largely managed..

He also has malformed hip sockets that limit his mobility. He needs exercise to maintain muscle tone and overall health, but not to work so hard as to cause pain or damage to his joints. Our vet tells us he's not a candidate for surgery, sadly, but controlling his weight, managing his exercise, and medicating for pain management will ensure him a good quality of life.

ADOPTION
Buddy's adoption fee is $265. For more pictures and updates about him, see his album on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=HearthfireAnimalRescueTeam&set=a.1030237365924019.

Please note that HART does not have a facility. Our dogs live in foster homes, and are not available to meet potential adopters until after their adoption application has been approved.

If you are interested in adopting Buddy, please complete an application at https://new.shelterluv.com/. Our application process includes an online background check, vet interview, landlord/property manager interview (if in rental property), and interviews with personal references, other adults living on the property, and the applicant. Depending on various factors we may require a home check. This process usually takes about one week to complete.

Most of our dogs are located in the Tri-Cities, Washington area, and if necessary we will transport them anywhere within the Pacific Northwest, at the adopter's expense. We do not ship our dogs via a third party; they are handed directly from a trusted HART representative to the adopter.