Size
(when grown) Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)
Details
Good with kids,
Good with dogs,
Good with cats,
Story
Playful, affectionate, friendly, people-focused - Turk Rainbow is all that, AND handsome to boot! This fun pup is looking for a job as your lifelong companion.
HISTORY
The seven Rainbow pups were dumped on a country road near Prosser, in Eastern Washington, at the end of July. They found their way to a house and asked for help, and shortly afterwards were safe in a large run at a foster home. These pups have not yet lived as indoor dogs, because we did not have a foster home available for them. However they are handled lovingly multiple times a day and have lots of playtime outside the run, as well as having a good supply of toys and a swimming pool in their run, so they are healthy, happy and thriving.
We have no way of knowing what breed they are. When we first took them in they looked like Heeler / Border Collie mix, but as they grew they looked and behaved more like Labradors. As to the source of Turk's gorgeous brindle coat, that's anyone's guess.
The Rainbows are in Kennewick, Eastern Washington. While we prefer adopters to meet all the available pups before making their choice, we're willing to arrange transport to anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, just to help these babies get home!
SOCIALIZATION
Turk is a confident, friendly, happy pup. He LOVES people and eagerly comes running for attention and lovies. He's a big, clumsy boy who still has scratchy toenails and sharp puppy teeth, so he may be a bit too much puppy for a very young child - but with patient training we expect him to develop into a wonderful companion and family dog.
He gets on well with his litter mates and is respectful toward older, bigger dogs, but his bouncy enthusiasm can be overwhelming for the tiny dogs in his foster home.
There are peacocks, chickens and ducks at his foster home, and Tank and his brothers enjoy watching them through the fence. He hasn't interacted much with cats, but he's young enough to learn to respect the feline ruler of his forever home.
TEMPERAMENT, BEHAVIOR & TRAINING
Clearly the people who dumped them weren't kind or caring, but despite their rocky beginning the Rainbows are confident, affectionate and playful. There is NO indication that anyone has ever hurt or scared Turk. He trusts people and tends to be very focused on the human when he has company.
He's showing signs of developing into a bit of an aristocrat. Sometimes Turk likes to parade calmly around the puppies' play area, acting like the lord of all he surveys. When he's in play mode, however, he forgets his dignity and hurtles at full speed from place to place, stopping only to poke his nose into something interesting. But pick him up for a cuddle and he just melts in your arms!
He loves splashing in their paddle pool, playing tag, chewing on anything tasty, playing with toys, sniffing here and there - this boy is busy, brave and curious about his world! He is clearly intelligent and eager for human approval, and will probably be rewarding to train.
Important to remember: TURK IS A PUPPY! Puppies are HARD WORK! They have sharp claws and needle teeth. He has been loved and cared for in his foster home, but Turk still has everything to learn about being a civilized indoor dog. Please don't apply to adopt a Rainbow unless you are up for the work of potty-training, teaching them the difference between their stuff (can chew) and yours (leave it), teaching them not to jump up on people, teaching them manners, taking them through at least basic training, and ensuring they don't hurt themselves or destroy anything you really care about in the process.
PHYSICAL & HEALTH STATUS
Based on their teeth at the time we took them in we estimated that the Rainbows were about 6-7 weeks old, and assigned them June 12, 2023 as their birthday. Based on their size at that time we expected them to grow to around 45 lbs ... but then we fed them and they started to grow. We've revised our estimate upward and believe they will mature at 60-75 lbs.
They appear to be in good overall health, and have been vaccinated, treated for intestinal parasites, and microchipped.
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 Rainbows' 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 Rainbows 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 Rainbows, please see their Facebook albums at https://www.facebook.com/HearthfireAnimalRescueTeam
