Size
(when grown) Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)
Details
Good with dogs,
House-trained,
Spayed or Neutered,
Story
Socialization/training: Rio is the sweetest boy, and so incredibly loyal and loving to his family. However, Rio has had a hard life in his early years and can be fearful of new people, environments, and change. Rio will require patience, empathy, and time to adjust to a new living environment. He is house trained and alerts by standing at our backdoor when needing to go outside. Rio is very food motivated, intelligent, mischievous, and playful; he is learning to love and is becoming a great, young dog. Rio gets along well with the dogs in his foster home, he especially loves to play chase with other dogs. He would do best in a home with another young, playful, dog that enjoys rough housing.
Crate trained: Rio is progressing very nicely on his crate-training! He eats both meals in his crate, and sleeps in a crate at night, as well as anytime he is left alone. He willingly goes in his crate with a treat each time. He can sometimes whine in his crate but quickly settles in; after 2 months of crate-training, he will now go into his crate to rest throughout the day by choice.
Leash trained: Rio enjoys walks and loves to sniff! However, Rio struggles with anxiety and reactivity to humans and other animals on leash. It was advised by a trainer that we should focus less on walks, and focus instead on areas of enrichment like sniffing and brain-games while he learns to decompress.
Activity Level: Rio is a high energy dog who loves to play. Rio loves toys and love to run in the yard, he will settle down in the house nicely if he is properly exercised or worn-out. He is also great with self-play and is happy to chew on a toy or ball when bored, or nap next to his human. Rio would do best in a home with a large yard or ample access to trails/acreage.
Fence: Rio requires a 6 foot physical fence to be safe. It should be assumed that Rio can jump most fences less than 6ft. I do not recommend an invisible fence for Rio due to his prey-drive. We have a short (4ft) fence on one side of our house that Rio can easily clear.
Behavior: Rio is incredibly sweet and affectionate to his family. He will need time to warm-up to a new home but will quickly start to bond with both the dogs and humans who reside there. Rio is very empathetic and loves to be by his people, he enjoys couch snuggles, burying his head in your lap, and will often follow you from room to room. He can be stubborn at times, especially when he has not had enough enrichment, but is overall very trainable and food motivated. He is extremely playful and will thrive with enrichment and exercise. Rio is a sweetheart who truly wants to please and do the right thing, he is so deserving of a loving home.
Medical History: Rio is neutered, up to date on all vaccinations, microchipped and on monthly heartworm medication and flea/tick preventative. He is a healthy boy and continues to gain weight and fill out his beautiful coat. Rio does struggle with GI issues on occasion, especially in times of stress or environmental change, and would do best with a consistent diet and feeding schedule. His next leishmaniasis test is due July 2024.
Rio originates from Greece where Leishmaniasis is endemic. He tested negative before coming to the USA, but the parasite can remain dormant in the system for many years, so potential adopters must be willing to commit to annual testing for the next 7 years. Typically, the test needs to be sent to a special lab, but any regular vet can draw the blood and send it to the lab. The cost of the test seems to vary widely by area, but is approximately $150-$250 or if your vet is willing to send the test to a veterinary college lab, cost can be as low as $80.
Foster Comments: We would love to see Rio in a quiet home, outside of a city or metropolitan area with a large yard, and/or acreage, ideally with another young dog that he can romp and play with. Rio would prefer a home without children under 12 and would do best with someone who can be home a lot. Rio is not cat-friendly. Rio is a gentle soul who is incredibly loving and loyal to his chosen family. He will need a new family that will have patience and empathy for his needs and be committed to his ongoing, positive-reinforcement training and meeting his physical and mental exercise needs. Rio needs a quiet home where he can continue to decompress and learn that people = love.
Foster Location: Houston, TX
Volunteer transport can be arranged in the Continental US within a 1,000-mile distance between adopters & foster home. If interstate transport is provided for your adopted dog, there will be an additional charge of $50.00 for the required Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (“Health Certificate”). Typically, we are able to transport your adopted dog to within 2 hours of your home. *Dogs can be adopted outside the 1000-mile transport distance; however, adopters must be willing to either fly their adopted dog, drive to a location within the 1000-mile transport range, or make independent transport arrangements for their adopted dog. Transports to far Western states, from Eastern states, may have additional restrictions.
##1786694##