Size
(when grown) Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)
Details
Good with dogs,
Story
True to his name, Romeo is a total lover. This handsome boy is sweet, sensitive, affectionate, and becoming more himself every day. After only a couple of days in foster, the shy and uncertain dog who first arrived has already started showing just how much personality is hiding underneath.
Romeo loves his people and bonds quickly. Right now, he’s a certified Velcro dog who would happily follow his foster from room to room just to make sure he isn’t missing anything. He loves attention and would prefer to have all of it, thank you very much! He may try to insert himself when the resident dogs are getting affection, so he’s learning that there’s plenty of love to go around and he doesn’t have to be involved in every interaction.
Because Romeo is undergoing treatment for severe heartworm disease, he is currently on strict activity restriction. Even excessive pacing and following his foster around the house is more activity than he should be getting right now. As he progresses through treatment, keeping him calm and resting for the majority of the day will become even more important. His current quiet lifestyle is medically necessary and may not reflect his normal energy level once he is healthy and cleared for regular activity.
That means Romeo has an important job right now: learning how to do absolutely nothing. He’s practicing “place,” settling independently, and becoming comfortable in his crate—and he’s already making progress. He now settles in his crate almost immediately when his foster is nearby or somewhere he can see or hear her.
Independence is still very much a work in progress. Romeo currently has difficulty when his person leaves the area and may whine or want to get out of his crate. He has not yet been left home alone, so we don’t know how he’ll handle longer periods by himself. His foster is taking things slowly and helping him learn that he is safe even when his person isn’t directly beside him. He’s already celebrating little victories, including calmly staying crated when outside of view.
Romeo was initially nervous around the resident dogs and preferred that they give him some space. Slow introductions made a huge difference. Once he was allowed to approach them when he felt ready, he quickly began seeking them out, relaxing beside them, and even trying to initiate play. Unfortunately for Romeo, playtime will have to wait until his heartworm treatment is complete!
So far, he has shown no resource guarding with toys or chews and isn’t particularly interested in either. Food and human attention are much more exciting. Meals are currently fed separately, so eating around other dogs has not been tested. He’s also a curious explorer and has discovered that the trash can occasionally warrant a thorough investigation.
Romeo is still learning how to live in a home, and we’re still learning who Romeo is. What we already know is that he’s affectionate, people-focused, sensitive, curious, and a quick learner. He needs patience and structure while he builds confidence and independence, but the progress he has made in just his first few days in foster has been wonderful to watch. Even being dosed with Gabapentin, we do have to intentionally make effort to keep him calm and make him be still. So I would say unmedicated Romeo we could expect to be a moderate-high energy level.
For now, Romeo’s days are all about resting, healing, learning, and discovering that he’s safe. As he continues to settle in, we have a feeling there’s going to be a lot more Romeo to meet. ❤️
