Size
(when grown) -
Details
Good with kids,
Good with dogs,
Good with cats,
Spayed or Neutered,
Story
Hi, my name is Joshua Tree. I am from Minnesota.
From his foster: JT came from the local shelter, where he was picked up as a stray. He’s only been in foster care for 4 days, so his true personality will continue to unfold in the coming weeks.
- Great Personality - He is easy-going, relaxed, confident and happy.
- Affectionate - He frequently comes for kisses and hugs and cuddles (in small doses). He loves to be close to his people.
- Well Behaved - He is relaxed in the house, spending most of his time napping. He respects boundaries and has not messed with my belongings.
- Smart - He picks up on asks immediately and has already learned major commands in just a few days. He is eager to please and food motivated. He will be a fun dog to take through training classes.
- Friendly - JT LOVES playing with other dogs. He does fine with all people and is very polite when greeting strangers such as the mailman.
While JT’s positive traits far outweigh the negative, there are 2 things that potential adopters should know:
1. Leash Manners and Prey Drive – JT pulls hard on the leash. He has a very large prey drive, and his main leash distractions are when he sees bunnies/squirrels and other dogs. He is not aggressive towards other dogs on-leash, but he wants to say hi and play with them. Adopters MUST be committed to working with JT on his leash manners. He would do fabulous in training classes and is food and praise motivated. Without commitment to proper training, there is potential for JT to get frustrated by being restrained on leash, which could lead to long-term leash aggression.
2. Crate Training – Since JT has only been in my home for 4 days, we are in the infancy of crate training. He enjoys his crate and is happy to eat and nap in it. However, he is not so happy to be left in the crate with the door closed and is VERY unhappy to be left alone. This is normal at the beginning of crate training, and I do expect him to make rapid progress with crate comfort level in the coming weeks. Because he is extremely vocal in his crate now when left alone, I would not recommend JT to be in a home with shared walls. (If he becomes more quiet and comfortable when left in a crate in the coming weeks, I will update this recommendation).
WHAT KIND OF HOME WOULD BE A GOOD FIT FOR JT?
- As noted above, adopters must be committed to ongoing leash training. (Crate training will also need ongoing work if adopter wishes to be able to crate him).
- JT does not need another dog in the home, but he LOVES playing with other dogs and would likely be very happy to have resident canine companions. He’d be best paired with other dogs that have an energetic play style who could match his energy level. If there are no other dogs in the home, adopters should commit to finding him regular offleash play time with other dogs, which may come in many forms (e.g. doggy day care, dog parks, neighborhood dog play groups, etc).
- JT is not tested with cats. I would hesitate to recommend him to a home with cats due to his prey drive, but since he respects boundaries well, he may be OK with dog saavy cats. If a potential adopter is interested, we could arrange to cat test him.
- JT does not live with kids now, but I believe he would be happy in a home with older dog-savvy kids. He is not riled up by any noise or household chaos, and he’s also comfortable having his body touched everywhere (paws, ears, tail, etc). I would suggest not to pair him with very young kids, as he still has some light mouthing and jumping behaviors that will need to be curbed over time.
- JT has a moderate energy level. He is currently enjoying an hour walk in the morning, a 30-minute walk at lunch and some short evening activity like play time with neighbor dogs. This is more than enough to keep him relaxed and snoozing the rest of the day. JT doesn't need a yard (though he would, of course, love it), as long as his new family is committed to keeping him engaged and active.
JT is truly a diamond in the rough. He is everything you want in a dog -- happy, friendly, respectful, chill, social, eager to please. He’s not aggressive, and he doesn’t resource guard. He gets along well with all people and dogs. He just needs a little polish to learn basic training, so that he can really shine. (It's a fun opportunity to really grow and bond with your dog!). I can easily see JT being a long-term companion for hiking, camping, and boating adventures. He’d be the perfect adventure sidekick. He's a sweet boy who will integrate well into his family's life.
DO NOTE: JT will be undergoing neuter surgery on Thursday 6/12, which will be followed by 2 weeks of recovery.
