Size
(when grown) -
Details
Not good with kids,
Good with dogs,
Not good with cats,
House-trained,
Spayed or Neutered,
Story
Are you looking for a friendly, playful, silly, cuddlebug? Then Ryder is your guy! You can tell he is looking for love from his human companions and enjoys spending time with you- whether that is playing a game of fetch, watching you eat trying to convince you to give him a piece with his puppy dog eyes, or snuggling up with you watching TV. We have been Ryder’s long term foster for a few months, and, we've been able to see his goofy personality shine through.
Ryder is very curious about the world around him and wants to take everything in- which can sometimes be too much! He definitely takes on the energy of those around him so in loud or chaotic situations he can become super energetic wanting to join in on the fun. So long as his family knows his social limits and allows him to take some breaks from fast paced situations, Ryder will do just fine!
Sticking to a routine has been very helpful for Ryder's transition into our home. It took him about 3 weeks to be comfortable in his foster home and then about 2 more to learn our routine. Now whenever I need to go to work, he goes into his kennel without needing to be asked because he knows that I need to leave and he isn't able to come with. We have left him out of his kennel when we leave for a short amount of time (under an hour) and Ryder has just napped on the couch while we were away.
When it comes to going on walks, squirrels beware! Ryder definitely has a drive to chase after squirrels and bunnies. However, once they are safely up the tree or out of sight, he is good to keep moving on for his walks. Just be sure whoever is behind the leash can handle the pull of this 75lb dog! Aside from the squirrels, he loves going on walks. We have done a bit of jogging with him and it seems like he would fit in with someone who wants to do short jogs around the block. He can sometimes pull on the leash at the start of a walk because of excitement, but within a few minutes he is sniffing away happily on a relaxed leash. Ryder is definitely a food hound though- so be sure to be on the lookout in case there is food on the ground as you walk- he will absolutely try and gobble it up.
While we are unable to introduce Ryder to other dogs while in foster, he is definitely curious about them on walks! He does well if the other dog doesn't start barking at him and can walk right on by the other side of the street without issue. If the other dog starts barking at him, then Ryder can get riled up and will need some help disengaging out of sight of the other dog. Any dog introductions to Ryder should be done slowly as his high and excited energy can be a lot for other dogs. You can tell he would love to go play with the other dogs- he can just be a bit of a bulldozer when he plays!
Ryder likes: walks, treats/food, meeting new people, getting pets, new toys, playing, giving you kisses, watching outside the window, going on car rides (he LOVES this!), being social, the mailman (ours gives him treats!), his kong and snuffle mat
Ryder dislikes: squirrels/small animals, cats, extended loud noises, rough housing while playing, dogs who bark at him for no reason when we are out on walks
Overall, Ryder has been a great foster dog. He truly loves his people and is looking for a family that will love him back. He plays fetch, brings the toy back to you, and knows some basic commands- sit, stay, kennel, down (we taught "down" to him in about 3 weeks since we got him- so he is trainable for more tricks). He is housetrained and also kennel trained (although he will give you loving puppy dog eyes trying to convince you that he should be able to stay on the couch instead!). If your family would do well with a loveable goofball who loves to play and snuggle, then consider giving Ryder a chance! We are open to answering any questions you might have to see if he would be a good fit for you and your family
