Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
Good with dogs,
Spayed or Neutered,
Shots are up-to-date,
Story
Location: Asheville, NCMeet Pepper — Smart, Sweet, and Looking for the Right Forever Home!Goldendoodle | Almost 2 years old | 38 poundsPepper is a beautiful, intelligent girl with a lot of wonderful qualities! She's playful, adventurous, well-mannered in the home, and loves spending time with her people. Like every dog, she also has a few things she's working through, and we want to be completely upfront so we can find her the home where she'll truly thrive. Life at HomePepper is completely housetrained, although she may let out a few excited drops when she's REALLY happy to see you!She's a polite houseguest who doesn't chew things she shouldn't, doesn't beg at the dinner table, and happily sleeps through the night in bed with her person.She enjoys being near her humans but isn't necessarily a dog who wants to be in your lap 24/7. She appreciates companionship while still enjoying a little personal space.Crinkly toys and playing catch? Now those are definitely her love languages! Smart Cookie with a Little Stubborn Streak!Pepper is incredibly smart and learns commands quickly. She already knows sit, stay, come, wait, go place, round me, and more!She walks beautifully on a leash and enjoys long walks, hiking, puzzle toys, and activities that keep that busy brain working.And yes, she can occasionally be stubborn. She's a Goldendoodle with opinions, after all! Social Life & AdventuresPepper has made wonderful progress with her confidence in new situations.She's accompanied her person to trivia nights at breweries, bocce leagues, outdoor concerts, and coffee shops. She's becoming quite the little social butterfly!However, very busy or overstimulating environments, such as large festivals or places with lots of dogs, can still make her nervous. When overwhelmed, she may pull on the leash, whine, or become uneasy. The good news? She's made significant progress with continued socialization, and her confidence continues to grow.She loves other dogs, although she can get a little barky when playing with her dog friends. She seems to enjoy meeting children, but she has not lived with them, so we cannot say how she would do in a home with kids.Cats? That's still an unknown.And if you enjoy road trips, Pepper makes a great little co-pilot! Grooming & MaintenanceLet's talk about that beautiful Goldendoodle coat!Pepper requires consistent brushing, preferably nightly, to prevent matting. This is an important part of keeping her comfortable and healthy.She's wonderful about baths, ear cleaning, teeth brushing, and little touch-ups around her face.Nail trims, however, are NOT on her list of favorite activities.Her grooming has been done at home, so we don't yet know how she would handle a professional grooming environment. Now, Let's Talk About Pepper's Biggest Challenge: Separation Anxiety.We believe in being transparent about our dogs, and Pepper's separation anxiety is something her future family needs to fully understand.Pepper does wonderfully when she's with her people. Unfortunately, being left alone is currently very difficult for her.What initially started as a little whining has progressed into significant distress when she's left alone. She now barks frantically and continuously, whether she's alone for 30 minutes or several hours. When crated and left alone, she has attempted to dig her way out, injuring her paws in the process. She may also try to destroy bedding or other items she can reach.Her current caregiver has put considerable effort into helping her, including crate training techniques, calming products, enrichment toys, crate covers, supplements, and multiple prescription anxiety medications. Unfortunately, these efforts have not provided lasting relief. Only higher prescribed doses of sedating medication have helped her remain calm.This is not Pepper being naughty, stubborn, or intentionally destructive. She is genuinely struggling when left alone.Pepper will need a patient, understanding adopter who recognizes that separation anxiety is a real behavioral challenge and is prepared to work through it with appropriate veterinary and behavioral support.What Kind of Home Would Be Best for Pepper?Ideally, we'd love to find Pepper a home where someone is around most of the time, such as someone who works from home, is retired, or has a flexible schedule.But simply being home more often isn't a complete solution. Her future family must understand that she may need continued professional help, a carefully managed routine, and a long-term commitment to addressing her anxiety.We're not going to promise that another dog will fix her anxiety, that she'll magically grow out of it, or that a different crate will solve everything. Pepper doesn't need a perfect home. She needs the RIGHT home.One that celebrates everything wonderful about her while also understanding the challenges that come with loving her.We know that home is out there, and we're hoping the right person sees this and says, *"I understand what she needs, and I'm willing to help her." we do not allow electric fences/halo collars, runners/tethers or doggy doors
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