Size
(when grown) Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
Details
Good with dogs,
Good with cats,
Needs special attention,
Story
Montana is such a special pup. He had a bit of a rough start in life, and while that's made him cautious about the world, he's already catching up by leaps and bounds. He may need a little bit to warm up to new spaces and people, but he loves people hard--as soon as he decides you're safe, he is all snuggles and (moderate amounts of) kisses.
This is an incredibly sensitive boy, and he's very eager to please--the slightest change in tone of voice is enough to redirect him, and we use a cheerful "Oops!" as his "Try again" no-reward marker. His foster parent has only had to use the word "no" once in the time they've been together. That sensitivity is a gift and not something we'd like to fix: his ideal forever home would have people committed to using positive rewards-based training methods and continuing the socialization work we've started, which is helping him to blossom.
He's learning fast that car rides don't have to be scary and is making fantastic progress. He was a dreamboat for his first nail trim (nailed it! ha) and we're handling his feet daily so that he stays calm about it. He's finally opened up enough to get short-but-adorable zoomies around the yard, but overall he is remarkably low-energy for a puppy.
Montana knows that we sit to say "please," and he dashes into his crate at mealtime and sits politely before his dinner is put down. We are working on "down" and "wait" and a whistle to recall and he is such a quick study. Unlike many timid puppies, he has been just fine around unusual sounds. He is emphatically not a fan of being rained upon, but we watched a lightning show and listened to thunder together with no sign of nerves from him. When a new or loud person comes into the house and Montana feels overwhelmed, he heads to his crate quietly to self-regulate instead of barking--he definitely views the crate as his safe retreat.
Speaking of crates: He's had zero accidents in his crate and knows to keep his space clean and is doing *great* with housetraining--like most puppies, he thrives on routine and plenty of opportunities to get it right. With the one caveat that he's still learning to be brave in new spaces and will need patience and understanding on that front, he is a dream to walk on a leash. He has only pulled twice (but pulled hard) when a squirrel darted past us. He is mostly content to mosey along beside his person and has stuck close to his foster when we're out in the yard together, even without a leash and harness on.
Montana likes treats but thrives most on engagement and praise. Touch and words of affirmation are his love languages. He lives with two cats and has been just perfect, respectful of their space but not jumpy or reactive if they approach to sniff or snuggle him. We also just had our first play date with a friendly, well-mannered dog and Montana did GREAT and has a new buddy (video available)!
Things to be aware of: He snores. Also, deep down, Montana does not believe there should be a reason for his person to go anywhere without him. He WILL follow you to the bathroom. While we need a gentle and understanding forever home for him, we also need one willing to put in the time for training and keep gentle but firm boundaries. To keep his velcro inclinations from blossoming into dependence and separation anxiety, he's getting daily "quiet" time for an hour in a crate with a Kong or a licki mat to keep up the habit of self-soothing and handling alone time well.
Montana knows what couches and beds are and adores them. He is a champion snuggler and his happiest place to sleep would be in bed with his people, but in the interest of preparing him for a range of homes, he currently sleeps in his crate--he is used to the routine and settles down after only a brief bit of whining (he is still a puppy, after all).
His ideal forever-people would either be familiar with the additional care requirements that shar-peis have (allergies, food sensitivities, skin, ear, and eye care) or be willing to learn about them and practice cooperative care techniques with him. If you'd like to know more, we're happy to direct you to some resources! Shar-peis can also be protective and he is already showing signs of that at his tender age--continued socialization will be important, especially since he is not done growing.
