Size
(when grown) Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)
Details
Good with kids,
Good with dogs,
Not good with cats,
House-trained,
Story
History: Loretta is a beautiful girl who found herself at an overcrowded rural shelter and was very pregnant. She had her puppies just days prior to coming to rescue and they settled into their foster home with us very quickly. Her puppies are stocky, pudgy kiddos with unique personalities of their very own!
Momma Loretta has been an amazing dog and has recently taken on 3 Great Dane puppies as a surrogate for Momma Lavender who had 15 puppies and could not produce enough milk for them all. She was so patient with them and took them in as her own- she is the very best girl!
A Note from the Foster: Etta is an unusually "chill" dog when she's relaxed. She's content to lay around much of the time. Yet she will show spurts of energy which are puppy-like and funny to watch. Every day at some time, she gets playful. It’s like the “downward dog” challenging another dog to play. She will, against our rule, run into the bedroom and jump onto the bed and get in the downward dog challenge, knowing we’ll tell her to get off. She does just that, runs into another room and back into the bedroom for round 2! We’re learning to keep a gate across the doorway.
Etta is very loving, adores being petted on her head and ears, and will "shake" a paw at you for more! And, she sometimes “talks” to you! She loves being brushed. Most nights she puts herself to sleep in her kennel, the door is left open.
She is VERY food/treat driven, and will do almost anything for you with a treat. She LOVES car rides, and gets along respectfully well with her 14 year old resident dog sister. We have not encountered cats.
She can also be stubborn, and wait a bit to “come” on her own time. A gentle but firm clear voice, and giving her wait time, works best.
She is never really "hyper." A definite PLUS.
The MUST HAVES for a new owner:
1. Willingness to work to have a rapport with her, it's not likely to be automatic. Once you have a rapport, you have a lifelong friend.
2. Watchful understanding of the signs of her insecurity/anxiousness, tightly tucked tail. Loud noises, quick movements and a leash in hand can be startling for her. Etta is sometimes “mouthy” wanting to put her mouth around your hand or arm for example. She may chew some cardboard or plastic but doesn’t eat it.
* Etta is working on forgetting she was mistreated. (A male human, likely wearing a plaid flannel shirt and beating her with a leash). We don’t observe hesitation (while trying to put a leash on her) response much anymore.
3. Willingness to continue to teach her positive behaviors.
