Size
(when grown) Large 61-100 lbs (28-45 kg)
Details
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Story
Charlie went to a short time foster for a weekend shelter break. She gives the following report: I had the privilege of keeping Charlie at my house for 2 days and nights. In that time, I learned some important things about him. Charlie is a friendly and affectionate guy who LOVES his person. He would be a great dog for someone who is looking for a furry companion to bond with; he is extremely loyal and wants to be by your side. He loves to snuggle and thinks of himself as a lap dog. He loves to play fetch and then loves to gnaw on the rubber ball inside, entertaining himself for long periods of time this way. He even plays fetch to himself inside. He has energy and is grateful for reciprocal attention, but he is also completely appropriate with his behavior inside a home, particularly if you provide him with at least some short walks a day. He enjoys these walks outside and will walk right by your side. If he sees another dog while on a walk, he is quite interested and will start to pull the leash, but he is easily redirected with a "sit, even on a Martingale collar (the least restrictive kind). He stops at all doors in a home and sits, rather than bolting out, when it's time to go for a walk. He loves treats when he is doing well and has a soft mouth to accept them, but I found that outside of the shelter, he in no way demands them. He is happy for whatever attention you give him, be it pettings, outside time, or inside time. He's definitely crate-trained, and while he will whine or bark when you first put him in it, he settles down and quiets eventually. In the beginning, due to over-excitement of being in a home, he had a couple of small pee accidents, but once he was told sternly not to do that, he stopped. He peed and pooped outside. Charlie is very smart and very eager to please, easily redirected in all ways within the context of a home. He's a curious and happy guy. He responds quickly and respectfully to redirection if he feels playful and mouthy. He loves people in a room (including big and littler bodies) and will rub up against them for affection. He's playful and fun, but he is also able to settle down and rest, preferring a big dog pillow to do so. He loves dog toys. As time progressed, he was more able to settle and rest, lying on his side, as initially he was "checking out the home and glued to the side of his person. Charlie is submissive to dominant dogs in a home. He wants to play with them but is respectful of their signs if they are not interested. He could easily be an only dog or a dog among others. There are so many good things about Charlie. Overall impressions that I got from him are that he will love the attention of one particular person, but he is very open and friendly to all people he meets. He sees most parts of a home as new and interesting-I don't think he has had much experience with seeing household objects-but he leaves things alone that are not his. While the kennel environment of the shelter and the seeing/hearing of all the dogs there is very stressful for him, he is a totally different dog in a home environment. He would make a wonderful pet and would be so grateful for the chance (I sensed that gratitude with the toe kisses at my feet and his affectionate looking into my eyes while he was with me). Charlie is a great dog and would be the most loyal and affectionate companion.
