The beautiful weather continued today, as did the storm of shepherds. I went to Charlottesville to meet Tomas. The dog is beautiful and probably the best behaved and best trained 10 month old shepherd pup I've ever met.
The secret isn't really a secret. The owner runs with him every morning and walks with him again twice in the evening. They get a lot of exercise and a lot of one-on-one time. He sits, downs, stays, just for starters. He's also neutered and up to date on everything, How often in rescue does that happen? Rarely. And with a well-trained, gorgeous, 10 month old pup? Never. No bite history, no behavior problems, just an owner in a bad situation.
The owner is actually someone I adopted a dog to about 10 years ago. That dog died sometime last summer, I guess. He contacted VGSR to adopt again but wanted a young one, which I didn't have. He bought Tomas as a 6-8 week old pup from some Amish people who raise puppies as a cash crop (don't get me started). Obviously I don't recommend that, but he has worked wonders with the pup. He's a big fan of the Monks of New Skete, and whatever he's done, it has worked.
Tomas was a little skittish around me, but he definitely wanted to check out all my smells. (I am a walking smorgasbord of canine olfactory stimulation.) He would even initiate play with me, but would then scoot away when I responded in kind. He has wise old eyes, but there's still some goofy pup in him too.
He's a highly desirable, highly adoptable dog, there is no question about that. I did question the owner pretty closely, however, to make sure he wasn't making a permanent solution for a temporary problem. I wouldn't want to take his dog and then have him regret it.
I didn't take the dog today. I have enough here already. Lexy is going to move to another foster home this weekend and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that another one may be going as well. I told the owner I'd contact him next week and take the dog then.
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He is just beautiful!!! I hope the owner has a temporary problem and not a permanent one. It would be a shame to have to give up this wonderful dog!
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