Bruno

Linus in his new forever home.

Bruno has been adopted and is settling into his new Golden life!

Meet Bruno! He loves to go on a couple of longish (2-3 miles each) walks during the day, where he loves to roam and get his sniffs, but also can walk next to me like a champ. Our walks are long enough to combine both, and he seems to know when I just want to keep moving and will walk next to me at my pace (he prefers to walk on my left side). We are working hard to not react to dogs; some greets with dogs that we casually and slowly meet, or that I have a relationship with dog and/or owner have gone great. Others get a strong reaction….barking, leaping even from across the street. About 50% of the time my reminder to “stay calm” while I distract him with treats has been successful. He often has the same reaction towards anything moving (runners, walkers, bikes), but that has improved greatly, and mostly short lived. He was also fearful of cars, but after introducing him to walking around traffic, he now does just fine even on busy roads with sidewalks as well as on less busy roads.

He does great in the house, and has free roam, though has not attempted stairs other than front porch and outside down to the backyard. He's curious about the inside stairs to our walkout basement, but has not attempted. He’s been left alone for short amounts of time (1 hour give or take) and there have been no issues, though he is definitely excited to see us again. After our walks he is happy to lay on a couch or the floor and chill for a few hours.

He lets us know he’s ready for some exercise by heading to the door (we initially thought this was a potty signal, but after many “no go’s"), we assume this is his “I need to move around” signal, and not necessarily for potty. Bruno sleeps in the bedroom on a dog bed, and comes in shortly after I go to bed after announcing “time for bed”, though on occasion he will stay on a couch in the living room. He sleeps through the night, but he is an early riser! I can take him to the couch and lay with him and he falls back asleep, or just say “go back to bed” and he does.

Bruno would be fine as an only dog or with a resident dog (sitter with resident dog had Bruno for 5 days with no issues) but has not been tested with cats. Has had a few unplanned interactions with a small child and was calm. He barks when someone new enters the house, but if they ignore Bruno, he soon approaches them on his own and is ready for pets and lap sitting. He is recently groomed, up to date on all vaccines, and was neutered last week and has a few more days wearing a cone, which he doesn’t seem to mind.

Car rides can be iffy. Out of 8 car rides, he has vomited 2x in my car, but has also had okay car rides. Both of these were the day after a big transition (first day after receiving him and day after returning from 5 days at sitter, so maybe just stress). Otherwise excessively drools and whines while in car. He’s also had one fine car ride, so I think there is potential once he gets situated and feels secure in coming and going this will resolve itself. He has been exposed to thunder, hard rain and hard wind, and he had zero reaction. Bruno is pretty close (and working hard) to becoming a great dog. All in all I expect Bruno to adjust quickly to a new home, and with a bit of consistent training, to be a wonderful companion.