Coco

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What goes better with all those awesome holiday treats than Coco(a)?!?

This petite sweetie has only been with us for a few days, but here is what we know so far:

• She is a slightly thin 55 lbs, will be 3 in December and is either purebred, or a very golden-looking mix
• She is a wiggly ball of energy, prancing around the house with her ears perked and her tail wagging
• She eats her dinner gently from my hands, and **gasp** stops when she is full (what self-respecting golden does that???)
• She comes to her name and can sit most of the time on command
• She shows some interest in The Ball, but most of the time it's already being worshiped by one of the resident fur-butts and she is a little leery of joining that party
• She will kennel nicely, but likes to be in the same room with her peeps if they are in the house
• She walks at the end of the leash but does not pull most of the time
• No potty accidents in the house, but still working on being fully poop-trained. We are learning her signals and it’s been a stressful transition for her, so I wouldn’t expect this to be an issue for long once she settles in!

Coco-puff (our working term of endearment for her) does have some things she will need to work on in foster care and with her forever family. Medically, she seems generally healthy, but will see the vet early next week and get up-to-date on her shots and get scheduled for her spay. Behaviorally, her manners could use work, and she will need a family that is committed to obedience training to help her learn to stay off the counters, not jump up on people, etc. She seems vaguely protective of her food from the resident dogs, but only when they are right in her face, and she gives great warnings. There is no concern with toys, bones, treats, etc. She is a bit of a barker, but it doesn’t seem to be excessive. She has a quirky habit of growling when she is playing hard with the residents, but once you get to know her it is very clear when it changes from “play” to “warning”. She has impressive hackles and expressive body language that help make the distinction obvious.

The biggest obstacle for Coco will be socialization. She requires slow intros to other dogs and new people, and she prefers to approach them rather than the other way around. She is also hand-shy and is easily startled by loud noises in the house, but recovers quickly and investigates.

With all of that info in mind, here is what we currently believe Coco needs in a forever family

• No small children
• Experienced dog owners
• Commitment to obedience training
• Fur-kids optional, she likes to wrestle and race, but gets agitated when things get rough
• Exercise! You know what they say… A tired dog is a good dog!
• Dog-savvy cats would be fine
• With training, she would probably be ok without a fence, but would love a yard to run in
• Patience to help this little girl gain confidence and trust in her peeps

Some of these things may change as she settles in and we get to know her better, so we will keep you posted.

Do you want to spend the holidays with Miss Coco? Contact your placement advisor!