Kobe

Profile

"In memory of Maggie." -Kelley G

"Black dogs rock! From Patch 10-223" -Michelle H

Welcome Mr. Kobe to RAGOM! Kobe is a very handsome Black Lab mix. He is about 5 years old. He hasn't been to the vet yet, so I don't have exact info., but my guess is that he is between 65 and 70 lbs. He has no apparent health problems except an ear infection and one tooth that may be broken. We will know more once we see the dog doctor later this week. He is lean and appears fit, although he isn't currently getting a lot of exercise (one of his foster siblings is old and one is injured, so long-distance walks aren't in the cards at this foster home right now), so will have to build up his endurance for exercise at his forever home. He is more than willing to go along wherever you want to go and to do whatever you want to do! He loves water, although a couple of recent lake trips indicate that he has never really seen deep water before and needs some practice with his swimming skills! Again, he is ready for a lesson whenever you are! He rides very nicely in the car. He has a great smile and is a happy guy.

Kobe is house trained. He is crate trained, but gets very stressed when crated and crates need extra reinforcement to survive his escape efforts. He is not destructive, so can be left loose in a room if you prefer. I haven't left him alone for a full day (someone stops by to let dogs out for me at midday), but he has gone 6+ hours alone and 6-7 hours at night without a problem. Kobe knows some basic commands and is generally an easy dog - just likes to lie around and be in the way as much as possible wherever you are. He is super smart and has the ability to learn things rapidly, although he will test you on the rules if he can get away with it and needs reinforcement. At his foster home, he sleeps on a dog bed in the bedroom with everyone else. He gets a little restless in the early morning (I suspect his last home was more of an early-rising household than this one is), but if I get up and let him out for a quick stretch and potty, he will settle back in and I can go back to bed for a while.

Kobe loves people and likes to be with them all of the time. He has not been around children under 16 at my house, but his history indicates that he likes kids. Kobe has always been an indoor dog and lived with two different families previously. His most recent owner fell on hard times and had to give up his dogs, so Kobe is now looking for a new place to call home.

Kobe recently spent an extended stint staying with a professional dog trainer. As already noted, he has separation anxiety, and while this diminished over time to almost nothing at the trainer's, not surprisingly when he moved to a new place for foster care, it became quite apparent again. He has been at our house for about 10 days now and while it was a bit rough at the start, he is starting to calm down and settle in and I am noticing less anxiety. Again, he does not destroy anything (except maybe a crate) when stressed, but pants and drools and shows other signs of anxiety.

The primary issue that was being addressed by the trainer is that Kobe occasionally is aggressive with other dogs. This behavior shows itself when he is overstimulated or excited. He is a dominant dog and in those situations, he becomes very defensive of whatever has his attention and will overreact if another dog enters the situation. Triggers for this that I have noticed include food, dog toys (especially outside play items), and strange dogs (particularly other dominant males). Once his focus is on an item, he is difficult to distract and redirect, but his training has helped that, and with continued training, he will continue to improve. At our house, he was pushy with the dogs and the person for the first couple of days until he established himself; he quickly learned that no dog is allowed to bully the person in this house, but establishing relationships with one of my dogs (a female) has been slower-going. The other dog in this house is very old and doesn't care about such mundane things as toys, so he and Kobe get along just fine because they are not in competition for any resources. My dogs and Kobe are separated when I am gone and closely monitored when I am home, and high-value items are not available when the dogs are together. I was happy to see that Kobe and the dog he originally had issues with when he arrived were play-bowing to each other in the yard and doing some zoomies together tonight. Kobe is not reactive or threatening with people - he just likes to be in charge and will take control if you let him.

We have been to the lake a couple of times and if other dogs are there, we just walk the other way and I get him absorbed with swimming and he decreases his concern about the other dogs. He and the neighbor dogs bark at each other a little through the fence, but they are quickly becoming familiar and he barely reacts to them past an initial greeting now. My house faces a street that is popular with runners, walkers, and dogs walkers, and while he will sometimes sit and watch them through the window, he does not get distressed by them or bark or react negatively, even when my resident dog feels the need to bark an announcement of someone passing.

So, what Kobe is looking for in his forever home:

1. A dog-savvy leader person(s) who will love him, but also help him to continue to learn to be a canine good citizen. This will include continued formal training to help Kobe find constructive ways to use his incredible focus and drive.
2. Lots of time spent with his people both being active and taking long naps. Once settled, he does not need someone home all the time, but expect a transition period to be a bit stressful.
3. It might be easiest if he is an only dog, but he really does like other dogs. He cannot live with another dominant dog or an in-your-face dog (like a puppy), but if another dog in the household is laid-back and not toy-obsessed, then they could probably be friends after slow and careful introductions. I would not suggest that he live with small dogs. He has not been tested with cats.
4. Comfy dog beds - he loves to lounge!
5. A fenced yard if he is in town or the suburbs around other dogs. He is not a run-off dog and hangs out with his person, so if he lived in the country on more extensive land, a fence wouldn't be necessary.

Kobe is a dog that requires some work, but will return your efforts with huge amounts of doggy grins and sweetness! Let your placement advisor know if you would like to meet this handsome fellow.