Fred #4091

Hi! I’m Fred (#4091), or at least that’s what they called me at the animal shelter. I’m about one and a half years old, and a gigantic puppy at around 95 lbs. Everyone thinks I am just the handsomest boy in town!  New people and places can be pretty scary and overwhelming for me, and I like to pretend I am invisible at first, but once I get comfortable I get very playful and super sweet.  When I can settle in and come out of my shell, I am a giant goofball and absolutely love to play with people and other dogs, both big (like me!) and small (one of my best playmates is a chihuahua that is only about as big as my head!). I am really great around any type of dog, and have never shown any sign of concerning behavior even around more reactive dogs. My foster brother and sister love to run and play with me, especially chase and wrestling and biting. I do like to chew on hard toys and ropes and bones, and will chase balls and other things sometimes, but mostly I like to play with my foster siblings and other dogs the most. I am not very protective of my toys or food. My best home would have another dog (or more!) that could match my playful energy well. I like to feel like I’m part of a pack and a family.

I really love being outside, and buildings can be very scary for me. When I first showed up with my foster family, I was pretty shy and wouldn’t come in the house for a few days, and even then only felt safe in the living room, on the couch or on a bed. It took several weeks but eventually I worked up enough nerve to explore the whole house and now it doesn’t bother me at all, but I can still get a little nervous when I have to go somewhere new. I’ve gone to the beach and river a few times and the water used to be very scary, but I just discovered that I actually love it! It was so much fun splashing and running around in the shallow water! I really like to run and explore, so a big yard with lots of room to enjoy would be ideal for me, and an active family that will take me places would be fun! I was very scared of the car at first and would get very anxious on rides, but now I get in happily and travel very well. It just takes a few times for me to realize that stuff isn’t as scary as I thought. I do really well on walks and in public, but I could use some more leash training just to be my best self. I don’t like to be forced to do things at all, but a little gentle persuasion usually works wonders.

I am usually very friendly with everyone, but sometimes I get a little shy with too much attention, too soon. I can be also be cuddly sometimes and like physical affection, but a lot of the time I like to just do my own thing. I’m not exactly a “magnet dog” but I do like to be aware of where my people are. I really like kids, and I’m very tolerant with them and anyone else, and let kids and people climb on me, hug me, poke at me, or do pretty much anything, and don’t mind at all. I haven’t been around any kitties, but I think I would like that too probably. I love most any animal and think the little ones are really fascinating!

I’m told that I can be a bit of an escape artist so any new yard should be well-secured for me. I am very smart and I figured out how to open the latch on the gate in my foster family’s yard, and liked to do that and then wander outside. Chasing me will make me play the “run away from you” game, but I don’t really want to run away. I have learned how to respond better to vocal commands, so I will come back in the yard now when I am told to. I also learned a few other commands like “sit” or to come inside from the yard (although my foster dad frequently has to go outside just to get me to come in on command – it’s a fun game for me!). I am still very much a puppy and will do puppy stuff like dig a little and chew on things I really shouldn’t (shoes are my absolute favorite!) but if I have a lot of toys and get told when I’m not supposed to do things, I do much better, but I will still need training and consistency to be my best self.