Zoey #3732

Hi, I’m Zoey (#3732) and it’s so nice to meet you on this website, but honestly, I can’t wait to meet you in person, so you can see for yourself what an awesome dog I am!  I am a beautiful 3 1/2 year old yellow Labrador Retriever, with “Cleopatra Eyes”, I’m athletic and very smart – (I don’t mean to brag, but this is what my foster parents tell me and everyone else)!  I’m super fit, my weight is excellent (so my vet says), weighing in at 68 lbs. – a great weight for me, you’ll see when you meet me.

I am a Retriever (and that’s not retriever in word only), just ask my foster folks!  I get so excited when the chuck-it toy comes out – I like to play this at least a few times a day!  My foster mom has to pace me because I’d play all day if she’d let me – I have lots of energy.  When the fetch game (chuck-it toy) comes out, I get so excited that I jump up as high as your shoulders, to meet you eye-to-eye, to chase after the ball.  I will return it to you as soon as I find it .  If I don’t find it right away, my foster mom will tell me to “find it” which is my cue to go search for it with my nose.  I am great with nose-work, in fact, it’s another one of my favorite things to do, search for the ball, find a toy, etc.   It may take me a while, but I will find it and it’s always makes my foster mom so proud of me – oops, there I go, bragging again about myself!  Anyway, if you want a true retriever, I’m your pup, because it’s one of my best qualities.

I can settle down after I play with the ball, in fact, my foster mom encourages it to keep me healthy, so I don’t overdo it.  When I do come in to settle down, I’m a lounge lizard, meaning, I will lounge wherever my foster folks are ,or on my bed.  When I hear a strange noise, I will let the family know that something is up by barking (I have a very loud bark – I should have been a sports announcer at the playoffs).  Sounds like knocking at the door, dogs barking outside or on the TV, and delivery trucks will get my attention, so I let the household know.  I feel like its part of my job.

Another endearing quality is that I’m very affectionate and love to snuggle up to my foster parents.  I don’t get on the furniture (unless invited), yet, I do like a cozy bed to get up on in the morning before it’s time to get up.  I like to snuggle, what can I say!  I’m also a “Velcro” dog, as I like to be where my owners are.  I’ll follow them around the house and wait for the next activity .  I enjoy hanging out in the kitchen while my foster mom cooks or hanging out with my foster dad he’s playing the guitar.   Did I mention that I love children???  I do!

I’m fully house broken and have never had an accident in the house.  I don’t chew on furniture or your shoes or slippers, only my toys, especially stuffed toys!  I love chew toys and digestible chew bones and I love having a toy in my mouth, especially if I get nervous or overly excited.  When I play with my GBR foster neighbor dog, I always have to have a toy in my mouth, otherwise my way of playing is grabbing his neck fur – I’m very mouthy but I’ve gotten so much better with my foster family.  They know to give me a toy and problem solved!  I am fine if you need to leave me behind for a few hours, I won’t do anything but take a nap or I may bark at something outside if I have access to the windows.  I am getting better about the barking because my foster parents have covered the windows at our door so I can’t see outside in front – that’s helped.  Some folks don’t mind that I bark, so it may not be an issue at all.

My favorite activities are dog walks and fetch as I am a dog with a lot of energy to be expended.  On my walks however, I pull more, unless I’m on a gentle leader.  I also, if I feel provoked, have lunged at other dogs that make me nervous when on a walk.  The way my foster parents help me with this is twofold – if we are on street, we cross over to the other side to avoid the conflict and they talk to me and give me a treat, or if we are on a trail, we get off the trail and I sit and get a treat while the people and dog pass by.

I do have reactivity issues that we are working on through training and I recommend that I get more training to ensure I don’t forget what to do.  Plus, it’s important we learn together!

To help with my reactivity and anxiety, I am on medication to help me feel better in stressful situations.  Since I have been with my foster family, I started medication which has calmed my anxiety so much and I feel much better.

My foster family believes the perfect family for me is one that wants a playful, yet loving companion who is willing to work with me on certain behaviors so we can all have a good life together.  Because I worry, I need a family that can help me feel confident and safe.  I need a family that is willing to love me, quirks and all – nobody is perfect – and I am doing my best.  I am excitable, not aggressive.  I need some more training if you want to feel confident with me off leash around other people and dogs, say in a school yard, dog park, beach or hikes.  My home needs a fully fenced in yard where I can get plenty of exercise, off leash.  My forever family wants a playful companion and is willing to give me plenty of exercise on a regular basis, such as walks, fetch time, jogging, swimming, etc.  I can ride in the car safely, but I don’t particularly like it.  I get nervous, pant, and tremble.  I hunker down when the car is moving and when we stop I sit up, pant and look around.  When we get to our destination, I can shake it off, which is good, but its not my favorite activity.  My foster parents have been helping me with this too.  I need to be the only pet in the household, but I’m interested in meeting other dogs – my neighbor dog is my best friend!  We play chase, tug and hang out together.  I’d prefer a family that is around most of the day because I like hanging out with you.  I am a super sweet beautiful dog.  Please click on me if you think I’m the dog for you.  Would you be my forever family?