Harvey was rescued from his home after his owner was arrested and the dog spent at least three days locked inside the house. This sweet happy outgoing lab/hound is a big boy and is full of love and affection for all people he meets. We know he will find an amazing furever home!

Here is what Harvey's foster family has to say about him:

•  Appearance  (Coloring, height, weight, strength, etc.) – Just like you see it in the photos. Black & White. Harvey is approximately 70 pounds.

•  Energy Level  (High, moderate, low, sleep patterns, etc.) – Moderate. Harvey sleeps all night and takes a few naps during the day. He loves to run in the yard. I take him for a 2 mile jog sometimes and he loves it! He will playfight and wrestle with my son, but mostly Harvey likes to chew on his bones and stuffed squeaky toys. We take him for 2 walks a day, sometimes 3 if I have time.

•  Food  (How much and how frequently does your foster dog eat?  Dry or wet food?  What brand?) – Eats 2x a day. I give about 2 cups dry food in the morning, and about 1.5 cups at dinnertime. Sometimes I mix in wet food. Harvey does not seem to be a picky eater at all. He was eating Evangers, but now is eating a mix of Evangers and Pedigree since I can’t keep the dogs from eating each other’s food.

•  Adaptability  (How quickly does he or she respond to new situations?) – Harvey adapts very well to new situations. He made himself right at home and has caught on to our house routine pretty quickly. He knows when it is time to go out, go for a walk, etc. When the alarm goes off in the morning, Harvey goes right to the door to be let out.

•  Behaviors  (Any bad habits or behaviors they are working through?  Chewing, chasing, jumping, digging, etc.?) – Harvey’s house manners are great! We keep plenty of toys around so he does not have to find something to chew on. No signs of digging in the yard, but he will chase after squirrels & cats.

•  Human Social Skills  (Friendly or cautious?  Any issues with particular people or gender?  Children?) – Harvey is always happy to meet new people. He shows a little more preference to women. Harvey is great with children, but because of his size and playful nature small children should be careful. If you are holding a toy, Harvey will jump for it. He would do best in a home with children age 6 and up.

•  Animal Social Skills  (Allows other dogs to "greet", plays or socializes with respect for other dogs, etc.) – Has not shown any aggression when meeting other dogs. Harvey has gotten along with every dog he meets. He will sometimes bark but this is not aggression. Harvey will compete for toys but does not get aggressive.

Just wanted to give you a quick update on Harvey. I took him to the dog park today, and he had a BLAST!! He got to hang out with dogs of all shapes and sizes, and got along with every dog there. I also learned something new about Harvey – he absolutely loves the water!

•  Obedience  (What commands does the dog know?  Sit, Shake/Paw, Down, Off, Stay, Come?)  - Harvey knows sit, paw, lay down. He will come when called from a short distance. If Harvey is on the other side of the yard you will need to get his attention. He walks great on a leash. Harvey will pull towards another dog or person, but a quick, firm correction will get him back on track.

•  Training  (Is your foster dog housetrained or crate trained?  How willing are they to learn new commands or tricks?) – Completely housebroken, zero accidents in the house. Harvey is allowed to roam free in the house while we are home. We let him out several times a day during the day, and he will go to the door and sit if he needs to go out. We put Harvey in his crate when we leave the house. We are rarely gone for more than 1-2 hours at a time so he usually just curls up and sleeps in his crate while we are gone.    

•  Personality Quirks  (What sets your foster apart from other dogs?) – Harvey is a cuddler. He likes to curl up next to you on the couch, or jump up into the bed at bedtime. Harvey also likes to stack his toys on the window sill, he will pile up 5 or 6 toys there over the course of the day. He likes to put toys in every room of the house.

•  Ideal Home  (What do you think would constitute an ideal home for your foster? What situations should be avoided?) – Harvey doesn’t run off, but since he likes to chase after squirrels his ideal home would have a fenced in yard. Harvey needs a family that can give him the playtime he needs every day – walks, playing ball etc. Harvey would be great with other dogs, or as an only dog. If your daily routine involves the house being empty all day – Harvey is not the dog for you. Harvey is OK to be in his crate for a few hours at a time but does not like to be left alone all day. Harvey loves kids, but you should be careful with very small children because he is so playful.

** According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, the Labrador Retriever is a loving, affectionate, lovable, patient dog. Once known as the "St John's Dogs," the Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular breeds in the United States. Originally from Newfoundland, Canada the Labrador was trained to jump overboard into the icy waters to haul fisherman's nets to shore. Specimens were brought to England in the 1800's by English ships coming from Labrador, where the dog's fine retrieving instincts were honed and developed. One of the best family dogs and canine companions because of their gentle, loving disposition, the highly trainable Labrador also excels in drug detection, as a guide for the blind, and service dog for the disabled. The breed is also an outstanding obedience and field trial competitor. Highly intelligent, loyal, willing, and high-spirited. Lively and good-natured, they love to play, especially in water - for they love to swim. They have an excellent, reliable, temperament and are friendly, superb with children and equable with other dogs. They crave human attention and need to feel as though they are part of the family. Labs are easily trained. These dogs are watchdogs, not guard dogs, although some have been known to guard. They have a life expectancy of 10-12 years.