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Click on any image above for more info. *FH* by a pet's name means they are in a foster home.

 

• Appearance (Hoover is tri colored with patches of black, white and light brown, his coat is soft and beautiful, he appears to have a great deal of Beagle in him.  He seems to be about 18 months old and about 45 pounds.)

• Energy Level (Hoovers energy level is well balanced, he likes to go for walks and loves to run in the back yard with my Rat Terrier but is calm in the house, but occasionally will play fight with Kesha my Rat Terrier. He gets along with other dogs very well and loves to play.)

• Food (Hoover came to me just a bit over weight so I have been feeding him a bit less then he might normally have, I give him a 1/2 cup of Costco Natures Domain dry dog food three times a day. Many times I use his food to train him and he will gently take the food from my hand.)

• Adaptability (Hoover is quick to adapt and learn. He mastered the doggy door the first day and his leash training was completed by the third day of once around the block. He seemed to accept my dogs immediately and was comfortable with me and my wife quickly but not immediately. I do feel strongly that now that he has learned that people are not going to harm him and he has learned to be very comfortable with me, that I think that will transfer over to others, in short order.)

• Behaviors (Hoover likes to chew on doggy toys and seems to be happy with even a plastic bone. Stuffed toys don’t last long, but he has not chewed any furniture or any thing in the house.)

• Human Social Skills (Hoover was a bit skittish and fearful of new people but has come a long way with my help and training. During one walk I stopped to chat with a neighbor and asked him to let the dog come to him before reaching out, Hoover came to him about a minute later and welcomed a scratch behind the ear. He is cautious of strangers and prefers to come to you rather than you chasing after him. Given a minute or two to understand you mean no harm, he will welcome you to pet him.)

• Animal Social Skills (Hoover has been good with my two dogs, and had no problem being approached or accepting play time with them. He prefers to have the other dogs keep a little distance while finishing his food, but allows me to pet him while eating.)

• Obedience (Hoover understands Heel very well, which makes leash walking a dream. He knows Come Here and Sit is down pretty good as well as Down, he will also shake hands if you ask, “Are You My Buddy”?, He understands if you say NO he is to stop doing what ever he was doing or was about to do, such as following me out of the door when I don’t have his leash on, Still working on sitting up to beg. He seems eager to please and learns quickly.)

• Training (Hoover has never had an accident in the house and loves his crate, if left open he will go there to sleep during the day or night time, even if given the choice to sleep in the bedroom on a more comfortable doggy bed. If you want him in the crate, all you need to do is point and snap your fingers and he eagerly obeys, and will lay there and be quiet until you let him out.)

• Personality (Hoover is very alert and will check the front door and go out to the back yard and check the parameter any time there is a noise, he does not bark often but is ready to protect his home from invaders. One other thing I noticed that is different from all the other male dogs I have fostered is that Hoover does not lift his leg on my walls or lights or any thing outside, he squats like a female. When he first arrived here and was outside to pee I though it was a girl, it’s not until he rolls over on his back that you can see he is a male, but easy to miss that fact, if he is standing or even laying on his side.)

• Ideal Home (Hoover loves to run and play with my Rat Terrier, so I would think another dog that is also willing to run and play would make him happy. As always a fenced back yard would be a big plus for a dog that likes to run and play chase with the other dog. Also because he is suspicious of strangers, I would think the best home would be where there was not a lot of strangers coming and going all the time to make him nervous. If a visitor was to come just let Hoover come to them after he is comfortable with them and don’t chase after him to pet him. He loves people and animals but is suspicious of strangers until he has a few minutes to know your not a threat. Because he was a bit skittish and could become afraid of loud, fast moving people that he did not yet know, I would be careful having him around small children that don’t understand that they need to be calm to let him become comfortable with the fact that there is not a threat to harm him.  Introducing Hoover to new people should be uneventful if they are calm and quiet for a bit. If you were going to have a lot of strangers or children running around visiting, and were concerned one may frighten him, Hoover is happy to wait out the time in his crate and will do so without any complaints or wining, barking or scratching.)