My name is Flower!

Flower is a 5 year old mixed breed dog in need of a loving home. She was surrendered to the shelter with her brother after her owner no longer wanted to provide adequate care. She was very bonded to her brother and it was very sad when they were separated. Flower was terrified and shut down at the shelter and it was very difficult for her there. Once in a foster home, Flower began to blossom. She started socializing with other dogs, opened up to her foster mom and is now a sweet and loving companion in the home. She has enjoyed trips to the park to play ball, has even ventured to a pet store for an outing, and is enjoying life in a home. Flower is a shy girl who needs a home where she can feel safe and being the opportunity to flourish. She has so much love to give and she’s a bit like super glue once she loves you, we simply can’t wait for her to find the lucky family meant for her. She is crate trained, house trained, UTD on vaccinations, heart worm negative, and microchipped.

Child appropriate: Flower has not been around children while in foster care and we don’t know about her time previous to the shelter. She is a bit of a shy girl and children can be scary to shy dogs so we’d suggest children over the age of 12 just so they aren’t overbearing.

Other dog appropriate: Flower is dog friendly. She lived in a home with many dogs and is used to being around them. In her foster home she has two doggie friends, a male and a female and hangs out with both of them without incident although she does seem to prefer the male to the female a bit more. Sometimes if she gets too excited she is a bit pushy but will stop immediately when told to be polite. We think Flower needs to be around at least one other dog friend her size because she really opens up around other dogs.

Cat appropriate: We do not know how she’d be with cats as she has not been around them.

How is she with strangers: Flower can be shy with new people and takes time to open up but she has improved drastically during her time in foster care. She prefers to greet people at her own pace vs having people invade her boundaries and start petting her head or grabbing her face, etc…if given time, she warms up nicely and likes treats but she needs to be given space until she feels comfortable.

What is her play style: Flower’s play style is med to med high. She does best playing at medium level and does well. As mentioned previously, if she is overexcited, she gets a little pushy and has to be redirected. This is easily accomplished with words and being shown direction. Flower is very sensitive to correction so it doesn’t take much to verbally get her to slow/calm down.

Does she like toys: Flower really enjoys playing ball and that is her preferred toy of choice. She enjoys some of her chew toys as well and really likes bully sticks and other things like stuffed Kongs.

Does she like water: We do not know at this time as she has not been around water.

Does she like car rides: Flower rides well in a car without any issues.

Behavior issues: Flower’s only issue is her shyness and the time it takes to warm up to new people. She is just a less trusting dog and needs adopters who understand that and allow her the space she needs.

Exercise level needed: Flower would do well with a once or twice daily walk and some time playing ball in the back yard. She is a medium energy dog so she doesn’t need extensive physical activity but she is still young so moderate exercise would be nice for her.

Medical issues: Flower came to us with some ear issues due to ongoing ear infections. The shelter vet said that Flower simply has a condition where she is susceptible to ongoing ear infections that can easily be treated with antibiotics. Keeping her ears clean will also help this issue. So far while in foster care she hasn’t had any ear issues but we monitor them daily.

Skills: Flower walks well on a leash and knows basic obedience commands such as sit and down. She is very smart so will easily grasp additional commands if taught with positive reinforcement training.

Special/endearing things: Flower is 100% dedicated to her human and wants to please at all times. She is a great snuggler and really loves sitting with her foster mom. She is very sweet once she opens up and has a huge heart. She is a quiet dog who rarely barks which is a nice trait. She has overcome so much and it’s been wonderful watching her blossom in her foster home. She is quite obedient and pretty easy to take to the park and other places. She walks great on leash, which is a blessing any time that happens, lol! Flower loves other dogs and her caregiver and these are great traits for someone looking for a dog friendly dog and one who also connects and bonds with their caregiver. She simply wants to be where her caregiver is at all times, which is very appealing to those who love a doggie companion! If given a chance, Flower is going to be an amazing family member to one lucky family!

Ideal family: Flower’s ideal family is one where there is at least one other dog. Because she gains confidence through other dogs, it’s essential that she have a dog companion. Shy dogs often do so well when allowed to have a dog companion. Her ideal home would be one who understand a shy dog and accepts the shyness. Too many people think a dog should have to endure being grabbed in the face, petted on the head, and forced into social situations when it’s completely unreasonable to expect this of the dog. Shy dogs, just like shy people, just need time and space to feel comfortable and need to be allowed to go at their own pace. As stated, Flower is a loving companion once she knows and trusts you. Her ideal home would be one where there are no younger children and where she can get the time and attention she needs and deserves.