My name is Wendell!

Wendell is a big, lovable, snuggly 3 year old male American Staffordshire Terrier mix who is just about the sweetest guy around! He adores people and will let just about anyone give him a belly rub! He has been to numerous adoption events and he blows everyone away by being the most well behaved dog at the event. After settling in, he just lies down and relaxes. He greets people nicely when they come to say hi and craves attention and love. Wendell was adopted from us a year and a half ago but sadly was recently returned as the family felt he was not a good match for their young child. Wendell is a big boy and he loves to have fun and this lead to him knocking the child over and he was a bit too big for the home as well. He really needs a larger home with a big back yard and the space to be the little rhino that he is. Wendell is neutered, microchipped, up to date on vaccinations, heart worm negative and house and crate trained.

Child appropriate? Wendell would do best in a home with kids over the age of 12. He’s just a big boy and needs to be around people he can’t accidentally injure when he’s playing.

Other dog appropriate? Wendell enjoys the company of other dogs and would enjoy a playmate who likes to play somewhat rough but is easy going enough to tolerate an energetic young man! Wendell prefers larger dogs near his size and would not be suitable with a small dog.

Cat appropriate? Wendell has not been directly cat tested but did not show a high degree of interest in the cats in his foster home.

How is he with strangers? As mentioned, he has attended many adoption events and does great meeting strangers. He’s a pretty happy boy and is happy to see anyone who will give him attention.

What is his play style? When playing with other dogs Wendell is rough and tumble and really prefers to wrestle with other dogs. We liken it to a couple lions on the range! Wendell sometimes doesn’t take cues from other dogs and can continue to push them to play which can be annoying to the other dog which is why he would do best with a dog who likes to play but can tolerate his sometimes difficulty with saying no. When playing with people Wendell will match the energy so if the person gets really hectic, that can lead Wendell to jump and get a little rough so it’s best if people keep their energy to a minimum when playing.

Does he like toys? Wendell loves stuffies and will immediately destroy them with great joy but isn't that what stuffies are made for?! He enjoys most toys and will chew on bones and bully sticks too.

Does he like water? Wendell enjoys water from the hose but we aren’t sure about bodies of water.

Does he like car rides? Wendell rides well in the car and doesn’t seem to have any issues with it.

Exercise level needed? Wendell needs daily exercise of a nice long walk in the neighborhood or even a short jog to tire his mind and body. He isn’t a marathon runner or anything but he does need activity to get his energy out. He is not a dog park kind of dog, due to his lack of picking up on other dogs cues, so that wouldn’t be a good option for him. His adoptive family needs to dedicate time to giving Wendell mental stimulation through food puzzles and physical stimulation through exercise.

Behavior issues? Wendell can be jumpy and sometimes mouthy when overexcited. This is exacerbated because he’s bigger and that can hurt smaller people. He isn’t aggressive at all, it’s just excitability, but none the less, it can scare some people. It only happens when he’s been overstimulated. The word “gentle” just isn’t in his vocabulary! Wendell does not come when called so should not be left off leash.

Medical issues? Wendell does have some allergies that appear to be seasonal so he will need allergy pills during those seasons when they flare up.

Skills? Wendell know “sit” and “down” and “crate” and could benefit from continued training. He is very food motivated so that helps with training and it would be great to for someone to work on his impulse control through teaching him “wait” at various distances.

Special/endearing things? Wendell is a super sweet boy and has so much love to give. His adoptive family tried hard to make it work mostly because of his sweetness and how much he loves people. Wendell loves to cuddle and loves being on the couch with his people. He is a very loyal companion and once he loves you, he loves you hard. It’s been hard for him to lose his family and he’d really like another one that will be permanent. Wendell came to the shelter at the very young age of 1 and after spending time in foster care and then getting adopted, he’s now 3 and his next home should be his last. While some see his energy as annoying, his goofiness and zest for life makes him so charming that it’s very easy to overlook his antics!

Ideal home? Wendell needs a dog savvy home because while he has come a long way in his training, he still needs guidance from his person to help him calm down when he gets excited. He is a very strong boy so someone who can handle him on leash, while he continues his training, will be critical. He is very smart and he wants to please so someone who can continue his training with lots of love and praise will be the right family for him. Wendell needs a home with children over 12 and no small pets. He will need a home dedicated to giving him exercise each day via nice long walks and even playing with him in the yard. He is a bigger dog so he does tire out but he needs the activity to also tire out his mind.