Dog Name: Taki
Breed: Lab/shepherd mix (assumed)
Sex: Male
Age: 2.5 years
Weight: ~90 lbs
Medical Needs: Taki received HW treatment in August 2023, and as of his retest in Feb 2024 he is negative! During his treatment it was evident that his back right leg was incredibly sensitive. An MRI revealed pieces of metal in his thigh muscle. He is currently on gabapentin twice a day and carprofen twice a day and is doing well. He will always be a little sensitive on that leg but surgery is not recommended at this time.
Housebroken: Doing really well with a regular schedule.
Crate trained: He goes in his crate willingly to eat his meals, or with a treat tossed in. He does like to bork sometimes, but it usually means he’s gotta go out, you’re behind schedule for morning walks or food, or he thinks there’s an “intruder” (aka the Amazon man) at the door.
Good in the car: Now that he’s on his meds he does GREAT hopping in the car! He’ll peek over your shoulder to say “heeyyyyyy” but stays in the back seat and will lay down to rest if you’re on the road long enough. If you have a lifted vehicle (iykyk) you’ll need a ramp or steps to help the boy out.
Good on a leash: He’s doing great! A prong collar goes a long way to keep this guy on his best behavior.
Energy level: Fairly low, he LOVES his 2x a day long walks but isn’t very bouncy considering what his breeds probably are.
Need a fenced in yard: No
Dog Friendly: Yes, with a very slow intro. We recommend a dog that isn’t very high energy; wrestling with another dog will DEFINITELY cause his leg pain and then he might not be such a gentleman (understandably so… no one likes to be achy and in pain!). His favorite buddy in his foster home is one of the senior huskies… they meet in the yard for sniffs and pleasantries and then trot around and mind their own business.
If yes, does your foster need another dog in its adoptive homes? No
Cat Friendly: Yes, there are very dog-savvy cats in his foster home. Taki’s approach to making friends is to shove his VERY large nose directly in the cat’s face. The cats in his current home sit still like a statue, or give a little rub in return, and Taki is satisfied and moves along.
PLEASE NOTE: if you have an active cat that sprints through the house, you will have a 90 lb Taki running behind it because he is nosier than my mom when she thinks I have a new boyfriend, and now your cat will need a therapist. the two week shutdown is just as much an intro period for dogs to meet cats as it is for dogs to meet dogs
Kid Friendly: Yes
If yes, what's the youngest child you'd recommend they be placed with? 8+. Taki was fostered with 2 teenagers. He does great about meeting kids in public, and will sit handsomely for pets.
AS MENTIONED BEFORE: Taki does have a sensitive leg. Kids in the home need to be old enough to understand when to give space, and to stay away from sore spots.
Special traits that make your foster special or that we need to know about them:
Taki came to us from a shelter down South and likely lived outside. He didn’t appreciate his fosters’ slippery floors the first few days and acted like he was slipping on ice. It has gotten better and he’s no longer hugging the walls. He bonds quickly and loves to follow you around. He’s starting to get more affectionate and is showing more and more of his derpy personality.
Now that he’s on the proper meds (which he’ll most likely need the rest of his life) his lovable and occasionally spunky personality is shining through. He’s derpy and clumsy, playful and loyal, and we can’t wait to see him blossom more in the perfect home.
Speaking of, his perfect home will be one that understands his trust has to be earned. Taki is uneasy about being handled around his stomach and back legs (most likely due to his injury) so his new home will have to be patient and hold off on the hugs. He also needs “Taki time”: when he lays down to rest he would prefer to be left alone by other dogs. So crate time, or a section of the house where he can rest uninterrupted, would be ideal once he’s tired. He loves curling up in his crate with his Benebone, and chewing away the evening.
Fosters Location: Dover, DE
Application can be found here: https://www.grrde.org/adoption-application (if you already have an approved application on file, email GrassRootsDE@gmail.com and ask the app team to pull your app)
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