Posted 1 year ago | Updated 1 year ago
Tootsie, a female, was born October 31, 2023. She came to ARF with her brother Quincy, surrendered by a good Samaritan who kept them safe until there was room for them. Their mother was a red heeler and daddy a lab/hound mix, Tootsie weighed in at 23 pounds on 2/27/24 and 29 pounds on 3/26/24, and presently is about 38 pounds. Tootsie is chocolate with dappled tan that makes her look like she's been playing in the mud.. As she gets older, her fur is changing and the tan color is spreading. When the pups first came, Tootsie was the food hog, and she still likes to eat but has realized that more food will come. She also is also more vocal. She sometimes barks at her own shadow, which is fun to watch. Because she is so vocal, she would not be a good apartment dweller. She's now more of a "demand barker," especially at food time, but she alerts to new sights and sounds, too. Once the pups learned what toys were, they collected them in a pile to have always ready. She loves to play in water, chase squirrels, gather sticks (her favorite toy), and bark at cows. She knows "sit," "down," "come," and "drop it" commands and is crate trained as well as people and dog friendly. She sleeps well in her crate at night and keeps it clean. She's learned to walk on a leash, but she still might pull a little now and then. She's not a couch potato but an active, growing pup who needs stimulation and exercise. On 2/27/24 she had her first vet visit and received shots, had a negative 4DX, and was given drontal for whip worms with additional follow-up doses. She was spayed on 3/11/24 and recovered nicely. She would even sit for her foster mom to take her cone off and on. Tootsie has a microchip but prefers an above-ground fenced yard for safe play and containment. She'd likely think chasing a cat was a great game, though, but the cat probably wouldn't agree. She's a smart girl, funny and entertaining, fully vetted and really for her forever family.