Dog Name: Christopher Robin
Breed: Boxer/Bulldog mix
Sex: Male
Age: 2 years
Weight: 49.6 pounds
Medical Needs: None.
Housebroken: Yes.
Crate trained: Yes. He eats in his crate and is confined to his crate with a special treat when I leave the house or when “new people” come to the house. He sleeps in my bed at night. Be forewarned — he snores! (If left in his crate longer than 9-10 hours, he will sometimes have a potty accident.)
Good in the car: Yes, he’s a good car traveler and rides with a harness/seat belt in the back seat.
Good on a leash: Meh. He is strong and pulls sometimes to check things out or to get where he wants to go as we’re walking.
Energy level: Medium. Christopher Robin likes to run and play with the other dogs in my house or at daycare. He also settles well and is happy to “sploot” and quietly chew his Benebones. (He can be pretty hard on stuffed toys, though.)
He paces himself well to the activity level of my other dogs. If they are playing, he’s game for a romp. If they are snoozing, he’s in the middle of the pile — all in for a good nap.
Need a fenced in yard: He needs regular opportunities to get outside to go potty, so if no fenced yard, he’ll need regular leash walks. He will tear around and play with my other dogs, so the yard is handy to let him spend his energy, too, especially if you don’t want too much active play in your house. He is a curious dog and likes to spend time outside in the yard watching who’s doing what in the ‘hood.
Dog Friendly: Yes.
If yes, does your foster need another dog in its adoptive home? Yes, another dog pal in the home would be good for Christopher Robin. Having a social outlet to interact with other dogs is a must for him. He loves to play with the other dogs in my home and has learned so much about how to be a dog from them that I think a playmate would help him acclimate more easily to his new home. He has “packed in” well with my dogs and enjoys going to doggie daycare too when they go.
Cat Friendly: He has only had limited interactions with my cats, but has given them a wide berth. So far, he’s been much more interested in their food than in having any interactions with them.
Kid Friendly: Unknown.
If yes, what's the youngest child you'd recommend they be placed with? He needs a quieter home, with dog savvy kids who are old enough to understand they need to go slow with him (age 10-12+) — or no kids. A loud active household with people coming and going all the time would be too much for him. He can be “hand shy” and tentative when approaching new people if they don’t respect his space. Sudden approaches or people bringing their hands down to pet his head reinforce his fears from previously being hit, so any kids would need to be old enough and respectful enough to learn how to approach him slowly and bring their hands from below so they don’t trigger his fear of being hit. The best way for new people (adults or kids) to meet Christopher Robin is to ignore him and let him come to you on his terms. Don’t look at him, hug him, or get into his space before he’s ready for it — these human behaviors, especially from unfamiliar people, overwhelm him.
Special traits that make your foster special or that we need to know about them?
This sums up our boy, Christopher Robin, in a nutshell —
“I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood”
Christopher Robin came into the shelter under nourished, undersocialized, neglected, and clearly beaten. He is socially awkward and is still learning how to be a dog. When he’s nervous, he sometimes vocalizes to let you know he’s unsure of the situation. He may always need his trusted human to be his advocate and help him navigate uncharted waters.
He was under-sized and underweight when he came to the shelter and has gained 20 pounds since coming to Grass Roots. His GI system is still acclimating from the months of neglect he endured, and he is doing well now that he’s eating a “low-fat” diet. (Giving him people food can send him into a bout of gas or diarrhea.)
Despite his past, he’s got a huge heart! He’s a happy cuddler who loves to give wet, sloppy kisses to his favorite people. He has come so far in his foster home and will continue to improve with patience, love, and consistency.
This ‘goombah’ is such a sweet, goofy, resilient guy who also happens to have the cutest underbite! We are looking for a patient home that will help him thrive and grow into the awesome dog that he can be!
** Multiple meets will be required so that he can build trust with his new family before going home. **
Foster’s Location: Wilmington, 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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