BERK - Catahoula/Lab Mix, 10 Months, 63lbs, Neutered - Close to his full grown size - Might get up to 65lbs
This dog is eligible to join our foster-to-adopt program. Please email fostertoadopt@socialteesnyc.org with the animal’s name in the subject line if you are interested! Want to straight up adopt? Submit an adoption application at socialteesnyc.org.
Berk has totally surprised us! We thought he would be scooped up in a couple of weeks, but almost 5 months later, this stunning boy is still looking for his forever home! As we know it, his story began when he was anonymously dropped off at a shelter in Tennessee. In early January, he made the long trip up to NYC, where he has been in the same foster home in the East Village since arriving. He adapted to the city right away and is very social on walks. He is great with all humans and dogs, and he adjusts his play level depending on the other dog’s energy. He could use some continued training on jumping up, which is normal for puppies and not out of control.
Berk is pretty high-energy, but if he gets enough exercise, he is very good inside. After going for a walk, we try to do some training (sit, stay, down, come) or play fetch or tug of war. After some training or playtime, he will take a nap or chew on his bones. Berk was potty trained in a couple of days and has had no accidents since. He is bell-trained and will ring the bell if he needs to go outside. He is great at staying home alone and has come a long way from his days of howling when we would leave. He is very smart and would thrive with someone who wants to continue to train him.Overnight, he sleeps in the living room outside of his crate. He is very chill in the morning and will sleep in. When we have stayed at other apartments or houses, he has slept in the bed and is a good sleeper but may try to sleep on top of you. There are many dogs up for adoption, but Berk is one of a kind and should not be overlooked!
Level of dog ownership experience needed:
INTERMEDIATE: As an adult, this dog will need significant structure and plenty of daily exercise, training, and mental stimulation – 90 consecutive minutes of movement in the morning plus potty break walks and brain games throughout the day. The adopter must have relevant primary care experience with a similar breed, temperament, and/or energy level. (Primary care experience includes ownership, fostering, or dog sitting as an adult, not a dog you grew up with.) Relevant puppy care experience is a huge plus, but bare minimum the adopter must have TONS of time and patience. Raising a puppy can be a lot of fun, but it’s also tremendous work. Puppies’ personalities and exercise/stimulation requirements change dramatically between now and when they’re a year old as their bodies and brains develop, so an active lifestyle and the ability to adapt to a pup’s evolving needs are a must. We strongly urge professional dog training with a rewards based trainer from the get go. Adults only or kids ages 8 and up – all puppies go through a mouthy, rambunctious phase and often accidentally hurt children when playing. PLEASE DO YOUR OWN BREED RESEARCH to make sure you have a better understanding of the kind of temperament and exercise requirements this dog may have as an adult.
Energy level
MEDIUM: Very young puppies sleep and nap a lot, but their energy level skyrockets when they become teens (4 months to around a year). As an adult, this dog will need significant structure and plenty of daily exercise, training, and mental stimulation – 90 consecutive minutes of movement in the morning plus potty break walks and brain games throughout the day at a minimum. (This is regardless of dog size – many small breeds were designed for lots of activity and will exhibit unwanted behavior when they’re understimulated.)
Cuddle bug:
medium. Likes to snuggle when tired but also enjoys his space at times, will move away from you to flop on the floor.
Potty trained:
Yes - not an issue for this boy!
Good With Strangers:
Yes! Tries to lay down and “greet” every dog we see, and if humans come up to him he turns into a wiggle worm. Can get a little mouthy when over excited but will back away and sit when corrected.
Children:
He is interested in them and usually will just sit and watch if a little kid is playing around or yelling. We haven’t given him much exposure to little humans and seems to be a bit confused by them, but would probably be good with more exposure.
Other dogs:
Good with all. Social butterfly who wants to say hello to every dog. Good at containing his puppy energy with dogs who aren’t reciprocating.
Other animals:
Hard to tell. He will go into a “hunting phase” and will chase the squirrels around but if he gets close enough to bite them he stops. Less prey driven towards the pigeons but interested in them as well. We have walked past a cat on a leash on our walk in Stuytown and he did not run at the cat but sort of checked it out as he walked by and then sat down and watched it.
Mouthy behavior:
medium to high. Still a puppy; working on teaching him to grab a toy to play with instead. Has had some issues being mouthy on walks, so we’ve been bringing a toy for him to carry/bite if he gets too excited. None of his mouthiness is aggressive, he just gets too excited sometimes. We practice taking away food, bones, etc and he will not bite or growl at us. He can get a little mouthy playing with other dogs but usually because the other dog is playing rough too.
Leash:
getting the hang of it. Mouthy behavior as noted above and can be stubborn (sitting down, wanting to go a different direction) but will keep going after treats and a little time to stop and smell the roses.
City boy:
Great in the city. Loves checking out the scene in Tompkins or lounging in the grass at Stuytown. Only thing he is scared of are the cellar doors on the street (sometimes). He would love the suburbs too!
Jumping:
Will jump occasionally but getting better at it. Usually just wiggles against your legs.
Separation anxiety:
Fine home alone!
Crate training:
Okay in the crate. Doesn't use it all the time.
PLEASE NOTE: We cannot guarantee any breed mix, exact age, or full grown size (if the dog is under a year old). We do our best with very educated guesses though!
This animal is not at the Social Tees office, all are in foster homes.
LEARN MORE ABOUT US: socialteesnyc.org and Instagram @socialteesnyc
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