Adopt Leopold (Леополд)

Male · Adult · 4 years

Leopold is a male around 4 years old, 50 cm at the withers in size, from shelter "Gorni Bogrov". He is happy to go for a walk. With excitement and hops on his hind legs, he allows the leash to be put on. He moves forward with a calm body, without pulling strongly. When stopping and changing direction, he struggles, starting to pull in different directions. When he sees an unfamiliar dog, the pulling becomes stronger. He behaves somewhat chaotically, unable to focus on the person beside him. In such situations, he refuses and ignores treats. Dogs definitely stress him, especially when they are too close. Then Leopold stops responding to sound signals, and the only thing that works to redirect his attention from the other dog is pulling the leash. For Leopold to have healthy relationships with other dogs, he definitely needs to be taught not to focus so obsessively on them. His adopters will need to work with him to develop skills that help him separate from other dogs. Frequent changes of direction while walking on a leash, rewarding him every time Leopold turns his head toward them, turning his head upon a sound signal or a tug on the leash, are the skills that will make it easier for Leopold to separate from other dogs and help him start entering relationships with them from a healthier place. Leopold may never have lived indoors, which means that when he enters a building, he initially has difficulty calming down and may have trouble finding a spot to lie down and rest. This is something some dogs get used to, and others don't. Here, the important thing is for Leopold's adopters to build a healthy relationship with him based on respect and understanding, so that rather than the home being a calming space in his life, it's them. Giving him tasty treats often throughout the day, just for no reason, would increase his optimism, and frequent snacks on a "LickiMat" or "KONG," left on his bed, would add calmness to his feeling. This way, he will redirect his attention from the internal feeling of stress outward towards the expectation of something surprising and interesting. In a car, he travels calmly, although he again does not lie down, which speaks to some level of tension. In a noisy and moving environment, he walks calmly, following the leash. When touched, Leo does not show signs of discomfort or anxiety, and when blood was drawn, he performed excellently, calmly allowing the manipulation. Strengths: Kindly Travels in a car Calm during veterinary manipulations Weaknesses: Lack of calmness in enclosed spaces Lack of communication skills with peers Suitable for: Life outside the city Life in an urban environment House with a yard in the suburbs Apartment Family with children (over 12 years) Responsibilities of the adopter: Work with a professional trainer using positive methods and taking into account the stress he has had in his life up to now; The profile of Leopold was created by Ralitsa Milanova, a certified trainer, with many years of experience in rehabilitation and trauma-informed approach when working with dogs. With the support of Dogs Trust and the assistance of the Sofia Municipality....

Listed 1 month ago