Adoptable Dogs

David is a young Lab who enjoys playing with his human, he can at times be a little mischievous; for example (off leash recall) but is quickly redirected when using tangible reinforcement such as food, treats, or a ball. David is highly food motivated and will willingly work for food. While on leash David obey's all appropriate commands but at times needs reassurance when walking if stepping on certain texture floors (i.e. wet grass). David has shown to need structure and routine to behave appropriately. A few beneficial ideas of structure would include training for 5 mins once daily if capable focusing on "heel", "sits", "place", and "stay". This sets the tone for the day and creates a clear understanding that David is to obey commands while simultaneously keeping his training sharp and effective. Using treats during this process to reward good behaviors is a great way to build a rapport with David while keeping the training light and fun for him. A Dog who enjoys working will continue to display positive behaviors in and out of the home. Another example of routine and structure for David would be physical exercise such as hiking. Hiking places David in new environments which helps to constantly change the environment which will help to develop his ability to quickly readjust to new scenarios while at the same time give him an outlet to burn any excess energy he may have. David needs an adjustment period when transitioning to a new home due to his past and would need essentially 2 weeks to a month to fully adjust. In this transition phase I would like to see David not have 24/7 access to resources such as water, food, toys, etc as this is a privilege that is earned over the course of good behavior. David in the transitioning phase would need to be crated whenever the owner is unable to physically supervise (i.e. sleep,work,grocery store, etc.) David may have supervised free time in the home and the time may vary based upon appropriate behavior at the owner's best judgment. David can be weary at times of new people in the beginning so it's best to go with a low and slow approach not demanding of any commands in the beginning until a rapport has been established. Food is the best way to do so in this case. David has not shown any physical aggression to dogs while under my care and has been extremely clean house broken. David does not engage in property destruction or self injurious behavior such as chewing baseboards or power cords. David is a very well mannered dog who has spurts of fun energy when engaging with his human. I could see him flourishing in a home with a family who has older children 12 and up.