BRODY HAS A BITE HISTORY

Brody was surrendered by his active family following a bite to the father's hand. Brody's vision is very poor, so we don't know whether activity in the household created anxiety in him or what, if any, provocation there may have been. Regardless of his history, he likes the same things lots of dogs like: wrasslin' with his foster siblings is good, and so is his Nylabone. He enjoys disemboweling stuffies, too. Riding in the car is a great big thrill for this boy. He's a dog's dog!

Poor Brody has a laundry list of health problems. You know the old joke about the Lost Dog poster? LOST: 3 legged, 1 eyed, deaf, neutered male. Answers to the name "Lucky". Well, Lucky was a Westminster winner compared to Brody. He's had double cataract surgery; he has a chronic corneal ulcer and his vision is impaired; his ophthamologist has warned that his juvenile cataracts may regrow. He has a fungal dermal infection that appears resistant to current treatment, but the biopsy results are pending.

In addition to his poor vision, his temperament is not the best. It's by no means bad, it's just that he's insecure. Brody wants to be protected and loved, but is unsure of new people, pets and situations. He often fixates on objects. His impaired vision has probably contributed to his inability to quickly assess threats, and as a result he often reacts inappropriately. He has a bite history with his original owner limited to nips with broken skin but no need for medical treatment. There were also two incidents in his foster home, small nips with broken skin, when he was frightened by unexpected motion. He is good once a trusting relationship is established and he recognizes a strong leader, but this will be a developmental process in his new home. Brody will need to be carefully introduced to any new situations.

He's crabby around kids--they move fast, they make too much noise, and he doesn't know what they're doing. When he can see a cat, he likes to chase them, but he hasn't caught or harmed one, so a dog-savvy cat could be a good companion for him. Because his vision makes him insecure, he is ok only with easygoing dogs who don't want to climb any social ladders. He's especially good with dogs his size who like to play, but he is frightened of dogs who won't play with him.

Brody has a moderate activity level: he enjoys roughhousing with other dogs, but he is able to settle down and sleep at your feet. He likes to investigate the yard, but once inspection is completed, he is content to snooze in the sun. He's housetrained to a degree--make sure he goes out frequently and he's fine. He's also crate-trained, but he's had no formal obedience training. A trainer familiar with the needs of visually impaired dogs would be a great idea in the quest to create confidence in Brody.

Brody's new family must be prepared to deal with his anxiety and frequently, his acting out, when he is faced with new experiences and people.

When we think of what we want for Brody, naturally we'd prefer a home where somebody is home all day, but a mid-day visit is also good. Remember, Brody needs regular outings to stay dry. Because he's unsure of his surroundings, going to work would not suit Brody. He needs a fenced yard and supervision while he's outdoors so that he doesn't hurt himself by walking into anything. Here's what his foster mom says about her wish list for Brody's forever family:

"Brody needs a home with someone who has experience with brachycephalic dogs and nervous, unsure dogs. A no-nonsense, calm demeanor is essential as he needs to develop a strong sense of trust that his person(s) are pack leaders he can depend on whenever faced with a new situation. He must build his confidence with his owner. Adults only. He can be left during the day as long as he has canine company. He can live with dog-savvy cats. Brody needs a family that will calmly and persistently work to establish a trusting relationship and deal with his ongoing health issues."

Brody is a fine boy, and he has a loving spirit and a playful inner puppy. If you'd like to help him develop into a good dog, plan to pick him up in Central Maryland. No shippsies!

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