Our happy-go-lucky Frenchie Henrie is one of the Oklahoma 10 who were purchased at auction to get them out of the puppy mill industry.

Henrie is a lucky boy, and he's thrilled to be living outside a crate and learning about life as a pet. He loves to play with his foster sibs, and because he's still a young guy (just a year old) he occasionally needs some correction from the older dogs about how rough is too rough. He shows FAR too much interest in the neighbors' cats, so he must go to a non-kitty home.

His health is good. FBRN corrected his palate and nares, and though his foster mom sees some hip popping action, her vet said if he stays at a healthy weight it won't be a problem.

Henrie is a boisterous frog, and he doesn't realize his own strength. His foster mom says she thinks he believes he's teacup-sized and behaves accordingly. But he's a solid 30 pounder, and we worry that his exuberance and cluelessness might inadvertently hurt a toddler, so we are asking that he go to a home with older kids who aren't easily uprooted. He's great with dogs his size and smaller, and the only issue is his aforementioned rough play. He would probably be just fine with larger dogs, but we haven't yet tested him. He's a goofy, affable beast.

He's not perfect, though. His foster mom says: He is a happy camper, but he will make mischief and he is a chewer. We've lost one cell phone, 2 knobs from the coffee table and 3 corners off a chest of drawers. He also loves to dig. I think he is trying to get to China! He would do well with a training class; he is submissive and playful and laid-back. He'd be a great dog for an active single person or a young family. He does need exercise, because he can't be allowed to get overweight. Since his chewing spree, he has been crated when no one is around, and he's completely housebroken.

Henrie's new family should be prepared to take him to obedience class, since he doesn't have any formal training. He loves to ride in the car! He is still a puppy, and he does crazy puppy things and he has that exhausting puppy energy. The house rule is: if something is important to you, put it away or Henrie will get it! Lots of puppymill dogs have terrible teeth because the only entertainment they can find in a crate or cage is chewing on the wires or wooden enclosures. It's a bad habit, but it's only a habit, and dogs who chew obsessively can be redirected and retrained.

Henrie's foster mom is worried that his new family might not appreciate him and all he has to offer, and she wants to stress that he is a wonderful dog with a few quirks that come from his time in the mill. She says any adoptive family must be prepared for frequent follow-up calls and contact, from adoption to the far distant day of his passing, so she can be reassured that he's getting all the love he needs! Ideally, Henrie's family will have a stay at home person, or at least someone who can come and play at lunchtime. He's so active that he really needs the exercise and stimulation of a midday romp, at least while he is so young. Preference will be given to families who can demonstrate that they'll be able to spend at least 6 hours with him every day. He loves to run and run, and preference will be given to families with a fenced dog park nearby or a large fenced area where he can go, go, GO! He's not yet really grasped the leash walk concept, but that's not hard to fix. Leash walks are good alternatives to the dog park, though it's harder to let him really run. We think he'd be great as an office dog as long as he has lots of designated chewies and Gumabones!

Henrie is a swell dog. He's waiting for his chance with a loving forever family in a home where his goofy, happy self will be loved for what he is. If you can gay-ron-tee that your family will appreciate a nutty mutt, you should be prepared to paddle on down to Lake Charles, LA. He will not be shipped.

Apply for me here!