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SHERLOCK HAS A BITE HISTORY
Please do not let his Bite History Banner scare you off! Sherlock is such
a sweet, loving, gentle boy. He had two bite incidents when he was new to
FBRN and just out of the puppy mill. Both incidents occurred when there were
people in his facial area and they were strangers. He also had 2 broken infected
toes at this time, so pain could have been a factor in the incidents as well. He did not draw blood nor continue. It was a warning and certainly not
appropriate, but understandable given he was new to the world of being a pet.
There has been nothing since these first 2 incidents in the first months of foster
care. It was a situational nip rather than a reflection of his character! But because
of these incidents within his first months out of the puppy mill, he does have to
have the status of having a bite history.
Sherlock is ten years old and lived for almost all of them as a prisoner in a puppy
mill and he deserves, perhaps more than any other sort of dog, a loving home
in which to live out his life. Sherlock is happiest hanging with you on the couch,
laying by you in his dog bed or basically being anywhere you are and doing
anything you are doing! He likes hanging with his buddies and watching the
world go by. He is a very laid back, easy going guy and because of this he would
appreciate an easier going family and home environment. He probably wouldn’t
be happiest with a really active family or really busy home environment. He likes
all kids and does exceptionally well with them, but because of his age, energy
level and his bite history he will not be placed in a home with children.
Again, Sherlock just really needs an easy going home where he can relax, hang out
and sleep. Please read the essay on life with a puppy mill survivor.
He would LOVE to go to work with you and be your lazy office dog! He would do
fine in a home with someone who works –as long as someone could come home
to let him out for a mid-day potty break and provide a mid-day love session as well.
Sherlock is a laid back love bug who would be happiest if he could be in your
presence at all times and doesn’t really prefer to wander about outside without
you. He likes you to walk out with him when he goes out to do his business and
typically needs to be given a little time to do it. With scheduled potty breaks,
Sherlock’s foster mom reports that he is housebroken. A short walk is fine with
Sherlock, but he is an older dog with lower energy levels and doesn’t need or
want much in the way of exercise so a fenced yard is not required.
Sherlock is also crate trained. He will sometimes let out a few whimpers or
protests in his kennel before settling down to go to sleep, but overall does really
well while in his kennel. If he is crated in the same room as you as night, and he
wakes up and has to go potty, he may also let out a few soft yips to tell you to
wake up!….he has to go outside and do his thang! If you’d prefer, he also doesn’t
mind being gated in the kitchen either as long as he has a soft comfy bed to
snuggle up in.
In January of 2010, Sherlock suffered a condition that put pressure on his spinal
nerve, causing a temporary paralysis of his hind legs. Steroids reduced the
inflammation and the paralysis cleared up after about 3 hours. Sherlock has had
no re-occurrences of paralysis since and can definitely walk around just fine on
his own. To help avoid any future back issues extra care should be taken to
eliminate stress on his spine. He should not be allowed to jump up or down off of
the couch, bed or really any furniture in general. He would also do best in a home
that has few to no stairs. While he can go up and down the stairs like a champ,
He says “the fewer, the better!”
Sherlock has mild allergies that can be managed daily with Benadryl. He also has
a definite allergy (he breaks out in hives and a rash) to any type of fish or fish
meal. To help avoid allergy outbreaks his forever home should be prepared to
continue feeding him a high quality grain-free kibble that has no fish ingredients
in it. He will also need grain-free, fish-free treats as well.
Sherlock totally ignores cats, to the point that it perturbed the kitty in his foster
home and she walked over and swatted him and he just walked away! Sherlock
would do well as an only dog, but calmer and balanced dogs would be ok with him
too. Sherlock will not be placed in a home with puppies or high energy canine
companions as Sherlock does not enjoy rough play or having other dogs jumping on him or annoying
him. Sherlock doesn’t like sharing his bones or food and will defend his if another
dog tries to take it or steal it. He does not have food aggression; he just likes to
be able to take his time and eat in peace. He has learned to sit and wait and
will look at you patiently before he gets his food. Sherlock has also learned basic
commands, sit, lay down, stay, and quiet. In his foster home he sleeps with a
doggy buddy, but his true loves are his people. If he could sleep with you at the
end of the bed he would be in heaven! And he will let you know that sleeping
with you or in the same room as you is his preference, but will settle if you are
insistent on another room for his sleeping.
Here are a few words from his foster mom, “Sherm…I call him Sherman because
he is like a tank coming at you, grinning all the way for loving. Once he is there at
your leg he will either gently lean into you with his big lovely head or reach up for
hugs. He is a gentle loving boy who is very easy to love. It really does seem like
he wants to make up for lost time in the kennel and just be loved for the rest of
his life. Sherm is happy sharing his life with his dog buddies as long as they are
a calm type were they can all share the couch. He so deserves to find someone
whose heart swells when he grins at them or as he lays his head in your hand and
looks at you ever so gently. He is big boy who is full of love and has worked hard
to overcome the trauma of being in a kennel for 6 years. He is very dependent on
his people and loves to be around everyone as much as he can. He has overcome
many obstacles while in foster care and is just a HUGE people pleaser. Sherm
so deserves a home, a couch or dog bed of his very own and a person of his own
to lovingly stroking his head and give him all the love he wants and deserves. It
just makes your heart melt with love when he looks at you with that goofy grin of
his. Once he realizes that finally he has a home to call his own he will truly be the
happiest dog alive. As long as he is given kind, loving guidance and patience, he
will gladly do anything for you.”
Sherlock is a complicated but loving boy who deserves a wonderful home. If you are up to the responsibility of adopting a former puppy mill boy and are interested in a very rewarding experience, please consider completing an application.
Sherlock is in Iowa and will not be shipped. He
will be spending the holidays, waiting for his perfect family, in Iowa. So, load up
the car for a fall road trip because Sherlock will not be shipped!
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