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