Bark Twain

Description

* This dog will be at the Palo Alto Pet Food Express on Saturday, August 15th from 12–3 PM (unless adopted prior to the event). All DPS Rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, flea/tick treated, and microchipped prior to adoption. Adoption Fee: $800 Meet Bark Twain: The Adventures of a Very Good Boy If Mark Twain had written a book about the modern Boston Terrier, we're pretty sure Bark Twain would be the main character. Bark Twain is a 1–2 year old, 21-pound purebred Boston Terrier who has somehow managed to pack approximately 87 pounds of personality into a 21-pound body. He is cheerful, affectionate, energetic, hilarious and absolutely convinced that you are his person. Preferably his person who is sitting down, because that gives him the perfect opportunity to climb directly onto you, shower you with kisses and settle in as though you were specifically purchased for this purpose. Boston Terriers are the extroverts of the dog world, and Bark Twain is a very good representative of the breed. He doesn't simply enter a room. He arrives. He wants to know what everyone is doing, where everyone is going, whether anyone would like to pet him and why, exactly, you have been sitting there for 30 seconds without giving him attention. Everybody Is a Friend Bark Twain is an attention-seeking little social butterfly. Take him for a walk and he doesn't just want to walk. He wants to meet people. And if those people are willing to pet him? Even better. He is friendly, happy and incredibly affectionate. His favorite place is generally wherever his people are, and if you're sitting down, there is a very good chance Bark Twain will decide your lap is now his lap. He is very much a Velcro dog. If you move from the kitchen to the living room, he's coming. If you sit down, he's climbing up. If you stop paying attention to him, he may gently remind you that you have made a serious error in judgment. And then come the kisses. So. Many. Kisses. A Typical Day According to Bark Twain Bark Twain starts his morning around 7 a.m. and sleeps comfortably in a playpen in the living room, complete with his own bed. When his foster family gets up, he greets them with a full-body happy wiggle and enough jumping to make it very clear that THIS IS THE BEST MORNING EVER. After breakfast and a trip outside, he heads out for his morning walk around 9 or 10. He is a good leash walker and enjoys taking his time investigating the neighborhood. And by "investigating," we mean sniffing approximately every blade of grass and carefully checking the neighborhood's pee-mail. Once back home, Bark Twain is surprisingly good at settling down while his foster family works. He'll snooze nearby, then periodically decide it is time for a game of fetch. Because apparently working from home is more fun when someone periodically throws a ball. Dinner is around 6 p.m., followed by more snuggling and hanging out with his people before he heads back to his playpen for the night. But there is one important rule in the Bark Twain household: The walk is not optional. If he doesn't get his walk, he will let you know. Repeatedly. Politely? Not necessarily. Quietly? Absolutely not. Bark Twain has a schedule, and apparently he has appointed himself the manager of that schedule. High Energy With an Off Switch Bark Twain is energetic and playful, but he also has a surprisingly good ability to settle when his people are busy. He can spend the day sleeping while you work, then spring back to life when it's time to play. This is classic Boston Terrier behavior: full throttle, followed by full horizontal. Give him his exercise and playtime, and he's perfectly happy to spend the rest of the day hanging out with you. He enjoys fetch, walks, attention and anything that involves being included. He also has a bit of a hunter's imagination. Squirrels and birds are fascinating creatures that clearly exist solely to provide Bark Twain with entertainment. The Ear Situation We need to talk about the ears. Bark Twain has incredibly expressive ears, and according to his foster family, his ears talk more than his tail does. You can practically read his mind by watching them. Curious? Ear position. Excited? Ear position. Confused? Ear position. Convinced something interesting is happening three blocks away? You guessed it. And his sleeping positions are equally entertaining. Bark Twain apparently does not believe there is a correct way to sleep. He has perfected several positions that appear to have been designed by someone who has never actually studied canine anatomy. He Loves His People. A Lot. Bark Twain has a little bit of separation anxiety. When left alone, he may whine and cry and has even tried moving his playpen toward the door in an apparent attempt to negotiate his release. Eventually, however, he settles down and goes to sleep. He's a dog who really wants to be with his people, so his forever family should be prepared to help him continue learning that being alone is okay and that his people really are coming back. He has already shown that he can settle himself once he realizes the world has not ended. Still Working on His Manners Bark Twain is still working on housetraining and learning how to communicate when he needs to go outside. When he has access to the backyard, he does very well and happily takes himself out to potty. He has also occasionally done some digging in the yard, because apparently even the most sophisticated Boston gentleman occasionally needs to conduct an archaeological excavation. He is friendly with children and has done well with his foster's 8-year-old. He is kid approved for their family! His Forever Family Bark Twain could fit into a variety of homes. He would do well with someone who wants an affectionate, playful dog who will be deeply involved in their life. He could be wonderful for an experienced dog owner or a first-time dog parent who understands that a young Boston Terrier comes with energy, personality and opinions. Lots of opinions. His adopters should enjoy walking, playing and spending time with their dog. Bark Twain doesn't want to be a decorative dog who lives quietly in the corner. He wants to participate. He wants to go for walks. He wants to play fetch. He wants to meet people. He wants to investigate squirrels. He wants to climb into your lap. He wants to give you approximately 47 kisses. And when all of that is done, he wants to curl up beside you and sleep. The Best Part of Bark Twain His foster family says one of the things that makes him so special is how trusting he is. On his very first day, he was comfortable enough to climb onto his foster and fall asleep belly-up. That's Bark Twain. He may be energetic and hilarious and occasionally a little ridiculous, but underneath all that Boston Terrier spunk is a deeply affectionate dog who simply wants to trust his people and be part of their lives. So if you're looking for a compact comedian with a giant personality, a professional lap-climber, a neighborhood social director, an enthusiastic fetch player and a dog whose ears have apparently developed their own language... Bark Twain is ready to write the next chapter. And we're pretty sure it's going to be a very good one.