Traffic Cone

Description

* This dog will be at the Palo Alto Pet Food Express on Saturday, August 29th 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 Traffic Cone: The Cutest Roadblock You’ll Ever Encounter  Traffic Cone is a 5–6 month old, 18-pound Aussie mix puppy who may briefly bring your productivity to a halt—but only because it’s nearly impossible to walk past those sparkly eyes, puffy cheeks, and ridiculously cute paws without stopping to admire him. This fabulous little dude is sweet, playful, curious, and completely devoted to his people. Give him a little guidance, and he is ready to follow you anywhere the road leads.   Ready to Join the Caravan   Traffic Cone loves being part of a pack. He follows his foster family from room to room, keeps an eye on what everyone is doing, and feels happiest when the whole crew is together. He is affectionate without needing to be in someone’s lap every second. In the morning, he greets his people with sweet snuggles and happy puppy enthusiasm. During quieter moments, he may nap nearby, settle at someone’s feet, or choose a comfortable spot of his own. Once he is confident that nobody is about to leave on an adventure without him, he stretches out, rolls onto his back, and sleeps deeply with all four feet in the air. At night, Traffic Cone sleeps loose in his foster family’s enclosed bedroom. He usually stays in his own bed or sleeps peacefully at their feet. He has adjusted beautifully to the household routine and is becoming more relaxed and comfortable every day.   Play Zone Ahead   Traffic Cone arrived ready to party. He met his 70-pound foster sister, Chibi, in the backyard and immediately decided she was the greatest thing he had ever seen. The two played for most of their first night together, and he continues to absolutely adore her. Traffic Cone is an energetic puppy who could happily spend hours playing with another dog, but he is also learning how to follow the mood of the household. If Chibi isn’t interested in wrestling, he can nap with the family or entertain himself by moving from toy to toy. He especially enjoys chewing on soft toys and sturdy rubber toys while he finishes teething. He has not yet played off-leash with dogs other than Chibi, but he is generally curious about dogs he sees on walks. He may give a small bark if one appears unexpectedly, then looks to his people for reassurance. He would likely love a home with a friendly, playful, well-mannered dog who can keep him company and continue showing him the ropes.   Traffic Cone has also been friendly with the children he has met. He accepted treats from kids and gently licked the feet of a baby sitting in a stroller. He has not been tested with cats but would likely be fine given appropriate training and guidance.   Excellent Navigation Skills   Traffic Cone loves his daily walks, and his leash skills have already improved tremendously. With a harness, kibble rewards, and consistent practice, he has quickly learned to walk closer to his person and check in frequently.     Traffic Cone’s foster family takes him on a shorter walk during the day and another walk of approximately 30 minutes in the afternoon. He also enjoys car rides and accompanies them to pick up a family member from work. He would make a wonderful companion for someone who wants a dog to join them on walks, errands, outings, or future adventures. His foster family can even imagine him becoming a charming little “shop dog” for someone able to bring a canine companion to work.   A Very Good Student   More than anything, Traffic Cone wants to get things right. He is food-motivated, attentive, and responsive to gentle correction and redirection. In a short period of time, he has already made noticeable progress with leash walking, settling in the home, and following the household routine.  Of course, he is still a puppy. Occasionally, his enthusiasm gets the better of him and he tackles a passing foot, nibbles a slipper, grabs at a pant leg, or launches himself toward Chibi like a tiny flying squirrel. A quick interruption and an appropriate toy are usually enough to get him back on track. He may also bark when he wants another dog to play or when a delivery person approaches the house, but he stops when the behavior is ignored or redirected.   Life Outside the Cone   Traffic Cone is doing well with crate training. When his foster family leaves, he stays in a roomy crate while Chibi rests nearby. He may bark briefly as everyone heads out, but generally stops within about a minute and sleeps—often belly-up—until they return. Feeding him in a slow-feeder as the family leaves helps make departures easier. He also eats part of his meals in the crate and settles especially well when it is covered to reduce distractions.   He is still working on housetraining and does best when taken outside approximately every two hours. He often sits near the front door when he needs a potty break, which is a wonderful start.  His adopters should be prepared to continue a consistent puppy schedule with frequent outings, supervision, praise, and patience.   All Roads Lead to You   Traffic Cone’s ideal adopters will be excited to raise an intelligent, energetic puppy and give him the structure, training, exercise, socialization, and reassurance he needs to grow into a confident adult. He would thrive with people who want him to be an active part of their lives and who will show him that new places, people, noises, and experiences are nothing to worry about.   When the adventures are over, Traffic Cone is perfectly happy to join everyone in the living room for a movie. He is surprisingly captivated by television and has already developed sophisticated cinematic preferences: Kung Fu Hustle, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and, naturally, Bluey. Whether he is watching martial arts, chewing on a toy, playing with Chibi, or sitting politely and gazing up at his people, he has a way of making them feel like they are his entire world.   Traffic Cone is gentle, loyal, eager to learn, and bursting with potential. He is looking for a best friend who will help him navigate puppyhood and then keep him close for every mile that follows. In return, he is ready to give them absolutely everything he has.