Journey

Description

* This dog will be at the Palo Alto Pet Food Express on Saturday, September 5th 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: $650 Don’t Stop Believin’ in Journey   Journey is a 10–12 month old, 33-pound Australian Cattle Dog mix who was rescued from the shelter and is ready to begin the best leg of her journey yet. She combines everything people love about cattle dogs—intelligence, loyalty, playfulness and an eagerness to learn—without being overwhelmingly intense. She is an active, affectionate young dog who bonds quickly with her people and becomes an enthusiastic lap dog once she feels safe.   A Day in the Life   Journey sleeps quietly in a crate beside her foster’s bed from approximately 10 p.m. until 8 a.m. When she begins stirring in the morning, she heads straight outside for a potty break, followed by breakfast and a walk around the neighborhood. She learned this routine quickly and now sits by the door when it is time to go!   After her walk, Journey races into the backyard for some high-speed zoomies before taking care of her remaining morning business. She has not yet realized that she can potty while walking on leash and currently feels more comfortable using the yard.   Journey spends her days alternating between naps, play sessions and time with a favorite bone or chew. She enjoys relaxing near her foster while they work, but she is not demanding of constant attention. She is equally happy entertaining herself or heading into the yard for a little independent sunbathing. She has dinner around 5 p.m., takes another walk and finishes her evening with cuddles in her foster’s bed before settling into her crate for the night.   She has also been crated alone for up to four hours and has done beautifully.   A Sweet Soul Finding Her Confidence   Journey can initially be a little cautious around unfamiliar people, sudden movements and loud noises. A calm approach, a few treats and some gentle chin scratches are usually all it takes to win her over. She may not race up to every stranger, but she is sweet, curious and increasingly confident as she learns that the world can be a friendly place.   Once Journey decides that you are one of her people, her affectionate side comes pouring out. She loves kisses, belly rubs, attention and long cuddles—and she will happily climb directly into your lap. She bonds quickly and deeply with the people she trusts.   Journey is still very much a puppy, and it has been wonderful to watch her confidence grow. She would thrive with adopters who will continue introducing her to new experiences at a comfortable pace and help her become the brave, well-rounded dog she is well on her way to being.   Playtime, Please!   Journey is a huge fan of toys. She loves playing fetch, chasing a soccer ball around the yard and tossing toys around by herself when nobody is available to play. Give her a good chew and she can happily settle down and entertain herself.   She has plenty of youthful energy and does best when she receives consistent walks and playtime. She is not an over-the-top energy machine, but she is an active girl who needs appropriate outlets for her busy puppy brain and body. If she misses her exercise, she may become a little mouthy in her efforts to initiate play, but she redirects easily to a toy or chew.   Journey has occasionally sampled an inappropriate object such as a shoe or chair, as puppies sometimes do, but she responds extremely well when shown what she should chew instead.   Friends Along the Way   Journey has lived both as a solo dog and with another dog (our beloved, and now adopted, Sunny D!). She invited her canine foster sibling to play but was respectful when the other dog declined. With a playful companion, she would likely be thrilled to share plenty of games and backyard zoomies. She has been friendly when meeting other dogs and has even responded politely to a cat encountered on a walk.   Like many dogs, Journey values special treats and high-value chews. She once gave another dog a quick warning around a bone, so these items should be offered separately when other pets are present. She is perfectly content enjoying a bone in her crate while another dog relaxes nearby.   Smart, Attentive and Eager to Learn   Journey is fantastic on leash and remarkably attentive for such a young dog. Squirrels, lizards and other exciting discoveries may catch her eye, but she redirects well, passes other dogs calmly and regularly checks in with the person holding the leash. She is a wonderful listener who genuinely enjoys learning and working with her person.   She is generally a quiet dog and rarely barks, although she may let out an excited bark during play.   Journey also appears to be housetrained. She had one early accident, but since settling into a consistent potty routine, she has been perfect. She has not used a dog door yet, but she will independently take herself into the yard when the back door is open.   The Next Stop: Home   Journey is a truly fantastic young dog with so much love, potential and personality. She would be happiest in an active, encouraging home that will provide daily exercise, engaging play, continued training and plenty of affection. In return, her adopters will receive a loyal adventure buddy, an enthusiastic playmate and one very cuddly lap dog.   Journey has already come so far. Now she just needs a family to help her continue the adventure.