HOOCH

Description

HOOCH IS STRUGGLING IN THE SHELTER ENVIRONMENT:Meet sweet Hooch, this big, happy boy is beginning to struggle at the shelter and needs a place where he can decompress and learn the comforts of home. What makes Hooch special? He has little to no vision, but it doesn’t stop him at all from loving life, even if he bumps into something on occasion! However, due to his limited vision he can give conflicting signals to other dogs including a hard stare (unintentionally), and he will take time to learn another dog’s cues and communication. Because this can lead to misunderstandings, he may be most suitable as an only dog. However, if you have a larger, mellow, social dog who can brush off awkward interactions, and doesn't mind rough and tumble play, make sure to bring your dog for a meet to see if there's a potential match (case by case).Hooch will thrive in a home that has a predictable layout and routine so he can decompress slowly and settle into his new environment. It is not required to have experience with a blind pup, just a willingness to learn and adjust along with him, as well as experience with positive reinforcement to set him up for success and a happy future! Hooch will also do best with older kids (15+) who will give him space, move slowly, and learn about a dog’s body language (see the link under ‘resources’ on our website). Hooch may startle at sounds or sudden shifts, going slowly and allowing him to set the pace will be important as he finds his way and decompresses. Minors and pups should be actively supervised to keep everyone safe and comfortable. Hooch is an active dog who enjoys a good romp in a fenced area, but he is happy to relax as long as his favorite people are around to keep up with his `subtle` requests for attention (he'll turn around and lean his back end into your legs while he waits for you to pet him!). He does pull on the leash with excitement and would benefit from learning loose-leash walking with positive reinforcement. Providing Hooch with regular exercise combined with plenty of mental enrichment such as food puzzles, sniffing time, games, and learning new tricks (which he has loved with volunteers) will help fully meet his needs, keep his mind and body active, and prevent boredom. Because he showing signs of stress at the shelter he will likely take longer to feel safe in a new home during such a big transition, but with support and guidance we can help with the process of acclimating him to a new environment. While we believe Hooch is around three years old, he was found to be blind upon arrival at TJO. We do not have a definitive answer as to what the cause of his blindness is, but there is no concern about any underlying condition at this time. He will likely do well with routine appointments with a primary vet, but may need to be monitored a little more closely due to his impairment. Interested in meeting this fabulous boy? Please come to the shelter from 12N-3:30 on Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday, or on Saturdays by appointment.