Marina

Description

* This dog will be at the Palo Alto Pet Food Express on Saturday, November 7th from 12PM – 3PM (unless adopted prior to the event).  3910 Middlefield Road All DPS Rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, flea/tick treated, and microchipped prior to adoption.   Adoption fee: $650 Marina: Ready to Drop Anchor in Your Heart   After raising her four Boat puppies, it’s Marina’s turn to find a place to dock! This 1–2 year old, 25 lb Maltese mix came to DPS from the shelter with her babies. Now that her little crew is ready for their own adventures, this loving mama is discovering the joys of being someone’s baby herself.   Your Affectionate First Mate   Marina forms a close bond with her person and loves to keep them company around the house. Heading to another room? She’ll come along. Taking a seat? She may bring her sweet face right up to yours to request some affection. Getting down on the carpet for morning exercises? Congratulations—you’ve signed up for a workout with bonus kisses and a fluffy assistant climbing around you!   She loves pets, scratches, hugs, and especially being brushed. Her foster describes her coat as low-shedding, with just a few hairs appearing during brushing. Although Marina enjoys being close, she doesn’t always need to be in your lap. Sometimes she cuddles up with her foster mom, and other times she chooses a nearby spot to stretch out and snooze. She’s a lovely mix of affectionate companion and relaxed lounging buddy.   Learning to Play Again   Marina has become happier and more playful as she’s settled into foster care. She’s learning that squeaky toys are pretty exciting and enjoys chasing plush toys as they slide across the wood floor. After breakfast, she sometimes celebrates the day with zoomies and a few enthusiastic laps around the yard.   Outside, she likes investigating the garden, checking under bushes for lizards, and keeping an eye on squirrels along the fence.   She’s also a girl who appreciates a good meal. Marina has learned to sit for food and treats, comes when called, and takes a keen interest in making sure no snack opportunity passes unnoticed.   A Sweet Routine   Marina wakes around 7:30 a.m. and is ready for breakfast promptly! She goes outside first, though she often prefers to finish eating before taking care of her potty business. Her day includes a morning walk of about half a mile, plenty of companionship and naps, dinner around 5 p.m., and another walk before bed.   Her favorite evening tradition is her dental chew. As soon as everyone heads upstairs, she starts looking for it. Afterward, she may stretch all four legs out on the carpet before settling into the comfy bed in her wire kennel. She sleeps through the night in her foster mom’s bedroom, with bedtime around 10 p.m.   Marina has had no potty accidents during the three weeks covered by her foster’s report. She consistently uses a particular area of the yard and currently prefers to potty there rather than on walks.   Helping Marina Navigate the World   Marina will need patient adopters who understand that her loving nature at home comes with some challenges outside it. She is reactive to dogs on walks, even at a distance, and may bark and pull when she sees them. Her adopters should be prepared to work with a qualified positive-reinforcement trainer and choose quieter walking routes while helping her build better coping skills. She has not had off-leash interactions with other dogs in her foster home, and a home where she can be the only pet would be the best starting point.  At intake, Marina was friendly with everyone she met, but on arrival in foster, she growled at her foster dad. With patient, consistent treat offerings, she became comfortable with him. It's possible she's more sensitive to men than women; her adopters will need to facilitate thoughtful intros with new people until they've gotten a better read on this.   Marina is practicing being comfortable during departures. Her foster has gradually worked up to leaving her loose in the house for one to three hours. She may initially whine and scratch at the door, but then settles. Her new family should continue building her independence gradually and expect an enthusiastic, wiggly welcome when they return!   Marina has given her puppies a loving start, and now she’s ready for a family devoted to her next chapter. With patient guidance, a comfortable routine, and plenty of affection, this sweet mama will have every reason to feel she’s finally reached her home port.