Definitive Guide to Ruthie

Updated 18Mar16

Petfinder: Ruthie's Petfinder Profile
Age: ~3 years
Weight: ~14lbs
Food:   1C Purina One dry food (plus whatever crumbs she can find leftover in everyone else's bowls)
Treats:  Ruthie loves treats.  She likes all treats I've given her so far: Greenies, Milkbones, Canine Carry Outs, People Crackers...  When she is alone she is very polite about taking treats.  When there are other dogs around, she tends to be a little more pushy.
Good with Men: yes
Good with Women: yes
Good with Children: yes - but like all dogs, she needs to be monitored to make sure she's not put in an uncomfortable situation where she might lash out.
Good with Dogs: yes
Good with Cats: yes
Housebroken: Yes.  She scratches at the door (an attempt to ring the bells) when she needs to go out.  She is able to hold it all day (~9 hours) while I am at work.
Crate Trained: Yes.  She will go in on command.  I keep the crates in my computer room, and while I am in there she likes to go in her crate and relax.
Leash Trained: Ruthie is very good at walking on a leash.  However, she is not trained to walk next to her person yet.
Other Skills: She's very good at 'calm down.'  We use this when I open her crate to feed her in the morning, and also when I give the dogs treats.  We are still working on 'sit.'  She is very good when we're one-on-one, but when the other dogs are around she has too many distractions.
Personality: Ruthie is a lover.  She loves to cuddle with her person.  She always wants to be nearby, laying a head on your arm or shoulder.  With the other dogs she loves to play.  She gets along with everybody.  She's never mean toward people or other dogs, but she will play rough if the other dog is up for it (she will listen if you tell her to stop, though).  Ruthie is rather fearless (and a little bit reckless) when it comes to loud noised items (e.g. lawnmowers, weed eaters, and vacuum cleaners to name a few).  She will run right up to them and try to bite them (except the lawn mower, because obviously I don't let the dogs out while I'm doing that).  I try to tell her that she will get hurt, but she doesn't seem to care.  Just a warning to her future family, that the ol' trick of using the vacuum as a door barrier will not work on her.
Toys:  Ruthie prefers squeaky toys.  She has a plastic, squeaky lizard that she absolutely loves.  She also loves to play tug-of-war with ropes and stuffed animals.  She isn't a fan of playing with tennis balls, but she loves to destroy them.
Nicknames: Ruth-ball, Ruth
Ideal Family: Ruthie is looking for a family who loves to cuddle.  If she can't sit on the couch with you while you watch tv, you are not her family.  She is also somewhat high energy, so she would do well with a family with kids, or who likes to spend time outdoors.  A fenced in yard where she can run around and/or watch nature would be perfect!