Definitive Guide to Owen

Updated 30Jan17

Petfinder: Owen's Petfinder Profile
Age: ~2 years
Weight: ~13lbs
Food:   1C Purina One dry food
Treats:  Owen loves them all.  He is very treat motivated.
Good with Men: yes - he prefers men!
Good with Women: yes
Good with Children:  yes
Note: Owen has had a history of reactivity when being touched unexpectedly.  We have worked on it over the last couple months, and I am happy to say he's like a new dog!  I don't want to say he's 100% changed, because with a history like his, who knows what all of his triggers could be.  But I would confidently say that with the right knowledge, any family would find him to be a wonderful dog.
Good with Dogs: yes
Good with Cats: unknown
Housebroken: Yes.  He will ring the bells on the door when he wants to go out and if that doesn't work he will also whine.  Owen does seem to have a need to mark his territory.  It tends to only happen immediately after another dog has marked his territory, so it's not as if Owen just walks around marking all day.  This is easily curbed by taking him on long walks where he has a chance to empty his marking reserves, or by having him wear a belly band in the house.  If he got to choose, long walks are definitely preferred.  :-)
Crate Trained: Yes.  If I am in the room with the crates, he will go in on his own and take a nap.  Some days he just doesn't feel like hanging out, and he will voluntarily go lay in his crate even if I'm not in the room with him.
Leash Trained: Yes.  He gets so excited when he sees me grab a leash to go on walks.
Other Skills: He can sit on command.
Personality: Owen has a very loving personality.  He is always eager to please, and loves to play.  He plays well by himself, with other dogs, and with people.  He gets so happy when told he is a good boy (which is quite often)!  He hasn't quite learned his boundaries yet, so he does like to jump on people and other dogs to give kisses.  He has had a history of reactivity with items being placed around him, but he does very well with just a soothing voice, and calm petting.
Toys:  Owen loves to play fetch.  He also likes to play tug-of-war with ropes and stuffed animals.
Nicknames: Owen-bear
Ideal Family: Owen's ideal family would be one who has an active lifestyle.  He loves to be outside running around.  He will need someone who can train him (he's still just a puppy!).  And he would also like someone who will cuddle him.  He loves to give kisses!  A one-dog home would be ideal (due to his marking issues), but he does get along with other dogs and could definitely handle a multi-dog household!

Chester Update!

Boy, do I love getting updates on this guy!  He was easily my greatest success story, so it's wonderful to hear how he's doing with his family.  I think the last update his mom had told me that they had just adopted a new girl, well it turns out she and Chester are best buds!

just look at these cuddle bugs!

Everyone, Meet Owen!

What a sweetie!  Owen had spent a few weeks in a foster home before I picked him up, so he had already learned a lot of the things that I typically need to teach.  He is already housebroken, which is wonderful for me, as that's typically something I struggle with teaching.  When I sat down with his previous foster mom to talk about him, he wouldn't stop showing off for me and giving me kisses.  In my short time of knowing Owen so far, I think everything on his Petfinder description is accurate.  The one negative I see so far is the mouthing.  He did it a bit while I was with his previous foster mom, so she was telling me what to do to discourage it, and she said that he has significantly improved from when she first got him.  Since he's been at my house, he hasn't done it yet.  Probably because he's spent the whole time exploring and meeting the other dogs, but I think I'm prepared if he starts up again.

He met Hardy first when I brought him home.  I was mostly concerned about how they'd get along, as I was told that he caught a squirrel the other day!  Hardy is small and fluffy, so I was afraid that Owen would think he was a toy.  Well, he might still think that, but he's not trying to eat him.  So that's a plus!  Owen actually got Hardy to play with him last night!  And before you ask, yes, that is Hardy's play style.  I think that sneeze sound is his play bark.  Strange, I know.

Then he met Ruthie and Tippy.  Ruthie did her typical "show everyone who is boss" meeting.  After the sniff test, she immediately calmed down.  Tippy still isn't so sure about him, but he's getting more comfortable with it.  I think he's just being his grumpy, old man self.  Owen took it all in stride.  This morning, Owen and Ruthie had an epic play wrestle battle.  You can hear Tippy growling in the background, but his tail was wagging the whole time, so I'm not sure what message he's trying to convey.

After about an hour of exploring the house and the other dogs last night, Owen calmed down and settled in for a nap.  He laid right on me, which is unusual for the first night!  That's how much of a cuddle-bug this dog is!

After a bit he moved over into Hardy's dog bed.  I am always amazed at the dogs who find this bed comfy.  It is actually a tiny cat bed!  But all kinds of fosters have curled up in it.

The warmer wasn't even plugged in, so it was just a tiny bed.  Goofball.

Oh, I forgot to mention, his hair is very pliable.  You can give him messy hair, or nice hair.

messy hair

nice hair

And last but not least, night time.  His previous foster mom said he was crate trained, and boy is he.  I barely had time to put a blanket in the crate for him before he jumped in and laid down.  I didn't even need to coax him with a treat!  He was completely silent all night, and even this morning when I got up.  Didn't hear a single peep out of him.

I'll give it a week or so before I write up my definitive guide.  I want to make sure he's comfortable so I see his true personality shine through.  But don't let that stop you from scooping this guy up before then!  I don't think this lover will last long in the foster system!

Ruthie Demands All Attention

Do you want a dog who will love you more than anything else in the world?  Adopt Ruthie.  She will provide you with a lifetime of cuddles and kisses.  But don't try to share your love, she'll take it back (in the cutest way possible).

And don't stop giving her love, or she'll again try to get it back (in the cutest way possible).

Jett has been Adopted!!!

You heard that right!  My Jett-Pack, my puppy, my comic relief has found his forever home!  I'm going to miss his antics, but I'm so happy he found the perfect family for him.  He has a dog brother now that he already - because the phrase fits perfectly - follows around like a puppy.

Jett is already getting cozy at his new home.

Now for a little request for help: Someone please adopt Ruthie!  Jett was her playmate!  Sure, she gets along with Hardy and Tippy, and they do play.  But not like she and Jett did.  She's pacing the house this morning looking for him.  This is the time they normally play tug-of-war!  Ruthie needs to find a family who will fill that void!  Come on, people!  We can do this!