Friday, May 25, 2018

The Troublesome Trio

Fairly often, we see dogs come in that are considered "too much dog" for some people. They have a lot of energy, need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation, and may not be totally up to date on that whole "manners" thing. 

And while rambunctious dogs are a big turn off to a lot of people, we've learned something pretty cool - "rambunctious" is just another word for "perfect" in the eyes of some awesome people. These people often know what it's like to be a bit of an outsider - the kid who can't sit still in class, or always needs to be moving, or thinks best when on the run. If you think we might be talking about you, read on. We have a few dogs you just might need to meet.

Rocky: The Oversized Champion

Do you like big boys and you cannot lie? Great, let's meet.

Rocky is not a dog for the faint of heart. Weighing in at over 110 pounds, he's really looking for someone who likes and understands big, big dogs. 

Rocky isn't a huge believer in personal space. That's the polite way to say "he likes to jump on people and doesn't understand that he's massive." But he's working on it. Like all prize-fighting champions, Rocky just needs some training and a little reminder to use that impulse control.

Maybe our favorite thing about Rocky is his love of dogs. He loves to run and chase, and is really, really good with dogs who are rude to him. Which is more than we can say for some people.
This is my ball. I shall call him Squishy and he shall be mine and he shall be my Squishy.

 Buddy: The Ball-Obsessed Teenager


There are a few things we know for sure about Buddy. One is that something happened to him before he got here. He came in with an injury to his tail that was pretty traumatic and required surgery to repair it. The second is that even after his tail was healed, Buddy had some behavioral issues to work through as a result of what we assume was a hard life before he came to us. 

And the third thing we know is that Buddy is truly a champ. We don't know exactly what his life was like before he reached our doorstep, but we have a feeling it wasn't great. And despite that, Buddy is light years from where he started. After a few months of labor and love by our medical and behavior staff, we're seeing some amazing improvements. Buddy is so sweet, so focused and willing to learn new things, and so, so obsessed with his ball. 

 I will fetch my ball no matter what. Even in the rain.

Buddy thrives on a routine, consistency, and encouragement. Which, if we're being honest, a lot of us do too. If you're one of those people that always wakes up at 6am, even on weekends, and you like to throw a ball around more than your average person, you should meet Buddy. (To meet Buddy, make sure to fill out the questionnaire on his page first. And don't forget to watch his awesome video for more deets about him!)

Keep up the cuddles, lady. I'm here all week.

Dudley: The Klutzy Energizer Bunny

Tie dye really is my color.

Last, but certainly not least, is Dudley, who got the memo about dressing to impress and took it a step further. Dudley is, without a doubt, one of the biggest goofballs we've ever met.

When we first met Dudley, he was so scared and shy. But with just a little bit of time to relax, this silly dude is showing a whole new side of his personality. His true colors are here - and they're equal parts goofy and active, with just a dash of sass thrown in for good measure. 

Dudley, once terrified of dogs, is now regularly taking part in playgroups - word on the street is that it's his favorite part of the day, and helps him get out the wigglies.


If you've ever felt a little bit misunderstood, or came off as a wallflower when inside you know you're meant to be the life of the party, you'd probably get Dudley. And there's a good chance you would love him just as much as we do. (By the way, Dudley had an entire video made about him - and it's pretty awesome. Don't miss it.)

 So. Tired. But must keep playing!

If you've ever been told you're "too much" - too much personality, too much energy - we see you. And we're here for you. And we think we have the dog for you. Because at HSSV, we love the misfits and the outsiders and the kids who just need a little something extra. Many of us are those types of people, and working with those types of animals is what makes our jobs so rewarding. We know there are really, really good homes out there for the Rockys, Buddys, and Dudleys of the world. If you think you might be one of them, we highly suggest you come by. Your better half is here waiting.

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