Meet Frenchie, affectionately known as Buddy in his foster home-a gentle, affectionate nine-year-old golden boy looking for a peaceful forever home to enjoy his golden years. He's laid-back, loving, and incredibly well-mannered in the house. Crate-free and house-trained, Frenchie has a solid daily routine and sleeps soundly through the night. He's a respectful and tidy housemate, known for his adorable habit of rearranging blankets into the perfect cozy nest. Though independent, he loves companionship and will happily rest his head on your lap or quietly follow you around before settling in for a nap.
Frenchie absolutely thrives in a home environment and is a gem to foster. He prefers being left out to lounge-whether his people are home or away-and spends his time napping, playing with his toys, or simply enjoying the calm. He loves meeting new people and soaks up every pet and ounce of affection offered. While he needs to be the only dog in the home, he more than makes up for it with his big heart and loving nature. He's been on café outings, explored the city, and patiently waited for pup cups-all while showing off his gentlemanly manners.
Walks are one of Frenchie's favorite activities, and he often carries his favorite toy or ball along the way like a proud little parade. His leash manners are a work in progress-he sometimes pulls or gets reactive to certain dogs, while others he passes without issue. He's making great progress with redirection and responds well to gentle guidance. Though mostly calm, he still has bursts of energy and loves his midday outings where he gets to explore and take in the world at his own pace. He's also a great car companion, always ready for an adventure big or small.
While Frenchie is highly stressed in the kennel environment at BARCS, he blossoms into a completely different dog once in a home-calm, happy, and affectionate. His foster family is doing everything they can to get him adopted and would love help with coverage for upcoming dates if anyone is able to step in. If you're looking for a low-maintenance, loyal, and toy-loving companion who will bring warmth, joy, and a little silly charm into your life, Frenchie might be your perfect match. He's currently in a foster home-email dogfosters@barcs.org to meet this special boy.
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**I'm on BARCS' VIP Urgent List. Why is My Status Urgent?**
A dog's behavior in a shelter can be very different from how they act in a home once they have time to relax. In the shelter, dogs spend a lot of time isolated in their kennels, meet new people constantly and are surrounded by other loud barking dogs, new smells, new sounds and new routines. This environment can keep their stress levels elevated for days or even weeks, which can cause them to act out in ways they wouldn't in a home. Because of this, what we see in the shelter are just observations and not promises of how the dog will behave later. A dog's true personality often shows up once they've had time to settle into their new home-that's why fostering and adopting is so important!
The following are the observations of my challenges in a shelter environment:
Leash Reactivity: Leash reactivity happens when a dog becomes overly excited, anxious or reactive on a leash, often responding to other dogs, people or moving objects. To manage leash reactivity, the dog may need to be kept at a safe distance from triggers, with positive reinforcement for calm behavior, and possibly work with a trainer if the behavior persists.
Dog Selectiveness: Dog selectiveness is when a dog may get along well with some dogs but might have a poor reaction or be avoidant with others. Selective dogs may need carefully managed interactions, intentionally selected playmates to ensure compatibility, supervised play with other dogs, and avoidance of situations where they feel threatened or overwhelmed.
Barrier Reactivity: Barrier reactivity occurs when a dog may bark, growl or lunge when behind a barrier, such as a fence, gate or window, often due to frustration or excitement. If barrier reactivity continues outside of the shelter, the dog may need desensitization by gradually exposing them to the trigger from a safe distance, rewarding calm behavior, and managing the environment to reduce opportunities for reactivity.
Prey Drive: Prey drive refers to a dog's instinct to chase and capture moving objects, such as small animals or toys. If the dog exhibits a strong prey drive in an adoptive home, they may need complete separation or controlled, supervised play with appropriate toys and training to manage their impulses and ensure safety around smaller animals.
