Heidi Ho is everyone's favorite hippo at the shelter! She was brought to BARCS due to no fault of her own when her owner could not care for her.
Heidi knows sit, takes treats gently and loves her stuffies. This noble lady is sweet and friendly, and has quickly earned the hearts of her loyal subjects (the staff and volunteers at BARCS!) Heidi Ho does pretty well on the leash, although she can pull at times, but she is a breeze to leash and unleash. Heidi Ho is a love bug and loves being the life of the party. She's a frisky prancer for being a big girl and will do some cute mini zoomies and dance steps along your walk!
Heidi Ho recently enjoyed a Dogs Day Out adventure, and while she had a great time exploring, her absolute favorite part was snuggling on the couch with her volunteer buddy. She's a total sweetheart who loves being close and cozy. She was described as snuggly, sweet, and well-mannered. Heidi Ho walked nicely on leash, with just a bit of excited pulling here and there. She knows basic commands and showed great house manners during her visit - the full package!
Heidi Ho has been soaking up the love on her Dog's Day Out adventures - and quickly winning hearts along the way! She recently visited Clifton Park and went on a hike (where we learned something important: she definitely prefers sunbathing over serious walking). Described as calm, curious, and quiet, Heidi Ho is all about the snuggles. One volunteer lovingly called her a "snuggly potato," and we couldn't agree more. While she may pull a bit on leash at first, she settles in - especially if there's a sunny patch waiting for her to lounge in.
During a recent trip to Patterson Park, she was described as incredibly sweet, lovable, and the perfect walking buddy. She enjoys sniffing her way along the path, takes treats with the gentlest manners, and knows her basic commands like a pro. On another special outing, Heidi Ho spent time at a volunteer's home and absolutely melted hearts with her calm, affectionate nature-especially around kids. She happily curled up beside them for some quiet cuddle time, soaking in all the love. Affectionate and adorable, Heidi Ho is happiest when she's close to her people. She's the perfect mix of calm, snuggly, and well-mannered-and she's ready to bring her warm, loving energy to a forever home that appreciates a sweet little loaf with a big heart.
She enjoyed a slumber party with a volunteer and showed us she is housetrained and sleeps nicely in a crate through the evening. Heidi, this Heidi is curious and kind. She enjoys being outside and exploring the trails. You'll smile watching her hold her head up to feel the breeze. She is a gentle, laidback gal who enjoys sniffing around the play yard. When she's done sniffing, she'll hang out with you for pets. Pets and back rubs will earn you soft tail wags and some kisses. When you pet her, you'll love feeling her velvety-smooth fur, and she'll look back at you with stunning, amber-colored eyes. This pup has beauty and brains: she already knows sit, and we can't wait to see what else she learns! Heidi Ho has a heart of gold, and hopes to meet you soon at BARCS!
Heidi Ho attended recently an adoption event where she was a sunbathing beauty, flopping herself down wherever she pleased. She enjoyed strolling through the farm, drinking all the water bowls, and tracking down anyone with a burger or burrito bowl. She was friendly with everyone, including kids, and seemed to especially love belly rubs. She wasn't reactive to other dogs at the event and wasn't interested in the cat kennel on the table. She was 100% there for the food, thoroughly enjoying pieces of hotdog and a pup cup. She pulled over to the funnel cake food truck many times but a line had to be drawn somewhere! She took her treats very gently and has the best happy food coma smile, this girl has a strong couch potato energy.
Heidi Ho has met other dog pals at BARCS, she shows bursts of chase play, but is mostly calm and coexisting. She would request to meet any doggie roommates to make sure they are a good match.
Come on down to BARCS to meet her!
**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.
