Meet Creamsicle, a 5-year-old sweet soul with the most adorable face wrinkles and a heart full of love. Once a bit timid, Creamsicle has gained confidence in his foster home and now greets the world with curiosity and quiet confidence. His affectionate personality shines brighter each day, and it's clear he knows he's finally safe and loved. Creamsicle is a special boy looking for someone to match his gentle spirit-and maybe toss him a few treats along the way!
Creamsicle is both mellow and playful - a great combination for a quality companion. He adores cuddling, stretching out for long naps, and going for walks where he can show off his impressive leash check-ins with his handler. One of his cutest quirks? When he sits, he often lifts a paw like he's politely requesting a treat. And when it's snack time, he'll gently place his front paws on your lap and gaze up with those big, expressive eyes. He's food-motivated, clever, and loves brain games like dog puzzles or chew toys.
This lovable guy is also a well-mannered house guest. On a Dogs Day Out adventure, Creamsicle impressed his volunteer buddy with his calm nature, car manners, and respectful behavior indoors. He enjoyed playing in the yard and curling up afterward for cozy nap sessions. He didn't get into anything he wasn't supposed to and greeted visitors with happy tail wags. During a sleepover, he proved how adaptable he is-taking a bath like a champ, rocking a pair of pajamas, and sleeping peacefully through the night. Best of all? He can be left home uncrated for several hours without any issues.
Creamsicle has become a bit of a local celebrity on his adventures. He's explored spots like Federal Hill and Loch Raven Reservoir, tried ice cream, gone hiking, and even met kids along the way-always leaving a great impression. He's described as sweet, youthful, and friendly, with a calm, curious energy that makes him a great companion for both outings and lazy afternoons. He absolutely adores pup cups and peanut butter, and his joyful zoomies are something to behold!
While Creamsicle is a total sweetheart with people, he would prefer to be your one and only when it comes to other pets. He's not a fan of birds or squirrels, and he does best as the only dog in the home. He's also looking for a cat-free household. Creamsicle forms strong bonds with his people-he loves being part of the action, joining you on the couch or even in bed, and doesn't enjoy being alone in the yard for long. He does wonderfully with older kids and is learning how to be gentle with his 3-year-old foster sibling.
He continues to grow more confident and social by the day. Recently, Creamsicle hit a big milestone by meeting several new guests at home and greeting them like a star-tail wagging, sneaking in some gentle snuggles, and showing just how far he's come. He's working hard on his leash manners, especially with pulling, and continues to make great strides. He's also a fun-loving pup who lights up when it's time to play tug or show off his silly zoomies around the house.
Creamsicle is house-trained, respectful, and ready for a forever family that will love his huge heart and goofy grin. If you're looking for a loyal, loving, and endlessly snuggly companion, Creamsicle is your guy. He's currently living in a foster home, so to meet him, please complete an application and email dogfosters@barcs.org for next steps!
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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:
High Energy: High-energy dogs are very active and often need plenty of daily physical and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. These dogs will more than likely benefit from structured routines and handling. If the dog remains high-energy at home, they may need regular exercise and playtime, along with puzzle toys or training exercises to keep their mind engaged.
Defensive Kennel Behavior: This behavior occurs when a dog presents defensive reactions while in kennel like barking, growling or lunging when approached. If this behavior continues at home, the dog may need a safe space (potentially larger than a crate or kennel), and you may need to build trust with positive reinforcement and slow, calm interactions.
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.
Separation-Related Behaviors: Dogs with separation-related behaviors may become distressed when left alone, leading to barking, whining, destructive chewing or house soiling. This behavior stems from their fear of being apart from their family. To help, gradual routines, positive reinforcement and crate training can provide security. In more severe cases, professional training or behavior-modification medication may be needed to support the dog's adjustment or as a life-long solution.
