Meet Mathias-lovingly called Matty by his foster family-a boy with a heart full of love and a serious passion for cuddles. Matty has the kind of presence that instantly makes a house feel like home. With his gentle eyes and playful spirit, he brings warmth, comfort, and plenty of entertainment wherever he goes. Whether he's curled up beside you on the couch or hopping into bed to rest his head on your shoulder, he's always looking for a way to be close to his people.
Playful and affectionate, Matty thrives on attention and loves a good toy session. His favorite is a fluffy duck that he carries around proudly and chews on contentedly for hours. He has a steady energy level-about a 7 out of 10-which means he's always up for a game of fetch or zoomies around the house, but he also knows when it's time to settle in and snuggle. After burning off some energy, you'll usually find him splooted out on the floor, ready for belly rubs or a cozy nap with his favorite human nearby.
Matty is housebroken and making solid progress with crate training. While he's not a fan of being left alone just yet and has shown some destructive behavior when unattended, he's learning that his crate can be a safe, comforting space. His foster is helping him build positive associations with being crated, and he's already showing signs of improvement. Like many young dogs, Matty benefits from structure, consistency, and patience-especially as he continues to build confidence and feel secure in his environment.
Leash walking is another skill Matty is working on. He currently pulls with enthusiasm, but he's eager to please and is slowly learning better leash manners through daily walks and guidance. His foster believes that some of this behavior is due to pent-up energy, so having regular outlets for play and movement-like a yard or frequent walks-goes a long way in helping him focus and relax.
Matty hasn't had the opportunity to meet other dogs, cats, or children while in foster care, so his ideal forever home would be one where he can be introduced slowly and thoughtfully to any other animals or younger family members. He may enjoy having a playful, well-matched dog friend or could thrive as your one-and-only, soaking up all the love and attention for himself. Either way, Matty is a loyal companion who forms strong bonds and just wants to be by your side.
He's a happy, goofy, affectionate pup who loves to make you laugh and then curl up for snuggles afterward. He takes treats gently, enjoys belly rubs, and has already learned how to get comfortable in home life after arriving as a stray.
If you're looking for a sweet, snuggly, medium-sized dog with a playful spirit and a lot of love to give, Mathias might just be your perfect match. He's ready to share his duck toy, his snuggles, and his big heart with someone who's willing to give him the time and guidance to keep growing into the amazing companion he's meant to be. Mathias is currently in a foster home. To meet him, please complete an application and email dogfosters@barcs.org to be connected with his foster family.
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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:
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.