Meet Duce! This gentle, sweet boy is trying his very best, and every day he is showing a little more of the wonderful dog hiding behind
his nerves. Duce can be shy and unsure when meeting new people, but with patience and kindness, he is slowly learning that the world doesn't have to be such a scary place. Each new experience and positive interaction helps him gain just a little more confidence.
Duce is spending some time in a temporary foster home where he is thriving. He is completely housetrained, and does not get into anything
when left alone in the home. When his foster is away, he is content to spend most of the day sleeping. He can be a bit nervous in the car, but he eventually settles and is doing better with more practice. He even did well for his bath and blow dry!
Duce is an easy walking companion. He doesn't pull or rush through his walks and is happy to explore at his own comfortable pace. At times he will pull, especially when he sees another dog, but is easily verbally corrected. His excitement about being outside has led to a little more pulling recently, but when his foster stops, Duce immediately returns to heel on the left side. He knows "sit" and "paw," and takes treats with the softest, gentlest mouth. As he gets more comfortable he is becoming more and more cuddly. Duce isn't a huge cuddler, but he enjoys being close to his person. Duce doesn't whine to go out or wake you up, and is happy to sleep in with you. He also loves to lay on a throw pillow or make a little nest with blankets. He's a comfort loving boy!
Duce is also beginning to show more confidence around new people. He has approached several strangers to sniff them, accepted treats from most of them and even licked one person's hand. He once again gently took treats from a child's hand and recently accepted chin scratches from one of his walkers after their walk. These may seem like small moments, but they are wonderful signs of how much progress this brave boy is making.
Duce LOVES a stuffed soft squeaky toy he can slowly destroy and LOVES his chuck-it ball. He is working on bringing the ball back! He gets
so excited to go "outside" and also loves his pupsicles. He has a medium energy level and enjoys a nice balance of outdoor time and relaxing at home.
Some household sounds can still frighten Duce. The dishwasher is especially scary for him, and while it is running, he looks to his
person for comfort and wants to remain very close. A patient adopter who can offer reassurance while helping him gradually become comfortable with unfamiliar sounds would be a wonderful match.
Duce isn't looking for someone who expects him to be their instant best friend. He's looking for a patient person who will celebrate the
little victories-the first time he approaches on his own, the first time he asks for affection, and the day he realizes he's finally home and doesn't have to be afraid anymore. With a quiet, loving environment and someone willing to let him blossom at his own pace, Duce has so much potential to become an incredibly special companion.
Duce has met other dog pals at BARCS, he does best with gentle dog pals.
MVP Up to Bat! I'm a BARCS MVP I can be shy at first, but give me time and you'll see what a softie I am. That gentleness carries over to my dog friends too, I like calm, gentle pals. Please contact our Dog Foster team at dogfosters@barcs.org to connect with my foster family, and get to know me better! I can't wait to meet you.
Every animal deserves a home run! BARCS MVPs are overlooked pets in the shelter. Thanks to the generous support of the Alonso, Basallo, and Bradish Baltimore Orioles families, all MVP animals have waived adoption fees AND will go home with a brand new leash and collar or cat carrier.
For more information or to see the full MVP line-up, click here: https://www.barcs.org/mvp
