Meet Hannah (aka Vienna)! Don't let her adorable perma-pout fool you-this sweet, snuggly girl is pure joy in pup form. Hannah came to BARCS as a stray, and has quickly won over hearts with her affectionate nature, playful energy, and love of people. If you sit down for a break, she'll happily curl up beside you, always ready for a cuddle or a kiss. She weighs 50 pounds, the perfect size for snuggling.
Hannah knows "sit," appears to be housebroken, and lives for treats- they might be her favorite thing on the planet. While she's still working on perfecting her leash manners, she improves every day and is eager to please.
This happy-go-lucky pup recently enjoyed a Dog's Day Out to Fort McHenry and had a blast! One of her favorite moments? Hopping on a bench to smother her human with kisses. Energetic, curious, and outgoing, Hannah loves to explore, meet new people, and spread joy wherever she goes.
Hannah has met other dogs at the shelter and enjoys playtime. She'll need to meet any future canine roommates to make sure they're a good fit. She's also eligible for social sessions at BARCS to keep practicing those skills.
If you're looking for a fun-loving, affectionate companion who's equal parts adventurer and snugglebug, Hannah might be the perfect match for you! Come down to BARCS and 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:
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.
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.
Lack of Formal Training: A lack of formal training means the dog may not know basic commands or proper manners, leading to unruly behavior. If the dog lacks training, they may need basic obedience lessons, positive reinforcement, and patience as they learn new skills.
Jumpy/mouthy: refers to behaviors associated with energetic, playful, stressed or anxious adolescent or adult dogs. A dog who shows jumpy/mouthy behavior may jump up, put their mouths on people (usually people's arms and legs), and may even grab at clothing and/or the leash. See Mouthy. Mouthy: This commonly refers to behaviors associated with energetic, playful, stressed, or anxious adolescent or adult dogs. A dog who exhibits mouthy behavior may put their mouth on people (often hands, arms, and/or legs), and may even grab at clothing and/or the leash. This same behavior can be normal play between dogs.
