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 truly blossomed in his foster home and now greets the world with curiosity and confidence. His affectionate personality shines through more each day, and it's clear he knows he's finally safe and loved. Creamsicle is a special boy who's looking for someone to match his gentle spirit-and maybe give him a few treats along the way!
Creamsicle is the perfect blend of chill and playful. He enjoys cuddling, stretching out for long naps, and going for walks where he can show off his impressive leash check-ins-though he's still working on mastering the whole leash manners thing. When he sits, he often lifts a paw in the most endearing way, and when it's time for treats, he'll gently place his front paws on your lap and gaze up at you with those expressive eyes. He's smart, food-motivated, and loves a good dog puzzle or chew toy.
This lovable guy has shown time and again that he knows how to be a great house guest. During a recent "Dogs Day Out," Creamsicle charmed his volunteer buddy with his manners and mellow nature. He was amazing in the car, respectful in the house, and enjoyed playing in the yard followed by cozy nap sessions. He didn't touch anything he wasn't supposed to and welcomed guests with happy tail wags. Later, he proved just how adaptable he is during a sleepover, where he took a bath like a champ, modeled his pajamas, and slept peacefully through the night.
Creamsicle has become a bit of a local celebrity on his adventures around town. He's visited Federal Hill and Loch Raven, eaten ice cream, gone hiking, and even met some kiddos-always leaving a great impression. He's described as sweet, youthful, and friendly, with a calm and curious energy that makes him a wonderful companion for outings or cozy days at home. He absolutely adores pup cups and peanut butter, and his zoomies are a sight 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 hasn't been around cats, and he may do best as the only dog in the home. He is incredibly affectionate and bonds deeply with his humans-he even wants to be in bed with you and doesn't love being alone in the yard for too long. With older kids, he's great, and he's learning to be gentle with his 3-year-old foster sibling.
Creamsicle is house-trained, respectful, and ready for a forever family who will cherish his big heart and goofy grin. He does take a shot for allergies and a stress-relief supplement, and he'll likely need to stay on allergy care long-term. But don't worry-he takes it all in stride. If you're looking for a loyal, smart, and cuddly companion, Creamsicle is your guy. He's currently living in a loving foster home, so to meet him, please email dogfosters@barcs.org and we'll connect you with his foster. Creamsicle is part of our VIP program, so his adoption fee is waived!
**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.
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.
