Fred is an adorable buddy for both humans and other animals. He is young and is still learning his boundaries, so potential adopters will need to be prepared to continue to work with him on understanding what is okay to do and what is not. He's been in our foster home for a few months now, and in that time we have seen him go from a very timid dog to one that knows no fear...well, except maybe the leash - he's still trying to understand that the leash is not there to hurt him.
Fred is learning how to play with toys and enjoys small soft ones that he can nibble on. He has not nibbled on any of the furniture, but beware of hanging wires and cardboard, as he does think they are something to play with. He also loves blankets and clothing, so potential adopters, you've been warned: you may end up missing some blankets or socks if you leave them lying around!
Fred's sight is not the best, but that does not slow him down. One eye has no vision, and the other eye may have less than 100% in it, but he isn't bothered by any of this. The only time we see Fred hesitating is when the lighting is low and he is unable to see everything around him. In those cases, we sometimes have to pick him up and place him outside, but once he's out, he's fine. His bad eye has been looked at by the vet for the shelter, and it did not seem to be something that needed to be surgically removed. He loves to be in the backyard and just run around and smell everything. No matter how many times he's out there in a day, he finds something else to entertain him.
Fred is mostly housetrained, but he does have some accidents from time to time if he hasn't been able to go outside for a long time. He does need to have long bathroom breaks as he gets distracted while using the restroom and doesn't empty his bladder on the first stop. It usually takes him three stops to be done. He has not been in a crate, but he does very well in a dog bed and stays in it all night. He is also a mostly quiet dog. Until recently, we had not heard any barking from him, but now he will bark a few times when he's extremely excited or wants to go outside, but typically stops if told to do so. He should do well in an apartment or a house since he is not a constant barker.
It is highly recommended that when he is being fed, he is fed in a location without any other animals around, and that you place his food down before letting him into the space. He can be a bit food aggressive, and from the way he eats, I would not be surprised if in the past he's had to fight others for food or had food withheld from him.
Fred would love to have a home with another dog that likes to play, if possible. He is currently in a foster home with other dogs and gets along with them, but they are not big into playing, and he doesn't understand why they will not run around the backyard or why they sometimes get upset when he repeatedly gets in their faces. He can definitely be an only dog, but would probably thrive going to dog parks or going on playdates. He is very affectionate with other animals and humans.
Due to the amount of energy that Fred has and his diminished eyesight, he would probably not be a good dog for a family with small children or anyone who is a fall risk. While Fred is a great dog, he basically has two speeds, fast and stop, and has a tendency to get under your feet or run into your legs. Due to this, potential adopters need to be prepared to dance a jig from time to time.
If you're looking for a small, very loving dog, then look no further than Fred!
