Charley
airedale terrier Mix | male | 5 Years Old | 51 Lbs
QUICK FACTS: ✔️ Good with other dogs! ✔️ Crate trained! ✔️ Can free roam when alone! ✔️ Good in car! ✔️ House broken!
✔️ Walks well on leash! ❌ No kids!
Updates
Charley found his furever people on September 5, 2020!
PUPDATE 2
Charley has gotten fairly comfortable in our home over the past few weeks and we've settled into a very manageable routine. The biggest changes for Charley have been shifts in his mindset. After getting to know Charley, our best guess is he's used to making choices for himself, and the choices he's been needing to make were overwhelming him -- resulting in undesirable behaviors and a reliance on daily medication. As he's learned to rely instead on humans to advocate for him, we've seen some pretty remarkable changes.
When Charley isn't napping his day away inside, he loves lounging outside and just watching the world go by. A nice, shady spot is his preference -- given the chance, he'd lounge for hours! :)
He is still a bit apprehensive meeting new people, however he is easily bribed with snacks and, given time to adjust and the space to just do his own thing, will approach for a few pets when he's comfortable. He does check in with whomever is holding the other end of his leash, and, with reassurance the person he is meeting is okay, he's more receptive. In his time, he warms up, but he's definitely looking for someone willing to put in the work and patience to earn his trust and affection.
We also haven't seen his tendency to guard -- either against people or dogs -- in our home. Charley has been very reliable when hanging out with other dogs in his foster home and has found his place in the pack. He is still supervised around other dogs, but when just hanging out, calmness ensues! Charley was set up for success from the moment he arrived in our home, with a carefully structured environment, and this is a main factor in his change in mindset. We will happily share this success plan with his future adopter!
In day-to-day life, Charley no longer takes anxiety medication, and he is thriving! Providing more predictability and calmness in his environment has helped considerably. Thus, his ideal home is still a calm, laid-back home and an owner with whom he can relax with and share his undivided attention and affection.
PUPDATE 1
Charley is a pretty "go-with-the-flow" kind of pup. Currently, he sleeps in his crate until his foster fam gets up, goes out for a quick restroom break, then prefers to leisurely enjoy his breakfast. Some days he attends doggy daycare, other days, he hangs out at home. In his crate or on a fluffy dog bed, Charley prefers snoozing the day away. He does enjoy a good sniffari around the yard or neighborhood, but other than that, his exercise needs are on the lower end of the spectrum.
Charley has had a bit of an interesting past. He's had the opportunity to live in a few different homes and with varying family dynamics, and we have learned quite a bit about his preferences. Charley enjoys humans, specifically "his person," and he tends to prefer the ladies of the home. Once he's chosen his person, he can become protective of her. While he's never bitten, he has both growled and lunged. He should not live in a home with young kids. He also has some situational anxiety and did not enjoy his time spent living in an apartment in Chicago -- too many people and too much activity for his liking. Thus, Charley would do best in a quieter home, with no children, and a person looking for their new best friend who will be forever loyal! Additionally, as Charley has been attending doggy daycare, he's become quite the staff favorite at Waggin' Tails! :)
He has short bursts of energy followed by a good nap. A few shorter walks or an opportunity to stroll and sniff around the yard, make him a very happy guy. He does pull a bit when he's excited about something, but he's easy to redirect and does have a solid heel overall.
When it comes to other dogs, Charley, again, seems to have a few opinions. In previous living arrangements, he was reported to be protective of his space and selective of other dogs welcome in it. He currently lives in a home with other dogs -- we have enforced strict boundaries from the first moment Charley has been with us, and he's been able to calmly coexist and even play very nicely and respectfully with the dogs he's living with. However, everything we know about Charley has said he's been just fine with other dogs outside the home, at the dog park, daycare, etc. Charley would do just fine as the only dog of the home; if he will be living with other dogs, we can share the same structure we've been providing for Charley to coexist with our dogs.
Charley doesn't mind being home alone -- he enjoys his naps! He has been both crated and allowed access to an area of the home and he's done well with both. He is also completely crate trained and is happy as can be in his crate!
Charley is a very loving and loyal pup. He's had a bit of a tough past, but we know his true person is out there! He is looking for someone to give his unconditional love; who will love him back as well as provide the calm and supportive environment he's been missing in his life!