Chester
catahoula cur Mix | male | 1 year Old | 38 Lbs
QUICK FACTS: ✔️ Crate trained! ✔️ Housebroken! ✔️ Can free roam when alone! ✔️ Good in car!
✔️ Good running buddy! ✔️ Could live in an apartment! ❌ Working on leash manners!
Updates
Chester found his family February 24, 2021!
PUPDATE 2
Chester does well playing by himself while I'm working at home. He'll play fetch with himself, flinging a toy around and chasing after it. He's not too picky with toys, enjoying tennis balls, rope toys, soft frisbees amongst other things.
Chester's been improving on walks, although the recent cold snap has cut down on the time he's spending outside. Walks and time spent socializing at daycare is steadily improving his behavior when other dogs are about.
Chester does well sleeping in a crate in the bedroom, and sleeping on the bed. He'll sometimes start the night in his crate, and end up on the bed by the morning if the door isn't latched.
He continues to be a daily source of joy, and never fails to brighten the day. My new favorite thing is when he's wearing booties on a walk, and goes to shake some snow off. He doesn't have as good traction with the boots as his bare paws, so his hind legs go all akimbo as his shake moves toward his tail.
PUPDATE 1
Chester's day starts around 7:30 am. He's happy to spend a bit of time snuggling on the bed after the alarm goes off, then gets a quick potty break, followed by breakfast. He goes on a morning walk of about one mile. Half the days Chester's then gone to doggy daycare at Waggin’ Tails for most of the day, which normally tires him out pretty well. On day's he stays home, he naps or entertains himself when I'm working from home, sometimes managing to play fetch with himself. He does fine left to roam free for 2-3 hours at a time if I need to go into the office. On days Chester is not in daycare, he gets another walk at lunch, and one in the afternoon, where we go to a field where he can run in the snow, play fetch, and try to catch snowballs, which are one of his favorite things. He gets dinner at 6 pm, and at least one more short walk for a potty break before bed. He loves to cuddle with whoever he can on the couch in the evenings.
Chester loves everyone! He's a bit of a velcro dog in the house, and immediately took to cuddling with my girlfriend when he first met her. He's been friendly towards all the humans I've seen him meet.
He does not have any real exposure to children. Chester has seen some kids around the neighborhood, but has not spent any time with them.
Chester's a young guy with a lot of energy. He loves playing fetch and chasing snowballs, which have been great ways for him to burn off energy, and he's a blast to watch frolicking in the snow. He's also happy to play fetch inside, and will leap over the back of the couch to chase a ball down the hall, then come sailing back over after retrieving it. He also plays hard when he's at doggy daycare, which leaves him good and tired for the evening.
Chester is reactive toward other dogs on leash. The first few days in foster care Chester would bark and lunge toward other dogs while on walks, even if they were across the street or in a fenced yard. Over the past few weeks, he's gotten more comfortable with these neighborhood dogs, and has been able to check out some of the yard dogs across a fence without getting worked up. If it looks like Chester’s starting to get worked up about another dog while we're on a walk, it's easy to redirect his attention, either with simple commands he already knows (e.g., come, sit, shake), a treat, or by tossing some snow for him to try to catch. Chester would do best in a quieter neighborhood rather than downtown.
Waggin' Tails Daycare said he generally does alright with the other dogs, but he's still learning how to read the other dogs, and how to greet and play appropriately. He attends a smaller daycare program with fewer dogs so he doesn’t get overwhelmed. Chester should be given slow intros to new dogs. Daycare has even mentioned he has good recall!
He has no exposure to cats.
Chester does well when left alone. He's been fine left roaming free for 2-3 hours at a time. He sometimes barks a few times when I leave, but then quiets down, and mainly waits by the door for me to return.
Chester is a very good cuddly boy who will bring bundles of joy to his forever family!