Eli
Labrador Retriever Mix | male | 10 months Old | 50 Lbs
QUICK FACTS: ✔️ Good with other dogs and kids! ✔️ Crate trained! ✔️ Housetrained! ✔️ Good running buddy! ✔️ Walks well on leash!
✔️ Good in the car! ❌ No apartments! ❌ Needs an experienced owner!
Updates
Adopted on May 25, 2021!
PUPDATE 3
Hi I’m Eli! I’m pretty new to the area and I’m looking for a home to call my own. I love eating peanut butter Kongs, chewing on Nylabones, and running around in the fenced in backyard with the dog that lives here and the neighbor dog (and of course destroying most toys I get my paws on). I’m told I have the SOFTEST ears EVER, and I love being close to my favorite human. I am weirded out by ceiling fans and keep looking up at them (how do they not fall on us?), and I am kind of shy, but I LOVE other dogs! I used to be scared of the car, but now that I know that when we get in the car, we go for walks, I LOVE getting in the car! I like meeting new people, but I’m kind of timid at first, especially around some men. If you go really slow with me, though, and feed me lots of treats, I’ll warm up to you. Since coming to my foster home I’ve learned how to “sit”, and I’m getting better at “come” and “lie down”. I’ve met a few younger kids, and I actually really like them. I took treats from a two year old, and I was actually kind of scared of him at first. I’m not a violent dog, not even when my humans stick their hands in my mouth to get out the yummy things I find on the ground that they say I can’t eat, and pretty much the only time I bark is when I’m excited and trying to get my doggy friends to play with me! I’m not even possessive of toys or food, so if my foster sister takes my toys or treats, I just run and find another toy and sit like a good boy waiting for another treat. I like being outside SO MUCH, a lot more than being inside. I’m chill when I’m inside (except when I first see a spinning wheel of death on the ceiling), but when I’m outside I’m so happy, and I love running and bouncing around and showing off my puppy energy :). My humans say that I’m doing really well and improving a LOT in the last few weeks. I want to find a fur-ever home, and I’m so excited to meet my new family!!!
PUPDATE 2
Eli has been learning a lot and making progress over these last few weeks. And we have been learning a lot about him. We’ve learned that with time, patience, love, and treats, he is gaining confidence. He has become a much better walker. He just loves his walks, whether they’re on our usual route, or also in a new environment, sniffing new things and seeing new places just after meeting a new doggie friend. He is a very happy dog on his walks and no longer leans into us from fear. I also suspect he did not like the harness we have. He walks MUCH better with just the martingale collar and no harness. And the few times we jog with him, he is so happy (if only jogging made me happy, as well!)! He could easily be trained to be your running buddy. He LOVES being outside playing in the yard (you should see him when he bounces around in circles trying to chase his tail!!) and he especially loves playing with our dog and the neighbor’s lab. If you had a big fenced yard for him to run around in while vanquishing old soccer balls, he would be in heaven!
He's made improvements indoors, as well, but I feel he would be more comfortable in a more open home with fewer doorways, halls, and stairs to navigate than we have. He likes his open spaces, but he can also now stay crated in the living room for hours and doesn’t make a peep. The crate has even become one of his safe spots when things in the house get too busy and start to overwhelm him. He also hangs out on the dog bed chewing toys, nylabones, and cleaning out frozen peanut butter-filled Kongs. For Eli, appreciated new introductions go in this order: new dog friends, new female friends, and lastly new males. Males still aren’t his favorite people (due to something from his past?), unfortunately, but he will warm up some over time. He warms up much more quickly to females.
Eli really is a very good boy and, with the right patient, loving owner willing to help him build his confidence, will be an absolutely amazing, loyal buddy. He is the nicest boy that loves going for walks, loves meeting new friends, and LOVES peanut butter Kongs. He also has the softest ears you will EVER feel :) Once you meet him, you won’t be able to help falling in love with him.
PUPDATE 1
Eli wakes between 6:30-8:30 am depending on the schedule my daughter has. After heading outside to potty, he gets breakfast and hangs out with my daughter until she leaves for school. Eli goes in his crate then. He typically whines for 15-20 minutes and then tends to calm down. He hasn’t yet been crated longer than 3 hours because, thanks to Covid, someone is usually around. After another potty break, he plays in the fenced area with our dog. He destroys a soccer ball or tennis balls, runs after our dog as she chases balls and sometimes fetches balls himself. When in the house, Eli stays very close to us (sometimes too close and becomes a large tripping hazard) in the kitchen or living room. He takes a couple walks each day. When my daughter has class online, Eli lies under her desk at her feet. His dinner is around 6 pm. He spends the evening close to my daughter wherever she is, mostly chilling/resting, sometimes chewing on a Nylabone or other toys or he enjoys the occasional peanut butter filled Kong treat toy. He has recently been allowed on the bed at night and stays in his corner of the bed very nicely all night long. His favorite days are the ones when he gets to spend hours outside on walks, sniffing around the yard, and playing with our dog.
Despite his larger size, Eli is a more timid, shy, jumpy dog. We’re finding that he is more confident outside than inside, and he needs a trusted human nearby to stay close to. Eli tends to pull back when meeting new people, especially if they are excited vs calm, but with slow, patient introductions, he will approach and eventually warm up. Unfortunately, he hasn’t met too many new people with Covid. Once Eli gets to like and trust you, he will greet you with tail wags and adorable stretches of glee.
Eli hasn’t been around young children with us, but even with the teens and young adults he’s met, he needs a more mellow introduction versus a high energy one. Energetic people bring out his timid side versus his curious side.
In the house, Eli is medium to low energy but outside, he turns into that 9-month-old puppy you expect wanting to run around and play more. He loves going on walks and looking around the neighborhood, but he tends to walk leaning right up against your leg a good chunk of the time. We are not runners so I can’t say if he would do this while running but during short jogs back to the house from the yard, he hasn’t been leaning on us. Eli really loves being outside running around the yard. He would love a big fenced in back yard! Oh, but whether on a walk or playing in the yard, watch out if he spots a squirrel. He will bolt!
Eli has been very good when meeting other dogs. They do the normal butt sniffing circular greetings and no one seems to get upset or irritated. He’s willing to hang back and play according to their rules and seems to get along very nicely with our dog and our neighbor’s dog. He does seem to lack personal space boundaries with dogs as well as with humans and will often sit on or stand right over our dog. So far she has allowed it with no problems. Eli does not have any cats in his foster home.
He just wants to be your best buddy and hates being left alone. He wants a human to stay by 24/7. Eli’s crate was moved from a bedroom to the living room recently. He seems much better about going in his crate now even while I vacuum or walk to another room. We haven’t let him free roam when we aren’t home because he has occasionally tried to chew non-toy items. We have started playing classical music for him when we leave and we feel that has helped some.
Eli is the most chill, even-tempered, sweet, 9-month-old 50 pound puppy you will ever meet. He just wants to be your best friend for life! He needs a patient family that will work to grow his confidence and help him become the best dog that he can be. Eli will be a bit more work in the beginning, but it will be so worthwhile in the end because he really is an amazing, loving, loyal, big lug!