Lucky
labrador retriever Mix | male | 3.5 Years Old | 77 Lbs
QUICK FACTS: ✔️ Good with other dogs after slow intros! ✔️ Good with cats! ✔️ Crate trained! ✔️ Good in car! ✔️ Enjoys learning new tricks! ✔️ Walks well on leash! ✔️ House trained! ✔️ Needs an experienced owner! ❌ No kids ❌ No apartments!
Lucky is sponsored by the Meyer family: His story brings me to tears & I'm praying he finds his perfect home.
Lucky found his forever family 4/2/2023!
Updates
PUPDATE 1
Despite his name, Lucky has not had the best luck. He was found dumped in a parking lot in Texas and he spent the first few months of life fighting fleas, mange, and the effects of extreme starvation. Nowadays, he doesn’t seem to have any pain and bounces around like a regular dog, but he needed surgery for his legs a few years ago and has some hip dysplasia that is currently well managed. He has been attacked by other dogs and has spent a lot of moments in his life feeling unsafe.
This dog has been through a lot. Despite it all, he is a wonderful and loving boy with the people he trusts. He has so many great qualities. He’s playful and bouncy, but also has great body awareness. Even though he’s a big boy, playing with him always feels safe and fun. For some reason, he thinks we can play tug with very small toys like balls. I really tried for him. My fingers are not that strong. He’s a medium energy dog and is very good at matching the energy of those around him. You can hype him up or calm him down at the drop of a hat. He loves to zoom around the yard with my dog, but relaxes easily in the house when his needs are met. I have taken him on two 20 minute walks a day and given him some time to play and zoom in my yard. He doesn’t seem to need more than an hour of active time spent with him. He loves to lean his weight into his people and get those good scritches. I’ve been letting him free-roam my home and he has been no problem at all. He doesn’t grab or chew anything inappropriate, doesn’t counter surf, and has been a very quick learner. He’s very food motivated, but not out of control about it. He’s been respectful of my dog, who likes to have space, and he’s been an absolute joy to have around. I think he would be happy either as a single dog or with other dogs. He has also lived well with cats. When he’s excited, it’s reasonable and brief, and he doesn’t jump on me when I come home. He has some good training with leash walking and is a good walker regardless of what he’s wearing. He is ¾ of my body weight and I can’t even tell. He rides nicely in a car. He can be left alone during my 9-5 workday.
If I didn’t have my dog, I would seriously think about keeping him. He is a very nice dog.
Likely because of his chaotic and traumatic past, Lucky needs time to trust new people. He does best with slow intros to dogs, but has lived with them in multiple foster homes. My dog is unsure about other dogs, yet Lucky has warmed up and tried to play with her in less than a week. He also respects her boundaries and they are neutral around each other without my help. He has been attacked by dogs in his past, and as a result, he can be nervous about seeing strange dogs and may bark at them.
He has a couple traits that will need accommodation and training so he can feel safe and learn to trust:
Resource guarding: He has some guarding of food. He has made enormous progress in a very short amount of time with this, so I imagine it won’t be much of a problem if you manage situations well and keep showing him you’re not swooping in to take his things. He doesn’t guard when he trains or forages. We’ve had no real problem with this.
Strangers suddenly appearing at or around his home will be startling for him: I think he will have an easier time with guests if you meet outside. Guests will need directions and boundaries to keep him comfortable. Lucky may need direction to not psych himself out. This is definitely an area where he will need his people to help him feel confident and safe while he learns that new people are pretty ok.
Fear of strange dogs: Lucky may bark at them if they get too close. He has no history of starting fights, but he has been attacked, so he will need someone who can help him feel safe around other dogs and continue working through his past traumas with thoughtful, gradual, safe exposure.
His ideal adopters are understanding, able to read dog body language or willing to learn, and able to make accommodations like using baby gates, having good routines, and helping him learn that he’s safe. When these needs are met, he is an easy keeper and a fun, loving companion.