Boulder

Boulder is a mild-mannered, 80 pound, 3 year old male who so far has been friendly with all people and dogs of all sizes and ages. This gentle, handsome, soft-coated boy is housebroken. He was an unclaimed stray from the Merced shelter, so we have no information about him other than what has been observed over the past month.

He is always ready for whatever is in store for the day, whether car rides, neighborhood walks, the beach, hikes of any length, or just relaxing near you after his morning walk. There has been no shortage of compliments for him around town. On rare occasion, when he jumps up, he does so timidly, without putting his weight into it, but he has not been observed enough to make a definitive assessment with kids. His mouth manners are excellent, having not picked up anything that is not a dog toy. He takes treats gently from your hand and keeps an easy pace when eating.

Boulder has good leash manners, sometimes needing gentle correction. The only times that he gives his leash a good tug is when he sees a bear or another dog that he wishes to meet. He greets dogs with wags and sometimes a kiss and has yet to grumble or raise a lip at a new dog. Boulder tends to let other dogs decide how to play then matches them even if it gets a bit rough. He thrives in his foster pack and will do well in a home with another friendly dog, male or female.

Indoors, Boulder continues to make gains. He is pretty mellow and quiet. When people are away, he spends time in a minimum security crate with the resident dogs nearby and has grown beyond accepting the crate as confinement to occasionally going in it to relax. We are currently working on Boulder being left alone loose in the house without a dog door. Even though the resident dogs still follow their person around the house, he has not taken after them. Instead, he is content laying in the living room, so it is a good sign that his outdoor anxiety does not likely apply indoors.

It is pretty easy to handle him outdoors, plus he has made remarkable progress with his recall skills. While Boulder has a great social temperament and some potential to become a certified therapy dog, he has his own issue. He needs to be accompanied whenever he is outdoors. If he is left alone outdoors, you will not hear him whine or protest, instead, he quietly makes unwise decisions to either find you, someone familiar, or alleviate his nervousness. He and his people may benefit from dog classes to help ease him into his new home.

Boulder's ideal home will have at least somewhat active, outdoorsy people. He loves hikes, takes to the pace of joggers quite well, and can handle some mountain bikers who are very mindful of their rides' length, pace, and his water needs. Nice resident dogs or regular interactions with your friends' playful dogs would also be beneficial.

Cats are an unknown. He enjoys chasing critters while hiking, so extra caution needs to be taken with non-canine animals.

This is a Level 2 Dog

Added April 2013