Who can help but laugh at this handsome, goofy pup! That tongue hanging out the side of his mouth is hilarious. Don’t think he’s a simpleton, though. He’s plenty smart and capable.
Being a pup still, and experiencing the sudden change in circumstances, he was quite uncertain in his new surroundings and hesitant with us, initially. He tried to puff himself up and seem brave by barking and posturing, but we saw right through him. Once we got past the initial false bravado, he’s full of love and eager for attention. He’s still a pup so he’s figuring things out a bit, but beneath that initial surface layer of pretending to be a tough guy, he’s all snuggles and cuddles.
His former owner describes him this way:
“Our Jobs have changed, and we don’t have the time to train him and give him the attention he needs. He is young so he has a lot of energy, but he loves his naps on the couch or in the sun, too. He had some puppy issues with eating my kids socks. And vet care is a worry for us, financially. He is a very sweet boy and we want the best for him.”
Once again, we see decent people with a desire for a Doberpup who didn’t realize the time and cost associated with raising a puppy these days. As a result, this handsome fellow is needing a new home. (Of course, that’s what we’re here for.)
Several of our volunteers have weighed in with their first impressions from working with him:
“Here’s a pup with a heart of gold! He was a little shy at first and barked at all of the volunteers as we arrived at DRT, but that shyness quickly disappeared as we sat with him in the Corral. A couple of treats and gentle ear rubs, and I had a new best friend! He truly is a good-natured dog who wants to show his affection and be close to you. He would bounce from Pete to Tish to Carol and back around to me. He’s one of those dogs that make you smile and lifts your heart. (Love the picture with the front teeth and tongue out to the side, too!)”
“When I first met him, Tonno was a puzzle to me. At first he growled and didn‘t seem to want anything to do with me. So I gave him his space for a minute and tried again. In those few moments, he went from false bravado to letting me put the leash on him and start to show him some love. He was hesitant a moment or two longer, and I wondered if this dog would ever like me. Boy was I wrong! He let me rub his ears for about five seconds, and it was like a switch flipped. He got excited, started pushing into me wagging his stump of a tail a mile a minute, trying to lick me and get more attention. Now he‘s excited to see me whenever I walk up to the gate. After the initial hesitancy, it‘s clear this fellow is full of love."
“Tonno is a complete sweetheart! He‘s a beautiful pup with a ton of energy and love to give. I think it took him all of five minutes (and a few treats, of course) to warm up to us and get up close and personal. He went from barking at us to giving us kisses and climbing onto our laps! He‘s a lovely boy through and through!”
Don’t hesitate. If you think your home may be a match, make an appointment to meet him as soon as your application is approved. He’s not going to be with us long. |
