With yet another nod to the Ukraine, this gentle giant is equal parts solid muscle and gracious goodwill. He came to us through a rescue angel who helped take him from a home where he was being crated almost around the clock. For whatever reason, his former owner had lost interest in him and really just didn’t care what happened to him. Apparently the poor dog was crated most of the time, and there were other visible signs of neglect.
Despite his circumstances prior to rescue, his rescue angel was very impressed with him and had this to say about him:
“This is an amazing dog who is incredibly kind and just wants to be loved so badly. I would take him in if I had the room. I love this dog, and I want him to find someone who loves him!”
Formidable size notwithstanding, he has a kind, easygoing personality. He’ll bark like crazy through a fence, but once you walk inside with him he‘s all “wiggle butts” to have you pet him. He was a perfect gentleman for his vet visit and two very-much-needed baths. He knows and responds to several commands, including to sit, stay, and “lay down.” His favorite toy may be the Jolly Ball, but he will play with most anything, and he absolutely loves to play fetch and tug-of-war.
Volunteer comments:
“Mikolaiv is a 108-pound sweetheart. He loves playing with people, and he loves to play fetch so much he tried to grab toys out of my hand in his eagerness! He was super calm during bath time and non-play time. He enjoys being made of, and he loves to do the Dobie lean in response.”
“What a big bundle of love! The first thing I noted is that he’s one off the larger Dobers we take in from time to time. The second thing that caught my attention was his bark. We had never met each other, and he was pretty vocal as I approached him in one of the outside exercise yards. As I got close to the gate he kept barking but less loudly, and he finally quit altogether as I started talking to him. By the way his tail was wagging at this point, I knew he was just a big teddy bear. I went through the gate to meet him up close and he immediately offered up a Jolly Ball and wanted me to play with him. After my chores, I sat down with him and he started to give me toys to play with and ended up sitting on my leg as we played. We played for quite a while, and Carol finally opened the outside door so he’d run out and I could get up. I’m not sure which one of us had more fun today!”
“Mykolaiv is a BIG Dober. His appearance can‘t help but be a bit intimidating, and on top of that, he introduces himself with a deep bark that you just don‘t quite know how to interpret. Carol told me, ‘He’ll bark at you, but just ignore it and go in and introduce yourself to him.’ The next thing I knew, he was trying to be the world‘s largest lap dog! He’s very sweet and affectionate, and to my surprise, I found myself calling him ‘Good Boy’ all the time. When I took him for a walk around the largest field, he walked easily and without much pulling.”
Clearly this is yet another one who has a lifetime of love and companionship to give and who only needs a family that will love and care for him in return. Make an appointment to meet him if your family is the one. You’ll find a perfect companion, if you do.
