POPPY
Name: Poppy
Sex: Female
Estimated Age: 2.5 years old
Best Guess for Breed: Boxer Mix
Weight: About 50 lbs
Good With: Dogs, cats and people - she would do best in a home with kids over 12.
Story: Poppy came to us from a shelter in North Carolina! We are just not sure how she ended up in there! Poppy is a sweet girl who is looking for a family to love her. She knows just how to get comfortable up on the couch with her humans, and will love to join you on walks and trots around the neighborhood. Poppy is just looking for someone to be her new best furend and we know that she will repay them with endless amounts of love and tail wags. Because she is still so young, Poppy will need an adopter who is committed to setting her up for success by enrolling in obedience training and exercising her both mentally and physically. She will also need a lot of love, patience, and socialization in order to thrive!
POPPY’S PERFECT MATCH
FAMILY: Poppy is super loyal and loves her family. She will need plenty of time to warm up to her new housemates because she has some anxiety -- new people and places can be overwhelming, after all. Her perfect family is a mellow, patient one that will give her time and space to learn to trust them. Once she’s acclimated, she will be by your side (or in your lap) ready for head scratches all day long! Visitors should know that it will take several visits for her to welcome them into the "pack." But once she loves a person, she's a ride-or-die pup.
PERFECT HOME: Poppy would do well in a home with private lawn space where she can run fast. She will stick by you when off-leash in a fence-less yard but doesn't like to be approached by strangers, so we don't recommend going off-leash if you'll be near neighbors. She is potty-trained and will go on command outside with a simple "Go potty!" direction. She is good with other dogs (preferably submissive dogs) and cats, but would also LOVE to have all of the attention of her people as an only-dog.
EXERCISE NEEDS: Poppy loves (really LOVES) to go on walks and hikes. Be sure to advocate for her space on sidewalks and trails -- she doesn't appreciate hands in her face or well-meaning pets from strangers. She also loves a game of tug. Poppy gets along with other dogs and loves to wrestle with furry friends, but dog parks can make her nervous because of all the people there.
BEHAVIOR OUTSIDE: Poppy loves sunbathing on a deck or elevated dog bed, and she prefers to wear her fleece vest when it's chilly outside. She is not the type to chase squirrels, so you don't have to worry about her tugging on the leash.
BEHAVIOR IN HOME: Poppy likes to have clear boundaries in the house so she doesn't have to make so many decisions on her own. She would love to cuddle with her people on the couch once she's ready to take the relationship to the next level -- just don't forget to snuggle her in a cozy blanket, too. Poppy loves to snack on treats when learning new skills, so keep that in mind when you teach her "place" or any other behaviors that will help her feel more confident in your home. Poppy can startle easily if someone surprises her in the dark, so keep a light on for her while she's getting used to her new digs. She knows sit, stay, come, down, heel, crate and is working on place.
CRATE BEHAVIOR: Poppy loves curling up on fluffy blankets in her crate! She will retreat to it when she's feeling overwhelmed and will often choose to sleep in her crate at night. We recommend putting her crate somewhere she can access 24/7, especially during her first few weeks in her new home.
If you think that Poppy might be your perfect match, apply today!