This sweet boy Joshua is looking for a new home. (Please read the very sweet write up from his current owner below!!!! After reading about Joshua, if you would like more information please message me and I will give you the contact information.)
He is a very loyal and loving dog but has a lot of energy and he has some history with anxiety. Recently his owners have added 2 children to their family and feel that they are no longer able to provide him with the stable home environment, exercises, and continued training that he needs to be successful. He has a few issues that need to be addressed through training and the current owners are going to put him in to a 4-6 week boarding training program (starting Jan 3rd) that will aim to correct these behaviors to prepare him best for a new home. He is not crate trained and with the increased stress at home have had 2 very minor bite incidents, so they are wanting to prevent any other potential issues by getting more professional training for him that will address his anxiety. Joshua would do best in a home without young children as it seems the young kids make him nervous. The new owner would need to attend one in person training session when they pick him up and an additional session a week later which can be on zoom. We would also like to discuss his full history with you to make sure that you are a good fit because he will need an attentive owner! If we are not able to find a home soon, unfortunately his owners are looking at putting him down because they do not want him to suffer in a shelter as they feel that would be very detrimental given his anxiety. Please help to spread the word so we can successfully re-home this sweet buddy quickly!
Location: Leesburg Virginia, training will be in Virginia Beach VA. (willing to help with travel), Age: 7, Gender: Male, Rehoming Fee:$50. Up to date on all vaccinations and is neutered.
Owner’s original write up:If you’ve ever wanted to be greeted at the door by someone who thinks you are the best person in the world, you’ve wanted Joshua. Anyone who takes the time to get to know Joshua concludes that he is one of the sweetest dogs they’ve ever met.
Joshua is a seven-year-old foxhound mix with enough brains and personality for two dogs. He’s incredibly smart and can pick up all sorts of directions quickly. He loves to be where the people are and loves to be part of the happenings. Even though he’s 70 lbs. he thinks he’s a lap dog, and loves to curl up next to you, or on your lap as you allow. His favorite game is tug of war which he could play for hours and still wants another round. As he’s gotten older (about 60 years old now according to Embark.com) he’s become more content with fewer walks, but he still loves to get out and explore.
Why do we need to find another home?
Joshua doesn’t have an aggressive bone in his body, but he does have several anxious ones. Joshua was abandoned at an SPCA shelter when he was a puppy and contracted Parvovirus, a deadly canine disease. Many dogs don’t survive that illness, but through the care of the SPCA he beat it! Unfortunately, his treatment and recovery occurred during the time most dogs learn basic socialization so he missed out on that from an early age. He’s 100% comfortable with adult humans. However, he never interacted with children and had limited socialization with dogs.
Our 2-year-old daughter is a high-spirited little girl who loves Joshua, but her energy has always made him nervous. Normally he whined, sighed, yelped, and walked away if she stressed him too much. About a week ago she charged him while he was backed into a corner and snapped at her, and in doing so cut her hand with his teeth. It seems that he was trying to grab her hand to stop her from coming closer and bit too hard, but it did break skin. While it was 100% not an aggressive act, we cannot guarantee that our two-year old (or six-month old when she is older) will not stress him again. So, for our family and Joshua’s mental state, it’s best to find him a new place.
He has adapted to many living situations and life rhythms. He’s lived in an apartment, a house with no yard, a house with a big yard, and has been satisfied as long as he can still play and get walks. He doesn’t chew furniture and is completely house broken. We’ve never had to take him to the vet for anything other than shots and one physical injury. His DNA tests show no markers for any sort of genetic defect and his health has been perfect.
He can be a bit crazy when he meets new people, but he calms down with in a minute or two and becomes one of the sweetest dogs you’ll ever meet. Bonus: He’s incredibly food motivated, so anything you want him to do or stop doing can be fixed short term with food and long-term training with food.
I love this dog. I let him sleep in my bed with me. He is quirky and can have high energy at times. But it’s breaking my heart to give him up. If you need a constant companion about to enter his golden years, someone who wants to be with you all the time, someone who jumps for joy to see you, someone who cuddles even when he doesn’t fit, someone who literally prances when you reach for the tug-toy, and someone who will be there through everything - then you’ve found the right dog.
Posted: Dec 31, 2022 2:41 pm
