Breed: Standard Poodle
DOB: 2007
Sex: Neutered male
Weight: 50 pounds
Foster home: Julie
141-09

NOTE:  Only applicants within a 200 mile radius of the Lansing, MI area will be considered.

Almost a year ago, Rando came to his foster home – he was an unclaimed stray in a shelter – and he was extremely scared of humans.  For many weeks he was so scared that he would run away if anyone approached him.  It was very difficult to get a hold of him to groom him and get him to the vet. 

He did watch the other dogs getting attention and after a couple of months he started approaching people for a few touches and eventually, he began enjoying more and more contact.  Finally, he is starting to act more like a well-adjusted dog.  Some things still spook him and he will run to his crate and “hide” for a while but there are other times when he is almost a pest for human attention.

Rando has always been very comfortable around other dogs and he has learned to love doggie toys.  He even sneaks them into his crate and “hoards” them sometimes.  He plays well with the big and medium dogs but he is too clumsy around some of the really small dogs, as he has been known to “trample” right over top of them.  Part of the problem may be that his eyesight is imperfect.  He had a juvenile cataract in one eye and over the last year, the other has been affected, too.  Sometimes he has a Nystagmus, especially in his right eye but the vet exam did not show anything specific that might be causing this and it is likely congenital.  Maybe this is partially to blame for his timidity since poor sight could have contributed to his lack of adjusting to some things.  Either way, he is now very affectionate with humans he knows and we are happy to see how well he does when we take him out in the “big world” of strange places, people and things.

He is learning to walk on a leash but he is use to a fenced yard for pottying so it may be too much for him to learn a new home and to potty on a leash.  He is very attached and trusting of his foster human but he is going to take some patience for an adopter to get him to bond to them.  Since he is very food/treat motivated, it shouldn’t take too long if you bribe him with goodies. 

We are not sure how he would be with small children and cats. 

E-mail julemson@wmol.com if you have any specific questions!