Meet the Houndhaven Dogs!

I always wonder how people can go to an animal shelter and have to decide between so many different dogs or cats.  As a shelter volunteer, I do find that  every so often there is a dog that you just fall in love with.  And yes, with pets, I do believe in love at first sight.  So, if you are considering adopting one of the puppies, I thought I might give you a few tidbits of information to help differentiate them.

Raleigh - she is one of the most vocal and dominant, she walks well on a leash and is doing pretty well with learningn to pee and poo outside

Winston - he is very affectionate and demands a lot of attention, mostly by jumping on your leg and hanging on (almost like a small child), he’s the only boy, so maybe this is why, he loves his belly rubbes

Charlotte - she is the timid one, she is quite nervous and still a little scared and confused, she jumps at loud noises like doors shutting and will probably need extra loving and maybe training

Salem - she is also demanding and very loving, she will do anything to get her belly rubbed, she is struggling a little with house training, but she just needs time because she is smart and will figure it out

Houndhaven is packed!   If you love dogs and want to do more than just look at their cute faces on this website and want to do more than read about them in this blog, please think about volunteering!  We need all the help we can get - weekdays, weekends, daytime, evenings, afternoons.  If you want to help but are not sure you can handle the dogs, we still want your help - you can do laundry, wash the dog dishes, or clean the kennels.  Please volunteer - the dogs need you!! 

If you are interested in helping, you can email us at houndhaveninc@aol.com

Scotty doesn’t look like a puppy, but he is not even 1 year old yet.  He’s fairly large, but quite slim - perhaps he just hasn’t grown into his size yet!  I have discovered Scotty chewing his bed on two occasions, so if you are thinking of adopting him, you will need a large crate to keep him when you are not home.  I imagine his chewing phase will pass like it does with all puppies, but you may have to be patient.  What’s great about Scotty - despite his young age - he seems to be fully house broken (no accidents inside the shelter so far) and he walks well on a leash.  Scotty is very sweet and like most dogs, needs lots of affection.  Scotty likes to be outdoors, so you will have to take him to the dog park and for lots of long walks.  Scotty is a sweet, good dog and deserves a wonderful family.  If you want to get to know him, come see him at Petsmart and fill out an adoption application to be considered for Scotty!!

Poor Callie - it’s tough to lose your owner, she must be sad and confused.  But she doesn’t let it show!!  Callie came to Houndhaven and took over - she is a dominant dog and has quickly shown everyone who is boss!  She seems to be housebroken and knows some commands.  She is an older dog, but she has lots of energy for running and playing.  And one of the great benefits of older dogs - they are already trained and are well paste the chewing phase!  Callie has a beautiful, soft, light tan coat.  And she howls like a wolf - to get attention.  I think it’s absolutely hysterical because I have never owned a dog that does that.  It cracks me up every time I hear her.   Callie has been through some tough times with being displaced, so she needs someone who will love and care for her forever. 

Janina

Little Harley and Carley can add a smile and some laughter to your day!  When they are just waking from a nap and they hear the door open to give them a chance to romp around outdoors, Carley rushes to see if there is any excitement waiting for her out in the sunshine, exploring anything that catches her attention.  Harley follows along, but let’s just say he is not a “morning person”– it takes him a few minutes to perk up after a solid nap.  He ventures outdoors and just sits until he gets a chance to yawn and look things over, evaluating his surroundings. 

Regina

Kaiser is such a good-natured dog.  Sure, he likes to chase cats, but what dog doesn’t?  Kaiser plays well with other dogs.  We even trust him to be with some of the smaller ones, like Tidbit and Layla, because he is gentle and non-aggressive in play.  He loves to run, so it would be great if you have a fenced in yard or could take him to the dog park.  Some people think he is cute, but in an ugly kind of way.  We think he is adorable!  He is well-behaved, knows some basic commands, and seems to be house trained.  If you are interested in adopting Kaiser, come see him at Petsmart and fill out an adoption application!

I recently ovrheard one of the other volunteers talking to Tyler while she was walking him.  She was telling him how much she loved him and I can understand why.  He is absolutely sweet, adorable, and affectionate.  He is very much a puppy and needs a family who can focus on solid crate training - he still has accidents (just the wet ones) in his kennel and he is in his puppy chewing stage.  If you have ever had a puppy, you know this lasts for a few months and then he will grow up all too quickly!  Tyler could benefit froma training class to learn commands and not to jump up on you - right now, he is just so excited!  And walking on a leash - not his favorite thing to do - he thinks leashes are better suited for a good game of tug-o-war.  Tyler’s puppy acne is healing well and his little face is even cuter now!  If you have the patience and love to give this puppy the attention and training he needs, come see him at Petsmart and fill out an adoption application online!

I have been fostering Raven for about 5 days now and I am amazed at what a well-adjusted dog she is.  She is walking well on a leash - not pulling all the time like when she first arrived at the shelter.  She is getting along with my dog, who can sometimes be grumpy.  She gets so excited about going for walks that her entire body wags and it’s hard to hold her still enough to get the leash on her.  She goes right into her crate when it’s bedtime.  She sometimes whines a bit, but settles down after a few minutes.  She is a sloppy drinker - sticking the entire end of her snout in the water which results in a lot of splashing.  She is interested in the cats, but does not chase or terrorize them - she mostly watches them.   She knows how to sit and stay and she loves to fetch.  She is fully house trained and has not even attempted to lay on the couch (despite the poor example set by my own dog who thinks we bought it just for him).  Honestly, you probably could not find a better dog - she doesn’t really even need training classes.  She’s absolutely a joy and deserves a loving home.  She will be well-suited in a home with another dog - because she seems to prefer the companionship.

You may have heard of Pavlov’s dog experiment where he realized that dogs salivate just at the sound of a bell, having been conditioned to understand that it meant they were about to be fed.  Let me tell you, Little tiny Harley and his sturdy sister, Carley have learned very quickly that the sound of a can opener, the sound of their bowls or even the sound of the refrigerator opening means they are about to be fed!  Well, really they do not get fed everytime the refrigerator opens, but they can hope, can’t they?  Their little tails wag and they get so excited when it is time to eat…ahh, growing pups!  They wiggle and squirm too much to be snuggled, but they do like attention and affection.  They play with bursts of energy– tug o’ war with a towel is their favorite– but also enjoy a good afternoon snooze. 

As a long time volunteer of Houndhaven I have seen my share of great dogs find their way in and out of Houndhaven. And like people, dogs are special for different reasons. It could be the dog is smart, silly, beautiful, or catches your eye. The one question I hear over and over is “how old”. As I sat at PetSmart today with Casey, and watched everyone gravitate to Boots and Kaiser, I kept thinking these people are missing out. Really missing one of the best dogs due to her age. Her age…she is not old, she is only 7 not 12. She has plenty of wonderful years and I watched as people looked away due to her age. One number and they never asked more about her. She has so much about her that is wonderful, so much so I actually thought of asking my husband if 5 dogs was too many! Casey is sweet, gives wonderful kisses, knows her manners, is beautiful, loyal and mellow. She loves to walk and get belly rubs. She asks for nothing, is not demanding. I could not find one negative thing about her. I know, like all dogs at Houndhaven, her forever home is out there. If you are looking for a rare find and don’t mind a mature girl, Casey just may be your girl!