Copper (ADOPTED!) is a 7-8 year old red heeler. He is very quiet and attentive in the house and crates easily. He knows many commands and picks up new commands quickly. He is content to nap while you are gone and is always game for a belly rub or a grooming session. He is very polite in the house and only plays with his toys – he leaves child’s toys and kitchen counters alone. However, if he’s feeling a little impatient with how long it’s taking to get ready to go out, he will grab something randomly off the floor (like a sock or a block) to get his person moving, but he always gives it back and never chews on it – he’s got a sense of humor! He loves working for treats and chewing on bully stix and marrow bones, and he really loves eating his kibble out of the treatball. Copper has never tried to jump the baby gate at the front door and if any door in the house is pulled mostly shut, he will not nose it open.
Why would Copper come back to rescue? He seems to be the perfect dog! Well, Copper was surrendered (along with another dog) after his previous, elderly owner had died, and he must have had led a nice, quiet life there. It seems that busy life with an active preschooler in a very social condo complex is proving to be much too over-stimulating for Copper. He would really be happiest in a quiet household, without a lot of people coming and going. He would also benefit from having a confident dog buddy to show him that the wide world and all the people in it don’t have to be so overwhelming. He seems to be most overwhelmed by men and busy activity (bikes, skateboards, vehicles, and kids running), and when these stimuli start stacking up, Copper will get uncomfortable and may nip apprehensively at whatever it is that is making him uneasy.
Copper likes other dogs, and seems to want to make friends with every cat he sees. He has been known to give a cat a lick on the nose before settling down together on the neighbor’s porch. He largely ignores chickens the one time he was around them. Copper likes to be close to his people – he follows his person around the house, but will settle on his bed or in his crate when he realizes she is just puttering around. He likes calm children and will roll for belly rubs from them, but since he's so sensitive to busy activity and can be mouthy in asking for more attention, Copper should be supervised in any interaction with children. He enjoys lying at the doorway (behind a baby gate) and watching the condo courtyard, but when it gets hectic out there, he usually retires to his crate.
Copper knows many commands – sit, wait, stay, leave it, down, go pee/potty, go to bed, get back, and fetch it here - his release word is OK. Copper walks without pulling on the leash, slightly behind heel, though when he’s overwhelmed he will lag behind – a quick “hup hup” will remind him to catch up. He knows how to ring a bell on the door to ask to be let out – he does not ask otherwise and so perhaps he had a dog door previously.