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Standing
Story: Sully was at the KCMO shelter for almost 2 1/2 months. He was taken in on August 19th and the stress of the shelter caused him to stop eating. He grew very thin and was almost emaciated when he was finally pulled from the shelter on October 5th. We knew we had a full house when we pulled him, however, this boy was so full of life and willing to please we had to make it work. Even with the house full and a busy schedule, we haven't regretted having Sully as a house guest. He is truly a stunning little dog after putting on weight. He turns heads wherever he goes! He looks black in pictures, but actually is the very darkest brown (think the darkest chocolate possible) with brindle points on his face, chest and legs. He even has some reverse brindling on other areas (he's primarily dark with a few stripes of light color). There is obviously some shar-pei in him, by his many forehead wrinkles and nose. However, he is ALL bully in personality. He has a strong love of people and a great desire to please. We think he would make a great working dog, since he is very toy-motivated and has boundless energy. He can probably excel in many dog sports given the right owner and trainer, provided he learns basic obedience first. Sully bonds easily with people, and is especially close with his primary caretaker. He's VERY happy to be out of the bad place he came from, and is ready, willing, and able to do any task you put him to!
Love-a-bull!
Foster Situation: Sully is in a crate/rotate basis in house with 7 other dogs of various ages and sizes and several cats. He has a high prey drive and cannot be trusted around the cats, and probably shouldn't be allowed to play with small dogs. He is learning how to behave around the small dogs, and other dogs in general. He is exuberant and outgoing with large, friendly dogs but does not know the "rules" of playing. When he approaches another dog to play he jumps on them- most other dogs do not like this and will refuse to play with him after being greeted that way. He was tested with two large females, the resident siberian husky and the neighbor's german shepherd. He walks well with the siberian husky and doesn't try and jump on her on walks. Sully is walked and played with one-on-one with his foster mom several times daily for 30 minutes or more. He is learning basic commands and is learning how to be polite and to control his enthusiasm in situations where it is not needed. ;) Sully is a known escape artist and is supervised on a tether in a fenced in back yard. He can jump a 4ft chain link and is apt to dig under or find any gaps in other types of fencing. He is very happy on the cable, but he must be supervised to avoid getting tangled in it while he is playing. We really want Sully to go to a home as an only pet or with a friendly female who can tolerate his adolescent "rudeness", and have a person around to supervise him and keep him engaged in positive doggie activities and adventures.
Handsome
Training: In progress. Sully is learning "rules" since he has never lived in a house before, judging by his behavior in one. He does not respect tables or counters; at first he jumped on and would walk all over them. He is currently learning "off" when he tries to put his paws on a table or counter. Sully knows "sit" and he is learning he must sit to be let out of his crate, and to sit to receive his food and toys. He is learning that "out" means that he should drop a toy. This is a very toy motivated dog, especially when it involves tugging or chasing. His favorite toys are his squeaky ball, and his "puppy pull". The puppy pull is basically a spring pole. It is hung on a tree with a toy at the end for him to grab, tug, and hold on to. This is a great toy for him because it is fun, and he has something to focus his energy and drive on. He is encouraged to pull harder on the pull toy than he is when he is playing with other toys, and he knows the difference. After a good session with the puppy pull, he is more relaxed and is more focused during his training exercises. Sully does well in a crate and has had no accidents. We are working on car manners. Apparently, car rides haven't been a good thing for him in the past and he becomes so nervous in the car that his body will shake and he will void his bladder and bowels :( . We are currently working on showing him that car rides aren't stressful and can lead to exciting and fun things. He's overcome every obstacle he's faced so far, so we think he'll get over this fear. :) Once he does well in the car, he'll be enrolled in basic obedience training!
Gorgeous Boy
Personality: Sully is exuberant and is always happy to have someone's attention. He can be stubborn and hard headed at times, but he is learning that is not the way to get what he wants. He's always alert to new sights and smells and his ears and face always carries a bright expression no matter what he is looking at. He's got a great "smile" especially after a good play session or long walk. He is a lover and wiggles his whole body in anticipation to be petted and loved, and loves to be kissed and hugged.
So Sweet!
Best Attribute: Sully has all the right makings of a perfect companion. He is loyal to a fault, friendly, and motivated. His smaller size makes him very portable, too. ;) Don't be mistaken by his high energy and sometimes over exuberance- when directed to appropriate outlets, he performs wonderfully, and that is why we think he would make a great dog for someone interested in competitive dog sports. He is also young and adaptable; he came from a bad situation and into a busy household with sights and sounds that overwhelmed him at first, but he has come to accept and tolerate them over time. He will only get better with age and an owner who is consistent and enthusiastic as he is, and they will be lucky to have him! Sully is looking for a "partner" in life. Can you be his?
For more information or to meet Sully, please contact Rachel.
If interested, please fill out application form or for more info contact Rachel
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