STATE: near Albany,NY
AGE: 1010months
DOB: 12/07/22
WEIGHT: about 45 lbs
SEX: male
NEUT/UTD: YES/yes
COAT COLOR: dark red
CHILDREN UNDER 4: no (no history)
CHILDREN OVER 4: yes
SEPARATION ANXIETY: SOME
OTHER DOGS: yes
CATS: yes with dog savvy cats
CRATE TRAINED: learning
HOUSE TRAINED: YES
OBEDIENCE TRAINED: no
LEASH TRAINED: learning
MICROCHIPPED: yes
ADOPTION FEE: $675
(Since I’m a baby I need home with someone home more often. Ex: work at home, retired, at home parent, work opposite, etc)
10/11/23-Enzo was neutered today & all went well. This breed was created to look like a miniature golden retriever & he sure does look just like that! This goofy, sweet puppy is ready to go home now, don’t miss out!
10/2/23-Here are some updates on Enzo since he is being neutered next week so its time to find his match! I’m happy to report he seems to have the hang of playing ball in the backyard. He loves to get the tennis ball and run around with it in his mouth. Eventually, he gives it back, and we do it all over again. He’s a good eater — easily distracted and walks away while eating– but does come back and finish. This is important in case the new family has a hoover-dog already (Which we do) who will stealthily get into his bowl the second he walks away. Still clumsy. I’ve chalked it up to the awkward adolescent phase, but he has no idea where his feet are, and they could land inside a water bowl or some other inconvenient place at any moment. His voice has changed, and he has a “big dog” bark! He actively guards our yard and house from critters and people alike. LOL While he and the cat were cool initially, he now wants to chase her. I totally think he is trying to initiate play, and my cat seems okay with it, but not every cat is so laid back. If he goes to a home with cats they need to be dog savvy. He’s still a major clinger. He will follow me from room to room, lays by my feet, and wants to be wherever I am. He has no concept of personal space OR that he might be standing right in the way. Self-aware, he is not. LOL Since the last time I updated, our little Enzo has started to exhibit signs of separation anxiety when we leave the house for short periods of time. We crate him, but have learned everything on top of the crate and close to it needs to be out of reach. He’s pulled towels and blankets through and chewed them up into small pieces. Nothing was ingested, thankfully. He also drools a river when in the crate during these times. and the whole front side of his body is soaking wet. You would think he fell in the pool again, but nope, just drooling. He appears to be fine at night when sleeping in the crate, and we are in the room with him, but the new family should be aware of and prepared to work with him on the separation anxiety. If the people aren’t working from home, that will be difficult for him (and them). He is 99% house-trained. There have been no accidents in the house in the past two weeks. I let him out every 2-3 hours, and he’s fine with that. After he’s been in the crate and drooled all over, he does drink a lot, so timing there is important to pay attention to.
I have been taking Enzo on a mile-long walk around the neighborhood every morning. He loves to sniff! He loves his walks! I’ve been walking him with the easy walk harness, but I also have him wear a gentle leader (I’ve not been attaching that to the leash for the walk. I’ll likely start doing that this week. I wanted him to get used to the feel of it first). While I don’t mind him taking ten steps to my one and burning off the energy sniffing and walking, the new family may have other ideas. I’m sure he will go into some of the classes. Learning the correct “heel” position should be an easy next step for him. He is still a very jumpy puppy. This has been challenging for us to eliminate, which is why I don’t recommend a home with small children. He’s definitely needs some help learning off/down. Otherwise, Enzo is his positive, cheery, joyful, exuberant self. I’ve said he is pure joy, and I still feel that way. He is derpy, funny, smart, snuggly, playful, and always will make everyone who meets him smile. He is exactly why dogs are the best, and I know he will be an awesome addition to the lucky family who gets to take him home!
9/15/23-Enzo is such a sweet and happy boy. We’ve been working on getting him used to living in a house, eating with the other dogs, and learning basic manners over the past few weeks. I’m happy to report he seems to be (slightly) less clumsy than the last time I wrote to you, and we’ve had no additional incidents with falling in the pool. To say he’s happy would be an understatement. He’s simply full of joy. He doesn’t run – he prances. He doesn’t jump, he leaps! Watching his reactions to living his life makes you smile and giggle. He is silly and precocious and knows when he’s being an imp. For instance, he likes to run off with his metal food bowl. He will run out of the room with it if you look away for a moment, wagging his tail a million miles an hour at the “joke” he’s playing on you. He’s discovered the joy of soft beds and zoomies (routinely 3-4 times daily), and we have been trying to teach him ball. Sometimes, I wonder about him. I get the ball 90% of the time after throwing it. Sounds like he’s teaching me how to play ball, honestly.
I recently started leash walking with him. He’s a bit of a drunken sailor on the leash at the moment but will get better with practice. Right now, it’s all about getting him used to being on a leash and not putting on the brakes immediately. The few walks we have taken so far seem to have made him happy. He’s mostly housebroken as long as you let him out at very regular intervals. We’ve been keeping a belly band on him because the marking behavior is alive and well! After he’s neutered and the hormones have calmed down, I’m betting the house training will come along quickly.
When Enzo came to us, he was terribly matted. After a few baths, brushing, and grooming at PetSmart, he looked and smelled so much better. He was at the vet on Wednesday for his pre-neuter appointment & he’s a bigger boy than we thought at 42 lbs. They were able to shave out the large mats behind his ears. Even though he has a strange fur pattern to his ears now, I’m sure he feels much better not feeling his fur being pulled. There are still a few mats around his neck, which the vet will remove when he is under anesthesia for his neuter. As long as his forever family keeps up with brushing him and bathing him regularly, the matting shouldn’t be an issue in the future. His fur is so silky soft that without attention, it’s easy to see how it could get tangled. He loves our cat and will lick her ears and play bow to her. 🙂
It’s not all fun and games with Mr. Enzo, though – for one thing, he is a morning dog and doesn’t want to let you sleep in. He would like to be up at 5:30 thank you very much. He’s happy to bark until you wake up. Also, he loves to lay on his back and do the worm in his crate (also to help wake you up). He also HATES the car right now. Luckily, he doesn’t get car sick, but he drools a river as soon as he is put into the car and needs to be securely fastened to a seat belt so he isn’t in the driver’s seat as soon as you take off. A raincoat is definitely needed, along with towels for any length of trip. LOL
He’s most rambunctious when getting out of his crate (working on this) and during the few times a day when he has zoomies. Otherwise, he’s content to nap, play quietly with toys, and chill with his people and foster siblings. His favorite toys are the Himalayan yak chew, rope toys, and balls. Enzo’s neutering appointment is scheduled for Wednesday, 10/11 & then he will finally be ready for his new home!
8/31/23-Enzo is a sweet, precocious, slightly clumsy boy learning his way in the outside world. Each day, he’s been learning more about how to “dog” and live in a house. He loves the outdoors and would spend all day and night outside if possible.I also have a suspicion that he would love water – he’s fallen into our pool 3 times (that’s the clumsy part) but seems really happy in there! LOL). Even though he has moments of rambunctiousness, he quickly settles down and hangs out. He’s not sure about personal space. Actually, he doesn’t think anyone needs it, so he’s a stage 5 clinger. No one gets too far out of his sight – dog OR human. He follows our dogs around and is content being their shadow. In this regard, a dog companion would be very good for him and help him learn basic commands and doggie skills. He would do well with a younger dog that likes to rough-house too. He is also learning how to play with toys. Even though he’s past the age of teething, he really enjoys biting hard objects, so puppy-proofing is still very much needed. However, he is easily redirected and understands what you want fairly quickly. I haven’t seen a single sign of aggressiveness in him – in fact, he’s a little shy/tentative in new situations. He quickly backs off when the dogs reprimand him (generally for being too close!), and overall has the easy-breezy personality of a golden retriever. He’d be a fantastic family dog, but older children would be better. He has a tendency to jump when first getting out of his crate or when feeling playful, which could be a challenge with little kids. He’s got a ways to go on the training, but is a blank slate and eager to learn and please. He is not food-motivated. He really is looking for approval from people and a sense of belonging above all else.
08/25/23-Enzo is a gorgeous deep red 8 month old male Golden Cavadoodle. This is a triple cross of Golden Retriever, Cavalier King Charles spaniel & miniature poodle. When done you get what looks like a miniature golden retriever! He was saved from being killed by a puppy mill as he just got too old for them to sell. He arrived safely into our rescue tonight thanks to his transport & overnight volunteers. Due to vet backups his pre-neuter checkup is not until Wednesday 9/13 & we will get his neuter scheduled asap after that. Once he is neutered he will be ready to go home! More updates soon from his foster home!
