CARLITO - Portuguese Water Dog

STATE: Near Utica, NY
AGE: 14 weeks
DOB: 01/05/24
WEIGHT: 18 lbs (estimated 45lbs full grown)
SEX: male
NEUT/UTD: No/Yes
COAT COLOR: chocolate w/tiny bit white
CHILDREN under 4: yes
CHILDREN OVER 4: Yes
SEPARATION ANXIETY: No
OTHER DOGS: Yes
CATS: yes
CRATE TRAINED: learning
HOUSE TRAINED: learning
OBEDIENCE TRAINED: No
LEASH TRAINED: learning
MICROCHIPPED: yes
ADOPTION FEE: $725 (includes $50 refundable neuter deposit)

(Since I’m a baby I need home with someone home more often. Ex: work at home, retired, at home parent, work opposite, etc)

4/15/24-From Carlito’s temp foster home who had him 2 days with 2 of his siblings: He is so sweet! A cuddle bug for sure! If one puppy was too far from the other or one of us they whimpered. It will take a little time to gain their independence.  He is soooo cute! We wanted to keep this little guy! LOL

4/14/24-Carlito is just an adorable little guy. He has the most beautiful coat coloring and eyes. His coat is a rich chocolate and his eyes are light brown. He also has the longest eyelashes, which I am so jealous over, but they do not show up well in photographs because they are the same color as his coat. I was going to bring him to the groomer, but decided he really didn’t need it because his coat is in really good condition after his temporary foster gave him a bath. I figured I would let his new family decide on how they want to proceed with his first puppy cut.  He loves to be around his human at all times. He has tried to engage one of my cats in play, but they weren’t having it. I think he really misses his litter mates and playing with them, so right now, I am the next best thing to a canine companion. 

I am trying to get him used to his crate. He has two crates- one on the first floor and one in my bedroom. His first night with me he whined most of the night. I even moved the crate as close to my bed as possible and he still was a bit unsettled. Again, this was his first night away from his littermates, so it is not surprising. When I went out to run some errands, he whined and barked in his crate as well. Again, not surprising. He must be so confused as to where he is and where his littermates are. I am sure as he gets more confident over the week, he will get used to his crates. (I would absolutely let him sleep in bed with me since he loves to snuggle right in, but I think it is more important for him to get used to a crate at this point in time.) 
Potty training is going well. He hasn’t had any accidents in the house and he seems to be capable of holding his pee a long time. He held it all day even though let him out multiple times throughout the day. He has gone on 4 walks over the last 24 hours, and each walk he does better and better. We walked 3 miles this morning and he did not resist the leash at all. (His first 2 walks he was biting the leash.) He is pretty good about going potty on a walk, but only if he has to. He has not developed the sniff, stop, and pee habit yet. 
Right now he is nervous meeting new people and always comes to me to sit with. I am sure once he gets gains confidence, he will be all over new people. He has such a sweet personality and disposition. He is going to make one lucky family fall completely in love with him. 

4/11/24-Carlito is a sweet 14 week old male chocolate (with tiny bit of white on his chest & chin) color Portuguese Water Dog puppy. He came into rescue tonight along with his 5 littermates from a puppy mill as they just got too old to sell. He had no health issues seen at his vet check today. We estimate he will be about 45 lbs when full grown.

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