Six-year-old Laura is a happy, bubbly, enthusiastic dog with an average activity level. This 17-pound Havanese is a combination of couch potato and wiggle butt who is happy to spend most of her day snuggled on the couch or in a chair, punctuated with short bursts of vigorous play with her stuffed toys or rolling and wriggling on her back just having a ball.
She gets excited by visitors and jumps up on them to say "Hi", but calms down within a few minutes and will settle for petting. She can be a watch dog, barking once or twice at cars 
entering the driveway or animals in the yard, but she is very responsive to cues and will quickly learn to ignore things when you ask her to. Laura is easy to teach and has learned to stay off the stairs, find something else to do when her people are eating, sits and waits while her own meal is being prepared, and sits patiently to be leashed and unleashed for walks.
Laura likes to be anywhere her person is. She is a good snuggler and often falls asleep in a lap or with her chin on her person. Much of her day is spent sleeping on a couch or chair, with or without her person. She is very curious and loves to go outside for short walks and enjoys exploring every nook and cranny to check out all the smells. Laura enjoys a quick game of fetch and then will settle down to play with her squeaky toy, sometimes shaking it ferociously. She also enjoys chewing on a nylabone or antler.
Laura has always been the doted-on darling of her household and will be happiest as the only dog in her new home. She thrives on routine. This love muffin must be homed with a family who will spend most of the day with her. Laura is crate trained and has never had an accident in her crate. She does not like to be left alone but is fine if on occasion you must be gone for more than a couple of hours. Laura will not do well if left alone on a regular basis. She sleeps in her crate in her foster's bedroom but would really love to sleep in bed with her forever family as she did with her first owner. Laura has luxating patellas and elbow dysplasia which are being further evaluated by a veterinarian but she gets around just fine, even dancing on her hind legs when excited. She is an enthusiastic eater and her food intake is being carefully monitored as she gets to a healthier weight.
Laura was not socialized with other dogs prior to arriving in foster care. She becomes over-aroused by another dog’s high-energy play and will attempt to steal toys and take them to her own crate to hide and be protective. She will occasionally "air snap" at an approaching dog if she is on the couch with her person but is just as likely to simply sniff or lick the approaching dog’s muzzle. Laura does fine with other dogs in a supervised social situation, such as walking together on leashes or being in the house together without toys or bones, and she seems to enjoy the other dog's presence.
Laura would love a family of her own where she has lots of human attention and companionship. She enjoys being next to her people so she'd like her new family to understand she wants to sit on the furniture with them. Sleeping in bed would be a wonderful treat as well. She'll help you get fresh air with leisurely walks together. Laura will need to continue working on her house training in her new family.
LAURA is being fostered in NJ.
A donation will be requested to adopt this dog. The recommended donation amount will be based on the dog's age, and medical and behavioral issues, if any. A completed application is required if you are interested in adoption. Thank you for considering a rescue dog!