Say hello to five-year-old Baxter! He is an 11-pound boy with incredible strength and a wonderfully strong personality to match. His white wavy coat is beautiful, soft, and silky, and he can sport a manly ponytail right on top of his head. Baxter is very healthy. When his teeth have been cleaned, he will be at the peak of fitness. He is house trained, leash trained, doggie door trained, and harness or car seat trained. He is an amazing little love muffin and always wants to be with his humans or his canine foster brothers.
Baxter is sooooo happy to see his humans when they have been out of the house or even out of the room. Every time he sees you, he welcomes you back by standing on his hind legs and hopping along the floor with his front paws outstretched, as if he wants to give you a hug or to be picked up. You will want to pick him up and smother him with kisses, and he loves giving them back. Once you've bonded, you can hold him like a baby, or he will wrap around your neck like a scarf of pure love. This young man is fun and fearless! With such strong legs, he can jump on and off anything his golden retriever foster brothers can. He and his Havanese foster brother can spend hours wrestling and chasing each other in the yard at top speed.
It is truly some of the best entertainment. Sometimes he doesn't remember his own strength and can wipe the floor with his 10-pound brother. He is very sure of himself and believes he's in charge.
Baxter is a terrific guard dog and tends to be very protective of his humans and of his territory. He enjoys patrolling, so he is always aware. He doesn't like to be caught off guard, and sometimes this seems like aggressive behavior, but he is just being protective. He is amazingly intelligent and independent and takes no time to learn and understand a new concept and command. He lies down and waits with his brothers while the humans prepare their food and he now waits patiently to be released to eat. He is great eating side by side with his brothers and is not food aggressive. We are working on a few more manners.
He is doing very well sharing, but has his own ideas of where he needs to be when you ask him to come. He is a wonderfully attentive dog. He can sit, down, and stay. He now lets his humans go in and out the door first and does not try to pass them on the stairs. He now waits for direction when the door opens, instead of darting out. These new manners need continued support and practice. Baxter is learning that his humans can be in charge, and he is happy to be relieved of the responsibility of being in charge of everything himself.
He has no experience with cats, but Baxter is obviously great with other dogs, and although he assumes he should be the alpha dog, he accepts when everyone is equal. He enjoys playing with other small dogs, but he respects the big dogs, and with time he becomes quite chummy. He needs a fenced yard because his fearless sense of adventure can entice him to wander.
Baxter wants a family he can love and who will see how wonderful he truly is. He needs a strong alpha family who will continue to maintain his manners and who will correct his behavior kindly and firmly. He would love to have another dog as a playmate. He can be an only dog with someone who is home much of the time or who will take him places. He loves the car!
His foster family does not have experience regarding his interaction with small children, but he loved his previous owner's young stepdaughter. He did not hesitate to try to control his foster family's teenaged daughter, but she is more alpha and bigger than he is! His foster family thinks he is pretty darn close to perfect. He will make an incredible pet, a terrific dog dancing partner, and probably an excellent therapy dog. He is a great companion!
Baxter is being fostered in TX
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!