Buffy is a friendly, loving four-year-old Havapoo (or Poovanese, if you prefer) who weighs 13 pounds. He's an interesting mix of chocolate and dark gray, which seamlessly meld into each other, along with some tan on his chest and belly. He closely resembles a Havanese, but he has longer legs, and he's as sweet as he looks.
Buffy is just as inclined to climb into any available empty lap as he is to simply lean against you for some closeness. He will happily lie at your feet on the floor and does not bother you for attention if you're occupied doing something else, but the invitation to interact is always there: All you need to do is call his name. Buffy entertains himself by tossing a small stuffed animal or ball into the air and catching it, and he lies quietly in his bed when he wants a little alone time. He loves stuffed animals.
Buffy is a very outgoing dog who never met a person or dog he didn't like, unless they're on the other side of the fence. He'll make a great watchdog, but he doesn't bark unless he believes there's a threat. Even with his long legs, the rabbits in the yard need not fear he will catch them, as he has a loping gait, preferring to run for the enjoyment of it, rather than running all out with his foster siblings.
Buffy reportedly had some issues with both potty training and separation anxiety in his last home, but he hasn't had a single accident in his foster home, and he will tell you when he needs to go out. His foster family is working on bell training, but he does well without the bells, as long as you watch for his signs. He's actually signaled with the bells a few times, so it's believed he is beginning to understand what they're for.
If you leave a room, you're apt to have a shadow following you, since Buffy would rather be near you than alone in another room, but his foster parents have left him for long periods with not a peep out of him. It's possible that the company of his foster siblings makes him feel less lonely, as he was an only dog in his last home.
Buffy is always excited and happy to see you on your return, and he is learning to calmly sit and stay when told to do so before you pet him. He will also wait in a holding pattern when he is fed, until he is told it is okay to eat, and he will allow you to take food, even bones, away from him with only a quizzical look. He allows you to touch and put your hand in his mouth, and he lies calmly while getting brushed. He knows several commands, including sit, stay, and come. His foster family is working on teaching him some tricks, and it only took a few lessons for him to learn to shake hands. Buffy isn't leash trained, but he would learn to walk on a leash if he needed to. He's quite intelligent and very obedient, and he might do well as a therapy dog, since he's normally calm.
Buffy was kept in a crate for periods of time and it made him very unhappy. He lost or damaged several teeth trying to escape from his crate. In his foster home, it was determined that the crate was not a good idea, as it only added to his anxiety. It would be best for Buffy to have a home where it is not necessary to go into a crate at all. He would be very happy to sleep in his new human's bed, but he is also happy sleeping on the floor in his own bed.
Buffy is terribly afraid of thunderstorms and still startles when he hears a noise and can't see the source. His foster mom believes that the nervousness will go away once he becomes comfortable in his forever home. As far as thunderstorms are concerned, he shakes all over, but he has done very well in a borrowed ThunderShirt (which is just a tad too large for him) and is able to work through his fears without hiding or becoming overly anxious.
Buffy's foster home is his fourth home in the last year, and while his original owners gave him up after 3 1/2 years because of a potential allergy situation, all the moving around has probably made him feel a little off balance. It would be wonderful to find him a true forever home, preferably one with another canine companion and older respectful children, if children are present at all. Some of his anxiety issues may return if he is an only dog, and since his last owner's small children were at times a little too exuberant, he will probably be happiest with no small children in his forever home.
All in all, Buffy will make some lucky family an awesome pet because he's so pleasant to have around.
Buffy is being fostered in Pennsylvania.
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!