You can fill out an adoption application online on our official website.Rocco, now known as Roscoe P. Coltrane, is an owner surrender to a county shelter in Georgia at the age of 9 years old because his owners had a baby. Roscoe is heartworm positive. He has started treatment and completed the round of antibiotics and will be scheduled for his 1st injection later in October.
Roscoe is crate and housetrained, once we learned his signal of when he needed to go out, which is pacing. He is kenneled when we leave the house. He will go in willingly if you toss a few treats in for him to gobble up. He has not figured out what to do with a peanut butter filled Kong, so treats it is. He has yet to show any interest in any toys whatsoever. His breath is not the greatest, so we are curious to find out the condition of his teeth as this may be a reason why he has no interest in toys. We were kenneling him at night until recently. He will now sleep on the ottoman at the end of our bed and can go all night without any incidents. He is very excited when he is let out of the kennel. He can slide across the floor, or his butt will wiggle so much I think it levitates. His tail is always wiggling! Even if you just look at him it wiggles.
He is dog friendly with the resident female and respectful of her space. She does not engage in play; I think he would like it if she did. At the shelter he would run along the outdoor kennel with whatever dog was next to him. He does not attempt to dominate her by mounting or getting on her back. He will at times lay on the same dog bed as her and she does not mind this. At times if she is getting attention he will try and horn in on the action, but he will accept being moved away and redirected, begrudgingly, and with the saddest of faces.
Roscoe was in a vets office where there were many other dogs and a cat sitting on a waiting room chair right next to him and he could have cared less about anything going on or animals coming up to him. He has been to a local park several times and he does not react to all the geese coming over to see if we have any bread for them.
Roscoe and the resident dog are fed in different rooms. We are using a slow feeder with him as he can inhale his food if in a regular bowl. The resident dog usually finishes 1st, since she gets less than him, and then she will go and see what she can Roomba off the floor that he has spilled. He does not seem to mind when she comes in the room, nor does he react to her presence. They share a water bowl. When she gets her medicine, he will come in the kitchen also and she will get her treat, them its his turn. He will wait and takes treats gently, but eagerly. If she were to drop her treat, he most likely would try and get it, but he accepts redirection very well.
Roscoe will sit and wait for you to put his leash on. We have used both a martingale collar and a harness with him. We are leaning towards the martingale collar as the harness is a little to big for him as he could stand to put on a few pounds. He loves going for walks and even more he loves to get away and run! He can fly! It is a beautiful thing to see, but not good for a pooch with heartworm. Our yard is not fenced, and he has gotten out of both the harness and martingale when he has been tied up outside while we are in the yard. It seems if you are not in his line of sight, that is when he gets away. He wants to be with you for that split second, until he realizes hes FREE! Then its game on and he is gone like a flash. He has not ventured far and pulling up with the car and a bag of treats and holding the door open for him has proven to work to get him in the vehicle and back home. We have purchased two chain link outdoor kennels that are 6ftx10ftx10ft. Once they are set up it will be interesting to see what he thinks of them and if he will tolerate being in them if we are moving around the yard. At all other times we are with him, and he is on a long-tied leash if we are hanging out on the porch. He is fine at those times and content to have us close by.
He does well with getting a bath and enjoys the garden hose. He is not a fan of the Dremel for doing his nails and tolerates a nail or two being done at a time by just clipping them.
Roscoe is a lover. He is part Velcro also. We think he is partial to women and feels more relaxed around them and seeks close attention from me more than my husband. He does like my husband, but he has noticed if he moves quickly or raises his hand to do something and Roscoe is near, he may cower as if he is afraid of getting hit. If my husband and the resident dog are on the bed, he will not get on the bed, but will if I am there. He loves to jump on the bed and wake me by burrowing his head into the blankets and usually stepping on various parts of my body.
Roscoe has only been to one social event with people he did not know. He was cautious with people and did not go up to them like I thought he would since he loves attention. He would allow pets then move by my side. He was reassured everything was ok and overall, he did well. He may not of had much exposure to many people in his past so we will continue with caution and not stress him with interactions at those times.
Roscoe is a lovely, sweet, and gentle dog. I cannot imagine why he was given up. He has the most soulful, big round expressive eyes and a face full of sugar to show age. Watching him run you would never guess he was 9! He is eager to please you and craves your attention and touch. For the most part he is a calm dog and can relax and chill in the home, but he is always game to go outside or on a car ride. He would be good with in a home with another dog with the same energy level or I think he would be content by himself. He is just an all-around super pooch to have around and very easy to fall in love with.