Dillon-adopted!

Update 9/12/08: Dillon is such a sweet dog, but still shy. His foster mom says Dillon needs that extra special someone who can love him without smothering him, give him room to run, and follow the "nothing in life is free" program. Dillon would love to have another special buddy (dog) to show him the ropes and play with him. Dillon is a gentle dog who needs moderate daily exercise (he loves walks and hikes).

Is that too much to ask for a dog who was unwanted in the South???? Dillon's Foster Mom thinks not!!! He's really quite easy to take care of, he's a great doggie companion, and with understanding, learns to trust people easily! He'll sleep with you after a couple of months, just in time for winter!!!

Update 8/11/08: Dillon loves hanging out on the couch and watching the Olympics with his foster mom. This sweetheart also loves going on hikes. He's been meeting lots of dogs and people, and doing well with everyone. His foster mom thinks he's undemanding enough to do very well as either a single dog or with a canine sibling.

Update 6/26/08: Dillon went to "Take Your Dog to Work" day in Portland last Friday, and what a day he had! Oh, he was nervous, but he was so excited about all the attention he got. Everybody could see what a sweet dog he is, so well-behaved, and oh-so-CUTE!

It was a long day for him and he was one tired dog for the ride back to his foster home. When he got back, though, he really perked up because he was very happy to see his really good friends, the resident basset mix and min pin, who were also incredibly excited to see him! Dillon hopes his forever home will have friends to bond with and love,love,love.

Now that he has settled in, he is showing more personality -like jumping up excitedly to greet, to go out, to come in, running looking for squirrels. He still shakes and cowers with loud noises or if he feels threatened, but it's so nice to see him show utter happiness! Dillon will really feel comfortable in time and he will be the best dog for that special family out there.

Update 6/12/08: Dillon's foster mom wrote in to say that Dillon is coming along great! He plays and runs with the resident dogs, and he sits and waits like a gentleman for his meals. He's started to take tasty treats so he's just about ready to start obedience training.

Dillon's initial shyness is wearing off faster with each new person he meets, and he's made lots of new doggy friends in the neighborhood. Dillon loves to be stroked and have his belly rubbed. He's brave enough to go belly up for his human friends now!

Dillon is a slender, sleek 30 pounds, and his whippet grace really shows when he runs. Just look at his gentle, loving face and you'll fall in love. What a sweet dog!

His foster mom has thought a bit about what type of home might be best for Dillon. She believes Dillon would do great as a second dog to a family dog who could serve as a role model and play mate. Dillon loves to run, chase or be chased, and he's great at leaping over obstacles and making quick turns. None of his foster mom's dogs are dominant, so she can't say for sure how he would do with an alpha dog.

A quiet family would be nice as Dillon scares easily with sudden noises, loud voices, thunder and lightning storms. He gets nervous on long car rides, but he likes the short ones where he ends up doing something fun, like playing with other dogs or going for a hike. He's a wonderful companion for long walks and cuddling on the sofa to watch TV with his humans. He's nervous when he meets new people, but warms up nicely if they are gentle and kind with him. A child's sudden approach would scare him too much, so caring kids over 12 would probably be his best friends.

Update 5/25/08: Dillon is a sweet and gentle soul with a timid streak. He's doing well with his foster family's other dogs, and he enjoys having playmates. He gets out on walks with his foster mom daily, and he's getting more confident about meeting new humans and canines. Because of his shyness, we do not recommend a home with small kids.

Though he likes to hang out wherever his foster mom is, he'd prefer she didn't watch loud action movies. The gunfire and screaming scare him.

Dillon's pictures don't do him justice. He's just not the most photogenic dog, but he's sleek and handsome, with inquisitive brown eyes. He needs to find a calm, dog-savvy person who will help him get over the anxiety he has from being left in a shelter environment.

Poetry in Motion...that describes Dillon to a tee! He may look like your typical black lab mix, but wait till you see him running! His foster Mom says he moves with the grace and fluidity of a dancer.

Dillon was returned to us, as he was not a good fit for his family. Dillon tends to be nervous, and is particularly nervous of children. Ongoing socialization will help him with this. Obediance training would also be wonderfully benificial to him, as it builds self confidence, which he lacks.

Dillon loves his special people and loves to cuddle. He gets along with cats and dogs, in fact we highly reccomend he goes to a family that has another dog, as they help him deal with his fears by letting him see that 'everything is ok'.

Because of his nervousness around small children, we would like an adult only home for Dillon. Children may very well be in his future, but for now we believe he'd be more comfortable in a quieter home.

So, if you are looking for a nice quite compaion to take for walks in the woods, look no further than Dillon...he will steal you heart and run with it...

All known information is listed here. If it is not listed here, then we do not know if this animal is good with cats or kids. Before sending an inquiry, please read the How To Adopt Page & FAQ pages of our website. http:www.almosthomerescue.net. This dog is available unless it is marked as Pending.

This dog is Urgent because the Arkansas shelter where he/she resides is overfull. Please do not ask local shelters to take this dog in, there are many reasons why they cannot. Please also do not send us letters about why we euthanize, AHR does not euthanize, but the shelters we work with do. We are a rescue and we pull as many dogs as we have foster homes and funds for. We, like the shelter, do not have unlimited resources. Please, please: foster, adopt or sponsor a dog to help save their lives.

FOR PUPPIES: HOMES CONSIDERING PUPPIES MUST BE PREPARED FOR:

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES FOR POTTY TRAINING-THEY CAN ONLY "HOLD" IT FOR ONE HOUR PER MONTH OF AGE.

CRATE TRAINING FOR THE NEXT 10 MONTHS TO KEEP THEM FROM CHEWING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT.

SUPERVISION WITH CHILDREN, AND OBEDIENCE TRAINING.

SOCIALIZATION-A GOOD DOG MUST BE EXPOSED TO ALOT OF STIMULUS AS A PUPPY SO THAT NEW PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENTS DO NOT INTIMIDATE THEM AS ADULTS. THE MORE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES -IN AND OUT OF THE HOME- AS A PUPPY, THE BETTER.

HOMES THAT WANT TO HAVE GOOD DOGS, MUST BE PREPARED TO PUT THE TIME AND EFFORT INTO TRAINING A PUPPY. IT IS ALOT OF WORK!!! THEIR BEHAVIOR AND STAGES ARE EQUIVILENT TO A 2 OR 3 YEAR OLD CHILD. IT TAKES A FULL YEAR TO HAVE A CALMER, WELL ADJUSTED DOG! PLEASE DO NOT CONSIDER ADOPTING IF YOU HAVE NOT THOROUGHLY THOUGHT THROUGH THE PROS AND CONS OF A PUPPY...SO MANY PEOPLE END UP RETURNING THEM IN 3-5 MONTHS BECAUSE IT IS CHEWING, JUMPING AND HYPER. THIS IS NORMAL PUPPY BEHAVIOR.

PATIENCE, CHEWIES, SOCIALIZATION, SUPERVISION AND OBEDIENCE TRAINING IS A MUST!!

. We pay a Transportation Service from Arkansas to bring the dogs to New England. The adoption fee is $250.00 for altered dogs. $350. for unaltered puppies, with $100 refundable after spay/neuter. All Senior dogs 6 years or older have a reduced adoption fee of $200. This includes vaccinations, spay/neuter and transport from Arkansas to Maine. All dogs will be tested for Heartworm prior to adoption. Almost Home Rescue will process your adoption. Applications can be found at www.almosthomerescue.net and can be e-mailed attention of Christine: [email protected] for this particular dog.